Bridge Brazil

Alright, so I didn't take this picture, BUT I am in it. This is our group of students from this week at Bridge Brazil. The language program is excellent, truly. We have a great book we've been working through but the majority of our 4 hours-a-day language class is spent in discussion- sometimes of very guided topics- but sometimes we also meander greatly. It's been a great place to review, practice, and test our Portuguese. For example, after having trouble ordering at the deli in Zona Sul, we approached our Bridge Brazil teacher to ask about the proper methods. Very helpful indeed. We're also getting great tips like, "Wear closed-toe shoes, shorts, and a colorful shirt, mask, or feathers for Carnaval!" and "It would be alright to bring your nice camera to the Sambodromo on Carnaval, but be very very very careful with it on your way there."

The picture is blurry because I still don't have the guts to carry around my baby (Nikon D80). That's the one part about Brazil that is really disheartening- carrying around fancy electronics (that might take really nice photos) is just not safe. In the metro, you'll see people using iPods (or similar devices) but mostly everyone is reading a paper or a book or staring absent-mindedly at the people around them. You'll never see someone reading from a Droid or iPhone, never see anyone working from an iPad, laptop, or Blackberry. They might be carrying such devices, but they are all hidden away to deter pick-pocketers and muggers. And you virtually never see anyone on the street using an electronic device- no music, no google map-searching, not even calling. I guess a plus is that it causes you to read more, be more aware of your surroundings, and maybe even engage more with the people around you. But it's also stressful when all you want to do is photograph everything!