The journey began with a conversation, not unlike those had by you and I, on a bright and windy Summer´s day. We stood mouths agape as an ex-neighbour recounted the journey undertaken by his own daughter through Rotary Exchange in France the previous year. In no time, interview followed interview like a sheep following another until here I stood, about to embark to a foreign and mysterious land. The party to see me off at the airport was a formidable one, countless (lol) well wishers lined up to see me off with a wink and a ´bom voyage´. I accepted their kind sentiments gratefully as I said Goodbye to my family, friends and my pretty young girlfriend Amelie. The flight was a quiet one, I managed to snatch a few hours of sleep from the sandman and without incident myself and the other Aussie Brazilian embarkees reached the first port of call on our journey. We stopped in Johannusburg (jo-burg) South Africa and stayed at a monolithic local casino which resonated with a combination of Ancient Rome and Americanisation (known as Caesar´s). The main event of that night was our shock at both the sheer size of the gambling shrine and also the speed with which one of our number got in trouble. A young traveller (14 year old) named Jack succumbed to the street knowledge of a couple of professional crims, who managed to escape with his visa card and pin. Apparently they offered to help him and he unwittingly accepted their advice and misintentions. Luckily the card hadn´t been activated so he reached Sao Paulo, Brazil much like the rest of us. A little the worse for ware, yet still intact.
My host family comprises of a Father (Pai) Antonio, a mother (mai) Edna and their wonderful son my host brother (irmao) Leonardo. The family is among the most friendly and accomodating people I have ever met and they are very accomodating to me especially with my faulty Portuguese (Portugues). The first night was one of a quiet chat with Antonio who speaks quite good English, a meal of traditional Pizza and a nice warm bed.
23/1/05- My first full day in Sao Paulo was an extremely happy one. I got up around midday and went out with Antonio to a local butchers and supermarket to get some groceries for that night´s festivities. I got a chance to catch a glimpse of the city, both the positive aspects for example the amazing granje Estadeo de Sao Paulo, the home of the Sao Paulo Football Club and negative, the juxtaposition of local ótel´s and the city´s street slums. That night we celebrated 2 great occassions, it was my host brother Leonardo´s 9th birthday and my welcoming party to Brazil. So many laughs were had as I met some local people my own age. I enjoyed this a great deal, as these fine young people (Phillip, Pedro and Marillia) spoke english almost more fluently than I do. The food reminded me of home as we had a BBQ and sampled many local treats.
24/1/05- Today I got cracking on my Portugues. My teacher was my little brother Léo who managed to introduce me to a great deal of Portugues, through boardgames, playstation and futbol (soccer). Likewise my host Mum Edna taught me the names of traditional foods. Although my thick mind struggled to take in the vast amounts of information. In the afternoon we took in a walking tour of the local condiminium. Which is the neighbourhood we live in, it is enclosed in a barbed wire fence and is patrolled frequently by seemingly friendly security personal. I am enjoying the local food at the moment, which seems to be made up of beef, beans, legumés (with mayonaise), salad, fruit (banana, guava, grapes, mangoes, peaches and plums), although I am not sure whether this is a typical meal for the poverty stricken people of the area.
In any case I hope you enjoyed the first part of the series, the Odyssey shall continue
Love you all
tchau
David