Olinda
The six volunteers!
I’ve been here for 3 weeks now and I really like it here in Olinda. I feel really at home here, I know my way around, feel safe and have loads of friends, both other volunteers and Brazillian’s. I am just about getting used to the heat, but my tan is still pretty poor, it’s just to hot to lie and sunbathe and they dont have sunloungers at the hotel’s pool – boo! I am however quite brown for me, its just that that is still white compared to everyone over here!
The first week was quite hard, I had a 4 hour Portuguese lesson every morning 9-1pm and I got more and more frustrated every day as I felt like it just wasnt sinking in at all! There is soo much to learn in such a short space of time. The afternoons I wandered around getting my bearings and doing shopping and then I met up with some other volunteers which was cool – finally some company and people to go drinking with!
The Hotel is really nice and clean and friendly, a lot better than I was expecting. Only one guy there speaks a bit of English, but everyone is as helpful and friendly as possible. It is situated right on the beachfront so I can see the sea whilst having breakfast – how cool is that. I haven’t managed to go in the sea or pool that much so far, much too busy socialising and working.
I was worried about starting my project with the kids, especially about not understanding them. It is a bit of a pain, but kids are kids wherever you go, they all love playing games of any sort and heads or tails seems to be the winner for me. As soon as I got there they ran up to me hugging and kissing me. Brazilians all love to show their affection, they are very touchy feely people, especially the kids. They were pressing my skin – amazed by how it changed colour from pink to white and back again, stroking my hair, jumping on me, and hugging me all at once, it was a bit overwhelming, but nice at the same time. I hope I learn lots of Portuguese from them so I can understand them better. It is really hard work, I am worn out after 4 hours there but it is the most rewarding job I have ever done. I think the bus journey there and back and the heat doesn’t help either. I actually work in Recife (about 30 mins bus journey from Olinda), which is fine during the day, but I dont feel very safe there at night, I would never go there alone in the dark.
Piccies of the kids at my project!
Tags: Brazil, Olinda, Travel
Aymi
Hi Amy
Im sat at work and its windy and raining – just saw your email adress in my contacts when sending an email and thought id check out how you are doing – seen that you arent having a lot of success with the language lessons – it must be hard trying to learn when your are fast asleep as usual!! its same old grind over here – i envy you doing what you are doing – I wish id done it when i was younger – trouble was i was married with kids at your age! I might have a mid life crisis and jet off somewhere – hope you are okay – us graduates (and Julia) are having a night out at the end of this month allegedly – we’ll have a drink for you – speak to you again – bye di bye – Steve