it getting hot in herrrre

Besides sweating to death, this is an amzing exeprience. Yesterday there was a huge march (protest thing) to kick off the start to World Social Forum. There was anti-USA stuff everywhere and it made me feel at home :) It was the first time for most of us here to march as Methodists together. I am kind of really proud that my church is supporting this event enough to send us all down here. Usually the church is left out of international affairs but not my church. I am really grateful for this experience. The world will live in, in the US, is soo different. We have no idea the effects that our policies really have on other countries. But when you talk to someone who sees dead bodies in the streets everyday or has their family lose their business due to free trade policies, you realize what our government is doing. I need more time to digest and filter through my thoughts. But I promise to keep you all posted.

from blizzard to Brasil

Finally, I am out of the country. My plane was the last to fly out of Newark very late on Saturday night. I had to shed my coat, scarf and gloves in the car before running to my terminal in the snow. I was absolutely frigid when I left NJ only to arrive in 95 degree heat. Of course there is no air conditioning and I sleep on a straw cot next to a friendly gecko who comes and goes as he pleases, but hey, I am on a free ride to Brasil and World Social Forum (100,000 + people in attendance starting Wednesday). It is soooo beautiful here. I feel like I am in this small little paradise. I am staying at a Methodist College with a bunch of other, you guessed it, Methoditsts from US, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay, Mozambique, Angola, Switzerland, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the list goes on. So far the experience is pricless of course. Unfortunately my portuguese is non existent. I can now say good morning, good night, thank you and please. But luckily a lot of Portuguese people speak Spanish so I am golden. My Spanish language knowledge slapped back into action when I had to do this exercise with a Brasilian girl. I can´t believe I can still speak, although I m sure not well. Anyways, this week is full of adventures in to the city of Porto Alegre where we are and attending the world social forum. Slogan : Another World is Possible and for those of you who want to the portuguese- Um Outro Mundo e possivel. Yup, I am learning alright. Hope all your lives are wonderful. Kenya is 12 days away! But luckily I can chill in Brazil until the 31st. Oh yeah, and I am getting a tan. This is the best winter ever :)