I met my host family and my contact person tonight. They are all lovely people. Jacqueline, the host mother, is a Professor. She writes books about education and social justice! She's elegant and eccentric. I'm looking forward to getting to know her. Her daughter, Carolina, 11, is delightful. She's learning English in school. I'm lucky to be living with an 11-year-old; she'll teach me everything she knows, and she'll make me laugh.
My contact person is also 25. She works in an accounting department for a bank. She's wry and witty, and has a hearty laugh for such a small person. I think we'll get along very well.
Mom, she's an Aquarius, too (February 8th).
On Saturday I'll go to their house in Santana. Apparently, they have a Yorkshire terrier and a swimming pool. Also, it is in a residential area that's a 10 minute walk from shops and bars and restaurants. I'm holding out hope for a bookstore--any kind of bookstore.
Jacqueline has a friend (whose name I don't recall) who is a piano teacher, so maybe I'll be able to practice while I'm here.
So next week, I begin my projects, find a Capoeira class and start Portuguese classes. This may be the single best decision I've ever made in my life.
Showing posts with label Capoeira. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Capoeira. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Capoeira
Capoeira is a graceful and malicious play. I am tempted to spend my Saturdays at Africanamenta Escola de Copoeira Angola learning to play for free. People need to exercise, right? I'm a people... I think I've found a friend to go with me. I believe I'll go.
It was a cafeteria. They, 5 women 5 men stood in a semi cirlce and we, a group of wide eyed exchangees filled in the rest of the circle. It was a rustic room in which we made rhythms with our hands as the players danced/fought within the circle we made for them. Brown and Black and White bodies moved toward and away from one another as if receiving invisible force to their heads or middles or ankles by a gravity more concentrated than wind. Men played with men, women with women and women with men. All of the players had different bodies, some tall some round, some tiny. Each member took his or her place playing music.
The entire experience was cinematic as if each flash of light on spetacles was intentional--slowed down; I could see indivdual dredlocks on the players heads fall and bounce as couch cushion does when depressed and released. And I played, albeit not very gracefully--more like a geriatric attempting a cartwheel.
And then we danced. 40 people clapping at once, although not all together, singing and dancing samba. I feel elated. I'm so lucky to be here.
It was a cafeteria. They, 5 women 5 men stood in a semi cirlce and we, a group of wide eyed exchangees filled in the rest of the circle. It was a rustic room in which we made rhythms with our hands as the players danced/fought within the circle we made for them. Brown and Black and White bodies moved toward and away from one another as if receiving invisible force to their heads or middles or ankles by a gravity more concentrated than wind. Men played with men, women with women and women with men. All of the players had different bodies, some tall some round, some tiny. Each member took his or her place playing music.
The entire experience was cinematic as if each flash of light on spetacles was intentional--slowed down; I could see indivdual dredlocks on the players heads fall and bounce as couch cushion does when depressed and released. And I played, albeit not very gracefully--more like a geriatric attempting a cartwheel.
And then we danced. 40 people clapping at once, although not all together, singing and dancing samba. I feel elated. I'm so lucky to be here.
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