stephanieNY

Since I was doing this on the other side of the camera in all my pictures from Brazil, I posted some pictures that others shared that will prove that I was there with the rest of them (plus some really great shots that I missed). Here.

I posted pictures from my trip in some photo albums here.

Hi!  I'm in Brazil.  A quick recap so far:  

The first two days we were escorted around Curitiba on a public city bus...except that it was just for us. Our professor is the ex-mayor / ex-governor of the city of Curitiba and its state, Parana. He's HUGE here. Everywhere we went, people stopped to point and stare, and some even to come over and shake his had, thank him, and get their picture taken with him. He's apparently very well-liked and is responsible for many of the aspects of the city today that make it really incredible.  We rode the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) with him for which he is most well-known. I tried to think of an analogy of what it was like for locals to see Jaime Lerner riding his own bus system....and the best we could come up with was like seeing Bill Gates at a Best Buy buying a computer.  (I think I can do better, but that's the best for now.)  We went to Jaime's beautiful office (pics 2 & 3). and were taken out to some incredible meals and some Brazilian music and dancing Saturday night.

We're in Sao Paulo now starting last night.  Again, we got carted around the city in some private vans.  We're studying "sustainable" public mobility systems in cities for this studio, and have been looking at the paralyzing congestion of the streets here.  Why I am the only one that thinks that driving around in vans and not using the public transportation systems while we are here is hilariously ironic, I don't know.  Hehe.

Anyway, I luuuuuv Brazil.  I'm having a really great time.  And I don't want to strangle anyone from my group of 15 people yet, so that's good.  And it's summer here!  Today was in the 80s and mostly sunny.  My hair is mostly frizzy from the mostly humid air too.

Here are a few pics for now.  I'll put together proper photo albums after the trip.  Tchau!

My iCalendar sent me a reminder just before midnight to go to Brazil tomorrow.  Thanks.

I got my visa, my tickets, and a new ISIC (international student identity card)...remember those from studying abroad anyone?  It brought me back...

No doubt, I'll remember to go to Brazil tomorrow.  Tchau!