Thanks from home!

It was hard to leave Brazil but fun to wake up to a light snow covering the ground and branches this morning. I love my Brazilian yoga towel and will treasure it along with the card from all the students. Thanks so much to everyone who made this program special--I will also treasure all the memories we made during January 2010!

January 22nd a little delayed

We were supposed to get up super early to bird watch in the Amazon. Unfortunately due to the rain the bird watch was cancelled. We all hung around the boat playing cards, reading, sketching, etc until the afternoon when we all got into canoes and took a tour of the river. It was a very nice ride. We were able to see various plants and a number of birds which made up for the missed bird watching experience earlier that morning. We also were able to see river dolphins swimming in the river. Some of us always missed siting them and so we had to continuously keep silent because they tended to stay away. Very cool when we finally caught site of them. We were able to see other little communities along the river as well as people traveling from one place to another on the water. We saw the people who live along the river in their natural state and we had a great time together.

Fasano

One more thing...Today a few enthusiastic students took the tour I scheduled with Fasano of Rio de Janerio. I would love to tell everyone how amazing this place is - but clearly, it is best seen in photos. Just one tid-bit - Madonna, Sting, Lenny Kravitz....just to name a few - stay here when in Rio. What a treat!!

and then there was one....

Me (Jules)!! Left in Rio.

The amazing force.....(that is this group of students), left on a coach bus at about 7:30 pm for home. I was so thankful for Matt Hope's parents tonight! They kept me company for about an hour and a half - they bought me a few drinks - and they decided to take Mike's luggage home with them!! (Mikey, how did you leave your luggage behind?? Really funny, right?? So, thanks Mom and Dad Hope!!

While hanging out with the Hope's.... I was very tempted to read the "Love Note" (aka, thank you note) that the students handed me while they were on their way home. I figured I would be less emotional if I read some of it in front of others - so I pulled out my gift - (the way amazing necklace seen above) and the note below. All I can say is I am so proud of this cohesive and wonderful group.

I would love to be able to blog about the amazing night I had (post-students!!) but I am relaxing tonight!! While some of the students found House on TV - I think I will curl up with a good book, Outliers by Gladwell, to be exact (thanks Travis!) and just chill!

Last Day

It has been a truly amazing trip. We all made connections with so many unique people in which we shared unforgetable memories. On January 31, we all went to the hippie fair for last minute souvenir shopping. Later in the day, we all went to a soccer game. It was Flamengo verse Fluminese. The fans went wild, as well as some of our group. It was really nice to be together enjoying a soccer game on our last night. When we got back to the hotel, everyone had to pack and finish last minute sketches. However, we can all honestly say this trip has helped us grown and mature further in life. We will remember how difficult it is for foreigners and communication skills. We are happy to have shared this experience with such an amazing group of people.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=561136&id=1337970081

Class and Christ

Today was our last day at the classroom. I know everybody shed a tear when we were leaving the classroom. After class we headed to Rio's most famous landmark, Corcavado. We took vans up to the top of the mountain up to the Christ the Redeemer statue. The views were absolutely breathtaking. Corcavado offers a three hundred and sixty degree view of every part of Rio. It was a great way to cap off the trip. For the past month we have been traveling around seeing pieces of Rio at a time. It was amazing to get a chance to see everywhere we have been all at once. As great as it was it was also a little sad to know we had just made our last excursion of the trip.

I think we speak for everyone when we say that the past month has been nothing short of spectacular. The things we have experienced and seen are things many people don't get to see in a lifetime. It's sad that it has comer to and end but we can only look back and smile on our time here in Rio.

Chris R and Travis

January 27th Traveling day 3

January 27th "Traveling Day 3"

Before we up and left for the airport, many of us got up to explore the city of Manaus. We walked for a good hour before we found some interesting street vendors selling all sorts of interesting souvenirs. One of us even bought a machete, even though we got a chance to see the street life, there was not enough time to get a really good idea of the city.
We left for the airport at around noon, and travelled to Brasilia and then back to Rio. The flight to Brasilia was an extra hour due to a horrible storm that we needed to travel around, however we were still on time for the flight to Rio.

