After a whirlwind of a week (figuring out a Portuguese language course, going to Itaipava for a resarch conference, another Saturday in Lapa, and finding time to figure out my research admist it all) Sunday was a well deserved break.
It's an understatement to say the city changes when the sun comes out. It would be more appropriate to say that it transforms-- the sun has some sort of magnificent effect that makes the people and the buildings sparkle; everyone is out and about-- running, skateboarding, biking, playing futebol-- it's a surreal experience that's a bit hard to put into words. But what really shows when the sun comes out is the true nature of Cariocas. Tests the next day? Forget it. Go to the beach. Got a huge project due? Don't worry, it'll figure itself out. The people here, and their ability to find time to appreciate life-- it's something that is rare to see in the US, especially somewhere like NYC, where the energy of the people is always on high and everyone is accelerating, trying to get somewhere, something, somehow.
The massive overgeneralization of the people of Rio (take for instance, my fellow research colleagues, who are all studying intensely for a huge entrance exam for Fiocruz next week-- I'll explain more later) is not to demean other places, people. It's just an observation. Being in the city also makes me realize how much on overdrive a person can get-- sometimes it is important to just sit, relax, and watch things unfold.
So Sunday for me was filled with a day at the beach across from the Fasano, a quick jaunt through Ipanema scouring a few boutiques, then off for a mini trip to Santa Teresa. It's a beautiful, bourgeious bohemian place with an amazing view of the city, and a neighborhood feel that's hard to find in Zona Sul. Drinks with friends at the corner bar, watching youngsters run on the streets... talking about politics, fashion, linguistics and life.
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