We woke up this morning and flew to Campinas, the city where Helena was born, in the state of Sao Paulo. We´ll drive 6 hours tonight with her brother Marcelo to attend a family wedding in the country. I`ve brought my videocam with me, so expect some fun Brazilian wedding shots on Monday night when we get back to Rio! I´ll be away from internet access until then, but promise some good stories when we get back.
I think one of our first signs came this morning. As I was walking Zuca around the neighborhood, I started talking to a woman and her dog; first in my infant-like Portuguese, and then in English. She spoke English with a perfect American accent, and as we talked, she told me that she and her husband lived in DC for many years. I told her that I also worked in DC in public education reform, and she asked me what we planned to do in Brazil. I told her about the concept for our NGO, and she shared that she and her husband work on environmental issues specifically related to urban planning! I told her that we were interested in starting urban community gardens, and she immediately offered to put me in touch with her husband who works directly with the Prefeitura (city government).
What are the chances? I guess the best I can do is keep putting it out there, and just wait and see what comes back.
Just in case it hasn´t come across yet, I am really, really, really happy. I slept all night last night and the night before last for the first time in 2 months. It was a deep, peaceful, dreamless sleep without a blanket or sheet to cover me. Just warm, tropical breezes and a slow, sleepy brain.
