Brazil Archives | Page 65 of 90

The rhythmic beat of the drums rings in my ears as I enter the room, comprised of three walls of brick and mortar and a cement floor. The wall opposite to the entrance is lined with dozens of drums, each unique in size and shape. The instructor commences and the participants gather into a circle....

From Neon Spandex to Hiking Boots

Camille LeBlanc

2012-09-18

Apologies for the infrequency of the blog posts! For the first time in years, I’m keeping a journal,which, unfortunately, is resulting in a reluctance to blog. But let me bring you up to speed: I arrived in Brazil two weeks ago, spent four days in Salvador, and am now in a small rural village in interior Bahia–Capao....

Ipe Amarelo

Amalia Rowan

2012-09-17

Driving through coastal Ecuador en route to Puerto Lopez, we saw hills covered with brown scrub brush and nearly leafless trees. Three rainy days later as we drove that same route, the hills had transformed into a vibrant yellow as the trees burst into flower. I later learned the tree, known in Ecuador as Guayacan,...

Being Green in Brazil

Joshua Reason

2012-09-17

Like most developing countries, Brazil has prioritized rapid development and economic growth over sustainable practices and clean waste management. This isn’t a criticism of the country, but rather a sad reality that comes with aspiring to be an economic superpower. This fact was evident to me during my time in Salvador da Bahía, the third...

A Bridge Within A Gap

Avery Ashwill

2012-09-17

Initially there were eight of us without visas—The Brazil L8—we called ourselves with internal smirks. We spent three days in Tahoe. Floated the Truckee river, swam in the ice melt lake, and stayed in a cozy cabin a five minute walk from a private beach. Even with the outstanding scenery I couldn’t always stay focused...

Every Step Counts

Benito Aranda-Comer

2012-09-13

The last couple of weeks have been nothing short of thrilling, thought provoking, anxiety producing, and most of all: life changing. Stanford University is the perfect setting to foster global change with a group of extraordinary individuals. From conversations on women’s empowerment and foreign aid to reflective yoga and late night singing and dancing there...

“One more week” on repeat

Alan De Leon

2012-09-13

As I am typing this, I am laying on a couch-bed hybrid in a hostel in the heart of the University of California, Berkeley. Indeed, I am in Berkeley, California right now – not Salvador, Brazil. I am finding it very difficult to distinguish a starting point on how I could possibly begin to explain...

Unicycling 101

Kim Asenbeck

2012-09-12

I rode a unicycle today. But let me get back to that in a moment… First, a bit of background: Fall Training–a ten-day period of exhausting yet exhilarating seminars, field trips, workshops, and training sessions–serves as the start to every fellow’s Global Citizen Year. The aim of Fall Training is to prepare us for our...