Hello from the road,
I’m revelling in petty thrills and tiny victories daily in Brazil, just making ordinary connections with other humans, over simple things.
At first I was nervous opening my mouth without any Portuguese, but after countless encounters, both minute and more significant, I’m dropping single words and the odd phrase like personal gemstones.
(I’m extremely fortunate to have a small number of multilingual women offering me translations and cultural counsel, and my respect for their skills and gratitude for their kindness is immense.)
When alone, I’ve managed to ask important questions at the supermercado and pharmacy, like “Where is the fresh milk, or dry shampoo please?” and even understand the answers, give or take a word or three. That may sound trivial, but it’s no small thing to try to speak when we don’t have the words. I feel brave when I communicate through the divides, stumble on, and experience others doing the same in reverse.
We’ve taken journeys into the hills and forest here, my horizons actually expanding with every kilometre. Pilgrims on horseback rode the Camino, cows watched us pass and wild plants crowded the rocky, red dirt track as we visited coffee plantations, olive groves, friends’ homes, mountains and wineries.
At the mountain peaks, paragliders ran off wooden platforms into the void and I took panoramas from the sky over valleys, stretched like living watercolours.
Each day I’m more comfortable to greet people in my doubtlessly odd accent, as I take on another few words, and try to retain them. I can’t recommend language learning enough - not as an academic path necessarily, but as a road to friendships and being more at home in the world.
I’m hungry for the language to simply function and connect over the minutiae of the day. More than that, I want to be able to speak more with the friends I’m making and the many new acquaintances. You can’t take words for granted like usual, when you don’t speak the local language.
Words and stories to communicate our experiences and to explain our lives to ourselves as best we can; the courage to make real moments of connection, sharing emotionally intimate relationships. These are the treasures for this introvert on the road.
Putting yourself out there in the world comes with risks, but in Brazil I’ve been reminded that the rewards are immeasurable.
Love to you wherever you are today,
Gorgeous photos. Great observations.