Eating with the Forecast

Hoje: calor calor calor

[Today: hot and humid]

It was far too humid to truly enjoy eating today, so instead, I decided to take part in drinking my lunch, local vinho, wine made by Italian ancestors in Maravilha. I do not believe I mentioned this earlier, but Maravilha in Portuguese means ´Wonderful´, and the vinho undoubtably portrays it to a T. There is most certainly a distinction to their wine as well. It is stronger in acidity, quite dry, has a quick finish, and has a sharp piercing note of grape and garam marsala combined.

Wine is not packaged in a glass bottle, but rather in a plastic bottle resembling that of a soda bottle in the United States. Rarely it is even labeled, and when it is, the wine is only labeled at red, light red, rose, and white.

Among other drinks I have come to enjoy are fresh fruit juices made daily. Yesterday for dessert, I had coconut! It was unbelievably fresh with a rounded fatty milk flavor. Eu gosto!!!

Often it is too hot to eat, so calories are consumed in large volumes by beverage. I love it! There is such an abundance of fruit to enjoy that your options feel limitless. I wonder what other fruits I will enjoy today....

A few days ago, I tried gioba. It´s a yellow skinned fruit with salmon pink flesh and seeds which resemble that of fenugreek, both in texture and appearance. Floral notes of rose with a texture similar to that of pears fill your senses. I think this would be best eaten seedless, for the seeds were not the most pleasant. It was a bit harsh to my mouth, and I did my best to dispose of them. However, there were so many. Later on in the day, I discovered my family had a paste in the fridge, geladeria, made of the same gioba fruit. The flavor was hightened with concentration and no seeds were present. Thus, this fruit requires a small amount of work in order for it to live up to its´full potential in taste [paste and ice cream is more enjoyable]. The lower picture is gioba, while the upper is an unripe persimmon.

Community Eating

Life in Brazil has shown to be hard, so they raise and grow most of their food. Even the tiniest of properties will have a small piece of land designated for food. Its amazing! The picture you see above is a cow my Brazilian family butchered. They love their meat, especially their beef. Everyday for dinner, we eat a grand meal with some kind of protein, usually containing beef. Along with this are black beans, rice with [green, young] corn, and lettuce. After we eat our lunch, everyone takes a siesta to recover from the meal. However, not I. During siesta, I use this time to write and practice my Portuguese.

When everyone wakes up from their seista, they typically partake in a communal event of drinking yerba mate, a green tea, called chimarráo. The picture below depicts the drinking vessel, special to chimarráo, with a long straw to drink from. The straws have a flattened mesh like sieve to prevent the tea from entering your mouth. Other things may be added for an enhanced flavor [chamomile, fresh bay leaves, etc.]. The means of drinking chimarráo is quite a social event, for there is only one vessel to go around. You pour hot water over the tea on the opposing side from the tea and continue to drink the tea until you finish. Then, you fill it again with water and pass it the next person going around the room. Thus, there is only one vessel per household. I love chimarráo not only for the social engagement, but for the taste too!

Another way to enjoy social eating is by having a churrasco, or BBQ. Below is a picture of beef over an open fire, which is located in the ´garage ´. I say ´garage ´ with question because it´s not the same kind of garage you or I would imagine [if from USA]. In Brazil, the garage is a place to socialize and sit down to enjoy churrasco and chimarráo, not a place for vehicles. Once the food is ready for consumption, the man of the house portions the carna into small portions and puts it on a plate with farinha de mendioca, a starchy potato like flour. Then, one person walks around the room to pass the meat with toothpicks.

These types of social events are exactly what I am in search of with every culture, because food is such an important part of our lives. Food is meant to be enjoyed and experienced with others, not to be abused. Perhaps we can return to our own cultural roots.

I wonder what I will encounter next???

The three frontiers

Today I returned to Maravilha where I rested from my travels to the place where three countries, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, meet. From Maravilha, we drove to Argentina, stayed in Wanda and explored the area of Itiapu and Iguaçu Falls.

