Fuera!

My relationship with words is really interesting especially a second language. I know the common conception of a word is to think of the word as a fact, data, or some bit of information. In the case of first languages I think that is a perfectly reasonable way to understand words. When you learn a second language, I think something in the brain is different. Words are no longer data they are little bits of life, experiences, moments, and tastes that are first passed through your emotional mind and then spread over the language you have. The richer the experience, the thicker the coating - the sweeter the taste, the more easily recalled the word. So when I'm learning Portuguese I'm not really learning a language. I'm piecing together a patchwork of my experience with Portuguese - that is how I remember the words. (I'm can't believe I'm referencing Eat Love Pray in regards to Lanuage learning) The scene where Julia Roberts is learning Italian with her lanuage teacher is a good example of this feeling.

The first time I "LEARNED" the Spanish word fuera was an emotional experiece I will never forget. Of course I had heard it many times before but this time the word sealed in my mind.

I was studying in Valencia Spain for a semester. This was basically The "Eye opening" experience for me. First time in another country, learning Spanish, different food, culture. So I was already experiening alot of new things none more shocking than the Bullfight.

About the middle of the trip we had a huge holiday for Easter (almost an entire month). During this time there was a bullfight, as is tradition. My expectation for a bullfight was kind of a mix of Madonna's Take a Bow and what I had seen on "When animals Attack TV shows" Well the bullfight was nothing like either of these things.

As ridiculous as it may sound, bullfighters brutally stab a huge animal and attempt to look graceful doing so. One element of the spectale that is hard to express is the absolute nearness of the brutality. I did not realize the size of bullfighting stadium. The arena is so small and closed. I had imagined we would be sitting in a place the size of basketball gym. Actually the feeling is more like sitting in a theater. At this range is is possible to see drops of blood, the edge of the blade, all the muscles on the animal. The absolute intensity of the spectacle is indiscrible. Seeing a bull slain is closest I can imagine to witnessing a murder. I was completely shocked by the experience and that is how I learned the word fuera.


In each bullfight there are typically 4 or 5 rounds. With the death of each bull a new bull enters and a new matador to kill him. On one occasion a bull entered. After being stabbed several times, the bull did not show the same fight as the other bulls. The crowd began chanting the word "Fuera, Fuera, Fuera!" After a few choral chants the bull was allowed to live. For the crowd to be dismissed was a disgrace for the bull - as if it were a honor to be unfairly killed. For me Fuera was a saving grace. Escape from an otherwise certain death. I will never forget this word b/c of the strong emotional feeling I had when I heard the crowd.

Yesterday I was so happy to see this word used in another way. Last night and today 33 miners that have been trapped for 69 days underground were being rescued. I don't want to tell the whole story basically it is a story of hope and inspiration. Around the site the families of the miners formed a camp (camp hope) in the desert to wait for the return of their loved ones. This camp was a huge vigil for the entire community and came to represent the collective hope of all of Chile.

Around the camp there were various banners. On of the banners said "Fuera Mineros" and you chould often hear the family members saying "Fuera" emploring for their loved ones to be take out of the mine. I couldn't help but thinking about the bullfight and the first time I learned this word. I am happy to say, one by one the minders were rescued. Much like the bull the miners were saved from a otherwise certain death. Fuera los dos.

In Brazil I pound the pavement...no really I do

When I think of cultural differences between Brazil and the US there are so many that come to me - all the typical things you notice when you travel. I don't want to write about those things. I want to write about the mundane, the boring, the lowest of the low. The sidewalk.

First let me start by saying I don't walk much in the US. I have lived in many cities and outside of University walking has never been a part of my daily life - I never thought about sidewalks in the US. So you would think my experience with sidewalks would not be blog worthy. Actually I think one good characteristic of a good sidewalk is that you don't have to think about it. You can walk with peace of mind that the ground below your feet will be predictable, consistent, and safe. In 95% of the cases in the U.S. where there are sidewalks this is the case so I never spent much time thinking about them.

