Saturday, January 31st, was an eventful day for all of us back in Rio. We kicked off the day by presenting our final presentations in a conference room that made us feel seriously professional. The presentations consisted of our group and individual projects. The group projects included multimedia presentations and demonstrations featuring topics such as Parks and People, Private Gardens, Healing Plants, and Tourism in Brazil. A couple of the presentations really blew us away. The individual presentations included the Sense of Place assignment, where students chose to observe over time a specific area of the Brazilian landscape and explain its significance to human culture. Individual presentations also included our Andy Goldsworthy assignment, which allows us to construct our very own piece of ephemeral art made from natural objects.
The evening included a trip to Rio Scenarium, a place that is hard to describe in words. Burrowed discretely in the back alleys of downtown Rio, I did not expect to encounter this huge establishment. Decorations were abundant, with artistic pieces emphasizing Brazilian culture scattered all over. Three floors of seating were available for those looking for a nice dinner. Additionally, the first floor included a stage with a live Samba band and a dance floor, the second floor a large techno nightclub that was popular with the younger crowd, and in the center a large indoor balcony for those who like to simply observe the action.
Rio Scenarium will definitely stand out in my mind as one of my favorite experiences in Brazil. I dare say I hope to open a place like that of my own some day...
