November 13 - 10:50PM - Tarmac of GIG (Rio Airport)

Ah the last journal entry. The time when we take a moment to look back at our trip, reflect and find out what we’ve learned about the world and about ourselves. I am listening to Stan Getz play bossa nova on my ipod right now, totally awesome, goes with the relaxing mellow theme of Brazil very well.

This was a great trip. It was awesome to get to see how South Americans live and I have found out that it is a totally different way of life than we live in the US. It is more like being in a European country than in Mexico or what not and there are many things the same but just like you find out when you travel it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. It is very hard to communicate, even with our stupid little Brazilian Portuguese phrase book, no one speaks English so just buying a snack at the market makes you nervous. Brazilians in general tend to stick to themselves and pretty much ignore us in general, they do try to help you at restaurants and what not but nothing about Americans seems to intrigue them. You’re pretty much just another tourist and nobody really wants to get to know a tourist, not me at least when I’m home in SF. The biggest thing I have learned about Brazilians? They love the beach. They flock to them, everyone is super tan and if they’re not at the beach than they are exercising to work on their beach bods. We are radiant white compared to them even though I am actually rocking a tan on my legs. I also can’t talk about Brazilians without saying that they are a pretty relaxed culture and things move slower here. No one is in a hurry. Maybe it’s the heat or maybe they just like to take it easy.

Also, another part of Brazil, it is hot. If you come here be prepared to sweat. You will be wet from when you wake up to when you go to sleep and if your room doesn’t have AC then also when you try to sleep. Get used to it, embrace it and you will be alright. Everyone sweats down here, even the locals so don’t worry about it.

This may sound strange but the best part of this trip will happen after we leave. I know from experience that what I cherish the most is the moments in my everyday life when I can look back on my trip and remember all of the interesting things about it. Sixth months from now when something triggers my brain to remember the Brazilian ham and cheese sandwich or when I see… lets say a thong or something or I eat granola I am going to think back on my trip and I’m going to smile. The happiness will spread far past the days that I am on this trip. It recharges my soul. I’m going to have that forever.

John Steinbeck said in his novel Travels with Charlie that “we don’t take a trip, a trip takes us.” I just read this quote and being at the end of one such trip I can definitely say that what Steinbeck says is true. At a trips start I can’t even imagine what to expect, and no matter how much I plan things out things are going to happen that I never expected and couldn’t come close to being ready for. This is the main reason that I take trips in the first place and is exactly what makes them so exciting.

Traveling the world is a life changing experience. Every trip and new encounter makes you a new person. Your vision of life is changed forever because you have been exposed to a new way of viewing the world. New ways that you never knew existed. I feel like this trip has helped me grow and has added one more alternative perspective to my minds eye. I am now a little wiser and a more experienced person. I can’t wait for my next trip and I can’t wait to remember this one. Alright got to go, planes taking off, got to get back to the US.