Brazil trip

Hey, I can speak Portuguese!

2009-08-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

Well there should be a small grey text next to the title. Like a fine print or something. That I can manage in Portuguese. I would not say I speak it perfectly, but I usually manage.

Why did I find important to mention it at the moment. Well let me explain.

Today evening we went to walk around a bit with Luciana. She is a friend of Livia from Rio and is staying here for some weeks. We explored the seashore a bit in downtown Floripa. Near the Beira Mar if anybody reading this is familiar with Floripa.

But this is not why I am writing this blog post. The title sums up the reason. Let me explain it a bit.

The story is connected to our walk with Luciana so I will describe the events also.

Since we were meeting up in the center in fron of the Beira Mar, I had to get there somehow. I have never gone there by bus so had a small problem. There was not anybody here I could ask either so decided to just try my luck. I knew that if I go to the terminal in Trindade, near where I live, I probably can take a bus from there.

To the Trindade terminal I knew how to get so that was easy.

Here was my first problem. In the Trindade I had no idea which bus to take to get to the shopping center. So finally I decided to try my Portuguese and ask one driver. And he even understood me. And thankfully he just pointed to one bus instead of a long answer. So we managed to communicate very nicely.

On the bus I started thinking, okay this bus goes to Beira Mar shopping, but how do I know when to get off. I was not sure I would recognize the place. Then I decided to do what the locals usually do. There is a guy who checks tickets at the bus. If the locals don't know exactly how to get where they want to go, they ask that guy for directions. But they have one advantage, they speak Portuguese! Well I decided to try my Portuguese out again. And I asked they guy if he could tell me when we are at the bus stop for Beira Mar. And guess what, he even understood me. When the bus was approaching the correct stop he signalled me to get off. I was really happy. I managed to explain what I needed in Portuguese and the guy understood. Perfect.

Then I met up with Luciana. Luckily she spoke English very well and I did not need to try out my Portuguese anymore. We had a small walk near the seashore. Explored the city a bit. Cause we both have not been here for very long.

I have to say again that Floripa is a very, very beautiful place. The views were amazing. I have only seen scenery like this in the movies and wished I could go to a place like this. Now I am here :)

This picture does not do justice do the view, but it is the best I have

So when we finished our walk it was time for Luciana and I to go home. We were in front of the Beira Mar shopping again, because I though I could take the same bus I came with the other way and get back to Trindade terminal. Well the bus went only one way. So that option was out. But Luciana asked some locals and we found out that all buses from there should go to the central terminal. From there I knew a bus I could take and told Luciana she can go home. I know how to get home. Off she went I was alone again.

Now we reach the third time I managed to get by with my Portuguese knowledge. I saw one bus coming to the bus stop. I did not recognize it so asked the driver if he was going to the central terminal. And again I was successful. Although this was an easy thing to ask, but still.

In the central terminal I had a bit of a scare. Now it seems nothing really, but at the time a was a bit worried to say the least. I found out that the bus I usually take from there does not go on Saturdays and Sundays. Since it was Sunday then I had a small problem. I was in the central terminal, quite far from my home. My bus card was out of money and I had only cash for two bus tickets maximum. And there were no ATMs nearby. So yeah, for one sec I was a bit clueless of what to do. But then I thought, okay I can ask somebody again. In Portuguese of course. Assuming to find somebody who speaks English at a Sunday night in the central terminal would be too much. So I went on one bus and asked the guy who checks tickets (I really do not know a better name for him). I showed him the address and of course it was the wrong bus. But he explained me how to get there where I was living. I had to take two buses. And to my surprise I even understood him, GREAT. I was a bit relieved. Not much of course, because I will still in the central terminal without almost any money and no means of getting cash. And I had to take two buses. Since I had to pay in cash, that meant buying two tickets. All my money would go there.

I took the bus the guy recommended. It came pretty fast. I asked the driver to be sure if he is going to the Trindade terminal. That is where I could take my next bus. And well if I would get there then I knew which buses to take. Or I could have even walked. It is about 30 minutes walking. Though I have recently heard from many sources that walking in the dark here is not a very good idea at all. So wanted to avoid that.

Anyway, now I was on the bus that was hopefully going toward the Trindade terminal. I was still a bit nervous because I knew I had money for only one more ticket. And if I would end up in some very wrong place it would not be very good. Luckily it was the right bus and I ended up in the Trindade terminal. As I came off the bus I saw the bus I can take at the stop, waiting. I got on it. And since I was in the terminal, did not even have to pay again. Now I was feeling pretty happy already. The misery I had 20 minutes ago was totally wiped away (I already had time to curse everything connected with the situation I was in).

