PROGRESS????

I have always been the type to focus on what I want to focus on; only.  But as I keep returning to Rio, I'm noticing a sharp increase in the number of men traveling to Rio.  I'm talking sometimes as many as 90% men on a flight, especially the non-Brazilians.  If I'd listen to my more close minded male associates, I would believe that its all about sex, and easy access, but I'm just a little more open-minded than that and I believe its the sharp increase in European skilled workers coming to Brazil, to prepare for the FIFA related sporting events, including the Confederations Cup and the largest upcoming event the WorldCup in 2014.  I put this together when I remember the group of "apparently hung-over" shipping workers, that I overheard talking about the incentives and perks that they got to work in Brazil.

I found myself based on this fact concentrating on the increase in containers that I saw hiding behind the gates at the ports, and the quadrupled construction.

I personally brought some charity donations into Rio, and I was concerned that I'd have to explain my donations.  Instead I found myself waived through customs without any questions whatsoever except, "Are you here for the FIFA Confederation Cup?"  I got a sense that FIFA was monitoring how much clout they had in Brazil.

I later spoke with one of the owners of the hostel that I'm staying in the Vidigal favela, who also owns a travel agency in Leblon.  Basically, I found out that FIFA has unlimited power in Brazil right now, and they are booking up all the hotels, for 2014, and keeping the tourism industry in a quandry as to what prices and rules will govern the booking of those few places not pre-booked by FIFA.

I am still fascinated by how quickly Rio is changing.  In less than a month's time the mini-van company that took up the slack for public buses, have all received new vans with new paint jobs, and the ability to accept bus card payments in addition to cash.  I can choose to celebrate the growth that I'm seeing in my two characters Zezinho's and Patricia's lives, to the exclusion of the changes happening in Rio in general but I won't do that.  Some of the changes are extraordinary.

Zezinhos new MIXER:

Patricia's new WEBSITE that's she's in the middle of creating:

From a city that originally allowed its citizens to just flag down public buses on an adhoc basis, to a city that has three bus zones, and that has educated its citizens about the new routes in less that two years.  I find myself listening to older citizens and younger citizens alike getting with the program, and giving me directions as to what bus zone I should be standing at to get to what destination.  

Its all growth, and I hope that the city as well as the individuals will fight for their right to grow just as quickly as the big businesses coming in and profiting from the upcoming sporting events.  By this I mean I hope that hospitals, postal services, and garbage disposal with get an upgrade just as quickly as the stadiums and transit systems.  I hope that Zezinho can find a reasonable place to move that can house his DJ school, his personal space, and a small pension for visitors to the favelas.  I hope that Patricia, can increase her private tour guide business to the point that she won't also have to have a "day job", and she can make other trips to Europe that are as successful and eye-opening as her first trip; a two week visit that included London and Amsterdam from which she returned at the beginning of June.