Herbalife

I'm in a bad mood after a weird Herbalife intervention at breakfast.
This morning as I was leaving the bathroom my host mom introduced me to a friend of hers and mentioned that we would be having breakfast together and talking about study abroad. I had never seen the man before but the whole thing felt strangely contrived. Upon my arrival to the table the man and my host mom sat down, my host mom with a small magazine in her hand reading "Herbalife" across the front.
For those of you who don't know, Herbalife is another one of those fad diets that offers extremely expensive prepackeged food and shakes as meal replacements. Something happened in Salvador recently and now it's all over the place.
I spent the next thirty minutes stuffing my face as the two of them told me how great Herbalife was and why I should start selling it in the U.S.
Eating throughout the whole thing prevented me from telling them that I reeeeally wasn't interested in their expensive eating disorder.

Also, everything in the booklet was a pricier version of what one could do on their own. For example she had me taste a "tea" that was allegedly orange,ginger and honey. Too bad it tasted like Gatorade and Splenda.
In addition, if she knew anything about my financial situation she would know that I could never afford to pay $30 for 7 protein bars.
Anyway, I'm trying to get over the insult of it all.

I came back from my wonderful 10 day stay in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night.
For those of you who didn't hear about the airport fiasco, I was suppose to only be in Rio Friday through Wednesday but my friend Becca and I, completely overcome with sadness and regret over having to leave, ended up deciding to stay until Sunday only after we were checked in and waiting to get on the flight back to Salvador. The people working for the airline were actually quite nice about the whole thing and manage to retrieve Becca's checked luggage.
It was the best impulse decision I've ever made. Somewhere I read that Rio de Janeiro was the most beautiful city in the world. I remember thinking that it was a ridiculous assertion but then I went there and maybe it's true.

Anyway, I've returned to regular life here in Salvador, going to class, braving the sun, dodging Herbalife.
I'm going to the Island of Itaparica this weekend for a little break (I know, I know) but come on, I'm in Brazil.

Beijos,
Bimbola

Apparently people sleeping in the plaza in front of my apartment is not normal.

On Friday there was some sort of run in with the police and now they're all gone.

The actual reason that I'm posting twice in one week is because I must write about the graduation or “formatura” that I went to with my host parents last night. My host mom invited me because she thought it would be good to see a true Brazilian formatura. I went knowing there was good food to be had as part of the deal.

The Basics

Who: A girl named Amelia.
Where: Ritzy hotel
Dress Code: Prom. Like for real. Long ball gowns, 5 inch rhinestoned heels, strange hair extensions. The whole shebang.
Music theme: American Top 40's including “Halo” by Beyonce(a beautiful instrumental version complete with a flute) and “I Gotta a Feeling” by The Black Eyes Peas (which is played enough in Brazil to be their national anthem).

The ceremony began with a video set to music (“I Gotta Feeling”). The graduates appeared to be in a club where they were drinking and dancing in leopard and zebra print hats and feather boas. Throughout the video each member of the Real World Cast...erm....each graduate was introduced.

After the video there was a series of very long and boring speeches which no one paid attention to.
When the graduates finally came out it was wedding style, one at a time accompanied by a family member of their choosing. It took 3 playings of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”(ukulele version) and 4 playings of “Dust in the Wind”(a remix that I didn't recognize) to get through this.

The actual handing out the diplomas part was what my host mom wanted me to see. It was a little like Hickman graduation minus the paper wads and beach ball. As each graduate was called their families and friends, equipped with huge and loud noise makers would make as much noise as they possibly could for as long as they could stand it. This was fine except for the fact that a number of children had horns of their own and used them to make everyone around them miserable, including me.

At the end once everyone had their diplomas the lights in the room went out and were replaced by some techno-y red and green ones up front, “I Gotta Feeling” began to play for the thousandth time, silver confetti fell from the ceiling, a strobe light magically appeared and the students danced. This was my personal favorite part.

The reception was less exciting and only included a two man band and a table of delicious snacks but who is complaining? JJ another kid from the program was at the graduation and reception as well, small world. I returned home with my host parents at about 12:30am which is the latest I've ever seen them out.

I can't believe it's Sunday already. This weekend has wiped me out and it probably has to do with the me trekking through the rain all night on Friday and all day yesterday.. The Bahian attitude about rain (that it is the most terrible thing ever) is rubbing off on me. I will probably spend the greater part of today sleeping and am really quite alright with that. I'm trying to make a more conscious effort to enjoy the many opportunities I have to relax now that I will not have for the next year.

B

"SalvADORE" (I stole that from someone)

Ugh. Blogging is so hard.

Last weekend was Easter Break and many people went off to wonderful far away lands. I basically hung around Salvador and ate fish which was fun too.
Also I take back what I said about Plataforma not being that interesting in an earlier post. It has a sweet beach with lots of rocks and shells and really still water so you feel like your on the East Coast. I've started a pretty cool rock/shell collection next to my window.

The rain has picked up a bit here in Salvador. When it's coming it gets super windy and chilly and the ocean goes wild and you know you better get your behind inside. This was the weather last night so I hurried to the apartment and waited. I think it started after I fell asleep but this morning when I woke up it was raining and the street was empty. I was already late, but I forced myself to leave.

Let me tell you.

I got to the bus stop and felt so wet and miserable that I just turned around and went back home in true Bahian fashion.
And then I slept the most wonderful sleep of my life until my next class at 2pm (I promise I won't do it again).

School is going well. In 3D Expression we're making masks right now. Mine is a sort of creepy clown that I gave an extremely pained and sad expression. It breaks my heart a little bit.
Last class my Brazilian friends Adrielly and Oliver schooled me on the United States. Apparently Robin Williams said some messed up stuff about Brazil a while back (he is not our friend anymore). Also, I somehow missed learning about the weird Presidential secret society The Freemasons, but Oliver taught me all about it. Adrielly summed up the US perfectly, "Ninguém gosta, mas tudo vai" --No one likes it, but everyone goes.
In short, they are hilarious and great. Adrielly invited me to see Alice in Wonderland next weekend.

Tonight CIEE had a trip to the Baile Foklorico a folkloric ballet, centered around the Candomble religion and the different Orishas (gods). The show was amazing and all of the dancers were beautiful and incredibly athletic. The music was spectacular as always heavy on percussion in all of the best ways.
It's true what they say, there are other cities in Brazil that have may be more "modern" and have more "cultural events", but I honestly believe that Bahia has more culture. It may not be perfect but there is definitely a sense of Bahian cultural identity--the mixing of African,European and Indigenous cultures to create something completely of its own and it's in the food, the music, the art--everything. I think it's this fact that makes Salvador a place completely unique and incredible.

Aaand I'm done gushing about the city.

Tchau.