March 17, 2013
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White Clouds
I am so tired, but the band at the Catholic church down the street just finished warming up. They aren’t as off key as yesterday’s band, the sign says the festival—for St. Joseph—will be every night through next week, so my sigh of resignation escapes. I pull out a piece of paper to write since I cannot sleep.
I look at the bug bites that come the first two weeks being back in Brazil. After drawing first blood, they normally leave me well enough alone, but one insect outdid itself, tripping across my wrist and leaving a red bump bracelet. Two across my forehead. Every once in awhile I connect the dots and realize that means random creatures are crawling across me while I sleep….but I let that thought go because it leads nowhere beneficial.
It is interesting working in 5 completely different settings from very rural (Mussurepe) to 100,000 population urban (Carpina). From completely destitute (Trash dump), to children who can read and write decently (Carpina). Each has their own set of problems and I am amazed at how it isn’t the income level, but the level of family cohesion that makes the difference in the children.
Mornings are with Pastor Flavio in Cajueiro Claro and Mussurepe—both rural areas with mostly mud hut houses. Afternoons are with Glory Sports programs in Carpina and Guadalajara, both in the city, but in needy neighborhoods. Evenings are working on my post-grad in Educational Psychology. Weekends are at the trash dump, and teaching English in the community.
Being in the USA over the winter meant I lost what little tan I had, and as the children put it, “Tia Rachel, you came back looking like a cloud again!”