It was a long day, the flights took a lot out of us and by the time we got to our new hotel most of us were glad to see the sheets and pillows of our new plush beds. tomorrow would be a new day for exploring, and even though we already new the city, the new area would surely prove an exciting experience.

-Jason and Oren

Last day on the boat

1/25 was a totally packed day. We woke up on the boat with pink river dolphins right outside our windows. After breakfast we all went out to feed the dolphins and some of us even swan with them.

We relaxed on the boat for most of the day until we docked at a small secluded island, where most of us worked on an art assignment which was making Andy Goldsworthy inspired art out of the nature we encountered on the beach. The two of us an Oren made a 2d tree out of wood scraps and branches we found on the beach, which came out pretty awesome.

Back on the boat we realized that the water was deep enough to jump off the boat. Everyone took turns jumping and diving off. Some of us (Mikey and Sam) did not have very pretty landings and were definitely feeling it the next day.




That night we had a farewell cookout on the island and had a great time sitting around for hours talking and eating. It was a great ending to a great week.

January 24 - We Survived the Jungle!!!

This morning we woke up in the jungle to sounds of birds chirping, toads croaking and a small waterfall close to our campsite. Some people slept peacefully, while others struggled to get comfortable in their hammocks and conquer their fears of jungle cats invading the camp site. After we packed up our hammocks we took a short hike back to small boats which took us through a small creek and back to our big boat. Everyone was excited to get back to the boat to eat, shower and sleep. The rest of the day we cruised along the river and enjoyed the sun shine - something we hadn't seen for a few days. We stopped in the Amazonian city of Novo Airao, a ship building community. We explored the city and returned to the boat to eat dinner, which remained docked at Novo Airao through the night.

While walking through the city we thought it was very interesting that while they seem so far removed from, there are many similarities between their culture and ours. Everyone has really valued the opportunity to experience the Amazon and interacting with the indigenous people. In the past four days we have experienced so many things that most people only ever see on TV. While we enjoyed Rio and are excited to go back, our time in the Amazon has been extremely rewarding.

Jan 29 - Revisiting the Jardim Botanico

As the deadline for our final projects came closer, we disembarked our hotel to revisit the Jardim Botanico. As our hotel was closer to the garden this time, we took a leisurely yet extremely hot stroll (what's new, right?) towards the garden complete with all kinds of graffiti and graphics lining the walls. Once we arrived we quickly delved into a first hand lesson about the elements of design led by Jules and Sue. While we had discussed these in class and some felt it a bit redundant, being able to interact with the elements and gain a full picture of the scene brought a new perspective and clearer understanding to some of us.
One interesting fact we learned from a Rio professor curious about our studies: Rio is second in the world to Paris for the number of iron statues (or was it another metal?). France had donated many of these statues. These statues line many of the walkways in the garden and provide many of the focal points.
Following our garden lecture and a bromeliad exhibit we were free to wander on our own and discover many parts of the garden we missed out on during the first round. Ultimately, Jardim Botanico was a great way to start and end the trip.

Hisham and Evan

A shower has never felt better...

Jan 26 was our last day on the boat in the amazon. Although we were sad because that amazing experience had come to an end, we all could not wait to take showers with water that was not from the negro river. We also could not wait to dry off with a dry towel. Luckily, on our way back to Manaus, we got to stop at a Native American village and have one more amazing activity in the amazon. The native americans put on a dance show, which was a great example of their culture. Their intricate costumes and body paint really caught our eyes. We especially liked the black paint that made patterns on their legs. It was also interesting how they used their ankle bracelets as instruments because they made noise when they stepped.

After seeing the Amazon and the cultural differences from Rio, we have a much broader view of Brazilian culture and way of life. Rather than live in apartment buildings in Rio with everything you need provided to you in walking distance, the amazonians literally lived in the middle of no where. We would drive the boat for miles and all of a sudden a random house or village would pop up. The floating houses were especially interesting. Their common use of transportation was small wooden motorboats. What amazed us most was that they really knew how to use their natural surroundings to their benefit for food and medicine.

