Street Lights
Hello,
Before I begin, a very happy birthday to Holly Ciuffini, My amazing sister in law who I hope has had the best weekend down in Wales topping off what is a well deserved summer!
I didn't plan to post this much but now its just on a when I would like to discuss something/share something I've loved.
I left off to Lapa to go have a party weekend. It was just what I needed, time to enjoy Rio without always thinking of the next step, take my mind off it. Although it was socially hectic.
As discussed the Friday was a cracker, then everyone proceeded to leave.
Now in these kind of hostels from my point of view and it seems a lot of those of whom I discuss it with, can be a lot of effort to constantly be social with new people. Lots of, what is coined, the travellers chat.
"How long you here for?"
"Where have you been?"
"This time I was with the poor people in Bolivia..."
Yada yada yada, I am also guilty of this, for sure (another traveller phrased I've noticed and adopted). Its necessary to a point, first meetings, first things to discover things in common or not in common as it may be. But the point is doing this every night can be draining, although it almost always leads to great friendships and lots of booze filled shenanigans (my favourite) and actually some of the stories are incredible and inspire you to follow their footsteps.
But after going through this on Friday, having a ball with many great people, the majority left and I found myself on Saturday dreading heading downstairs to go through it all again, I'd just made friends! For me its daunting but I also know that it's always fine and actually the best things happen when you jump out of your comfort zone. Everyone's in the same boat and mostly all good people looking for a laugh.
I made myself go down, found a familiar face, discussed his ridiculous night with two of his fellow irishmen and it just flowed from there. All anxieties washed away, people came and went, and it was a more chilled vibe to begin with which built up nicely to our samba night. This time there was dancing and I just find myself falling in love with the culture more and more with every day.
Myself and a girl jumped straight in and began to try emulate their dancing ability. I don't think we did bad actually, it was so much fun. If I ever got asked to do strictly I would take it immediately, as I'm sure mum will be more glad to hear than all of yesterdays post.
Upon return to the dance floor they had created a circle of which people jumped in and out with such good synchronicity that we wondered if they perhaps knew each other and this was almost a show. It seemed only 2 or 3 people in at a time max and if someone jumped in another would leave in the same beat and it just flowed perfectly. Their rhythm was a joy to watch, it had the feel of a tribal ritual around a campfire mixed with fermented sugar drinks. Everyone was just having the best time including myself and the lovely Scottish lady I spent the evening with.
I just find it crazy the contrast between my almost bodily fear of socialising or stepping out of my comfort zone and then what actually happens when I do. I would have thought my body had figured it out by now, my brain has but it has to battle to take that initial jump.
That being said I'm now happy to retire back to the hostel in Ipanema where I have spoke very little to anybody this evening and have just relaxed, ready to begin my attempts to lay down a few roots, however loose. This will return to a slower pace and less updates.
Walking around, the next step seems so clear and has such potential that this time my bodily response was filled with overwhelming excitement rather than apprehension.
This weekend was exactly what I needed.
