The Beach Boys go Brasilian

"Catch a wave and you're sitting on the top of the world......" So sings the beach boys and so I was on the verge of discovering........ until I lost my balance again and toppled back into the water. Yes, I attempted to surf this weekend. Some American friends and I met up with some girls we had met in our hostel in Salvador at the beach in Florianopolis to catch some sun and some waves, apparetnly. We stayed in a great condo- kitched included, which means we made scrambled eggs for breakfast, spaghetti for lunch, and pinapple upside-down cake for dessert- about a 15 min walk from a huge surfer beach. There was a surf school right on the corner of our street, so on Sunday the girls decided to see if we had what it takes to be sufer-girl "stading by the ocean's roar" worthy of Brian Wlison's desires. Fortunately, all of us showed promise, althou only two or three were able to really get the hang of it, myself not included. :o) I had my share of wipe-outs, but the few times that I was actually able to ride the wave into the beach was absolutely awesome!! I didn't quite get the adrenaline rush that I've heard comes with catching the perfect wave because I was concentrating entirely too hard on being able to stand up on my board, but I at least tasted a little bit of the excitement. Perhaps next time will be easier. (oh yes, there will be a next time.) "If we're not back by september, tell the teacher we're surfin', surfin' Santa Cantarina" ;o)

During our stay in Florianopolis we also went for a hike on some rocks by the beach and sat for quite a while just listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks and contemplating the extreme coolness of creation and how small humans feel against such power. It was very nice.

But back to my normal life in Curitiba, I was invited to a graduation dinner for my Brasilian cousin, and it was a very nice dinner although in keeping with the Latin American tradition, very late- 10pm! The father of the recent gradute came to the table and talked to my family and I for a little while, and we began talking about the United States, because his son is in Nevada right now working. Apparently not having arroz e fejão (beans and rice) in Nevada is the equivalent to not having any food! It was a great conversation until he began to cry, saying that his son should be here now sharing this moment with the family. I felt a little guilty, just because it seemed my prescense was a constant reminder of the absence of his son, but we all tried to console him, saying it was an opportunity of a lifetime, etc. I think the whiskey helped to pull him together as much as it did create the breakdown, but he was fine after a few minutes. The most interesting this that happend was after the dinner, however, when the DJ turned on the disco lights and the smoke machine and the entire crowd began dancing! Young people, recent graduates, and proud parents and aunts and uncles included! It was quite fun.

Classes have started at the Universtiy, and I once again felt like the lost freshman, especially today when I couldn't find the classroom and when I thought I had was even more perplexed that it was absolutely vacant! Fortunately, I encountered three other people procurando for the same class, and we finally figured out that there was no class this week, so I got uo at 5:45 to catch the bus and get to the school for a 7:30 am in class for absolutely no reason at all. However, I at least got to meet some of my classmates, so maybe it wasn't a complete loss. I'm getting used to the question "Você está de onde?" (Take a guess: where are you from?) and the inquisitive look with the statement "Você não é brasileira." (You are not brasilian.) I guess it must be prety obvious! But oh well, I can get over it. Plus its a great conversation starter!

So this Brasilian-poser is off to discover more new things- this weekend commences the Drama Festival in Curitiba, and I'm looking forward to some interesting plays.

Hang loose!