Month: February 2015
Five Days in February
2/2/15 
I was looking in this book my mom got. It was called, “How to be an Explorer of the World.” Something caught my eye. I was on page 52. The thing that caught my eye on page 52 was that it taught me how to make goggles. You needed cardboard, electric tape, wire, duct tape, acetate and string. Of course we didn’t bring all of that stuff, so we had to use what he had. First we had to cut a cardboard tube in half. Second we cut out a large strip of cardboard. Third we cut two hole for where the tubes would go. You know what, there’s too much more too say. So I made these goggles to help people see the world from a different perspective. What I learned from this project is use what you have.
2/9/15 
This day was great! In the morning we got to play this fun math game called, “Dragon Box.” It secretly teaches algebra. So after we played with this app, me, Ezra and my dad, Barry, went to a bakery. At the bakery we got to pick out one treat. At that time I was very hungry. So I picked the chocolate cake. My brother, Ezra, picked this cotton candy popsicle. Man that was good. It felt good to eat something sweet. When we got back we just hung around. Then my dad picked up his berimbau so I though maybe I should play the berimbau, too, and started playing. My dad played the berimbau, then switched to the pandeiro. It was nice to play berimbau again. During the day my dad met the most feistiest crab. The crab lunged at him with claws ready to strike. In the end, we just left him alone.
2/10/15 
It started raining outside. We were about to go on a snorkeling trip to Recife de Fora. So we were about to get ready when the Arraial Trip Tur guy came and said that we can’t on on the trip because of the rain. Then we really couldn’t go. We went back in to the house. I was really disappointed. After school we went to my capoiera teacher’s house. His name is Deivid. We were going to make berimbaus! First we chose the stick that we thought was right for us. Then we would sandpaper it. There’s a lot of sandpapering in here. Then we picked a gourd to hollow out. Then we would string it. After that we made a baqueta. Then bam! We made our own berimbau! That really changed my day. You can see the whole process in pictures on my dad’s post.
2/20/15 
Today would be the day! We would finally go on a snorkeling trip to Recife De Fora. A reef with many interesting sea creatures. We have been waiting soooo long for this trip. We waited outside for the van to pick us up. We got dropped off at the dock. We had to wait a very long time before the ship arrived. We had to take a boat out to another dock, where we switched to the other boat that would take us out to the reef. When we got there we would climb down a ladder into the water or jump off the boat. Since we had trouble swimming we had to take a mini boat to the reef instead. There was a lake in the middle of the reef where we would snorkel. There was first a little tour before we went. Then we got to go snorkeling. My mom and I swam around the lake. There were big clumps of big fish and little yellow and black striped fish swimming in a school together. When we looked near the top of the water we could see needle fish. After we snorkeled around the whole lake we headed back to the boat and left for Arraial D’Ajuda.
2/23/15 I had the best capoeira class. At capoeira I was having a good time. I was cranking those kicks. It was just the best. The thing that made my class the best in that I made a new friend. He is very good at capoeira and is very nice. Now I have someone I know at capoeira.
“Now that we have our rhythm”
Cambui- our second home.
These were the words April said to me as we entered Cambui, the grocery store (of all places! See my blog post about my grocery panic attack there on our second day here). We had come in one entrance, but usually enter the other way. She was remarking how we had our shopping rhythm down when we start on the other side of Cambui. (You can get a peek inside Cambui with Ezra on Episode 2 on his blog).
Having played the drums since I was 7 years old, I truly experience life as rhythm and beats. When I hear a song, I hear the drums first and the melody second. If I was destined to be a dancer, it’s no surprise I ended up a tap dancer.
Living in Arraial D’ajuda for a few weeks now, I think I have found the rhythm of this place. There is the rhythm of the Estrada da Balsa outside our home, which has no traffic, but once the balsa (ferry) arrives a mile down the street there is the briefest wave of traffic. While waiting for a bus or van we know that’s when we can expect a ride; thus we are tied to rhythm of the balsa.
