“Um sol pra cada um,” which translates to, “A sun for each one,” is a saying used by Brazilians to describe an extremely hot and sunny day. Not only was Saturday one of those very hot days to which this saying refers, the warmth of our host family’s welcome and care for us was felt with the same intensity. We had been spending the weekend with them in Águas de Lindóia, a lovely town in the countryside in the northeast of São Paulo, and although we had many adventures throughout the day, the real highlight was time spent enjoying each other. From starting the day off with a fun game of volleyball to riding horseback in the mountains, eating lunch at a rustic family restaurant, and watching the sunset from the miniature Christ the Redeemer tower, it was a wonderful respite from the flurry of busy weekday life. 

Since coming to Brazil, we have been welcomed with open arms into the home and family of Edison, Silvia, and Ana, and today was no exception. Ana was so excited to show us the horses and go riding with us, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience with our host sister! Both Ana and her parents have treated us with the kind of love that I usually associate with family, and it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced.

In addition to the joy of sharing the day with a loving host family, I was reminded over and over again of how wonderful it is to be spending these weeks with a wonderful roommate. The excitement of new experiences and the joy of family is doubled when shared with someone as fun, kind, and wise as Emma. Together, we have been relishing every moment in the warmth of Brazil and our warmhearted host family. “Um sol pra cada um” is true both physically and metaphorically, as the love we have been shown is more than enough to go around, enough for each one! 

No trip to Brazil is complete without a visit to one of the world famous Brazilian beaches. Today, we took a break from our educational program to embark on a trip to a beautiful beach in Bertioga. Even though it was a beach day doesn’t mean the learning stopped. Today I learned that paradise …

We traveled by bus through the winding roads in the mountains to arrive at the beach. My day was spent soaking in the sun and the beauty of the beach. I began my day reclining on a towel, basking in the warmth of the sun. The water stretched as far as the eye could see, and the beach was filled with many different activities. I cooled down in the ocean with friends and played futebol and volleyball with my classmates. I’ve never played futebol before so it was a learning experience for me. Brazil was the perfect place to learn as futebol is an integral part of Brazil’s culture. Some of us even played futebol and volleyball with local Brazilians. It was cool to see how sports became a universal language and a way to combine different communities. After playing in the sun for a few hours I appreciate and understand Brazilians’ great love and respect for the game of futebol and how it brings all walks of life together. 

I couldn’t resist purchasing a coconut on the beach from one of the vendors. The vendor cut the coconut open which was filled with delicious coconut water right in front of me. I drank the water while enjoying my peers and the paradise surrounding me. Observing the joyous atmosphere around me, I appreciated how everyone was enjoying each other’s company. Whether that entailed swimming in the ocean, playing sports, or laying out in the sun together, there was a smile across everyone’s face. In the end I learned that the combination of beautiful weather, breathtaking scenery, and wonderful company creates a positive and joyous atmosphere. The beach created an atmosphere of paradise allowing each individual to join together as one community learning from each other. 

1. Brazilians I spend time with tend to use sidewalks loosely. Where I am accustomed to sticking to the sidewalk and waiting until the light turns green before walking across the street, I noticed that many Brazilians walk in the road until a car comes and cross busy roads whenever it looks safe. The world is your oyster and crossing the road is not that serious.

2. There are many puppy prints in the sidewalk because of dogs walking over freshly poured concrete. I have seen at least three instances in São Bernardo do Campo (see picture below). It’s endearing that you can see reminders of the cuteness of dogs, but more endearing that the prints have been kept for so long in so many places. There are no strict regulations about smoothness of concrete; I think people see them as a feature rather than an imperfection.

3. When walking in groups, we walk very slowly. When walking and talking, we walk very, very slowly. It’s slower than what leisurely to me would be. There’s no need to get anywhere soon; we’ll get there when we get there. We are enjoying the present moment.

4. The dance and party culture is alive. There are parties all the time, and dancing at many events. I talked to the daughter in my host family about the night scene and she said that many people dance, sing, and drink together at parties and festivals. Parties are a huge part of the culture; there are parties and clubs practically everywhere. But people aren’t just drinking to drink or to avoid their problems. They genuinely enjoy being in community with the people around them. Many professional people around the area prefer to work evening shifts so that they can stay up later and party with their friends.

5. Greeting styles are real – what you read about online is true. They are more touchy than most Americans are (I was taken aback when a girl kissed me on the cheek when we met for the first time). Men that are friends almost always handshake or hug when greeting each other. When you meet someone for the first time, you say “prazer” to say “pleasure to know you”. I think that all of it shows a genuine care and trust for the other person. People are comfortable with each other and less guarded than I am.

It’s not that Brazil has a “slower” culture than Americans do, and it’s not that “they” are all that different from “us”. When in Brazil, we expose our more relaxed, more passionate (see a futebol game for proof of this), more human sides.

I enjoy sharing the comfortability and humanity that my host family and new people I’ve met have exposed me to.

