Couch Surfing Londrina

Last weekend was filled with activities, as I hung out with a new group of friends that I met through Couch Surfing. For those that aren’t familiar with Couch Surfing, it’s an online network of people that are willing to host travelers that are visiting their city. Basically, if you are travelling to Londrina (or Cusco, Peru, or anywhere in the world), and you have a profile on the site, you can look up members living in that city who are willing to host you for free. More than being just a free place to stay, your host will show you an insider’s perspective of the city, helping you feel like less of a tourist.

Like a lot of people, at first I was a bit skeptical of the whole concept. Who would want to sleep on a strangers couch and/or allow strangers to sleep on their couch? It’s probably not something I would do if I were traveling or living by myself. What I like about it is that you can decide your level of participation. For example, if you’re not so comfortable hosting people, you can say, “sorry, I don’t have a couch, but I’m happy to meet you for coffee and give you some tips on things to see while you’re here.”

I was first exposed to the group while living in Cusco. During my last few months there, my roommate Kasia and I hosted a few people - a group of crazy Argentinians, a very sweet Canadian couple, and two Japanese girls who had just embarked on a year-long, round-the-world trip, starting in South America (and who made us sushi!). After meeting couch surfers in multiple countries, I’ve realized that it’s more of a community than anything else. Everyone that I’ve met has been polite, kind, and respectful. They like to travel, meet new people, get out and enjoy a variety of activities. I’ve realized that to buy into the Couch Surfing concept, you need to believe that people are fundamentally good and trustworthy. It can be a rare thing to find these days.

When I got to Londrina, I looked up the Londrina Couch Surfing community, figuring it would be a way to meet new people. They were busy organizing what is called an “Invasion,” when one city hosts couch surfers from other cities for a weekend of activities. I had arrived just in time. Note: a number of the group members speak some level of English, but mainly they speak in Portuguese. It has been a fantastic way for me to practice!

Last Friday evening, the weekend kicked off with a happy hour at BarZera overlooking Lake Igapó. The bar had a huge patio with nice lounge areas and a lovely view of the city. It kind of felt like a roof-deck bar in DC, but with a better view. I had no idea such a swanky place existed in Londrina! Of course, then I had to explain to the group what swanky meant, and it became the word of the weekend.

Saturday I attended my first authentic Brazilian barbeque! It was held at a chácara (small farm) outside of Londrina. The “farm” isn’t really anything except a piece of land with a small guest house, patio, pool, and bbq set up, used for nothing other than having churrasco (barbeque). The day was, like most days, sunny and warm, and we spent the afternoon grilling assorted meats, drinking caipirinhas, and playing in the pool. Some people continued the party later that night at a bar, but by then I had had my fill of caipirinhas and practicing Portuguese for one day.

Sunday afternoon was tranquilo, spent relaxing in the park on the shore of Lake Igapó. It was a truly idyllic place to spend a Sunday afternoon, watching people as they enjoyed Sunday walks along the lake. There were even some jet skis out on the lake.

I’m excited to have found this group of friends and look forward to more activities with them. 

JUMP!

I have a new hobby here in Brazil. A couple of weeks ago, I was exposed to the Brazilian phenomenon known as JUMP. What is JUMP, you ask? JUMP is an aerobics class found at most gyms here in Londrina. Each person in the class gets his or her own personal trampoline (ok yeah, HER own trampoline). Next, envision Richard Simmons-like aerobics moves, but while bouncing. It is truly a sight to behold. There was, of course, American club music playing at top volume as seems to be the preferred musical choice in most places in Londrina. Is it fun? Oh, yes. Did I feel ridiculous while doing it? Double yes. Is it challenging? Yes, particularly for coordination-challenged people like me. Is it a good work out? The next day I felt muscles in my calves that I never knew I had.  It’s no TBC at the Glover Park WSC with Cara Cain, but it’s a fun way to get the blood pumping.

That class made me reminisce about my last international gym experience. In Peru I took a “Full Body” class (why would they bother to call it something in Spanish anyway?) where the hardcore female firefighter instructor would scream “SIGUUUUUEEEEE!!!!” (Keep goiiinnnngggg!) at the top of her lungs as I frantically, spastically punched and kicked at the air, trying not to trip over the step in front of me. And I learned the hard way not to take an aerobic dance class with a bunch of Latinas. Not exactly a boost to the self esteem first thing in the morning.

Luckily, Brazil has JUMP. You have to watch this video to fully understand the JUMP experience. And picture me bouncing away on my trampoline, grinning like a fool.

Sunday Market

On Sundays there is a really great market a few blocks from my house. Last week my friend Vinny, who is a student at UEL, showed me around. You can buy all sorts of fruits, vegetables, meats, coffee, spices, rices, beans, flowers, and on and on...The produce is so much cheaper here than in the U.S. It makes for great smoothies and juice (in my new blender!). One of my favorite combinations is papaya and banana. Maybe one of these days I´ll expand my "cooking" skills beyond what I can make in a blender. Until then - lots of smoothies!

So many fruits!

Rice and beans - a Brazilian staple

Coffee - a Lauren staple

Funky lookin´ fruits...

that were super sweet and delicious!

