Orientation

Judging by what little I know of Brazil (which is mostly the inside of my hotel in São Paulo) I can tell this country is going to be confusing.  How? Well for starters my room number at the hotel is 214 which means I’m on the 11^th floor.  While my friends in 138, for example, are on the third floor.   Also each hotel room comes with a kitchen equipped with a mini fridge, microwave, and stove.  However, there are no pots or pans.  In fact, there are no dishes or cutlery in general; I couldn’t even find a fork. So based on the hotel this year should provide some pretty hilarious and hopefully not too embarrassing mix-ups. 

Besides the mixed signals of the façade of the kitchen and bizarre layout, the hotel is actually quite nice.  It is a trendy area of the city.  During orientation we had sessions all morning and afternoon, allowing us to explore local cafes, restaurants, and bars in the evening.  It also presented the opportunity to know my fellow 30 Fulbrighters. 

Brazil ETA Fulbrighters and Staff 2012

Whether I was hanging out by the pool, dancing it up Gringo style at the clubs, or just walking the streets of São Paulo, I had a wonderful time getting to know these inspiring individuals.  Five days after arriving in Brazil and many great conversations later we said our goodbyes, heading off to our respective sites.  I will be the only Fulbrighter in Maceio but I know I can always call on someone if a need to talk to an American friend in the country. 

Above: Lunch at the Municipal Market in São Paulo
Below: Copious amounts of my favorite foods at the market: Wine, Fruit, & Cheese!