As I write this sitting in the living room of my apartment, I have a Flamengo soccer Flag and Christ the Redeemer statue staring me in the eye. These two objects just bring up the question, is it really over? It only seems like yesterday that I was in class learning how to say Bom Dia and Obrigado (good morning & thank you respectively- both words which I used a lot down in Rio). It also seems like yesterday that I boarded the bus to go to Port Columbus to depart for Brazil. But as I turn my head away from my Brazilian keepsakes, I feel the cold 36 degree weather of Columbus running down my back. So to answer the question above, yes it’s over.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s forgotten. I can honestly say from the bottom of my heart this is the single greatest experience of my life. To pinpoint one thing I loved about Rio would be impossible, but as a whole it has combined to give me a week of my life that will never be forgotten. From getting so close with my classmates, to all of the wonderful sites we visited, to the amazing soccer game I saw at Maracana, to even just lifting weights in the “rock weight room” on the beach, everything about Rio de Janeiro was amazing. And saying this experience is the greatest in my life is no joke. This trip tops the experiences of watching my favorite NHL team win a Stanley Cup in person, my favorite NBA team win a championship in person, and all of my high school sports experiences which includes a soccer State Championship. I truly mean it, this Spring Break to Brazil was the greatest.
This wouldn’t be possible without my teachers Aimee and Troy who helped create such an awesome program before, during, and now after as I am able to describe it here. All of the sites we visited greatly contributed to my study of the culture in Brazil and I think I now have a good understanding, at least in Rio, of how life goes about in Brazil. This experience also wouldn’t have been possible without our wonderful tour guide Vanessa. From her great knowledge about everywhere we went, to hooking us up with the exclusive places, and to getting us front row seats at the Flamengo game, this trip would’t have been as good as it was without her.
So the next question I think that is appropriate to ask is what is next? Well, I wrote in my pre-departure blog that I hope this trip inspires me to travel more. And with 110% confidence I can say that I will. I am excited to see what else the world has to offer and the many beautiful places that are around just as Rio was. What is also next is me finishing up school, graduating, and finding a job back home. But what about Rio de Janeiro and myself? I think if everyone went to a fair or market in the city, they saw the I (heart) Rio shirt. For me, the I and Rio on that shirt have combined as one to go into my heart as I truly fell in love with the place. So I for one will definitely be back to the city soon. And what is actually crazy is that on the plane ride back from Atlanta, I was reading a book titled “100 Greatest Philosophers of All-Time”. In that book, a philosopher named St. Augustine was described. And one great quote from him that sums up my experience is “the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” For my first time opening up the book of travel, I think I found the greatest page to read and that is Rio de Janeiro.