JMJ in Rio de Janeiro

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Rio de Janiero. This was more of a great experience than a vacation for it was a bit overwhelming. All in all I had a great time and was amazed by things I saw. As my time here in Brazil is winding down, I am definitely glad I had the chance to participate in some great things. Here are some pictures illustrating my awesome time in Rio....

This is a video I took as Pope Francis arrived to celebrate mass on Sunday morning. I had previously spent the past 24 hours camped out on Copacabana beach with 3 million people in order to have a good spot to see him and participate in this amazing event.

 The 5 mile trek we made to the beach for Mass with the Pope.

 The Lasallian High School I stayed at while in Rio....I was able to meet many Christian Brothers from all over the world.

 The beach near where I stayed in Niteroi....just outside of Rio

This is a picture I will never forget. I was able to participate in mass with close to 4 million other catholics from all parts of the world...truly an amazing experience.

Bonita..Linda..Beatiful Florianopolis, Brazil

MHIRT-Florianopolis will depart for Rio de Janeiro in less than 48 hours for 5 days, then return to Floripa for another 7 days before returning back to the U.S….. and back to reality.

Rio de Janeiro is hands down the most famous place in Brazil and is known throughout the world for its beautiful beaches, people, and festivals. So of course, upon knowing my placement in Brazil I made plans to visit this celebrated city! However after spending two months in Florianopolis, I have acquired such a strong affection for the city and the people here, that I’d rather skip my flight and miss all the sights of Rio to spend every available day on the magical island of Floripa. But, I’ll still be going to Rio on Thursday, for I already started planning a trip back to Florianopolis in January ;)

Okay, since I saw that Miriam wrote about losing her wallet, I wont feel so embarrassed to write about losing my iPhone. Yes, it happened, I lost the one device, that our generation has grown obsessed over, including me. I am not even going to lie, it was great having an iPhone in another country: it was easy to communicate back home using Skype and Facetime, I was Instragraming the beauty of Brazil making all my friends jealous, it was my accesses to gmail, facebook, and Twitter, and I was even using Whatsapp to communicate with the Brazilians I met here. Brazilian life without the iPhone…….not bad at all, and its not because my parents can’t get a hold of me anytime they want either, its because I feel more at ease, I am not bothered by life outside of Brazil. I am enjoying as much as I can with the little time I have left in this wonderful city and country.

Florianopolis has been truly magical. The memories I made and the people I met will forever change the way I see the world and myself. My host laboratory, LABCAI Laboratorio De Biomarcadores De Contamincacao Aquatica E Imunoquimica made all the difference. The other MHIRT students worked in small department labs at the main university’s campus. I was placed at a joint lab, which is stationed in the middle of a mangrove forest on property all by itself. At the lab +30 people work there some with shrimp, oysters, and others with fish, all with their own individual research. The people I met were some of the smartest I know, and so much fun to be around. It was because of them, I experienced so much of Floripa, and I am forever grateful for their friendship and guidance while working and living here in Brazil.

All right. Currently I have 1 day left in Florianopolis before Rio, 5 days in Rio de Janeiro, and only 7 days left in Floripa when I return, then back to boring U.S.A. My time left is short, but I know within the next 13 days the memories I make will last a lifetime.... BBBRRRAAAAZZZZZIIIILLL I will miss you when I leave, but I will definitely return to you again!

Kindness: A Universal Method that can Remove All Barriers

Thursday, August 1, 2013, will mark my eighth full week in Florianópolis, Brazil and sadly, my time here is coming to an abrupt end. During this timeframe, the only conclusion that I continuously re-evaluate, is that "time is like a handful of sand - the tighter you grasp it, the faster it runs through your fingers" (author unknown). I can vividly remember stepping off of the plane and marveling at the sight of the mountains and landscape; now, Britney and I are formulating a master plan on how to tuck and roll our belongings back into our luggage. This experience has been unlike any other, and the word "amazing" cannot quite sum up the magnitude and impact that it has had upon my life.

