The Rest of Salvdaor...

My last four days in Brazil were okay at best.  Unfortunately, I got some kind of food poisoning and was cooped up in bed for a day and a half.  Not the best way to spend time in port, but oh well.  I got through seven countries without having any type of stomach issues, despite constant warning from the ship’s doctor. 

On my second day I had a very interesting tour of three different schools in Brazil.  We went to a local community school, in a very rough neighborhood in Salvador.  This school survives off of $6,000 from a charity in Switzerland.  All of the teachers are volunteers and the school is mainly seen as a haven for kids in the neighborhood.  The kids put on a dance show for us and it was great!  The second school was a public one in a more middle-class neighborhood.  It was a high school and Brazil has a very interesting system regarding students and college.  All high school students are required to take a test, kind of like an SAT.  Riding on this SAT is a lot.  If the students get a certain mark, they are admitted to public university for free.  We learned a lot about more about the school system in Brazil and how the system is divided between Catholic schools and the public ones.  The last school we visited was another public high school in a more sinister neighborhood.  This school was actually founded as a project to educate Brazilians about their different heritages, Portuguese and African.

In the afternoon we went to a gorgeous beach.   We had a relaxing afternoon and evening on the beach, ending with a beautiful sunset.  We then got Aci, a berry concoction straight from the Amazon.  It was delicious, and best of all it’s one of the healthiest things you can eat.  It’s sold in the U.S., but it’s also very, very expensive.  I’ve seen it in health food stores.  We went back to the ship early, as we were all exhausted.

On Friday, I went to a nursery school for a visit.  All working mothers in the neighborhood the school’s located in (not the best one) can have their children stay here for free while they are at work.  We got to meet all of the kids, aged 6 months to 5, and then spent about two hours playing with them.  They were the cutest kids I’ve ever seen!  I know us being there meant the world to them and I was grateful to give my time. 

From Friday afternoon to Saturday evening I was sick.  I have no idea what I ate, but something didn’t agree with me.  Not the most interesting stuff to write about, but like I said, I consider myself lucky not to have gotten sick in any previous ports.   I know people on board who have been in multiple ones. 

Saturday evening was the first time I got off the ship and we went to dinner at a local pizzeria.  I was happy that my appetite had finally returned and dinner couldn’t have been more delicious.  Sunday, we spent our time walking around different parts of Salvador, and buying souvenirs.  It really is a gorgeous city and I wish I could have seen all it has to offer.  Hopefully, I’ll get back here one day. 

So, now we’re off to Florida and home.  I can’t believe it.  Seeing “Salvador to Ft. Lauderdale” on my room’s television screen is so strange.  I will write one final post about a bunch of different things- after I get through finals.  I am still in school here…