As we blew past the halfway mark of our semester here in Brazil, and as our host mom continually told us to get out and about in the city we figured it was finally time to see what else Rio had to offer besides beautiful beaches, gorgeous people and a never-ending nightlife. The rest of the students on our program were in Sao Paulo for 5 days so it was just me and my roommates on our weekend exploration.
We went to art galleries (favella artwork by Sergio Cezar), cultural exhibits (such as Caixa Cultural), museums (Oi Futuro), spent daytime and nighttime in a lively neighborhood called Lapa (which we adore), and celebrated Raza’s belated birthday with our host mother. This was a really good weekend for us and we always enjoy our time together, no matter how off-schedule or off the beaten path we get. From now on I think we’ll continue to take advantage of the many events that are constantly available in Rio and gain a deeper understanding of the city besides what’s shown on postcards.
Kiah Zellner-Smith
<p><span style="color: rgb(29, 29, 29); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; background-color: rgb(237, 237, 237);">My name is Kiah Zellner-Smith and I am a Junior studying American Studies, Urban Studies and Educational Studies at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. I spend a lot of my time doodling, journaling, lip syncing in the bathroom, being inspired, laughing loudly, daydreaming, dancing wildly, and having tiny adventures. This semester in Rio de Janeiro will be the first time I leave the country and the safety of my family all by myself and I am simultaneously elated and terrified for my new adventure. I look forward to the many chuckles, challenges, and changes that inevitably await me.</span></p>