3/8

Well, I have to say that this experience has been great for me. About half a year ago, I had no idea that right now I would be making a blog entry in Brazil. This experience has really opened my eyes to a different side of Brazil that I didn’t get to know while on my mission. I don’t regret a second of it, and I know that from the photos you can tell that this is true.

You might also think from the photos that all we did was have fun and visit tourist places, but for me at least, I believe that this experience has strengthened my communication skills and has increased my appreciation for Brazilians. I hope that I can appreciate my own country a little more now, knowing the luxuries that I take for granted don’t even exist in other places. Thank you for accompanying me on this wonderful journey, and I hope that it has been of some benefit to you!

I will spend the next week in Bahia, Brazil where I will revisit some places that I passed by on my mission. I hope that I can apply what I have learned here and make the most of the time I still have!!!

Thanks for reading!!!

2/8

The last full day of the official study abroad program. What a great conclusion to an awesome experience! Today we went to O Encontro dos 2 rios, or “the encounter of the two rivers”. It’s where the Amazon ALMOST starts when two rivers converge. Something that’s interesting is that when these two rivers meet up, they don’t mix for several miles because of differences in density, temperature, and speed. It was an impressive sight to see.

This is a picture from yesterday. It's still cool!!

After this, we traveled to a floating restaurant where we ate food AND  fed monkeys!! I hope that the monkeys haven’t become completely dependent on the food from the restaurant, but in truth I doubt that this place will be going anywhere even though it floats.

We went on a hike in the jungle close to the resort. Our guide showed us how the natives caught and trapped animals. They’re definitely a lot more in tune with nature than we are!

We finished off the day with dinner and a goodbye party. It’s awesome that everything ended on such a good note!

Thanks for reading!!

1/8

Wow! Our trip has almost come to an end! I can’t believe how fast time passes! Today, like every other day these past two months, was awesome! We set out once again on the Rio Negro to go for a little swim…WITH DOLPHINS!!!!

Talk about a once in a lifetime experience! It was honestly one of most surreal experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve never been a huge fan of animals, especially ones which are my size or larger. However it was interesting to see how tame the dolphins were. One even nibbled on my foot as I was treading water. I was screaming like a little baby as they brushed past me under the water… for like 3 minutes and then I had to go back to get a noodle to float on or I would have died!

After this we visited a Rubber Museum where a little over 50 years ago people were basically enslaved and forced to make rubber for food, without the option of leaving or receiving pay. Hundreds, if not thousands of rubber workers died in those conditions. It made me really think about how lucky I was to be from the United States and have the privilege of not having to worry about that kind’ve thing.

Right now, I’m outside on the resort grounds, trying to not get eaten alive by mosquitos. They seem to attracted initially to my computer screen and then subsequently to my succulent flesh. Another great day!!

Thanks for Reading!

31/7

Today, the completely unexpected happened, well kinda. We went on the Amazon River, okay well actually it was the Rio Negro(Black River) and crossed it to the other side to the resort where we will be staying. We have a guide named Washington who is from Guiana.

Today after we got unpacked we set out on the Rio Negro. Our objective: catch piranhas! We split up into 3 boats and our boat ended up having the most success by catching more than 30 fish. I only caught one but it was still fun!

After this, we set off on the hunt of caiman, a small crocodile. I wasn’t expecting anything when our guide got down on his belly on the boat and reached out and grabbed a live caiman! We all got to hold it and take pictures with it.

What a great introduction to Manaus and the Rio Negro!

Thanks for Reading !

30/7

Today, we left Fortaleza and arrived at our final destination: Manaus. Immediately after we got off the plane, I got the familiar feeling of being back in San Antonio, Texas. It was sunny, hot, and humid. I’m thankful for the time that I spent in Texas because I feel like it prepared me for Manaus.  Today, although we didn’t do a lot in particular, we DID visit the opera theatre very close to the Go Inn, our hotel. After a lovely tour where we learned a little of the history of the theatre, we found out that there would be Korean performers singing jazz music. It turned out to be opera, but I enjoyed it immensely! I feel like now I really have come to appreciate vibrato after hearing it live. Hearing a recording is one thing, but hearing it in real life is another.

They sang in Italian, Mandarin, German, and some other languages that I couldn’t recognize. I’m really glad that I ended up going. I feel like this study abroad experience has taught me that although sometimes I don’t want to go to things, it usually ends up being worth it.

Thanks for Reading!!