Fresh coconuts!

A faceless Vinny and his coconut.

What does that funky-looking fruit look like inside?

ah ha!

You eat the white flesh, which is very sweet, and spit out the big black seeds. A yummy treat! 

New digs...

Me and Vera in the pool

After spending nearly two weeks at Vera´s beautiful house (and pool!) in the suburbs, last week I moved into an apartment in the city center. I´m one block off the main drag and a short walk to the downtown shopping area. The apartment was offered to me by one of the other English professors whose relative had just moved out. It worked out perfectly because the place came completely furnished (not the most modern choice of furnishings, but I can´t complain). I´m quite grateful for not having to buy anything, except a blender - a totally worthwhile investment.

My roommate is a 26-year old Brazilian girl who teaches English at one of the language centers here. She learned English while working in the U.S. for two years as an au pair in Westwood, MA, which is only 20 minutes from where I grew up. Talk about a coincidence! She works a lot and studies at a university outside of Londrina, so unfortunately we don´t see much of each other.

Here are a few snaps of the new place. We don´t have internet at home yet, which is why I´m behind in my blogging.

View from a window

View from another window

Where I keep my clothes

Where I sleep

Like I said, not exactly modern funiture, but it works!

Bárbara making rice

 My favorite part of the apartment might be the laundry area. Call me crazy. But after a year of washing my clothes mostly by hand and then having to wait three days for them to dry (in Cusco), I am SO PUMPED about our washing machine! I am even more excited about this neat-o drying rack that lowers from the ceiling. You hang up your wet clothes and then raise the rack so it´s out of the way. The best part is that the clothes dry in an hour or two! It´s amazing! Bárbara, my roommate, thinks I´m crazy and that the novelty of doing laundry will wear off after a few more times. We´ll see!

Morning Meanderings

I was wandering around the downtown area of Londrina on this lovely Saturday morning, and took a few photos. Here is the calçadão, the "big sidewalk" or pedestrian area where there are many stores, food vendors, etc. It was quite busy on a Saturday morning. 

Beginning of the calçadão (don't mind my finger)

Londrina's main cathedral.

Then I happened upon this most unique event, right in the middle of the calçada. I've never seen a classical violinist and a DJ rocking out together, so I stopped to listen and took this video. It was pretty neat!

Londrina, Brazil

I've been asked many times where I'll be in Brazil. Unlike the infamous Rio de Janiero or Sao Paulo (which, while the largest city in Brazil, is in fact NOT the capital - just like Burlington is NOT the capital of Vermont), you won't find Londrina in a guide book. And that's a-okay with me. Londrina (which means "Little London") is located in the state of Paraná, in the south of Brazil. Check out these maps to get an idea: 

States of Brazil 

                                                                                                                   State of Paraná

So, I'm in the southern region of Brazil, about 6 hours from the coast (ouch). This wouldn't be so bad if the weather wasn't as sweltering as it is.  Mornings and evenings are quite pleasant, but in the afternoon, the temperature soars to 90F and up! But after spending a year in Andes, I'm not complaining.

Londrina has a population of about 500,000, which is a nice size, in my opinion. With four public universities and eight private ones, it's definitely a university town. In the middle of the city is a series of four man-made lakes that are ringed with trails for running, walking, and biking. I intend to spend a lot of time there. 

Since my arrival in Londrina, I've been staying with one of the English professors from the Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL) with whom I'll be working this year. Vera and her husband Antonio have 10-year old twin girls, Maria Clara and Laura Beatriz. They have been so welcoming to me, and it's been fun spending time with them.

Maria Clara & Laura Beatriz

Knowing that I'm a museum lover, on my second they they took me to Londrina's small, but nicely done, History Museum (the site's in Portuguese, fyi) where I learned a bit about the history of the city. I won't geek out on you (against my nature!), except to say that Londrina was founded in 1934 (it's young!) and that coffee was an important part of the city's history. The area surrounding the city is all farmland and is extremely fertile, good for growing coffee, among other things. Londrina remains a largely agricultural city. The most exciting part of the day was when Maria Clara and Laura found two abandoned kittens in the museum yard, under a coffee bush (plant?). We had to go back later in the day to check on them and feed them, and the girls were pretty devastated when they couldn't bring them home. It was a tough life lesson on the reality of animal abandonment.

cool coffee exhibit 

Londrina History Museum

Me and Vera

Coffee plant (kittens below)

Laura and turtle (not at the history museum)

In the next post I'll explain what I'm doing here in Brazil and where I'll be working. Stay tuned!

And so it beings...

After years of stubborn refusal, I've finally caved. Actually, this blog was originally titled "Life at 11,000 feet" and set in Peru, but I only wrote one entry and never published it. I'm sorry for that because you missed out on a lot of great content. Well, I can't go back, only forward, and so I bring you "A grande aventura" (Portuguese for "The Great Adventure"). Because what is life if not a great adventure, right? I know mine has been over the past few years and hopefully will continue to be.

The setting is now Brazil, where I will be living until December 2012. This blog will fill you in on where I am, what I'm doing here, and share with you the experience of teaching, learning, and living in Brazil. Please bear with me as I figure out this blogging stuff. Much, much more to come!