So there I was. On the bus back home. Safe, without any crazy long walk in the darkness and on empty streets (there are not many people here on the streets during the dark). And I was feeling pretty happy and proud of myself. I managed in Portuguese and found my way back home. I know I still do not speak Portuguese that well, BUT I can manage communicating in that language. And that is what counts.

Impressions from the first week

2009-07-27T17:49:00.001-07:00

A week has passed already since I came to Floripa. The first emotions are settling and am getting used to life here.

Many people have asked how is it like? Is anything different from Estonia. I usually answer that yes - everything is different. Not in a bad way, just different.

But what is different? Well what I can't understand is how people behave during winter here. It is pretty cold, from 12 to 14 during the day and around 8 to 10 degrees at night. Not that cold compared to Estonia, BUT there is no heating here. And the windows are always a bit open. Some places even don't have windows or doors. So it is the same temperature inside and outside. Also people sit outside in bars and drink ice cold beer. While wearing warm jackets, hats and scarves. To me this seems funny.

What else? Well people seem so friendly here.

Brazilians like to keep things open while us Estonians closed. I guess it is the same with people here. They are very open and friendly. But probably I am not the best person to compare. It is because I am the foreigner here. People always ask me that where are you from etc. And are very pleased if I manage to say a few words in Portuguese.

And this is where I ended writing my comparison last week. Did not have time to finish it. And not in the mood to do it know. I guess I am from now on sticking to describing my small "adventures" and things. Writing those is a bit more exciting :)

First full day in Floripa

2009-07-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the first full day in Floripa. As it was Sunday the other interns here were planning to go to a beach in the south of the island. I did not want to pass on such a great oportunity so went also. Somebody mentioned that it there will be a small hike to the beach because you can't drive there. Well the hike was not that small :)

We met with all the people near the university and started our trip. First we drove to the beach called Pantana do Sul were we would have to go on by foot to the other beach. Our guide Rafael pointed towards one mountain and said that we would have to climb over it to get to the beach. I thought he was joking, but he wasn't. Well I guess the mountain was not that big, but being used to quite flat Estonia it seemed huge.

The hike was supposed to take only 40 minutes. Well 40 minutes Brazilian time. Actually it was about 1h and a half :) There was a trail leading over the mountain so were not really climbing up, but walking on a steep trail. But since it had rained a lot during the past week it was still a bit muddy in some places. Also there were occasionally some bigger rocks that we had to get up from.

But the climb was worth it. From the top of the mountain we had an amazing view. Later when we finally arrived to the beach it was also very beautiful. Nice big waves, mountains surrounding the beach. Perfect.

But we enjoyed the beautiful beach for too long and got a little late coming back. When we were not still half way back it was already pitch-black dark. Luckily everybody had a cellphone and we could use those as flash lights. But still it was quite weird to wander around in the jungle in the dark and down a hill :) Cool first day in Brazil. Well thinking of it now it was a very cool experience. It did not seem so cool doing it, but we had fun.

While coming back down we ran into one couple who tried to convince us that we were going the wrong way. According to them the way back to the city was the other way. Well since we were coming from the beach there were no other ways back. Since there were more of us they decided to trust and follow us. When we finally arrived back to the city they seemed geniuenly happy. We saved them :P

Still have to say it was a great experience for a first day. Was nice to see the island and the jungle.

Later we had dinner at a seafood restaurant in Pantana do Sul beach. The place cool. People leave notes there and attach them to the ceiling, walls etc. The whole place is filled with them. I left my small note also :) I am not usually a big fan of seafood, but food there was really good. We had some fish filee with traditional rice and beans. It was funny that the dish was meant to share between two people. We shared it between 3 and still could eat only half of the whole thing.

So I guess that sums up my first full day here. And what a first day it was :)

First day in Florianópolis

2009-07-19T04:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening I finally arrived in Florianópolis. I have not seen much of the city yet, but it seemes nice. I am used to quite flat surroundings and seeing so many mountains here is cool. And there are palm trees growing on streets, yeeii :)

The trip from Sao Paulo yesterday was a bit weird. The plane made some very loud buzzing sound which I have not heard in a plane before. But we arrived on time and it went well in the end.

