Integrating: Vasco da Gama, Samba & Baile Funke and Villa Alliança

After nearly two months living in Rio I think it is ready for a new update. Meanwhile some things have changed and I am more and more trying to become a real Carioca. To achieve this, I had to ‘pass’ some tests:

First of all, football (or in Brazilian terms: futbol) is THE main sport in Brazil and for most people one of the most important things in their life. Rio de Janeiro has around 25 professional football clubs, with four of them being favorite for winning the national competition. For me the choice to pick my favorite. Since my both roommates does not favor the same club, I thought it would be best to go a match that would compete both these teams: Vasco da Gama and Flamengo. I joined one of my roommates with the Vaso crowd to the stadium and I would become an amazing Sunday afternoon. Of course, the level of football was not as good as in Europe, but the atmosphere in and around the stadium was really impressive. Large military units had to divide this area of the city into two parts to avoid confrontations. Eventually the game ended in a 0-0 draw, but Vasco played better and had a much more enthusiastic crowd, so my choice was made.

Another very important aspect of the life of Carioca’s are the Samba’s and Funk parties. Both with their characteristic dancing moves make it very hard for a northern European person to participate in it. However, I did my best and enjoyed it a lot. Besides that, the Brazilian people were very kind to help and teach me the Latin American moves. 

Since my lectures started already at the first of August, my first period of exams has now arrived. It causes some stress, but my Portuguese proficiency has improved more than enough to answer the questions given in proper sentences. It is a shame that after a week full rain which even caused some floods in the city, now the sun is coming back and I need to study. So I hope this weather will stay on for the coming weeks, so that I can go on with my surfing classes.

As you may now , besides studying and enjoying in Rio de Janeiro I am also working on a project for the Orange Kids Foundation (OKF), a Dutch organization that tries to give children who live in poor circumstances a nice day full of sport, fun and education. OKF asked me to organize their 3^rd Orange Lion Cup in one of the favela’s of Rio de Janeiro. Last Friday I visited Villa Alliança. It is supposed to be one of the largest, not pacified slums of the region. Normally it is not possible to enter these regions, but with the help of a Dutch friend who works for IBISS, another large voluntary organization in Rio, I could join him one day at work. IBISS has several football schools all over Rio. When entering Villa Alliança, it became clear that these people do not want to get outsiders in their neighborhoods and have their own laws and rules. Even for the police it is not possible to get into these favela. Roads are blocked and everywhere are armed people to protect the area. Apart from that, everybody seemed to be very kind and interested in the organization. Off course, we are there to help the children in their development and not to do any harm. The level of football was surprisingly high and only because of the fact that they do not have a proper stadium makes it unable for them to participate in a professional competition. However, for our organization it is perfect accomodation, so on Saturday the 29^th of October eight teams of several schools will play against each other in Villa Alliança to became champion of the 3^rd Orange Lion Cup. On www.orangekidsfoundation.nl you can follow me towards this day and see what else OKF achieved.

For now I will go back to my studying and I am looking forward to post the next update!

Joeri