In Brazil (at least in Porto Alegre where I live) the sidewalk situation is an daily pain both literally and figuratively. Honestly I wonder to myself if American sidewalk builders are working with an unfair advantage b/c the Brazilian sidewalks do not fit any of the characteristics of a sidewalk. Lets look at each issue separately:

1) Flatness - In this aspect the sidewalks in Porto Alegre, and I suspect all of Brazil, are an utter failure. The sidewalks are made of ceramic tiles (as apposed to concrete slabs in the U.S.). Each tile is subject to changes of elevation, angle, composition, texture, and various other factors. The end result is the the sidewalk varies as a result of the ground as apposed to the remaining constant.

2) Straightness - In this regard the sidewalks are acceptable however often there are so many obstacles (trash, cars, chairs from restaurants, dog poo, people) that you are not able to walk in a straight line.

3) Consistency - Once again the sidewalks fail in this regard. On my block for example there are at least 5 different building materials for the side walk. It appears that each individual has been left to decide how to maintain their sidewalk (this is not the case) and that everyone has choose a side walk material that suits their own individual needs. There are rocks, many types of tile, bricks, concrete, and sand in a one block distance.

4) Cleanliness - I mentioned this above but it bears repeating. The side walks are so dirty it is ridiculous when compared to American sidewalks. Basically everyone in the city puts their trash on the sidewalk for collection and then there are various people (city workers, people who collect trash to sell, homeless) that rummage through the trash. Naturally much of the trash ends up in the street and sidewalk. Also there are people who live at particular sidewalk "hotpots." Needless to say not clean.

5) Traffic - Wow. Americans don't walk and it is a problem however if you are an American and you want to walk you are in heaven b/c you have full access to amazing sidewalks. I remember walking in downtown Fort Worth a few months ago and I only passed someone every few blocks and didn't have to change my path b/c the sidewalk was so wide. In Brazil there are 10X the number of people walking on sidewalks that are smaller and of lower quality.

The end result for me has been to live in a constant state of minor foot/leg pain. I trip and fall more than necessary and now something new has developed. I often have the uncontrollable (I do manage to control myself, how I do not know) urge shove people out of my way. I don't want to hurt them or even bother them I just want to shove them just so I will not be impeded/slowed while walking. I just want to push them and pass and they continue on with there cell conversation and not even notice what happened.

"American pushes future President Dilma" I can see the headline now. Blame it on the sidewalk. I have been spoiled by American neatness, lines, and industrial perfectionism.

Eat Love Pray

Last night I watched "Eat Love Pray" with Mariana and a coworker. I have to say I was a bit skeptipal b/c it is 1) A chick flick, 2) Based on a book, 3) Has Julia Roberts in a staring role. None of these factors make a movie bad necessarily but the combination of the three tend to = over hyped and doesn't live up to anyone expectations. I mean when has a Julia Roberts role not named Pretty Woman been better than expected, when has a chick flick pleasantly surprised, and when has a movie ever been better than the book. Needless to say I had my doubts.

It was good. I don't think it will be for everyone but I liked it.
The main themes of the movie were, Travel, Love, Food, Culture and Self discovery. All of these things speak to me. I have made many journeys like the one in the movie.

The main thing I took away from the movie was the interesting connection between Love and Travel. I do believe (with only my own personal experience as evidence) that there is a major connection between love and travel.

Maybe our minds are more open to the world when we travel and then love arrives. Or maybe others can see our vaurnablity and seek to help and guide us during travels. Or maybe it could be that in need of love people naturally seek it out much like an animal will roam for food. I don't really know why the connection exists but I most certainly believe that to travel is to promote love.

There was one scene in the movie (I won't spoil it for everyone) where Julia Roberts love interest ask her to get on a boat with him for a weekend trip, just the two of them. This scene really demonstrates the connection between love and travel. He was not just asking her to go he was asking for a confirmation of love and a strengthening of their relationship.

I hope when everyone watches this movie they don't walk away thinking that Americans are rich, or that when life gets bad you should seek out a Guru in Bali or India. I really hope people don't leave this movie wanting to take extravagant trips to faraway places to be closer to God. I hope when people watch this movie they walk away with the idea that when you love someone you travel with them, or you travel for them, or you travel to them.

If you still don’t believe in the link between love and travel then why are foreign accents so hot? And why are vacations with loved ones the best part of any year?