I've just about finished up my time in Rio and all in all it has been amazing! Although my Portuguese isn't very strong I've managed to get by relatively easy throughout the city. Although most people in the Rocinha Favela don't speak much English, quiet a few people seem to when you get to the touristy center part of the city.
Last week was my final week of teaching and I think it went pretty good, with a few volunteers leaving; me and a few others had to take over a few more classes, but they all went well and the English teaching book that is used for the curriculum is solid. My shift from 3-8:30 goes by pretty quick as I do some English/ Math teaching early on and then help out with an after school club for a few hours and then around 7 I begin teaching the adults.
Something that I found interesting and didn't realize much until this past weekend was the general lack of math knowledge within the Favela especially with the older generation. When going to the grocery store I always wondered why there would be so many groceries just sitting in aisles and on the ground right before checking out. In the U.S. these areas are typically filled up with pop and candy right as we leave, however in Rocinha it consists of a wide arrangements of food, cleaning supplies, and just about anything you can think of. It wasn't until yesterday I realized from the volunteer coordinator that this happens so regularly because of the adults lack of education. Although education seems to be somewhat improving throughout the Favela the older generation has had hardly any formal education, so bad that some are illiterate in Portuguese, their own language. While it's difficult to think of someone being illiterate in English in the U.S. it does happen, it ultimately can depend on the environment growing up. Relating back to the grocery store topic a lot of locals at times will simply fill up their carts with foods and everything else they want or need and then without realizing or being able to read the cost of their goods will wait until everything is checked out and then figure out what they need and what they will just set back behind the scanners. This was a rather interesting scenario for me as I had not really seen anything like it before; however, as I've gone to the grocery store more in prime hours it is rather noticeable.
Another thing that I've noticed within my part of Rocinha is the large police presence. These aren't cops like you seen on the streets in America a lot of these cops are carrying full out assault rifles and are traveling in groups of typically four or more. Something interesting I've heard from locals is that quiet a few preferred the Favela before it became pacified by the police. The police pacifying within Brazil's Favela's has become something fairly new and recent as Brazil is on International Watch with the Olympics and the World Cup from last year. Either way it is very interesting hearing the differences between the Favela five years ago versus today.
As I've mentioned before my topic focused on income inequality and sustainability. The inequality part I've been able to see everyday as I travel throughout Rio. Only a few blocks away from Rocinha is the Sao Corvado Mall and by mall I mean it's a luxury mall. Most malls in America I've been to don't have Hublot and Rolex stores where watches cost over $2,000 USD and then there are multiple custom fit shops for shits and just about everything else. The mall's location is rather surprising as it is located right next to a Favela, but then again only a few bus stops away is Leblon one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Brazil.
The sustainability aspect of Rio has been rather poor so far, I haven't seen any sort of recycling system step up in the Favela's and there is quiet a lot of trash on the streets. I read that only about five years ago did Rio begin to initiate a fine for littering policy and I guess its only really enforced in Ipanema and Copacabana parts of Rio.
I'm sure I'll think of more things to blog about the next time I write. And in a few days I'll get to travel south to Curitiba I'm interested to see the similarities and differences of the two cities.
Tchau!
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