A World Without Internet

Simon and I on our last day!

So for the past couple days, not only has life been crazy, but we are currently in Rio where the internet is horrible. Which makes posting almost impossible with all of the running around we have done since we touched down. So let me pick up where I left off:

Steaks on the grill. Yummy!

Tuesday:
To celebrate all of our hard work we had a delicious Brazilian Bar-B-Que or a "charischo" (my spelling is horrible) but it was the best mean I have had since we first got here. With Steak, sausage and chicken on the grill it was amazing. We also had the traditional rice and beans with grilled plantains. The school had the party in our honor and it was a great way to start the day after class.
This was our last day at the school - and most of us were closer with these children, so that made the good byes even harder. After going to classes like a normal day the children pulled us into the chorus classroom where they had a performance for us with songs and dances as well as a scrapbook they had made in our honor. It was so touching and mean the world to our group that we were able to help and influence their lives. After all of the songs, dances and gift presenting we had to say goodbye, which had a lot of tears. Throughout our stay in Vitoria I had become really good friends with another set of twins, Lieze and Tieze, who are the sweetest girls I have ever met and they gave me a cute card and a tearful goodbye and in exchange I gave them Crayola Twistables and tears as well. They as so sweet and I am so thankful that I was able to meet them.

Lieze, Tieze and I on the last day. 

Wednesday:
We were able to tour another factory that is a sponsor of the institute and were able to tour their facility. The factory was Arcelormittal, a steel coil factory that produces some of the largest amount of processed and unprocessed steel in the world. We were not allowed to take pictures while inside their grounds, but we did get a cool sway bag and a great bus tour of all of the processes involved. We were also able to see some sea turtles as well as a crocodile. They were a part of the area that is considered a nature preserve. With them providing lunch, which was the equivalent of 7th grade all over again, with the metal trays and tons of people starring at you get your food. We then had the afternoon off to get anything done that we needed to before we left for Rio. For me that included a visit to the pool, then and intense packing session (that turned into a nap) then packing then a quick dinner and finally bed at 8 pm we were so exhausted.

These are everywhere in Rio!

Thursday: (aka The day from HELL)
The rented van to take us to the airport was due to arrive at 6 am so we had to get up at 5 am to get ready and take everything we own downstairs. After waiting in the lobby for almost and hour for the vans we called them to find out that they thought we were leaving tomorrow so.... all 15 of us had to take taxis in small groups to the airport. Which was very interesting because Brazilian drivers as scary and do not care for traffic signs, signals or laws. When we arrived at the airport it was already 7:20am and our flight was set for 8 am..... well after we got our tickets the plane was delayed for 30 minutes for weather and we were so happy..... until everything hit the fan. A 30 minute wait for a plane turned into 3.5 hours at the Vitoria airport reading, playing cards, trying to sleep and sitting on the cold floor. The fog in Rio was so bad that they were not letting any planes leave or land there. So after the fog cleared we had to wait for a plane from Rio to fly to Vitoria, then get on and fly to Rio. We finally boarded a plane at 1:00 pm and set off for Rio. However while in the air, the domestic airport was closed down for good due to fog, so we were rerouted mid air to the international airport.... which is 35 kilometers from the other airport and 45 kilometers from our hotel. After contacting the van people and getting everything in motion we were on our way through Rio. It was so amazing to see a completely different side of Brazil that what we had experienced in Vitoria. The sheer numbers of people around every corner reminded us of Atlanta and New York with all of the hustle and bustle that goes on in large cities. Our hotel is really more like an apartment with a nice kitchen, two bunk beds, a queen bed (which I lucked out to get) and a great view of the building next door. Not. But none the less Rio has got one of the most interesting cities I have ever been in. After all of the travel trouble we finally got to eat lunch at 3:00pm at a local burger place that is really delicious and then we took at tour of the neighborhood. Five hours and four miles of walking later we had seen the beach, the city, and Americans for the first time since the airport when we first arrived. We have also been privy to see the construction and developments being made for the World Cup and the Olympics, plus the rioters that are taking to the streets. Most of us went to bed like grandmas (~8:30 pm) due to the long day that we had.

Today (Friday):
It was the best day ever!! We had to wake up at 6:30am, but it was worth it. Our tour of the Christ on the Mount tour was scheduled for 8am, when it first opened, and when we arrived we were the only ones there. We were able to take so many pictures and see everything without being shoved around of having to fight for space. It was so remarkable. We then went to the famous favela, Roshina, and were able to tour and take pictures there. This was one of my favorite parts, because you were able to see the real daily life and struggles that are ongoing in Brazil. After the favela, we went to Sugar Loaf Mountain, which is a huge mountain in Rio, which requires sky buckets to get too and was a great view. After that then we had a lunch break and then another tour. This tour however was really a scouting mission for the next year's Mercer on Missions tour. Most of us were so wore out that we did not feel like going on this part, however it proved to be one of the greatest experiences of my life. When we got to the site, a local baptist church, we saw this institute that mirrors Joao XXIII with supplemental classes and activities to aid children in their favelas. After meeting some of the children, answering questions and seeing the facility, we had the offer of a lifetime: To go up into the favelas at night while being escorted by the president of that local community. We could not pass it up, so we all geared up and climbed two miles up the steepest hill I have ever climbed in my life ( it was steeper than stone mountain and the highest incline on a treadmill) and we walked into the favela at night. What we say was amazing, the whole community came out and was interacting with each other and the children followed us asking questions and making fun of us for being tired after the hike. We then got to see some dances native to the area as well as a dance battle. Even after all of that climbing we were only half way up the favela, when we were offered to go to the top ( normally the place of the drug lords but they were cleaned out ) so we said yes. We hopped in the back of a truck and made the trek up to the top of the mountain that these people called home. The view from the top was spectacular, so much so that words cannot describe it and my camera could not properly capture the awe that it had on all of us. We were able to see the whole city, and all of sub burbs, neighborhoods, buildings and surrounding cities and favelas for miles. We then got to ride back down, say good bye to our new friends from the church and come back to the hotel. Today was such an amazing experience and I am now saddened by the fact we leave tomorrow. Even though I am going through some major chickfila, sweet tea and America withdrawal, Brazil has captured my heart. People here are so loving, caring and generous when they have nothing. Tomorrow the plans are going to the beach and soaking up as much of the sun and the culture as we can before our flight at 9:30 pm. It is going to be another long day, but I don't think I will regret one minute of it!
Alexis

Me and Jesus!

Roshcina Favela

A meat vendor in the favela.... 

A favela at night!