At the airport I had a nice reception. AIESEC guys from Floripa had come to meet me. After greetings, Rogerio - the LCP (aiesecars know what I mean) here had a question. There were six of us at the airport and one car. As I had been travelling for quite a long time they allowed me to take the seat up front. But 4 others guys had to somehow fit themselves in the back of a Renault Clio. That was a funny ride.

We drove to the university's campus. This is where I am going to be living for the first week. Actually I am not living in the campus but just next to it. The place is nice. In Florianópolis they have a tradition that a new intern will spend the first week living with a local AIESEC member.

To get integrated into the culture better etc.

After putting my bags to the apartment we went out to get a beer. The place we went as I was told is a very popular place for students, but since at the moment it is winter holiday then it was totally empty. Everybody is away for holidays. We had a few beers, I tried a local burger which was very good by the way and and retired quite early. I was quite tired from the trip and everybody else seemed a bit sleepy aswell. So already 7 in the evening we were back at home.

Yesterday I did my first shopping in Brazi. Tried to speak Portuguese. Managed more or less. I think I should be speaking more :)

Ok but that is it for now. We will be going on some hiking trip with other interns here.

Travelling to Brazil - day two

2009-07-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

(Sorry for the formatting. I wrote it with notepad and just copy-pasted)

Now I am happily in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Yesterday my blogging ended off with being in Helsinki and boarding the flight to London.

That was quite a rough ride for some reason. But I was so sleepy that soon after

the plane took off I fell asleep. I even missed the moment when they were handing out

the in plane meal. I did luckily wake up before we started to land and was able to

get some food also. Because currently I am only relying on the in plane meals.

We arrived to London on time and I continued to check in for my next flight, to BRAZIL.

Also had to pass through the security control again. I must say that in London Heathrow

airport the control is the worst. You even have to take your shoes off and everything.

Although I have not been to many airports, but in the others it is a lot easier.

What again amazed me was the size of the Heathrow airport. That thing is HUGE.

When I got off the plane from Helsinki I started to look for the connection to Brazil.

I found out that it is in a different terminal as I am currently in. And to get to

the next terminal I had to take a bus. That was soo weird. And the ride was not very short

either - about 10 - 15 minutes. We were passing through tunnels, there were traffic lights

everywhere, intersections. Heathrow airport is like a city inside London.

Even when I was finally in the right terminal when I started walking to the gate

I was supposed to go, I had to take a subway train there?! First a bus, then a train.

For an Estonian this is really difficult to comprehend. So huge.

In London I spent about 5 hours waiting for the flight. The time went reasonably quickly

because I was browsing the tens of stores there. Of course the gadget stores were the place

I spent most of my time. When I was at the gate waiting to board the plane to Brazil

I saw a somewhat familiar face. One guy that I boarded the plane from Helsinki was

also going to Brazil. We recognized each others and as we were practically from the same

place talked some also. I must say meeting a Finnish guy so far away is like meeting an

Estonian.

The long flight over the Atlantic went very smoothly. I heard that it is quite a bumpy ride,

but for me the flight from Helsinki to London seemed much worse. It was the first time

I was in such a big plane, a Boeing 747. So everything was new and exciting. The first

thing I noticed is that the seats were so small. It was almost impossible to sit in there

without disturbing your neighbour. What was especially funny was that how people got

out from the seats. When you were sitting near the window and the person between you and

the aisle was asleep you hand to climb over him. I saw one guy making some pretty fancy

moves there.

The next new thing was that for these longs flights they give you all sorts of stuff

for the flight: a blanket, pillow, socks!, tooth brush, headphones. Everything

to make the 12 hour flight comfortable. And it was pretty comfortable actually, little bit

tight, but not too bad.

Another thing I liked is that there were personal screens for everybody. So everybody

could choose what they wanted to watch if at all. There were options to choose between

all kinds of movies, tv shows etc. And the movies were quite new actually. Most of them

I had not seen.

This time on the flight I was a little bit smarter. I managed to fight the urge to

instantly fall asleep and waited for food to be served. The meals on the planes are quite

decent. But after the dinner I fell right asleep. I was still so tired from the early morning

boat trip.

When I woke up it was time for breakfast :) And it was only about 1,5 hours to Sao Paulo.

Time flies when you are asleep. After breakfast came the compulsory Brazilian customs forms

that I had been afraid of. I took a long time to read it carefully and finally decided

to go with Luiz suggestion to mark that I am not importing anything. And actually reading

the form many times over indeed I was not exceeding any limits. Everything is for personal

use. One thing that I had doubts about was the Estonian sausage in my bag. In the form

it was said that no meat products should be imported to Brazil and there could be a fine

if doing so. Of course I got afraid and threw the sausage away :( More about that in a moment.

