off we go to guaramiranga...

In typical American fashion, we set out for a day of errand running- Annie, Jed (Annie's boyfriend), Col, and I, but of course, things strayed from the checklists when we happened upon Pão de Açucar. This "sheeky" supermarket consumed us all as we went up and down the aisles oohing and ahhing..."there is so much stuff!" Compared to our local corner stores in the favela, well, this was another world. With a few products such as olive oil, pesto, and lentils, our culinary creativity has been soaring lately. One find that I feel the need to make note of: açai bread...tastes a bit like a blueberry bagel- it's really quite fantastic.

And this Annie character I have mentioned? I guess you could say she is the backbone of Fairloom, the one who really got things rolling...and at the ripe age of twenty-six, she's accomplished a lot of goodness. This brightly-blue eyed, lover of nature (her and Jed work on trails back in New England) has taken Col and I under her wing, showing us the ropes of the city, the favela, and Fairloom. Getting to know the ladies and their work this past week has been a treat...and hearing about their stories from Annie- I am often times left speechless. With familial hardship taken to unfathomable degrees, these women have seen a hardknocked reality. And here, among me now, a handful of these courageous and talented women have joined together to create- not only the detailed renda, but also a motivation and an inspiration, to build a communal strength both in their hearts and spirits. An inspiration indeed.

Colleen and I have recently been adopted. Our living situation will be changing pace in a few weeks when Annie heads back to the States. Our work with Fairloom will continue, but we will be moving in with a family outside of Terra Prom, only a ten minute walk from Casa Cultural (where the ladies work). Col was linked to this family before we even arrived, through a friend who had studied in Fortaleza and lived with the fabulous Dona Gita (our new mai- mother). So of course, in true Brazilian fashion, Col and I were both enveloped in this family's good lovin' and offered a nest to call our own. We have been meeting and hanging out with various members of the familia and oh what fun this has been! Last night we met up with Gisa, Dona Gita's niece, and she has invited us to celebrate Carnaval with her and her friends. Yeah, that's right, it's Carnaval time here in Brazil...and due to our last minute planning slash isolation up here on the northeastern coast, we will not be able to experience this festival via the ritz and glitz of Rio nor will we party with the blocos of Salvador. For us, Guaramiranga it will be- a scenic village perched in the mountains a few hours outside of Fortaleza. My guess is that no matter where one is in Brazil, the spirit of Carnaval is on high, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing how the colorful slopes of Guaramiranga do it up during these highly anticipated days of frenzy. Adventure certainly awaits. Stay tuned...