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In her first blog, Aman talks about her first few months in Rio: how she's settled in, and what she's enjoyed so far!
Bom dia! Wow wow wow, I have been here three and a half months and what a beautiful time is has been. I started the Portuguese Intensive Course in July and met mainly international students but I was living with two Brazilian guys, whom I love dearly and I would argue some of the best people I’ve met since coming here (although keeping in touch is proving difficult, perhaps it’s a Brazilian thing!).
Raul and Eduardo made me feel welcome in this massive city and I couldn’t have found people to get along better with. Whilst everyone was going out in the evenings (I did from time to time ;)), I spent most of mine in the first few weeks here, sat around the dining table talking to them. I write about it because I have had some of the most interesting conversations with them, both in English and Portuguese.
But now the main attraction- Rio de Janeiro! I didn’t like it at first. Mamma came with me and when she left after five days I wanted nothing more than to board the plane back to Heathrow with her. But I want to be here, and I chose to be here - this was all but a normal part of moving abroad. As they say it takes time, and time it took. Now, my goodness, now? I have no interest whatsoever in coming back home.
My weeks after starting university are full of laughing with my dear friend Viola, making weekly trips to the grocery store to buy all of my fresh fruit and fretting over homework or tests that I always end up doing last minute! I go for runs by Copacabana beach (the neighbourhood where I live) and I go see the sunset by Arpoador in Ipanema. Just thinking about those two things makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
Doing the hike of Vidigal at sunrise was one the most beautiful experiences. Vidigal is a favela but it is more touristy- some exchange students I know hang out in favelas for a night out, how ethical and safe that is (even if they are calmer favelas), I don’t know. However, there is one restaurant in the entrance of the favela close to my house and they do a massive plate of food for just under three pounds! You must be careful anywhere you go in the city, I haven’t yet explored other areas of the state - although I would say this is the only time my skin colour comes in handy in terms of slightly guaranteeing my safety :).
As for my Portuguese, well it’s better but I need to speak more. My Spanish is rapidly improving though as Viola and I mainly speak en español! I can however hold a lengthy conversation in Portuguese which is much more than I could six months ago. I have visited Ilha Grande with a group of exchange students and last week, I came back from Salvador which I visited with Viola and Michela (another UCL student doing her exchange in São Paolo).
I wouldn’t have enough paper to write about every single thing I have gotten up to whilst in Brazil but hopefully these pictures showcase a tad more than what I have described. When I was preparing to come back from Salvador, I felt happy to be returning to Rio and when I landed, I felt a sense of relief. It’s almost the same feeling you feel when you return home after work or a trip. I had comeback home.
Photos:
( Sunset at Arpoador with my friend from Miami)
(Traditional carnaval outfit at Casa da Carnaval in Salvador)
(Ilha Grande)
(Pasta cooked by my Italian friends)