Over the course of my time in Brazil, I have encountered many people, but the lasting memories reside in the children that I have seen. I have concluded that the thoughts and expressions of children are universal, and most importantly, genuine. Often times I find myself reflecting upon one particular experience. Britney and I were at the bus terminal, when a woman and her energetic daughter, around 5 years of age, sat near us. The woman seemed frustrated, as the child continuously asked random questions to pass the time. I laughed and thought to myself, that only16 or so years ago, I was that very child. Boredom struck Britney and I, as it always does, and we found ourselves fully engaged in our technologically advanced gadgets, playing games of course! I was playing Temple Run, when I felt the little girl move closer to me to get a better view. I glanced down at her, and she looked up at me, uneasily, and it seemed as if her eyes were saying, "I'm sorry for sitting so close to you, but I really want to see what's going on in the game." I smiled, moved my iPad down to where she could see, and motioned for her to play the game. She gave me the biggest, brightest smile, and began to play. After a couple of seconds, we all were in tune to the game and cheering for the little girl. After a short time, their bus arrived and the woman gathered her things. She thanked Britney and I, and the little girl smiled and waved goodbye as if she had known us for a lifetime. Even though, this snippet of the many encounters that I have had may seem very common, it reminded me of how similar all people are and how easily connections could be made. This small encounter was so profound to me because, regardless of the huge language barrier present, I made new friends through a very simple act of kindness. Logically, the only barriers that exist are the ones that people create and allow to exist.

More importantly, during my time in Brazil, I have had the opportunity to conduct behavioral experiments. My task has been to replicate a protocol, in which a positive bias must be created in rats. This has been more complicated than expected because so many aspects of this replication, have required multiple re-evaluations, and trials. Nonetheless, I am grateful because I am fully aware of the strenuous efforts and patience that research entails. With the help of Dr. Cilene, the proper changes are underway and we believe the second testing phase will be much better. Unfortunately, the second testing phase will occur after I have left, but I am excited because I will be able to collaborate with Dr. Cilene and my lab mates concerning the experiment via email! It is still hard to believe that time has passed this quickly, but I have learned to embrace the time that I have left here, embed this summer experience into my memory, and use what I have learned to make my dreams a reality.

My time is winding down....Love Always Belem, Brazil

                               This is a beautiful sunset picture taken at the Algodoal Island with a horse carriage in the background.

As the sun sets in the picture above, so is my time here in Brazil. I am still shocked at how quickly time has gone by, because it seems like I just arrived. I guess that’s what they mean by, “time flies when you are having fun”.

I have made a lot of friends that will forever be a part of my life. They showed and taught me things and truly increased my outlook about life in general. The education I got from the people of Brazil has enriched my life and there are things I have already incorporated into my life.

My time in Brazil has again reinforced my belief that people are alike all over the world. We all want similar things - love, happiness, family, friends, and good health.

My experiences have been rich with enjoyment, excitement and much learning.

It is with great sadness I write this because it signifies the end of my time in Brazil. This was a place; I did not know nine weeks ago. I did not know how to say much in Portuguese but now, I can carry small conversations with people in Portuguese and functional in my everyday life. I had been told that it would be hard to find English speakers here in Belem. To the contrary, I have met a lot of English speaking people. The key was to go out and meet people and that is how I was able to not only meet English speakers, but also practice my Portuguese speaking.

My research has wound down to the final phase of putting finishing touches to the report so I have had the time and opportunity to go on some adventures.

I went to Algodoal Island and it was an amazing place. It entailed me taking a ferry to get to the island which was my first time doing such. The island was filled with people from different cities around the State of Para, mainly from Belem who had come to spend their vacation. The island had no motor vehicles but carriages being pulled by horses.

I am very grateful for the opportunity I had to spend my ten weeks of summer vacation from medical school in Belem, Brazil. I made a connection with Brazil and have started seeking ways in which I can be a part of the medical community here in Brazil long term.

This is the first of many more visits to come…I am excited and looking forward to being a part of the Brazilian culture and people as it is something everyone should get a glimpse of if nothing else.

Brazil...till we meet again

Well this is my last official blog. As I reflect on my time here I get sad knowing that it’s about to end. I don’t know what I was expecting when I first pulled up to the front gate of my pousada. All I knew was that I was in a foreign country with little knowledge of it’s customs nor language. It was all a bit overwhelming. But these feeling quickly faded away. The people I’ve met here have treated me with nothing but kindness. Many have broken their backs to make me feel comfortable. The pousada Ive been staying in lacks many of the creature comforts of America, but makes up with the warmth of its inhabitants. The people here are almost like one big family. On many occasions I have went to the shared kitchen to make a small snack and been offered more food than a king could eat. They have celebrations every weekend and always seem happy to see you. The people in my lab are the same way. After long days of work they invite me to go out and no matter how tired I am at the time, I never regret going. They are fun to be around and always ensure that I have a good time. Also I have fallen in love with the city of Sao Paulo! Coming from a small school in a small town, this big city is very different then what I’m used to. After two months I have barely seen a fraction of the many joys and sights it has to offer. I will truly miss this city but most of all I will miss the people in it. I have truly made great memories here. Coming to Brazil has been an amazing experience and I feel blessed and grateful to have gotten this opportunity!