Oh hey there Justin Bieber!

Olá! I’m writing from my humble abode—I moved in last week. My first nights in Belém, were spent in a nice hotel located right on the river. The Federal University of Pará (UFPA) graciously provided me with a huge room and some amazing food.

Every morning, I would walk past the pool over a small bridge to have breakfast on the river. I had fresh papaya, pineapple, and guava daily. Dinners were absolutely delicious too! I don’t eat much red meat, but I had it here and had the most tender and tasty filets with the sweetest juices.

Portions are massive, especially for lunch, but everyone walks and sweats a lot, so they keep it off. Or, it might go to their butts. Brazilian women have such sexy bundas (no offense to anyone). I’m hoping for that and fluency in Portuguese by the time I leave…if I ever J Just kidding, Mom! Although, I’ve heard I might be able to get an extension on my visa—hmm…

My hotel was about a block from UFPA, which made for a short walk, but I always had a ride from my host professor. The university neighbors a favela, so it would have been a little dangerous to walk there alone. Because neighborhoods with such poverty exist, crimes of theft and robbery are common, and I was advised to take extra precaution in securing my belongings when walking or taking the bus.

That doesn't scare me much. I am actually more concerned about getting hit by a car! Here, drivers have the right-of-way over pedestrians. I’m not sure if officially, but it sure seems like it! I swear the Brazilian drivers I have seen are probably the BEST drivers ever! Seriously. They manage to drive without any marked lanes, dodging bikes, people and stray animals along the way. Occasionally, bikes maneuvering through traffic in the opposite direction have to be avoided too. They “share” two-way roads with busses, mopeds, and pedestrians, typically passing them and honking along the way. I have yet to see an accident/death despite the fact that this is all done at velocities that I’m sure are higher than the posted speed limit. Come to think of it, I haven't seen any posted…

[More pics to come]

Belém, although rich in natural resources, has its fair share of poor areas and sadly, many disenfranchised people. Unfortunately, the residents of these neighborhoods have no choice but to live in very unsanitary conditions. Rotting garbage lines their streets and sickened, starved animals roam, including horses and cows. The waterways that run between their fragile homes are also heavily polluted with trash, human and animal waste and only God knows what else. It’s so bad in some parts that the beautiful, brown, Earth tone that the river normally carries has turned to green sludge. Needless to say, the tap water is unsafe to drink. [Pictures to come]

As I brainstorm projects that I would like to take part in outside of the classroom, I definitely consider working with youth from favelas who lack the opportunity of a quality education and much less that of learning another language. It’s also the very least I can do to give back to this community that has been so welcoming!

Earlier this week, Lindsey’s students at the Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA) organized a party to welcome us to their city and into their schools. They shared a film about Belém and Pará and made us the most delicious foods. The students were so excited and eager to practice their English.

After spending time at the school, the students invited us to one of their houses. We were taught different Brazilian music and dance like Forró, Funky, Tecnobrega, and Carimbó.

They shared jokes in Portuguese and their skills in making some pretty amazing cocktails! They started making plans to take us everywhere!! I admired just how proud they were of their city and to be Paraenses. I can’t think of many Americans besides those in Texas perhaps that share such enthusiasm for their home state.

My first week in Belém has been very chill and pretty relaxed aside from my obligations to my university, which have actually been more fun than work.

Adjusting to my new living arrangement was not at all as challenging as I had anticipated.

Okay...so this isn't really where I live. I went with my host professor to look at furniture for her new house, and she snapped some pics--A girl can dream!

Lindsey and I moved into our own quaint, little apartments in a bed and breakfast type of establishment. The building is still being renovated, so we won’t have a kitchen or laundry room for a month or so. We’re also waiting on another wireless router to have Internet access in our rooms. Nevertheless, we have brand new furnishings and we’re enjoying our place in what people here consider a “Chiquê” neighborhood. I was told Chiquê is used to describe things that are ritzy or upscale, but I think this only because we are surrounded by much more expensive condos, swanky salons, and even a plastic surgeon’s office :)

The family that owns and runs our apartment complex is the sweetest. The husband, Heber, tends to our maintenance needs and has introduced us to his other tenants, so we’re making lots of friends!

His wife, Rose, runs the floral shop, bakery, and restaurant at the front of the complex. I've tasted her cakes--they're delicious!

Herber’s son Marcos is the coolest kid ever. Definitely too cool for school! He is nine years old with a stellar little fro! He likes to hang out and talk to us. He asks to listen to our music and is so curious when Lindsey and I speak English.

I Skyped my mom once and let him listen in. He got a pretty good kick out of the conversation and wanted to try talking to her too!

Carol is twenty-three and Herber's oldest daughter. She's married and has the sweetest baby girl, Louisa. Lindsey and I sat to talk to her one evening while her husband reconfigured our laptops. She offered to take us out around the city too. I’m telling you—Brazilians are just so hospitable!

This week, I practiced taking the bus for the first time. My host professor introduced me to another student that acted as my guide on the way to UFPA. Danni was super helpful. Since most of the busses don’t have their stops posted, she taught me to wave my arm frantically and practically jump out in front of it if I want it to stop. Busses here stop sporadically and sometimes in the middle of the street. So, you have to dodge traffic to get on or chase down the bus if it doesn’t stop. Once you’re on, hold on! The driver speeds off even before the door is closed and you’re flung about, crashing into other passengers, slamming into the cashier's box, and accidentally grabbing on to a woman's hair to keep from falling —well, at least that was my experience.

This week was just full of other fun firsts like grocery shopping. We went out during a heavy rainfall, and the lights went out briefly while we were in the market. On our way home, it was still pouring and we had to trek across the wild rapids with groceries in hand.

I kept losing my flip-flop, but we made it home in one piece! [Better picture to come--I'm sure.]

Also, this week, I was bit for the first time by flying ants right in the spaces between my toes. Damn those bloody creatures! Thank goodness for the cortisone cream from my professor (her husband just so happens to be a doctor J)—I’ve recently been bathing in that stuff.

Speaking of my host professor, I have been blessed with a great one! She and her family have helped me with everything since I've been here--from buying bed sheets, to registering with the federal police.

Her genius of a son even unlocked my cell phone that I accidently blocked by assigning it a password I could not remember. Life is good thanks to them!

Friday night, was a perfect end to the week. The students from UEPA invited us out to the Estação das Docas for some drinks on the river.

Estação das Docas is an area of Belém’s ports that was restored and is now a tourist complex. This place is awesome! It has bars, restaurants, stores, a theater, a museum, live music, and lots more set on the riverfront.

It has a beautiful view of the docs and the boats passing through.

I’ll surely be back!

Sooo excited for the craze of Carnaval!!! It started this weekend, and I’m ready to get my samba on!! I’ll be back with updates J Hope you’re all well. You can rest assured that I am.

As for Beiber, he’s just as present as the rain J Check him out Tecnobrega style! Hahaha!!

Love and miss you all!