kites, locks & mango

My obsession with Brazil roots deep. I'm not quite sure how to define this intrigue of mine- perhaps its her peoples, her rhythm, her spirit. Whatever it may be, this dreamland of mine is at my feet and oh how this excites me so! Miss. Colleen Ferguson and I set our bags down in Terra Prometida a little over a week ago. This community of roughly 250 families is set in a favela (slum) in the northeastern city of Fortaleza. "Terra Prom" as Col and I like to call it, is perched right on the Atlantic, and although the ocean breeze makes the days heat bearable, her waters and sands out front are a bit of a tease to we gringo due to the high risk area.

The sights that surround me now are vibrant. Children kite-running, clotheslines zig-zagging, haggard animals roaming, folks just chillin'. The people here, they take "chill" to a whole new level. Bare-chested, pot-bellied men posted up on buckets, cards in hand. Chatty-Kathys lounge on their porches, commenting on those who pass by. And the children? They are everywhere- herds of them, out and about at all hours of the day. "When in doubt, grab a child to go with you," we were told upon arriving. I take comfort in knowing that we've got hundreds of mini-bodyguards up in here.
So as not to overwhelm you with my novelesque tendencies, allow me to take my sister's advice and provide you with a few random thoughts/highlights via bulletpoint...

...the diet here is one my insides are still getting used to- yes, the fruit is abundant and delectable indeed, and i was running off of mangoes and bananas for a while, but we all know that only led to increased bathroom visits. The only really rough day thus far though was the day I overdosed on cajus (cashews), only producing bodily hardship, not to mention I will never again be able to put a cashew in my mouth. Sad day.
...my Portuguese is coming along, passo a passo. Having Spanish in the forefront helps immensely, as does our informal Portuguese-English exchanges with Wagneide, a 16-year-old friend slash all-time lover of Harry Potter.
...locking things up, it just doesn't come naturally. Here in Terra Prom, we have to lock up just about everything. Our house, for example, has two locked gates before you even reach the front door (also locked of course)...and the locked doors within the premises itself??? This will be taking some getting used to!
...as for our collabo with Fairloom, we are getting to know the ladies and their indigenous craft, known as renda (bobbin lace) before we jump into the design scheme of things. Learning how to renda has been quite the experience- Col's already making garments with the women (just kidding-but she is quite the worker of lace) and I, well, I'm making progress. To learn more about Fairloom's vision, hit up their website: http://www.fairloom.org/.

And before I sign off, I must add that if you are feeling South America pulling at the strings of your soul, well, let's make it happen. My arms are wide open...