in a few words, Pacotí was beautiful, and our experience as a group there was indescribable... now, we're more united and ready for what challenges lie ahead.
friday, after a 2-hour bus drive up into the mountains, we arrived to a "site" (similar to aida's sítio--see previous entires) or a simple house located on a small parcel land (owned by a rich landowner). this gracious family of 5 (not to mention all their neighbors and cousins coming and going) hosted and cooked for all 26 of us (21 students plus 5 leaders) for the entire weekend! we brought our own food, but it was still tricky for them to manage all our meals, let alone for them to find enough space for everyone to hang their hammocks... apparently, they´re used to it, because SIT sends their students there every semester. regardless, their generousity, love and care to host us was an amazing example of brazilian hospitality!
saturday, we split up into two groups: one went into the "city" (pop. 3000) of Pacotí, and the other stayed at the "site" to get to know the rural life of Pacotí (i.e. the life of the farmers and their landowner). in the afternoon, we compared our experiences and revisited our position as outsiders and people of privilege (i.e. we come and go, but what can we take from these experiences?)... debates/discussions such as these are exactly why i´m here--to be challenged and to discover the reality of another culture by being aware/conscious of my place in the world... to find peace within myself and justice in the world... for "peace is the fruit of justice."
saturday evening, we went to Guaramingaba (another mountain town) to a annual theater festival... i didn't make it into the theater show (because they sold out before i got a ticket), but i enjoyed people-watching, hanging out with a few fellow students, drinking a cold draft beer (my first since florianópolis), and breathing in the cool mountainous air...
sunday was our "mountain-top" experience as a group. we went on a hike to a remote chapel about 5 km further into the mountains, past the banana farms and down a long dirt road. just like the coast, the mountains are scattered with palm trees of all kinds--something very unusual for a mountain girl, like me. (there are as many as 12 different species of palm trees!) once we got to the chapel, we sat in silence--listening to the wind and the stillness of the moment. (it was a wonderful relief from the constant chatter i hear from everyone in the group.) after that, we shared our fears of the semester and of ourselves, our emotions, our pardons, and our hugs. it was a wonderful bonding experience, and i feel like many of us were able to let go of the things that might have been holding us back... plus, i really liked that we essentially broke the ice by sharing embraces... i love hugs, and i really began to miss them... you know me.
anyway, after that, we headed back to the sítio, packed up, and went back to the heat, humidity, and grime of fortaleza... oh joy... yesterday, we walked around fortaleza with our portuguese professors, and today, we started our portuguese classes and program's seminars... that's it for now, but feel free to email me or write me a snail mail letter... hint, hint. love you guys! and miss you terribly!
Hope Deifell
c/o William Calhoun
Caixa Postal 52867
Agencia Aldeota
Fortaleza - CE - Brasil
60150-970
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