There is the rhythm of our weeks. Capoeira in the mornings on Monday and Wednesday for the boys (add in Thursday and a couple of nights for me), which means school in the afternoons. There are school mornings on the other days and we end each day with swimming in some fashion. Trips to town at night a few times a week and the boys constantly inventing new games to play with each other.
Daily swim. Ezra is like a fish now.
Sidney in Capoeira class.
Ezra working on his addition.
Don’t have blocks to play, but sand is a good substitute.
A little beach capoeira.
The occasional nap.
A little paddle out.
Out for dinner in town. Boys are jacked on Guarana.
Capoeira Sul da Bahia HQ
For me, the biggest success has been that I now feel in rhythm with Sul da Bahia, the capoeira school where I am studying while in Arraial. I take classes from three different teachers who have their own grooves- as I can tell by the music they choose to start their classes. Professora Luciana, the wife of the Mestre, is sensitive to who is in the class and what’s present. Her class is the friendliest of the three and so it’s no surprise that she uses popular Brazilian music. She even let the boys come play in the roda in class.
Ezra with Deivid. We all love class with him.
Deivid, is laid back and even-keeled, just like the samba/dance groove covers of Bob Marley songs he plays. He’s a natural teacher and his movement combinations are fun and creative. He’s been the one person thus far from Sul da Bahia that we have spent time with outside of classes.
Mestre Railson is like a brick truck with no brakes. His class is intense and non-stop. There are guys doing push-ups and sit-ups in-between the exhausting exercises! His music choice is the most interesting as he likes to start class with “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” sung by Iz, the great Hawaiian singer. I can see that the Mestre is strong on the outside, but like his capoeira, it is combined with flexibility and warmth. This is what I read in the song choice.
Mestre Railson
The rhythm of the roda in his class is so different than Raizes do Brazil’s. In Brooklyn, capoeiristas of all levels would freely flow in and out of the roda, but this school- with no less than a dozen insanely amazing capoeiristas on any given night- has a hierarchy. These are just a few of the guys from class.
The great players take the roda and play long games. It’s very hard for the less advanced to find a place. That being said, the other night when there was a roda on the street which is more like a performance, the Mestre picked someone to play with me and let me take a turn. I see I am slowly earning a place in the community here.
On the town with Rafael, Priscilla and Leo.
Most importantly for us all, we are in the rhythm of friendship. Last week, while in the pool next door at the hotel, Rafael started to chat with me. That conversation lasted for 2 ½ hours- all in Portuguese! It was the start of our first real friendship with some Brazilians. Both he and his wife Priscilla were incredibly patient with us and so we spent a lot of time with them talking about almost everything. They live in Brasilia, where we are headed next, so we get to keep this one going.
Marianne and me.
I have my best capoeira buddy, an Aussie named Marianne. She has been coming here for the past 5 years and has been a great resource for us. I know it’s “cheating” to have an English speaking friend, but she’s a really good one.
Chillin’ in Rick and Andrea’s pool.
Half-cheating, we made friends with Rick, an American ex-pat from North Miami (of all places!) and his Brazilian wife, Andrea. Rick has it figured out. He has a, cliff-side home (with good wifi!) overlooking the beach and manages to work just a few months a year in the states to maintain is idyllic life.
I think the kids and our new friends are happy that I have time to get my baking “groove” on, too. My “biscoitos Americanos” are a hit here.
Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Making Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Shabbat with my homemade challah.
As April says, sometimes it takes a taste of home to make a new place feel like home.
PS- Just to prove my point, these guys just got off the ferry for Porto Seguro around 5pm for Carnaval. Carnaval there doesn’t start until 11pm and goes until the sun goes up.
No backpack, no pockets, nothing. Just flip-flops and a sungha.
Welcome to Brazil! Episode 2
Ezra shows us the town of Arraial D’ajuda.
