February has been a month of hurry up and wait. While initially told classes would be re-commencing at both project sites the first week of February, I have yet to start formal classes. In the meantime, I have been planning, cleaning and resting to get geared up for the coming school year. I have also been reconnecting with friends at church, below is me with a group of teacher friends having lunch after church one Sunday.
Crossing the Street in São Paulo
The following in an item I came across in the 'Gringoes' newsletter I receive (for foreigners living in Brazil.) It was in the "Ask a Brazilian" question section. I thought it was funny and quite accurate, as I have to cross the street whenever I catch the bus.
"Do those striped pedestrian lines at intersections have any meaningful significance in São Paulo...". Yes, it means "Run, Forest"!
If "designed to better enable the drivers to line up their targets" or not we will never know. But with 13 million people, 7 million cars and 4 subway lines, we can understand why walking on your feet in São Paulo requires a certain expertise.
Some exercises at home might be useful to keep safe:
1. Walk between the furniture, couch, table, everything. Just walk around. You can start doing this for 10 minutes a day.
2. Now, put some chairs in the way, spread some cushion on the floor, whatever it is that is big enough to represent a car, a motorcycle. Use your imagination, it‘s your house, you‘re alone. (If you can‘t have a private moment ask the other person to be the Bus for you, it could be fun).
3. When you think you‘re doing good, try faster. Get in shape, 20 minutes for a week and you‘ll rule.
4. Now run. Run! Jump over the cushions, kick your bus-friend, and run. (Watch your toes in here, remember you can‘t touch anything) Are you finally fast, brave and thin?
Then you‘re ready to be a pedestrian in São Paulo.
Flowers of Brazil
I thought this would be a good time to showcase some of the beautiful flowers and plants of Brazil. Enjoy!
