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| This flag will not be forgotten as we round up our last week |
We are now in our last week in Rio and the looming feeling that we will be leaving lingers among us. What an amazing experience we have had thus far. We have come to understand a little more about not only the physical beauty of Brazil, but more importantly the nuances of the culture.
This weekend we saw highlights from the most important aspects of the area. Petropolis was a city rich in history and the passionate soccer game we saw on Sunday emersed us in Brazil's favorite pastime. I am sure our last trip to Paraty will be equally engaging.
Yesterday and today we had the opportunity to partake in a service learning project at a local community center in a favela in our area, Criança Esperança. This center gives the community children the chance to stay out of the streets and engage in healthy activities. Their vision is that each activity, whether it is sports, play, or the arts, have some education to offer about socialization. They have a very loose and accommodating schedule for all ages which is quite suitable for the variety of backgrounds the children bring with them.
The activities range from futbol to English class. Yesterday, I had a wonderful experience observing a theater class for a group of fifteen three to five year-olds. The dynamic relationship between teacher and student in this context was incredible. The teacher was so personable, it was contagious. The children called him papai (dad) and kissed or hugged him often. We learned about his type of rapport from a public school teacher earlier at a class in PUC-Rio last week. It was hard to comprehend at the time but makes far more sense after seeing the relations first hand. The children sometimes see their teachers far more than their own parents, so it would make sense to have such a genuine love for teachers - it is quite endearing. Even with all of the differences that stick out between the people of Rio and the US, it is clear that children are the common denominator with their pureness of heart.
Today we offered our services by painting one of the rooms in the building. As a proud and humble group, they asked not for our money or specialties, but were most genuinely appreciative of our time. Although meager in comparison to all that they do, our token of service through this small project was necessary to continue the clean atmosphere of the new building. We have no doubt left a small piece of ourselves in this facility as well as made an unforgettable memory.
As the week raps up along with our trip, it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on what we have learned in Rio. Although we have only known each other for a short three weeks, the experiences we've shared with our new friends have made these close relationships strong and lasting. In these last few days in Brazil, I find it vital to soak up as much culture as possible to share back in the states.
I agree with your comment that the Crianca Esperanca staff seemed very appreciative when we finished painting the walls. At first, I thought that the project would be a waste of time but after a few moments of reflection I noticed that a place such as the Crianca Esperanca building will always have more to do than people or money available. In the end, I was quite pleased with the work we did there because we did a project that was needed by the organization and in the end our time and effort did not go to waste.
ReplyDeleteKelvin, I agree with your agreement. :)! Even though the NGO was funded by UNESCO, there was plenty of room where some love and paint could be useful. Of all the places, the gym would have been the "most needed", but the chance of us convincing C.E. kids to not play soccer in there was non-existent! :)
ReplyDeleteWhile I was not on the painting crew, it was still a great experience spending time at C.E. It is definitely a place where after school activities are cherished and socialization is promoted.