Friday, March 14, 2008
Lawdy!
My peeps is in Brasil and I should be there too
Oh well, I'll just keep playing capoeira here in Boulder
And tomorrow I'll go to Denver land to play w/the folks down there
Go to NYC in April and get learned by Mestre Joao Grande!!!!!
My peeps is in Brasil and I should be there too
Oh well, I'll just keep playing capoeira here in Boulder
And tomorrow I'll go to Denver land to play w/the folks down there
Go to NYC in April and get learned by Mestre Joao Grande!!!!!
Labels: I'm back
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Well my trip is going to end soon. Scott flew to Rio on Thursday and goes back to the states on Sun eve. I'm leaving to Rio on Monday and flying to the states on Tuesday. I'll arrive in Boulder about midday Wednesday.
Last nite after the roda at N'Zinga we were hanging out at a bar playing music and singing like we often do and I really started to feel sad that I was leaving Bahia, cuz I live for moments such as these. However moments after I had this realization this bloke pulled up in his car and started blasting some loud, obnoxious pop music. I really wanted to go over and tell to fuck off. But the rest of the folks from the group just rolled with the punches and started dancing and playing around to the terrible music.
That kind of sums up my experience here in Bahia.
On the one hand I had many incredible opportunities to learn and meet wonderful people.
On the other hand things like the filth and bad music conspired to put me in a bad mood.
The Baianos had an admirable sense of flexibility and resilience, you can see it in instances like my story, you can see it in the way the play Capoeira, always moving and flowing with ebb and flow of the game.
Last nite after the roda at N'Zinga we were hanging out at a bar playing music and singing like we often do and I really started to feel sad that I was leaving Bahia, cuz I live for moments such as these. However moments after I had this realization this bloke pulled up in his car and started blasting some loud, obnoxious pop music. I really wanted to go over and tell to fuck off. But the rest of the folks from the group just rolled with the punches and started dancing and playing around to the terrible music.
That kind of sums up my experience here in Bahia.
On the one hand I had many incredible opportunities to learn and meet wonderful people.
On the other hand things like the filth and bad music conspired to put me in a bad mood.
The Baianos had an admirable sense of flexibility and resilience, you can see it in instances like my story, you can see it in the way the play Capoeira, always moving and flowing with ebb and flow of the game.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
It's been a busy week with helping Scott do research. We interviewed several people and now we're transcribing and translating the material. We've been interviewing people who were involved with various Capoeira Angola groups doing grass root type of education programs for low income communities. We interviewed two capoeira mestres and three folks who had participated in the programs. Very eye opening stuff!
Perhaps some of you have spent time in Latin America and are familiar with the incongruous sight of million dollar hotels towering above shanty towns. A strange sight in the USA, but very common here in Brasil. Social welfare programs here in Brasil are criminally underfunded and often funded by people who aren't the government agencies. Illiteracy rates in Brazil have improved since the 1970's but are still fairly high in rural areas and low income communities in the cities.
That's where Capoeira groups and other grass root organizations come in to the picture. They provide cultural activities, educational assistance, meals and networking opportunities in these neighborhoods. Many of the children that participate are from from single parent families, where mom has to work most of the day for low wages. Crime in these areas is often a common occurrence. It's very common that people resort to selling drugs as a way of earning money.
Perhaps some of you have spent time in Latin America and are familiar with the incongruous sight of million dollar hotels towering above shanty towns. A strange sight in the USA, but very common here in Brasil. Social welfare programs here in Brasil are criminally underfunded and often funded by people who aren't the government agencies. Illiteracy rates in Brazil have improved since the 1970's but are still fairly high in rural areas and low income communities in the cities.
That's where Capoeira groups and other grass root organizations come in to the picture. They provide cultural activities, educational assistance, meals and networking opportunities in these neighborhoods. Many of the children that participate are from from single parent families, where mom has to work most of the day for low wages. Crime in these areas is often a common occurrence. It's very common that people resort to selling drugs as a way of earning money.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
On Friday, Scott and I went a roda at N'Zinga's academy
Scott played Paulinha, one of the teachers and she showed him only small mercy!
Actually they are very nice and lighthearted at this particular group.
They have a large project working withe kids in the area
We're going back on Monday to talk to them about being part of Scott's research
The main reason I'm visiting Brasil is to help translate for Scott's reseach
He's looking to see how Capoeira Angola affects change in community.
A little vague, but more will revealed later!
Once the research is completed!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Evani
Notice how Larry needs more than just cooking lessons
Now watch Evani dance ever so nicely
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Scott and I went to visit Evani's family in one of the suburbs of Salvador, Paripe. Mark and Evani often go there on the weekends and I arranged to have a cooking lesson with Evani's sisters. Scott and I learned to cook moqueca, fish stew with coconut milk, palm oil and cilantro.We also learned to cook black eyed peas Bahia style, which includes shrimp, ginger, onions and other good stuff.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
I went to my first roda tonite.
Scott and I went to Mestre Joao Pequeno's Academy
Many sweatings to be had there my friends!
Here's a pic of one of the streets leading to the Largo do Pelouriho
Scott and I went to Mestre Joao Pequeno's Academy
Many sweatings to be had there my friends!
Here's a pic of one of the streets leading to the Largo do Pelouriho
