Month 17: Summer! South America version

 Hello hellooooo!!

So sorry about my extended absence. These past 2 months have been such a whirlwind. There's so much to catch you up on!

February was a month that felt like it sped by in the blink of an eye. This was due to one main thing....I went on vacation for half of it.

Yes, due to my first full month of summer without obligations, I decided to skip town for a bit and cross the border to the beautiful country of Brazil. This trip was for two main reasons...the cultural festival of Carnival....and seeing one of my favorite artists live in concert.

We'll get to that in a second though.

Before I embarked on this journey, I took a trip down South to visit my friends Sam and Rhayne. Not only was this due to the fact that I didn't want to watch the Super Bowl alone, it was also due to the fact that Sam and Rhayne have something very special in their site - the Jesuit Ruins. In 1588, the Jesuits arrived in Paraguay with the permission of King Felipe II of Spain to implement their objectives of Christianizing the indigenous population. 

The perspective of the Jesuits was that they were "saving" the indigenous Guarani people from persecution and death from those of the Portuguese. However, if you ask the descendants of these same people, they tell a story of forced labor, imprisonment if you refused, and otherwise less than ideal working and living conditions within the mission. 

It's a noteworthy testament to how different perspectives may change the narrative of historical events, and that the version that is most popular is not always the version that is "correct".

The Jesuit Ruins themselves were beautiful, and what has been recovered and preserved is only a fraction of what once stood. It was absolutely incredible to be able to walk around and see the different structures and carvings in the stone. Another interesting note is that none of the statues in the ruins were carved in the Anglicized view of individuals or priests, meaning that all the people are depicted with the typical features of Guarani people, not those of Spain or other country's influence.

After watching Bad Bunny rock the Super Bowl, we embarked on our trek to Rio. To get there, we took a bus. 

Yes, a bus.

A bus that was supposed to be 30 hours, but due to the bathroom on said bus breaking, it turned into a 34 hour endeavor.

Pro-tip: If someone offers you extra-strength Benadryl on an overnight bus, you take it. I was knocked out for like 8 of the 35 hours.

Bus shenanigans

No I wasn't exaggerating...34 hours.

We then arrived in what I can only describe as paradise. Rio de Janeiro, a beautiful coastal city with beautiful scenery, people, and an indescribable energy. We spent a few days visiting museums, the beach, the famous Christ the Redeemer, and otherwise drinking in the culture of this new country. Of course, this was not to be outshined by the real reason we came on these specific dates: CARNIVAL.

As I mentioned in my February blog post last year, when we attended Carnival in Encarnacion in Paraguay, it's essentially the Latin version of Mardi Gras. A celebration of dancing, music, and indulgence right before the 40 day period of Lent. Brazilian Carnival in particular, known as the "Greatest Show on Earth," features massive, vibrant street parties, samba music, and elaborate parades in stadiums called Sambadromes, blending Portuguese traditions with Afro-Brazilian culture. We attended many a "bloco" (the street parties that emulate parades as they move through the streets with live music and dancing), and even went to a Sambadrome show to see the official exhibition of the top Samba schools in the country. 

fresh coconuts>>>>

After a week of fun in Rio, we decided to slow the pace down a bit. With a couple friends (hi Emmy, Sophie, and Emma), we took a bus a few hours South of Rio and spent a few days in a beach town known as Ubatuba. This part of the trip consisted of island hopping, snorkeling, sunbathing, and otherwise just existing in the Brazilian sun.

Then came possibly the most incredible part of the trip. If you've known me for a while, you know that I've been a fan of Spanish music since wayyyyy before I knew what they were saying. The rhythm is infectious, and the language of music is always universal. On top of this, I've always loved Bad Bunny. It's easy to say that now that he's one of the most popular artists worldwide, but even high school Anita was jamming to his song in EGHS.

Therefore, when he announced a South America tour, my friends and I jumped on the chance to see him in person. Even better, when we found out his Brazil dates lined up with Carnival, it was a done deal. This turned out to be one of the most fun nights of my life, and it was a dream come true to be able to see him so close in person. Below you'll see some (very color coordinated) pictures from the concert. 

See the red top I'm wearing that looks like a butterfly? I made it on the bus ride to Rio. It's not like I didn't have enough time! 

After the concert that turned out to be the cherry on top of an already near perfect trip, we flew back to Asuncion, just in time for the first day of school!!

I got to walk Susana to school, re-introduce myself to the kids, and hit the ground running with projects for this year!

In the next blog post (I'll post it right after this one I swear), you'll hear about these projects and how they're going now that I'm about a month into the school year.

Lots of love and talk soon!!