This is definitely not a Smithsonian tour. I want to know what kind of monkey that is on the power lines and no one can tell me. It’s just an urban pest, like I think of squirrels. Our “dorm” is squeaky clean and comfortable. We’re told this is a middle class neighborhood, but you might not know it since all the homes have locked fences and guards and the sidewalks made of decorative mosaics are broken and marred by massive holes waiting to break your ankles. But it is safe to walk around, even at night. We walked to the mall, about 10 minutes away, last night and lots of people were out enjoying the beautiful evening for a stroll. We are fed three meals a day that are like your grandmother’s best home cooking if she was Brazilian. I have no idea what it is half the time, but most of the dishes contain azeite de dende, a very spicy palm oil that tourist books say the uninitiated tourist should not eat. But we love it. Larry has an appointment with Emelia in the kitchen on Thursday, in hopes of learning how to make some of the delicious dishes.
This morning we got an introduction to our placements. Madre Tereza is a complex that houses an orphanage, a daycare and an elder care facility. It is spotless, bright and cheery, mostly built of shiny white tile. Everyone was glad to see us. We got there late, due to orientation and the children had already eaten lunch. We arrived at toilet time. At the daycare, the rows of naked children (mostly between 2 and 3 years old) thought it was hysterically funny that we should arrive just then. They have a very strict routine and bath time was next which is why they had no clothes just then.
We met the children in both facilities and all the elderly ladies. Some of the women were either blind, deaf or mute, but a couple of others talked constantly, not caring at all that we couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying. There were lots of hugs and smiles. Tomorrow we will start out early and have much more time to spend feeding, dressing, bathing and playing with the children.
We spent a couple of hours at the beach again and it was even more crowded than yesterday (although the picture is of Sunday before the crowds arrived). Turns out today was some local holiday and everyone had the day off. Back home for a Portuguese lesson, dinner and a class on Brazilian culture. It has been a very full day and everyone is tired.
Judy
This morning we got an introduction to our placements. Madre Tereza is a complex that houses an orphanage, a daycare and an elder care facility. It is spotless, bright and cheery, mostly built of shiny white tile. Everyone was glad to see us. We got there late, due to orientation and the children had already eaten lunch. We arrived at toilet time. At the daycare, the rows of naked children (mostly between 2 and 3 years old) thought it was hysterically funny that we should arrive just then. They have a very strict routine and bath time was next which is why they had no clothes just then.
We met the children in both facilities and all the elderly ladies. Some of the women were either blind, deaf or mute, but a couple of others talked constantly, not caring at all that we couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying. There were lots of hugs and smiles. Tomorrow we will start out early and have much more time to spend feeding, dressing, bathing and playing with the children.
We spent a couple of hours at the beach again and it was even more crowded than yesterday (although the picture is of Sunday before the crowds arrived). Turns out today was some local holiday and everyone had the day off. Back home for a Portuguese lesson, dinner and a class on Brazilian culture. It has been a very full day and everyone is tired.
Judy
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