Belly Bliss: A Gastronomic Journal of Bahia
In a land where meat and churrasca (grilled meats on sticks) are king, we wondered what we could eat besides beans and rice. Thankfully because of the influx of Italian immigrants to Brazil, fresh pastas and even pizza are plentiful here (no, we are not hurting for our NY Pizzas as originally predicted). Most importantly because of all the fresh tropical fruits and vegetables, there’s plenty for us vegetarians/pescatarians to eat.
For breakfast (café da manhã):
I start my morning with a lime-spritzed papaya bowl filled with vanilla yogurt, topped with granola and hempnut seeds.
For snacks (o lanche):
Acai /cupuaçu – Derived from the Amazonian açai palm, this superfruit is packed with antioxidants, omegas 3 & 9, vitamin A and calcium. The deep violet hued pulp is commonly found combined with cupuaçu (another Amazonian fruit related to the cacao plant that tastes like chocolate mixed with pineapple). I usually treat myself to a frozen cup of the stuff mixed with honey and bananas. Açai can be found on many food stands or cafes in town. It’s the best way to cool the edge off a steamy Bahian day.
For lunch (o almoço):
Our rental house came equipped with a sandwich press—oh joy!
Avocado, red onion and cheese paninis with guava juice, and double chocolate chip cookies. BAM!
For dinner (o jantar):
The Farmer’s Market across from the supermarket in town provides a fresh selection of local produce. Walking among the rainbow of fruits and vegetables I get ideas for that night’s dinner:
Black beans with crushed garlic, sweet potatoes topped with cinnamon, and colvi (collard greens) stewed in fresh ginger.
If we’re in town I usually order the traditional dish, Moqueca (Fish Stew). A rich, hearty stew served with a steak of fish, accompanied by rice and a polenta-like mash of curry, coconut-milk goodness.
For dessert (sobremesa):
Barry has found a way to satisfy his baking needs. Using measuring cups and spoons brought from the US and literally mixing the ingredients by hand with the help of two helper-elves, Bare-Chested Bakery was born. “Biscoitos Americanos” became a favorite of our neighbors who were paid with chocolate chip cookies or double chocolate chip cookies for their kindness and generosity.
Barry even rocked his challah—we had fresh, home-made challah for our first official Shabbat in Brazil, complete with a candleholder fashioned out of dried coral rock.
Aside from the baked vices, we’ve discovered a piece of dessert heaven in town, Super Paletas: Mexican popsicles taken to another level. My favorite flavor: Passionfruit with condensed milk center. Sidney loves the Belgian chocolate with brigadeiro center. And Ezra’s favorite is the Fruit Salad. Can we convince them to open a place in Brooklyn?
Maracuja (Passion Fruit) with Condensed Milk center–addictive!
Flip Flop Fever
Despite Barry’s comparison of me to Imelda Marcos when it comes to boots, none of these are mine. My three boys have caught Havaiana Fever—and as of writing this post there are actually two more pairs to include in the current total!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
One of our best days so far
This had to be one of the best days we’ve had here, and we’ve had some good ones. A really authentic experience. We went over to the house of our capoeira teacher, Deivid, to make our own berimbaus. A berimbau is the main instrument of capoeira. It has one string and a dried gourd. Video at end shows how it works/sounds.
I’ll post a full update soon, but I just had to share this day. We had such an amazing time.
Getting a ride from Deivid. (Dad, don’t let Mom see this picture.)
Deivid’s yard as he explains the set-up.
Deivid shows us the biribá tree that the Verga (bow) is made from.
Picking our verga.
Cutting it to the right length.
Clearing off the bark.
Opening the cabaça (gourd).
Inside the cabaça.
Sanding the inside of the cabaça.
Nice work on his cabaça.
Topping the verga with the head of an old drum.
Tire where the wire for the arame (string) comes from.
Attaching arame to verga.
Add the cabaça on and you’ve got a happy capoeirista.
Make that 3 happy capoeiristas.
Polish off the afternoon with lemon-verbana tea from the garden.
Let Passion Be Your Guide 