Pusha Man
So lol at me and my shit pockets, my phone got jacked last night (I think) out of my pocket as I believe we were heading to the first bar. I couldn't be sure if I had brought it out after I felt someone brush past. I just suddenly felt lighter. He was swift and light fingered the cheeky bastard. So contact me on facebook messenger if you need me until I go get a new phone either tomorrow or Monday.
This did nothing to ruin the day, in truth I barely cared as it was almost an inevitable at some point, just happened a bit earlier than expected. But the day flowed nicely, a large group of us chilling at the beach in the afternoon, to an attempted hike leading to a successful beer at a bar just atop of a pacified favela. The view was stunning, will post when I get it off a guy who I can only describe as the Fresh Prince himself, with his own Carlton to match.
I did say to mum I was not planning to go a favela and I wasn't but things happened and it was well policed. I also failed you again this morning, sorry mum. An English school owner I had reached out to noticed I'd coached football and suggested meeting to check out a project hes looking to do, in another pacified favela.
So I arrived 10 minutes late to the station, which is pretty on time by Brazil standards I gather, and met with local graffiti artist Landreas who lives there. He walked up with us as they discussed ideas in Portugues. Landreas had reached out to street football companies in London to gain help for their community and this had been passed on. I later theorised I was probably brought to appear as a football coach with no real job possibility, but I got some very helpful advice and enjoyed an interesting experience.
Walking up was an inner battle between wtf am I doing and It'll be fine, and I'm glad I went because it obviously was. The artist was clearly a popular guy in his favela and everyone we met greeted us with warmth and joviality. The group we went to the football 'pitch' with were a fantastic group of guys.
Elvis - the pillar of the community, showing us around, to the church, the pitches and the nursery - who have a better football pitch than the community, clearly they start em young here.
Landreas - the graffiti artist from the favela, need I say more
Mattheus - the cheeky chappy making jokes at everyone we pass, shouting to the women in what I can only assume was cat calling and trying to involve me with lots of hand gesture translation.
These were just normal guys looking to help out their community, yielding to their wife's beckons and just get on with their life. I immediately felt relaxed and spent most of my thoughts on trying to decipher what they were discussing rather than fantasising about drive-bys and stabbings as per the walk up.
On the way down and after a coffee and advice from the English teacher I left in a positive mood with prospects of an apartment. So I celebrated with a cerveja watching the arsenal game feeling good about the move. But the combination of last nights alcohol, the stuffy metro, the earlyish morning, lots of departures from the hostel and the annoyance of the phone debacle were sinking in and I went for one of my self degrading naps. I woke up very confused as to why I'm in Brazil but the groggyness soon wore off and I've stabilised. Possibly to do it all again.
