two months.

I guess this might become a monthly reflection, but it's been two months since I've been living in Rio, but I feel comfortable enough to say that it feels like it's been longer. I mean, I still don't know how to get to every location, and I don't know all the buses, and sometimes I feel like I'm still getting ripped off because I don't know where to look to find the cheap food or the cheap whatever, but I'm learning.

This month, I'm living in Urca. Last month, waking up every morning in Ipanema, it felt like a blessing to be able to walk around the streets at night... it's the same here, on Rua Lauro Muller. I've got an amazing view of the Pao de Acucar in my living room, and my apartment mate is a peaceful, wonderful person who will be a pleasure to live with for the next month.

The novelty of all the fresh fruits and vegetables has already worn on me, and I find myself trying to slowly figure out what it is that I find important to do here in Brazil. My research has not been progressing with the speed in which I hoped it would, and starting this month-- now that my Portuguese classes have ended-- I think it's important that I try to figure out other things to do with my time, like write articles, or find a way to volunteer somewhere.

We'll see.