- Sam C. and Lindsay

Blog for January 23rd our Amazon Adventure!

Today was an action packed day. Our first stop was to a native village along the Rio Negra where we learned about a food staple in Brazil, manioc. During our visit at the village our group was attacked by ferocious fire ants. Fortunately we all recovered in time to play with the local children and challenge the locals to a soccer match. Our team started off strong with some early goals but the locals decided to turn it on and show us how real football was played. After we finished the game and giving all of the children piggy back rides we headed back to the boat for a delicious lunch of rice, beans, and some form of chicken or fish. We then set sail for our next destination, the jungle! We prepared as best we could for the hike and overnight but no one really knew what we were in for. Led by our brave guides Antonio and Feliciano we cut trail through the Amazon (literally) for almost 2 hours! We finally arrived at our luxurious campsite, 26 hammocks and a bonfire, which we would call home for the night. We cooked over the fire and had a scrumptious dinner on hand picked banana leaves. When it became time for bed everyone slowly moved towards the hammocks hoping we would wake in the morning without any disturbances. Morning eventually came and we all awoke alive and well, ready to get back to the boat and onto our next adventure! As you can see we had a very memorable day!

See you all soon!

Brian and Julie

Departing for Manaus

The last 24 hours has us all worn down. We spent our last hours in Ipenema scrambling for the long flight to Manuas. Eight people spend part of the day hang-gliding while the rest of the group was exiled to the lobby of the hotel. Finally we were picked up and departed to the airport to Manaus. The airport security was more lax than in the states which led to us waiting at the gate for a longer time, but most of us took advantage of the time and sketched. Once on the plane, we waited on the ground for over an hour without moving. The seats were small and uncomfortable. We finally arrived in Manaus around 4:30 am rio time. However, our moods grew more positive at the sight of the spacious rooms and nice hotel. The next morning everyone slept as late as possible. The city was new so we all hung around in the hotel until the late afternoon. As a group we toured the Opera house around the block. We all enjoyed putting on slippers and sliding around the ballroom floor. Outside was a celebration for St. Sebastion which caught everyone's attention. Later that night, we took a bus ride to a buffet that had everyone thrilled. There was a large variety and great food that satisfied everyone's appetite. Tomorrow we leave early for the 5 day boat excursion. We anticipate small cabins and many large animals/insects. We expect to be dirty, smelly, and a lot closer by the end of the trip. The amazon will shine light on our Brazilian experience compared to the last 2 weeks we spent in the city of Ipanema.

Mikey Tries to Samba

Over the weekend, we had the rare experience of visiting a samba school. With samba being such a rich part of the Brazilian culture, everyone was very excited to witness some of the greatest Samba in the world. The dancers had actually won the samba dance contest this past year at Carnival, and we got to watch the show and understand why they are the best in the world. I had no idea people could move their hips so fast, and many of the guys on the trip had the deer-in-the-headlights look when the female samba dancers took over.

The dance hall was very similar to an indoor bazaar, with drink and food stands scattered all about. The sides of the hall were filled with seats and tables surrounding the center dance floor. The dance hall was your typical Rio scene, many different cultures and people of all ages, from small children to very old men who were still better at it than any of us gringos. But after we watched a bit and had a capirhina or two, everyone was giving it their all. Unfortunately, there were only about 2 or 3 students that did not stick out like a sore thumb. The rest of us were asked not to come back. Mikey Thau was kicked out of the club as the manager said he was a disgrace to samba, Brazilian culture, and a true danger to all nearby.

Today was a constructive learning experience for everyone on the trip. An assignment gave students the opportunity to design walking tours in Rio de Janeiro, specifically for the Ipanema and Copacobana area. The tours were intended to familiarize the groups, composed of four students each, with the surrounding areas and improve our navigation skills, as navigating a city like Rio with no understanding of the language leads to sweaty and disgruntled American students. The tours were themed so that they took the students through a variety of stops that highlighted certain types of experiences.

