Hellooooo out there for anyone brave enough to continue to check for updates on this blog!! Yes, after a looooonng hiatus, I'm officially back in business. And back in Brazil! I've returned to sunny, scenic Rio this trip.
Just flew in this morning and I'm already overwhelmed, which probably doesn't bode well. Ok, maybe not overwhelmed....nervous is probably a better word. Rio is a HUGE city. It has a lot of beauty to offer but also plenty of danger. Lots of options but, for the inexperienced, non-carioca, it can seem like too many. Luckily, at least my flight went off without a hitch--- unlike the Air France flight that has been in the news for the last few days.
Right now, I'm basically moping in my little hostel room. I'm staying at the Botafogo Easy Hostel in the middle-class, residential neighborhood of Botafogo. It's rather far removed from the city center and the night life but it is very safe and quiet, which I appreciate. The prices are a bit high, I think-- especially for the off-season-- but it's clean and the staff seem helpful and nice. I miss my fiancee, R, a lot; mainly, that's on my mind. Other than that, I'm cowering at the prospect of my first real summer of research.
I'll be here in Rio for 6 weeks doing preliminary dissertation research. Make it or break it time! Hopefully, I'll find something worth pursuing and hopefully I won't come to hate my chosen career path in the process. I figured, to ease my pain and air my grievances, I'll document my research and life experiences here in Brazil for all those pondering a similar life-- or even those already in the trenches. I'm going to start small--- the Arquivo Publico do Estado do RJ (Public State Archive), which is about two blocks from where I'm staying. That's the agenda for tomorrow.
As for tonight, I'm tired, stinky from the over-night flight and hungry for lunch (it's about 12:30 in Brazil right now) but too lazy to do anything but type on my little laptop. Which, by the way, nearly gave me heart failure earlier. The main reason I chose this hostel, aside from location, was its offer of free WiFi (what grad student can survive without it??). To my horror, upon arrival and check-in (including payment in FULL) my computer wouldn't connect. I, of course, began to resort to freak-out mode in my head. SHIT-- my mother hasn't heard from me and will start to worry! SHIT--- my fiancee is expecting me to Skype with him while I'm here! SHIT-- I don't have a working cell phone or phone card here in Brazil yet! How am I going to communicate or do work without the internet??? SHIT SHIT SHIT I frantically asked several people here (EVERYONE is male except me, which is kinda weird) if they knew how to fix it since I'm not terribly computer savvy. People kept trying things but nothing worked. Pouty and panicky, I used one of their public computers to send an email out alerting family and loved ones that I was indeed fine and that I was simply having technical difficulties which were surely temporary. (Lie--- gotta protect people from worrying, right?)
In my head, I'm already contemplating how to ask for a refund, look for a new place to stay, move all my luggage, figure out alternative modes of contact and starting to sweat (which I tend to do....a lot...especially when nervous....very dainty, I know). Suddenly, my internet pops online and the heavens open up and the angels sing my redemption. Thus, I have spent the last hour and a half relishing my connectedness to civilization once again. I think I may have a slight addiction....hmm... anywho, that's all for now. I'm resolved to get clean in the VERY tiny and rather public bathroom here and go find some lunch....and probably get lost for a little while in the process. Hurray for Rio!!
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