In Transit

Nearly 13 hours after leaving Chicago I have arrived safely in Sao Paulo, my home for the month.
My mother and father drove me to O'Hare and I didn't even try to keep it together this time, I just let the tears flow in true Claire fashion. After saying goodbye to my parents I felt a lot better. I think the hardest part is taking the leap.

I like to think that my diving career has taught me a couple of life lessons and one of those is the pain is temporary and pride is forever. All divers have been terrified to jump off the board but once in the air you just have to work with what you are given and make it work for those few seconds you are falling. Yeah, you are going to smack more times than you want to, but in the end you will be better for it (and might have some cool bruises to show-off).

Anyhow, I took the leap and am ready for a month in Brazil! So far so good; I knew it was a good sign when they had the movie Rio on the plane. I'm a little worried about the language barrier right now. I felt it in full force when the people next to me on the plane kept trying to talk to me in Portuguese and all I could do was smile, nod, and try to point to things. When everyone exited the plane I was the only one to go to the "foreigner" line at customs. This may be one of the first times when I couldn't speak the language and was alone. In my home everyone speaks English, and while I was in Europe most people either spoke the language or I had the Wolfpack with me. Now, my world was turned upside-down as I became the person sitting silently alone and just smiling when people talk to me. Talk about a culture shock! I need to study my portuguese stat.

I have three Brazilian buddies in Sao Paulo and one of them, Paula, came to pick me up at the airport, which was a relief. She also brought her father and they drove me to my hotel. Once at the hotel I just brushed my teeth and took a nap. Unfortunately I could not sleep well on the plane because my window seat was taken from me. I guess it wasn't "taken from me," but the guy in the seat next to me asked if his wife could switch seats with me so that he could sit by her. It was either say no and feel like an selfish American or not sleep well. I went with the insomniac approach.

After the nap my other buddy Fabi took me out for lunch, but that is worthy of it's own post.