I went for just a few days, and I again I learned just as much about myself, as I did about the people in Brazil.
What did I learn?
I learned that the love that Brazilian's have for their children can not be measured. I had two experiences that showed this to me, the first was watching a boxing match in one of the Favelas. On hard concrete, by the entrance to the favela is an outdoor concrete theatre with stadium seating. At first I thought it was just a place to wait for the vans that took people to and from work, or where people socialized and/or took a break before proceeding up the hill to their homes. On this particular Sunday it was where a children's boxing match took place. I passed and took pictures thinking that it was a short term event. BUT NO!!!! As I returned to the favela, where I stay in a very special hostel, I saw that people were still there 6 hours later.
My life experience of cultural events is not small both from the point of view of spectator and the POV of participator from drawing lessons at the local Art Museum in Houston Texas, to performing in an Opera as a dancer as a child, to five hour trips(s) to the Louvre, Chagall, Rodin, Dali, and other museums all over the world, to countless broadway shows in New York, and live music performances also all over the world. But nothing prepared me for the enthusiasm, and dedication with which Brazilians prepare and experience their children's birthday parties. I attended the birthday party of a three year old niece of the hostel owner where I stayed. The party was one floor up from the hostel and I was able to observe parts of the all day decorating, and preparation. After a full day shooting the hospitals, and post offices around town, (more on this later), I went to take a nap, at which point I was woken up around 9pm with the thump of Baile Funk interspersed with Samba, and 80s rock. I followed the music to find a DJ, and what seemed like a hundred kids of varying ages. First of all, I am familiar with the all ages partying together tradition of large families; I am from one. But the plethora of wall decorations, and games and inter-active music games that were at this birthday party blew me away. And the parents took each child around the room making sure they noticed/appreciated/participated in all the games and visual entertainment. What I recognized as a pinata was thoroughly enjoyed by all the kids to the point that when the candy was gone, some die-hard little girls scraped together piles of the streamers that had been included with the candy and threw them back up into the air to the amusement of the other kids and parents alike.
The children's boxing match, and the children's birthday party, and the daily trips that mother's make to the beach to give their children fresh coconut milk, are just a few examples of the memories that shimmer in my mind, and outshine the long lines at post offices, and the poor care at hospitals, and the corruption. Not because these things aren't important, they are - the fact that such a quickly growing economy is so slow to focus on basic needs is ultimately tragic. But I chose to take strength from the people's ability to focus on the moment, and squeeze every drop of joy from little things. They are raising their kids to have limitless possibilities, and as a people while they will quickly point out the sewage on the streets, the failure of basic services, and the distrust of the militia and the police, they will also give you little gifts, and invite you into their lives, at the drop of a hat. They understand community, and ultimately I believe this is their strength, and I hope this is what will enable them to benefit from the World Cup and the Olympics. We shall see.
The children's boxing match, and the children's birthday party, and the daily trips that mother's make to the beach to give their children fresh coconut milk, are just a few examples of the memories that shimmer in my mind, and outshine the long lines at post offices, and the poor care at hospitals, and the corruption. Not because these things aren't important, they are - the fact that such a quickly growing economy is so slow to focus on basic needs is ultimately tragic. But I chose to take strength from the people's ability to focus on the moment, and squeeze every drop of joy from little things. They are raising their kids to have limitless possibilities, and as a people while they will quickly point out the sewage on the streets, the failure of basic services, and the distrust of the militia and the police, they will also give you little gifts, and invite you into their lives, at the drop of a hat. They understand community, and ultimately I believe this is their strength, and I hope this is what will enable them to benefit from the World Cup and the Olympics. We shall see.
