Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks:
Here’s a few rio friends at this really cool samba club. It’s basically a converted three-story antique shop that’s now a venue for live samba music and dancing. Elegant, chic, and fun. From left to right: Sarah, a Miami native who just recently finished grad school; Marc, from Britain, an amazing sense of humor, and with whom it’s been great to go out and try to tackle the brasilian female mystery; and Raoul, a native Mexican who’s finishing up law school (at Harvard, incidentally).
This one of my host family in sua casa. Two grandmothers, the host mother and her daughter who’s my age, very pretty and engaged to get married. The grandmother to the left gives me giant hugs multiple times a day. Awesome.
One more from Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer Statue.
I also went to visit a favela this past week, which is a brasilian slum that is similar to most any other slum in a developing country except for the fact that favelas are located in the hills of the city, and as a result, hold the best views of the city. They were developed unofficially throughout the 1950s (as a result of a migration by northeasterners who were looking for work) and only recently became officially recognized parts of the city (finally receiving basic city services like trash collection and transportation). I'll try to write more about this because it was fascinating and one of the most interesting parts of my trip.
4 comments:
nice pictures Michael. you looked so handsomely happy!
Mike
I really enjoyed your insights on being Asian in Rio and race in general. I'd love to talk more about race with you at some point in the future. Are you headed back to SF anytime soon?
Jonah
Mikey Lee: Forgive me for being crass (typical of me, yes)...but I really hope you experiment with some of the ladies of South America. Its just part of the experience and judging by the pictures, it would be worth it. If your heart isn't in it, then don't--but why not? Thanks for the commentary, its pretty insightful and 180 degrees out from my gutter instinct. Look forward to having you back. One last pitch: in the end, all we are is a sum of our memories and experiences. Take care, homey. -Will
Mike,
Sounds like an awesome time. Pictures look great. How did you arrange to spend your time in Brazil with a family? Or was that the connection through your mother's messuss?
Did you talk politics with anyone there yet? How do they feel about Chavez in Venezueal? I look forward to more information about the hillside slums.
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