The Amazon!

I have just spent 3 amazing days in the Amazon. Words cannot truly describe or capture the experience, the sights, the sounds, and everything else. It was unbelievable. 25 of us boarded a 2-level semi-run down boat that was to be our home for the next 2 nights. Hammocks were hung practically on top of each other on the upper deck – how much fun to have a ton of roommates! It was such an experience and our boat (Yellow Group) bonded so well, just like I bonded with my hammock… and now I own it!! I am going to try to keep this update short, as I am currently exhausted from travelling, staying up late and getting up early, and doing so many things I can’t even remember them all. Our incredible activities with our awesome guides, Chico and Tiago, included hiking through the rainforest, alligator catching at night, visiting an abandoned village, piranha fishing (I didn’t catch one), a Luau, lots of naps in my hammock, playing cards, eating lots and LOTS of papaya and plantains, and playing soccer with the older kids in one of the villages we visited.

 

The highlight? HOLDING A SLOTH!! While we were being shown the Amazon in little motorized boats, young kids in canoes would paddle to us with anacondas, sloths, and alligators. We would hold them and pay them a dollar for pictures. The sloth was the cutest thing in the world! It was 3-toed and just wanted to grab onto anything and everything – including the pillars on the boat and the seats, so I have some pictures of me attempting to pull it off. So cute! And really soft. Its head could turn almost 180 degrees which was cool and it had the most adorable face ever. I seriously considered taking it home with me! ;) What a great pet, haha. While on our rainforest walk, I swung from a vine, that was cool.

 

Yesterday, 30 minutes after I got back from the Amazon, I raced off to a Brazilian Soccer Game!! It was amazing – at least 50,000 fans, shouting and screaming and being belligerent. It was such a blast and a great way to end the trip to Brazil. Overall, I will say that Salvador was a scary city, and even though we were warned about the dangers, it was quite a bit to take in, especially the poverty. It was eye-opening and I am very glad I visited it, even for 1.5 days because of my trip, but I will say that I doubt I’ll go back again.

 

Now we have 8 days until we arrive in South Africa and I couldn’t be more excited, of course! Our Inter-Port Lecturer/Guest is Dennis Brutus who was introduced to us this morning during Global Studies. He played a huge role in the abolition of Apartheid and even spent a few years alongside Nelson Mandela in Robben Island. It will be extremely interesting to hear him speak tomorrow during class and for the next week.

 

This was just a short entry – I hope you are all doing great! Next entry? Probably sometime after Cape Town and between Mauritius. I joined the Students of Service committee (SOS) and am helping out with organizing events, like a huge game of Spoons, Texas Hold’Em, Bingo, a dance party/marathon, and possibly an auction to raise money for charity. It’s going to be a blast! Time to get back to studying…