One of the tours, “A Taste of Rio,” lead students through the streets of Rio to taste the native treats that the city has to offer such as Acai smoothies, chocolate pizza, and a favorite local brew of beer known as Skol. “Hot Shots” required the group to share a camera for the perfect pictures as it took a route that provided some of the most stunning scenic shots of the city. “The Gringo’s Guide to Ipanema Beach” provided a brief historical background of well-known sections of the beach and included some protocols to inform students how to avoid being viewed as a blatant “gringo,” or tourist. “Staying Cool in Rio” provided students with great places to avoid the intense heat, whether it is by stopping by the local surf shops, jumping in the ocean or cooling off to sketch in the rare shady spots. And of course, “The Five Senses of Rio” took the students through a tour that encompassed some rare treats for each sense, from the scent of local pastries to the beautiful views of the beach.

Tomorrow, we shall depart for the Amazon. It’s a place where the anaconda thrives and the jaguar pounces. I will be carrying a machete. Wish us luck!

The Enchanted Tijuca Forest

We started the day off visiting a private garden in Tijuca forest owned by a wealthy family. This garden was designed by Burle Marx as a favor to the family. If you haven’t kept up with our blog thus far, Burle Marx is a famous Brazilian landscape designer whose work is prominent in Rio and many places throughout the world. Although pictures of the home were not allowed, the garden surrounded a beautiful Portuguese style ranch. After exploring the garden for some time, we were invited for a lovely lunch of tea sandwiches, juices, coffee, and tea at the ranch. If you’ve never tried watermelon juice, you should.

Following this, we took a stop for a scenic view in front of a waterfall. We also visited Museo Do Acude which featured prominent Brazilian baroque style art, some of which we’ve already seen in other exhibits. To finish off the day, we took a 15 minute leisurely hike through Tijuca forest. As a reward for our wonderful and mature behavior, Sue treated us to some ice cream.

-Hisham and Evan

Something Old and Something New

Today, we all gathered in the lobby and prepared to set out on another long day of exploring Rio. Outside the hotel, everyone was relieved to see that we had once again been graced with the luxury of a private, air-conditioned tour bus. It is much more comforting knowing you always have a comfy, reclining chair waiting for you, rather than standing up and losing ten pounds of sweat on a local bus.

Our first stop was the Niterói Museum of Contemporary Art, or the Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niteró. This structure was literally out of this world. Situated on a cliff side overlooking the beach, the museum resembled some sort of UFO with its saucer-shaped modernist design. Inside, we viewed two floors of beautiful artwork. The first floor was dedicated mostly to photography, while the second housed many unique and abstract paintings and sculptures. We all scattered around the museum and proceeded to complete three sketches of our choice. It was extremely relaxing to sit down and work in such a tranquil environment.

After boarding the bus and eating a quick snack, we were dropped off at the grand Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, or Catedral de Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro. This church is the seat of the archbishop of Rio and is dedicated to Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of Rio de Janeiro. Located in the center of the city, this conical structure is another architectural marvel. We were all blown away by its four rectilinear stained glass windows, which stretch 210 feet from floor to ceiling.

Last, we set out for the neighborhood of Santa Teresa. This small neighborhood is famous for its winding, narrow streets and beautiful buildings. Instead of walking, we all paid sixty cents to board the Santa Teresa Historic Tramway. These old carts looked like trolleys you would see in the U.S. and shuttled us up the hill. The ride was anything but smooth and some students were a little alarmed when we crossed the Carioca Aqueduct high above the streets. After getting off the tram, we all wandered a bit before splitting up into smaller groups to eat a quick lunch at one of the many restaurants. It was a great way to end the day.

