Life on the Other Side of the Equator

“The world is a book and those who do not travel real only a page.”-St. Augustine

Oh man, where do I start?!

Reader’s digest version…no hurricanes, no pirates, and no seasickness! The first leg of the journey went swimmingly well. The MV Explorer arrived in Salvador, Brazil right on schedule, and now, we are on our way Namibia.

We were all stir-crazy by the time we finally got to Salvador. Nine days on a boat seemed like eternity, especially, since we were still in orientation mode. On September 5^th, we crossed the equator. The whole ship was exempt from classes in honor of Neptune Day. Neptune Day is celebrated by sailors when their vessel crosses the equator for the first time. The crew woke us with a percussion parade. Our professors greeted us on the pool deck dressed in mythological costumes. The festivities began with the captain shaving heads! As tempting as it was to escape the restraints of tangled hair, I opted for the second option…a shower of fish guts followed by a big wet kiss from a dead fish. (The shaved heads made it easy to spot SAS students on the streets of Salvador!) I am no longer a land-lover, but now a shellback.

As for my classes…all is well. I like my professors. They are all very unique and incredibly knowledgeable in their specific fields. There are only 8 people in my Local Religious and Food Systems class. The reading is heavy, but the discussions are great. I’m experiencing the best of both worlds. In my Relgion, Politics, and Society; Global Studies class, there are 380 student! My Music and Dance in World’s Religions class is focused on personal and spiritual growth. My religion professors from SMU have definitely prepared me well. So far, I have been able to hold my own in these comparative religion classes. My favorite class, hands down, in Global Textiles. (Go figure!) The textbook is beautiful and the assignments are all hands on. I have become quite the knitter!

Yes, the boat does rock, but not enough to faze me. Actually, I think the subtle sway just makes me sleepy. And yes, I study in my swimsuit and bask in the sun for countless hours while the cabana boy brings me Shirley Temples. Ha! This is school, not a leisure cruise, give me a break!

I’ve been adopted by the IT guru and his hippie wife. They both have long grey ponytails and wrinkles that tell of their worldly adventures. I also have two sisters and a brother. We eat dinner together about once a week. Oh! Oh! Oh! I almost forgot the highlight of my shipboard life. I have earned a position on the Voyage Book team. (aka-yearbook) I am the in-port photo editor. WOO HOO! I can only imagine how this opportunity will benefit my potential future in photojournalism.

Enough of the logistics…let’s get to the good stories- my first port!

Mouthwatering seafood, rich culture, colorful colonial architecture, and artistic dancing all mask the underlying corruption of Brazil. While Tori went to Rio, and my other friends went to the Amazon, I stayed in Salvador, the heart of the Afro-Brazilian district of Bahia. The cobblestone streets were flooded with vendors selling handmade jewelry, hammocks, paintings, etc. Traditionally dressed Candomblé women would tie prayer ribbons on our wrists. It was hard to pass the circles of locals playing capoeira. Capoeira is a dance that resembles fighting, require incredible strength, and features endless acrobatic tricks. These barefoot performers were so effortlessly graceful. Kids, teens, men and women will train in capoeira for years. I had an opportunity to go to a professional capoeira performance one evening-breathtaking. I consider it an “organic” Circ du’ Sole.

At night, percussion troupes would parade the streets, and we would follow along repeating the dances led by the locals. Afro-Brazilian dancing is not scandalous like American hip-hop and it isn’t as physically intimate as Latino dancing. It’s a mix of ballet, modern dance, and line dancing. Imagine the cast of Cool Runnings doing the choreography of West Side Story! I loved it! I could write about the dancing and the locals I made friends with for hours…but if I tell you everything now, no one will want to listen to me when I get back. HA! So, be sure to ask me about my nights of Brazilian dancing. The pictures are great too.

I spent one day in Cachoeira, a smaller colonial town set in the heart of the oldest farmlands in Brazil. It was the center of the sugar and tobacco booms that were the sources of the early wealth on the colony. My class visited an experimental cacao farm and toured the MST commune. This farming community originated as squatters and now is a part of the national popular movement for agrarian reform- “The Movement for Landless Peasants.”

Did you know??...

The best public universities in Brazil are free? Cool, huh? There’s a catch. Acceptance to the university is ridiculously competitive, and the good prepatory schools are incredibly expensive. Also, voting is mandatory for all citizens 18 and up and optional for 16 and 17 year olds. If you think our election process is flashy, deceiving, frustrating, or vague, you should check out the Brazilian way…

The people I encountered will forever hold a special place in my heart. I envy their passion, simplicity, and carefree pace of daily life.

Next stop, Africa-ca-caaaaa! I cannot wait! It is hard to refocus now that I’m back on the ship. It’s like having Spring Break every other week. I’ve made friends from all over-LA, Columbia, Venezuela, New York, and even Alaska.

My time on the internet is limited; however, I do have a free shipboard email account. Please keep my in your thoughts and prayers. I hope to do a better job blogging. mjmccall@semesteratsea.net

Ciao!

“Watch, stand fast in faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14.