After the plane landed smoothly it was time to get the bags. There were not many planes

arriving so early (it was 5am local time) so it went quite quickly. Have to say I was a bit

nervous also. When I was waiting for the bag I met my Finnish friend again. He told me a

story how they last time lost his bag and he got it weeks later. Now that was not the

right thing to say at that moment.

Luckily I got my bag and proceeded to the customs. Before that I threw away the sausage.

In the customs there was a cheerful old Brazilian guy who said "bom dia". I was a bit nervous

and gave him my form. After glancing it for a second he said something that meant go ahead.

And that was IT. The feared customs was passed in 30 seconds.

Luiz warned me that in Sao Paulo there are crazy lines everywhere. I can say the opposite.

Probably it was because I arrived so early, but the passport check I passed in about 3 minutes :)

And there I was in Brazil. I the longest thing was waiting for the bag :) All the official

stuff took I guess about 15 minutes or less. But now I had a problem. I had planned that

I am going to waiting for many hours in the passport check etc so my flight was 10 hours away!

I went to the TAM check in and they were very friendly and asked maybe I would like to take

the earlier flight. It left in 2 hours. But since I had agreed with AIESEC in Florianopolis

that I would arrive at 4 and could not call anybody there anyways then I decided I can wait.

What a long wait it was, or should I say is. Because currently as of writing this I am still

waiting.

First I had to wait 6 hours before I could check in and go to the secured area. As I had got

many warnings about crime in Sao Paulo I decided to stay put and sit somewhere. At first it

was quite interesting just to observe the people. But after two hours it got boring.

There was a TV also that I could watch. But of course being in Brazil, they showed a football

match. Some Russian clubs match. But it did help pass the time.

After the short six hours I proceeded to check in my big bag. Then went to my third security

check in the past 2 days. It was so funny how easy it was compared to London. I did not have

to take my shoes off or empty my pockets. So relaxed. I guess I have to get used to this.

And here is where I am ending for today again. This entry is getting very long anyways, but

have experienced so many new things in the past 24h and wanted to share them.

One more thing I would like to comment on actually. Everybody here in Brazil prefers to speak

Portuguese. Even if I try to speak English mostly they reply in Portuguese. I thought

that I could understand it fairly well, but now I am realizing that I have a long way to go.

Most of my replys are just a confused face - what??

Travelling to Brazil - day one

2009-07-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

(Sorry for the formatting. I wrote it with notepad and just copy-pasted)

I am currently in Vantaa airport in Helsinki and settled down for a mere 5 hours wait.

My first plane trip for this huge trip will be soon. :)

I am going to have to get used to this waiting because over the next few days I am going to

be doing it a lot. 5 hours in one airport, 5 in the other. And so on.

I am happy that I managed to check my bag in without any problems.

I spent the whole last night packing it with Kristi. The bag was constantly over the weight

limit by mere one kilo.

My problem was that every time I took something out of the bag I discovered something new

that I really wanted to bring, but had not put to the bag yet.

Finally around 3am yesterday we finished packing. And since my boat left really really

early in the morning we had to get up around 5:30. That meant only about 2 HOURS of sleep.

At least now I will have no problems sleeping on the plane.

This morning at the port of Tallinn was soo difficult. I had my parents and my brother there.

My cousin and of course Kristi. Even my grandmother came from all the other side of Estonia.

Saying goodbye to everybody turned out to be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

Probably I won't see them for a year so it was quite a sad moment.

Boat trip went well, was just sitting most of time being between sleep and awake.

The 2 hours of sleep are really getting to me already.

What was nice is that I managed to see some familiar faces on the boat. Ingrid's mother Luule

was going to Helsinki also with her son and taugther.

In Helsinki had a bit of a walk to take the bus to Vantaa airport. Even though my bag

has wheels and was merely pulling it, it still seemed quite hard work in the end.

I was very relieved when I finally found the bus stop.

I mentioned earlier that my check in with the bag went smoothly. Well I have to correct that

because now I remember that I had to throw away one bottle of Estonian alcholol that

I really wanted to bring. It was the classic AIESEC global village drink - 80% Viru Valge.

Unfortunately you are only allowed to bring up to 70% alcohol on planes and of course

me following all the rules, threw the bottle away. I was a bit sad about it, but not

to have any troubles I decided not to keep it.

I guess that is it for now.