I've just arrived in São Paulo after spending a few days in Campinas (a suburb of São Paulo) with my friend Juliana from Vassar. It was great to see her, and lovely to relax in the luxury of an upper-middle class home, family meals, swimming pool and doting parents included. I've been enjoying reading, which I haven't really done in a year or two (just audiobooks). I read Hannah Arrendt's On Violence, and now I've started Freire's Pedagogy of Freedom. I'm remember how fun it is to read great books, and it's surprisingly easy to get back in the swing of it. I feel like I'm training a bit to get back in shape for school next fall!
Arriving in São Paulo this evening, I realized that only once before in my life have I been alone in a city where I don't know anyone (and that was just the happenstance of being caught overnight in Las Vegas when I didn't make my connecting flight). I'm staying in a youth hostel for the first time in years, and it's sweet to hear all the languages washing over me as I write this. I'm planning to do some museum visiting tomorrow. I'm particularly excited about the Museum of Sacred Art, housed in an old monastery.
I'm still trying to figure out the difference and appropriate uses of tudo bom and tudo bem (which cover a wide range of english phrases such as "how's it going" "everything alright?" "it's all good" "what's up" "you cool?" etc). They are unfortunately not interchangeable however, because I've been corrected more than once. If anyone knows, please tell me...
I'm not sure my next plan. I may go to a beach town to spend a couple more days with Juliana and her family on vacation, or I may go Santos to crash a few days of the Warriors without Weapons training conference. Or, I may head straight back to Rio. The uncertainty feels fun tonight, but it may feel scary tomorrow. I guess once it feels scary, I'll just need to decide. :)
Well, I'm hungry so I'm going to see if I can find some food before everything closes.
Beijos,
Marcus
p.s. I've really enjoyed hearing from people, so thank you so much. Please keep it coming...in two sentence comments here, in short or long emails, or telepathic messages if you can manage. Also, I've got a Skype telephone number now...it allows me to make unlimited calls to U.S. landlines and cell phones, and to receive calls to an east bay phone number. Lemme know if you want it.
i think it is only scary when you have the misguided notion that you will always be alone. i know someday you will be surrounded by as much obligation and family as i am (with all it's joys and frustrations). so...enjoy the freedom that comes with only being accountable to yourself. while you might choose it for more of your entire life, i doubt it. i see you imbedded in community. and you will look fondly back at this alone time and, perhaps wonder, did i enjoy that freedom enough.
ReplyDeletehi! just got your blog info from devin. sounds like you're having an amazing trip. liz and i are in india right now, taking a 5day yoga class.
ReplyDeleteScary/exciting! I'm in New York where it's 10 billion degrees below zero, Kelvin, so I'm envying you the sun!
ReplyDeleteHello, Marcus! I've been enjoying your blog a lot, living vicariously through it a bit, and also cherishing what I have here. Thanks for your musings, observations, and open heart. Your "I could talk about" entry was especially moving. Thinking about you. Cheers, John
ReplyDeleteP.S. I just put a picture up for the "following this blog" thing, I wanted to be part of the community experience, it is a Maybeck Halloween shot from 2002.