I´m writing from Foz do Iguacu, a city on the border between Argentina, Brasil and Paraguay and the site of a famous set of waterfalls. I´m on my way to Buenos Aires and thought I´d stop on through. It´s an uninspiring place and a bit of a tourist trap. The falls were cool, and I even took a motor boat ride down on the river right up to the falls. But I will be happy to move on to the next stop.
Sao Paolo was actually fantastic. The first couple of days, I was here alone but I connected with two Paulistas I found through Servas, an organization that connects hosts and travelers from around the world who are interested in cross-cultural exchange. It has a peace-building mission so the people who I´ve met through it have tended to be very interesting, socially-minded, and cool. Sao Paolo had the feel of no city I´ve ever been to. Some combination of the vast concrete landscape of LA with the concentration and height of new york city. Yet, it feels like neither. It just feels endless. While i was there, the city was on holiday to celebrate its birthday, an event that cities throughout brasil all celebrate.
Highlights of my time were: going to the planetarium at midnight to see the sky over Sao Paolo in a special birthday show, seeing Os Mutantes (a famous psychedelic rock band from the 70s) perform in the park, sampling the city´s famous japanese and italian cuisine (still not better than san francisco, i think), visiting the new Museum of the Portuguese Language, and going out to some very cool clubs. I also had my first brasilian kiss, so I can go home happy.
On a larger level, my time in Sao Paolo has left me with an even stronger feeling of affection for Brasil. The people I have met here have been some of the warmest, coolest, and nicest people I have encountered. It could be some kind of coincidence but I think what I have felt is part of a larger cultural phenomenon. There is an openness and simplicity in interpersonal interactions that feels incredibly refreshing.
I know this deserves a more thoughtful and detailed exposition but this will have to do for now. I am heading to Buenos Aires definitely excited to see a different city but also sad to be leaving Brasil, even for only a few days.
5 comments:
Mike,
I appreciate your thoughts. The comment about a "larger cultural phenomenon" caught my attention. I wonder of the simplicity you speak of is connected to economic activity. One of the issues in the globalization debate is the assumption that economic activity is the area in which improvement needs to occur. I wonder if increased economic activity might compromise the simplicity that you describe.
hey matty, great to hear from you. i think your question is an interesting and complicated one. for me, there is something about brasil´s culture that feels very un-modern. i don´t mean antiquated but there is a slowness, warmth, and pleasure that people live with that just doesn´t seem to have survived the powerful effects of economic modernization in so many other parts of the world. brasil seems to have preserved this for now but who knows as it continues to develop what will happen. . . let´s talk more soon.
whats up yanche! just wanted to say hello and hear more about this kiss of yours =)
The IGUAZU falls are one of the best attractives of Argentina and Brasil.
The Argentina side has the majority of the falls and cascades. I liked
so much it
Keep up the good work.
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