farewells

The time has come for us to bid our goodbyes. How am I feeling? Ready. Yeah, ready...and a bit sad to part ways from those who have made this experience a memorable one. It's really quite bittersweet you know- leaving experiences like these...full of the up and the down, the challenging and the rewarding, the laughter and the headache. Our main focus here was work, and I think we stuck to the plan- work is what we did. Teaming with the ladies at Casa Cultural was quite the experience...comical, exhausting, inspiring. Their patience with our lack of language (although we did attain quite the fluency I must admit!) played a large role in the success of our work, as did their lighthearted spirits, laughter always in the air. These women carry heavy realities on their backs, and yet their spirits remain wholesome. Learning heaps.

Rather than overwhelm you with words, let me do so with photos. Whether we were working away at Casa Cultural with the mulheres, or kickin' back in the hood with the meninos, good times were had...

One of my favs at Casa Cultural, the adorable Dona Rita...how could you not fall in love with her? She sits in her corner working away, day in and day out, barely peeping a word...oh I could just pick her up and give her a squeeze!!!
















Fatima and Dulce...

Mandalas were what we concentrated on...incorporating them in pillows, bikinis, and tops...

The pillows were my favorite items that we designed while here- here are a few of em'...

Babashuba...such a stud of a guy. At 79 years of age, he is as sociable as sociable gets, always out in the community hammering away. Such a workhorse that Babashoob.

The ultimate dreamboat of a child...

Oh Ozias!!!

The chickidee on the left, I like to call her Mariah (as in Mariah Carey)...she looks a bit like her, right? And the menina on the right is Josie...

I have failed to post a photo of Annie until now...here she is (left) with a Terra Prom favorite, Jeo.

Wagneide, our saving grace. From Portuguese lessons to talking about dreams, life, and boys...good times were certainly had.

Living with Dona Rita ("Rita-bean") and Senhor Jaimie...ay meu Deus...full of comedy, slumps, and having to be okay with never knowing what we were confronting day in and day out. Overall though, our homestay was wonderful- wouldn't change a thing.

A few things I will be missing from the casa...

1. Waking up to Jaimie's whistling each and every morning as he sets the table for breakfast.

2. Hanging out with Jarysson (their son who lives next door).

3. Jaimie's daily outfit: light blue shorts, with his lil' potbelly exposed- a shirt being a rarity for our Senhor. God bless him. 4. Jaimie's tinkering. He's always putzing around the house, fixin' something or other...always with a magnifying glass or a polishing kit at hand.

5. Dona Rita's homemade yogurt (I crave it at all hours).

Jose Luis, Ana and I...two fabulous feet-rubbers I might add.

Col and I became quite fond of our daily stretches at Annie's empty house in Terra Prom.

This allowed for much needed doses of peace and quiet- not sure what I would have done without this time. With the iPod bumpin', I made the patio my workout knitch...every time I sat up on a sit-up, this is what my eyes met...

Obrigada Terra Prometida

As for the agenda ahead, Rio de Janeiro it will be.