A few lessons learned.

This past week, I lived at a children's center in a very poor, gang infested, drug-selling neighborhood of Campinas. Centro Vedruna, it is called. The center was begun and is run by five wonderful Carmelite nuns, and this past week has been an experience I hope to never forget. I have just arrived in Rio today, and so my regular posts will (hopefully) resume. But I am on my way to meet with my Vedruna group, and so for right now I will just share a few lessons I learned this week:
 1. Brazil has the greatest thing in the world; a dish called patata palia. Basically, it's miniature French fries.
2. You don't eat patata palia one at a time.
3. Brazilians use their fingers when eating WAY less than I do. Like, not at all.
4. I found a language I like less than Spanish. It's called Portuguese.
5. Jucelio's name is Jucelio, not Josef.

Jucelio is also a party animal.

6. No matter how handsome he is, never try to go drink for drink with a large Slovakian man. You will lose.

Pictured: large Slovakian male (right) with Big Tom.

7. Rice and beans go with everything.
8. There is more sugar in Brazil than anywhere in a child's imagination of heaven.
9. But still, the food is fantastic.


 Time for dinner, which probably consists of sugar built to resemble food, and some rice and beans.