Rooftop Baking

Today we visited a landscape architectural office where we viewed some of Burle Marx’s paintings, sculptures, and landscape designs. The landscape architects are inspired by his work and showed us some of their recent landscape designs made by Autocad, a computer program. Our favorite design was definitely the ones with the pools. It was fascinating to see how abstract shapes can be so attracting to the eye. After visiting the office with amazing air conditioning, we went to a rooftop garden designed by Burle Marx where we baked in the sun in 102 degree weather. The plants were very exotic and unusual, especially this one tree (see photograph) because it started off as one trunk on the bottom but branched out into a bunch of smaller trunks. It was very interesting to view a garden with the backdrop of the top and middle of other buildings.

This past free weekend, half of the group went to an older and smaller city called Paraty. While everyone enjoyed being in a smaller group, it was nice to be reunited with everyone again. It was interesting to see landscape design plans before the rooftop garden because we got to see all the hard work put into the designs and then we got to see a final product. Brazil is definitely a whole lot different than the United States culturally but the most frustrating part is the language barrier. In comparison to a city like Manhattan, Rio has a much more relaxed atmosphere, as it mixes the beach aura with the hustle and bustle of the city. As we move forward with our trip, everyone is getting excited to be in a more secluded area and explore the Amazon.

- Sam Capezzuto and Lindsay Yeager

Hot Dreams

Dreams Come True

Rio, the place where anything is possible; where else can you be strolling down the beach and stumble upon one of your musical idols sipping on a coconut? Well, if any place in the world, this is it, and that is exactly what happened to me last night when I met Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bodello. It just goes to show that if you adventure out of your comfort zone from time to time, wonderful things can happen.

A Day in the Life

Our small group of intrepid students spent our morning in class, learning the elements and characteristics of design. We also discussed texture and shading in our sketches. We used a stool as a subject to practice shading and texture. As well as the outlining technique we learned in the first couple of days. The walk back today was hot, and as Jules told us, she read in the paper that Brazil is experiencing a heat wave and reach a record heat of 50 degrees Celsius. Apparently it translates to around 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Way to hot to even exist.

Heated Emotion

To be honest, Brazil is awesome except for one thing. The heat! Oh man, this heat is awful. After sweating for hours, getting back to your hotel room, and showering, you put a new shirt on, and sweat a whole lot more. Other than the heat, this place is amazing. You can go to the beach, a club, see a sunset, anything you can imagine you can do and do right.

Oren Schragger & Jason Milov

Flamengo Park

On Friday we rented bikes and took a leisurely group bike ride all around Flamingo Park, which Burle Marx took part in designing. We biked all throughout the park and then stopped for a sketching lesson at a skate park. As we sketched, a group of Brazilian kids gathered around us to watch as we sketched what we had just learned – using shadows to create tone. We were both happy when the kids seemed to really enjoy our sketches. We both wish we could have communicated, which seems to be a pretty consistent theme here, but we felt like the sketching did the communicating for us.

Bikes and Beyond

Today we all saw a new side of Rio. A beautiful but at times slightly uncomfortable and hot side(just kidding it was actually a great time). We went biking though Flamengo Park led by our faithful guide Andre. Flamengo Park is a great public park that runs along the coast of Rio starting near sugar loaf and ending near the airport. The park was designed by Roberto Burle Marx and his goal was to create a great public space for all classes of people to enjoy. Along the ride we got some great views of Sugarloaf which we had conquered a few days earlier along with nice stops at the museum of Modern Art and a sketching stop at a local skate park. It was a really enjoyable way to experience the park as we were able to see it all and enjoy a relaxing ride. It was great to see so many locals out and about playing sport or just hanging out. Riding through the park really made you feel like just another local enjoying the beauty of Rio.

Its only been a week into the trip but I think we speak for most of us when we say we feel like we have been here much longer. What was first a huge, busy, and slightly intimidating city is slowing starting to feel like home. The sights are more familiar the language a little easier and the admiration for this city is like the locals becoming stronger. Rio's reputation as the Marvelous City is most certainly true as both its beauty and people welcome you in with open arms. We can't wait to see what the upcoming weeks have to offer.

Until next time,

Chris R. and Travis