RIO DE JANEIRO TIME

Finally  the day to go Rio de Janeiro arrived, March 4. I am excited happy to see how people celebrate carnival. My roommate, her friends, Sarah and I went to bus stop and went on our journey to RIO DE JANIERO.  I sat with an estranger on the bus,  her name is  Rejina a lady who studies Tourism. She told me she is learning Spanish because she loves the language.   Also, she started talking to me in Spanish a little.  From the window she was showing me some places where she had gone.  She was telling me that she loves Rio and does not think that the Favelas are dangerous at all since she went in to take some samaba lessons. She is the first person I met who   thinks that way. I was interested in hearing her opinion about the Favelas in Rio. She said that police surrounds the Favelas when carnival arrives so there is any danger.  While she was talking to me I was thinking of a  video  I saw about  the Favelas and I got scare of going there and  I wonder if she is right.  Favelas is where poor people live and  as poor  they are being label as bad that’s what I think.  I know in history is shows how the government has  helped some poor people get out of poverty and turn into middle class .  Rejina mentioned to me that I am speaking good Portuguese and I was glad to hear that. I asked her to start talking in Spanish but she said she is embarrassed to even try.  I started think I am courageous enough because I don’t feel embarrass to even make mistake when I talk in Portuguese.

  As I arrived in Rio,  we  gather to wait for the others to arrive on the bus station.  I met other students who were there as well.  I was so tired that I thought some people where talking to me in Spanish.  Sadly that was not the case. As  all gather we went to Bernardo’s apartment to stay. Once we  got there we talk about sharing the expenses on the food.  I and other friends went   to buy the food. It was a decent amount but we all manage to carry it. On the grocery store, I helped  someone pick the fruits but my roommate did not like what we had and  the other girl who was with me made fun of me saying that  it was me who picked all the fruits.  After that I helped take the food to the apartment.  Then, we all gather and talk and talk for while. Then Sarah from brazil told me, I know why you are call zoila because you mom was listening to , DO, Re, MI , zoila, me. I was mmmm, my mom’s name is zoila too, and I started laughing. Then she said,  you are  zoila America from the song  estoy loco por ti America. I thought she was making it up but actually its true.  At the end of this day, Bernardo was playing the guitar and singing and I was happy to listen. It was interesting to see how people interact.