Although I could not immediately understand each and every word Pastor Matheus said, I was able to put together the words I did know with the passages they read to get a general idea. Isaiah 43 was one chapter they focused on. This chapter in Isaiah can be summarized with verse 5 where Jesus is speaking with Jacob; “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” However, as I continued to read, verse 9 stuck out to me as it specifically said to “gather the nations together” and “assemble the peoples of the world,” as “it was [God] who created them.” I understand that although we are from two different “worlds,” both Americans and Brazilians are called to come together under one God. This is how the Holy Spirit works; by utilizing our inability to communicate to establish a new form of communication much richer than any language could produce.

As I have applied this information, I understand how great our God is, and how the Holy Spirit truly expands across the globe. TThis became even more evident as I was able to hang out with some people I met at the Methodist church. One of the guys, Pedro, spoke English very well so he helped translate a lot of the conversation. However, the part of this dinner that resonated most with me was my interactions with another guy named Leonardo. Leo spoke very little English, but he tried so hard to communicate with me with the English he did know and without a lot of help from Pedro for translations. I really felt the Holy Spirit in that place as we joked around and found similarities between our outlook on religion and other topics, but also the vast differences between cultures. His passion for God filled my heart, and I honestly don’t think I have ever laughed harder in my life. I felt such joy emanating from his person, and that was when I really understood the power of the Holy Spirit.

Although you have probably read a lot about the language barriers we have experienced and how happy we are when we are able to communicate, I want you to know there is something larger at work behind these interactions. Yes, we are learning a new language and figuring out how to communicate, but it is also much bigger than any of us on this earth. Pastor Matheus really helped me understand that Espirito Santo equips us with the tools needed to connect God’s people all over the world, which I was extremely fortunate to experience right after the sermon. This is just another example of the wonder and power of the Holy Spirit and the abilities of a God much greater than we could ever imagine.

We had a great time! Abby and I played with a group of boys ages 13 to 16. Despite a language barrier and the distractions from home, I participated in the universal game of Uno. The boys were so spirited that they helped keep me in the moment while we taught them the famous “cup song” from Pitch Perfect. When they pulled me out of my seat to play a variation of tag, I found myself grateful for the distraction. I was even able to connect with one younger boy who kept peering in from the kitchen with a simple smile and the typical Brazilian handshake.

Each one came to give us a encouraging  goodbye squeeze, and the same younger boy gave us all little cheek kisses; I promptly swooned at the cuteness. Near Wi-fi again, my sister let me know that Grandma was at peace. That put my heart at ease for her. Of course, I am still worried for my family and friends, but, at the end of the day, I feel like I was in the right place, at the right time, to make some simple connections for a purpose.

Today a group of us volunteered to spend time with students and kids who have poor living situations, or rough home lives. Knowing this coming in, my expectations weren’t very high. These kids had every reason to misbehave and cause trouble, and I am a very non-confrontational person. I was extremely worried that my lack of Portuguese and my shy, introverted personality would get the best of me. Boy, was I wrong.

The little girls I spent time with were some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. As soon as I entered the doorway, I was swarmed and smothered in hugs and laughs, arms and legs flailing everywhere. Their smiles were contagious, and they covered every single face. They continued to try and talk to me, even though my desperate attempts weren’t understandable. I quickly came to realize that I didn’t need to be fluent to communicate, my effort was more than enough. They loved repeating colors, tracing my hand with colored pencils, and listening to my poor pronunciation as I read a children’s book. However, there is nothing they loved more than playing with my “cabelo” or “hair.”

I didn’t realize how much the opportunity meant to me, or the children, until one of the girls started to cry as I left. An activity that I was once anxious for, turned out to be my favorite part of the trip thus far. It taught me that love has no language. It has no boundaries, and it is so incredibly profound and beautiful. These children truly touched my heart, and I already miss them.

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The excitement of exploring a part of the world that I have never been to before is undeniable. Before yesterday, I had never been on an international flight, and now I find myself in the beautiful city of Sao Paulo with an seemingly unlimited amount of possibilities for me to spend my time while I’m down here. Between new food options, leisure activities, and the ability to explore the culture of Brazil from a firsthand perspective, I have no doubts about the amazing things I will experience. My host family even surprised me upon my arrival by letting me know that we will be seeing Sepultura, the greatest Brazilian thrash metal band the world has ever seen (as far as I’m concerned) during our free day.

With all of this excitement in mind for my next three weeks in Brazil, I also have to realize that I still am nervous about certain aspects of this trip. The language barrier is a massive challenge that I need to deal with honestly as I try my best to communicate in Portuguese. It was enough of a challenge to order coffee in Spanish at the airport in Lima, Peru where we had our layover and I took 5 years of Spanish classes. Attempting to communicate in Portuguese for the next three weeks when possible will be a daunting task, but I will still do my best to rise to the challenge.

The second major source of nervousness for me is the fact that I do not have a roommate. As much as I hate to admit it, there is still a part of me that wants to hold on to the familiar (home and Roberts), which is why knowing I was not going to have a roommate initally caused me some anxiety. However, my host family has been incredibly kind, gracious, and welcoming towards me since my arrival, and I will use the kindness that they’ve shown me as an opportunity to let go of my fears and need to cling to the familiar.

By embracing the excitement and tackling the source of the nervousness discussed head-on, I know that I will get the most out of my experience here in Brazil.