The last picture is near one of the larger falls close to the top; the beauty was spectucular and overwhelming. Just below this section of the falls, there is a walk way to the middle where you get misted. Immediately, you want to throw your hands up in the air, close your eyes and feel the power of nature. Unfortunately, I was only able to get one perspective of the falls, that being the Brazilian side. Brazilians say it´s more beautiful than the Argentinian side, while people from Argentina say their side is better. I guess I will have to go back and decide for myself when the weather is more cooperative.

Being American in Brazil

Another day has come and gone, while I think back to what happened in only one day. It was such a hectic, fun, overwhelming, and interesting day. Why not start from the beginning? I met a new friend Daniella from the salon and visited her high school, but this was no ordinary day. It was their last day of class before summer vacation. There was a talent show to wrap up the year and they were all so excited a native English speaker from America was there to share it with. All the students were curious while Daniella and Daniel introduced me to each class. Then, at the beginning of the show in the gymnasium, the administrator of the school had everyone give me a warm welcome where I then stood up and said in my best Portuguese Bom dia, good morning.

It has been a real pleasure getting to know the people of Maravilha, who are so kind and friendly. I don´t think I have ever given so many hugs and kisses in three hours, let alone in one day. Every time a boy was google-eyed, Daniella would tell me, ´Very much teenagers´, and then laugh. After my visit, I went back to Elzira´s home to eat lunch, marrow, rice, black beans, lettuce, mandioca, and chuchu. With no time to waste, we then went back into the city to go to another school, only this one was private. Headway is its name. However, school was canceled to go to the movies. Instead, five of the teenagers took me out to ice cream. They love, absolutely love to eat sweet things, no question about that. In fact, Paula told me they, the kids, prefer to eat American like foods, fried and sweet. Once my new friends found out I cook, they immediately took me to the grocery store to buy ingredients for cookies. [I believe they think I only cook sweet things].

This was such a long, tiring day, so I´ll keep it short.

After the walking around the neighborhood, they brought me to Paula´s house to try new foods, see her home and dog, meet her family and then take pictures. What strikes me as funny is that they all think I´m 18, maybe 19! Wow, never has anyone thought so young of me. Perhaps it´s because my bust is not as big in comparison.

Once we took note of the time, we quickly scampered off to my massage appointment. It was just what I needed, alone time and relaxation.

Then back to Elzira´s home where her friend waited. He´s a pastor who is going to America to preach, so he wants to know if he could practice conversing in English. Tomorrow I will meet his wife for lunch, and afterwards, start planning a trip to Iguacu Falls. How exciting!!!

To finish off my evening, we ate fresh beef liver from the slaughter with onions! I cleansed my palate with fresh pomegranate from the tree only but 30 feet away from the house. Yummy.

...and today, going to the swimming pool with Paula.
[I also helped portion the remaining fresh beef cuts, got my yellow fever shot, and had fresh papaya.]

Tchau

Arriving in Brazil

I have only just arrived in Brazil, and I´m having quite the experience. After visiting in Chicago, I felt fatigue and needed rest, so I found myself asleep on every flight to Maravilha. It took four flights and an hour car ride to get where I am today. It´s beautiful and warm, not sunny though. Today it rained off and on the entire day, but that did not discourage me from exploring. My host Elzira showed me around her living quarters, talk about amazing. They grow and raise most of their own provisions. There are mandarins, pomegranates [but are different than the large red variety you see in America; they are smaller, have soft, pink seeds, and dry the skins to cure stomach aches], figs, peaches, chayote [chuchu in Portuguese], lettuce [various sorts], arugula, oranges, limes, cinnamon, mint, corn, beans, and tapioca, amongst several other things, which can be picked and eaten right here on their property. In addition, there are goats, horses, cows, chickens, goose, dogs, and bees [for honey]. There is a lake in the back yard with rolling hills and farms to gaze at while I attempt to take in Brazil. Breath by breath, I think of Brazil and how lucky I am to experience such a rich culture. These next two months are going to fly by, and I cannot wait to learn and explore what this beautiful country has to offer.

Earlier today, I met a young girl named Daniella at a salon. She invited me to her high school where she learns English. We spoke and decided that I will be her special guest for tomorrow at the school. Ahhh, I´m just so excited. It will be quite the experience.

....
Tchau