Submitted by David Arroyo on the 2015 winter session program in Brazil sponsored by the Department of Art History and the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures…
Another great week in Rio de Janeiro! I have been taking every moment I can to go to the beach. The sight of the sunset at Ipanema beach is truly a spectacular one.
Last Monday, our PORT 207 class was centered around child poverty issues in Brazil. Before coming into this class, we were required to read “Suffer the Little Children,” which was an incredibly powerful reading that opened my eyes to the poverty issues that exist in Brazil. This reading described the lives of children from poor families living in favelas. In order to escape abuse from their parents, some children run away to fend for themselves on the street. Some of these children, unable to find jobs and desperate to get money, resort to robbing tourists, work for criminals, or turn to prostitution. The government here has a strict policy against putting children in jail. This policy however, makes children the victims of adult criminals who use them to perform their dirty work knowing that the children will not get into trouble. The Brazilian police are also ruthless against the street children in Brazil, using them as scapegoats to demonstrate their power. Even innocent poor children are persecuted by the police, as society blames all of the crime on the delinquent street kids that steal. Brazilian culture also encourages people to focus on the positive side of life. The federal government’s slogan is “Brazil: Rich Country without Poverty.” This way of thinking obviously ignores all of the negative that happens in Brazil, including child poverty.
This reading really spoke to me because it really amplified my understanding of the poverty situation in Brazil. To learn that the children are victims of these circumstances in Brazil, truly breaks my heart, and has made me more sensitive to the needs of others. During our PORT 207 class on that same Monday, we had a guest speaker talk to use about the goal of Casa do Caminho and their history as an orphanage. I was really proud to learn that my effort to take classes in Casa do Caminho, was helping to contribute to the great cause of this organization, which was to serve the children in Rio. This class about child poverty, really was the beginning of my understanding of the social issues that are so present in Brazil.
The rest of the week was filled with cultural activities like Samba classes, beach volleyball, visiting art museums, conversing with locals, and meeting international students at Casa do Caminho. At UD, I have participated with RUFI-international friends, which works with students enrolled in the ELI program. This organization was really interesting because I was able to meet people from different cultures and assist them with their English speaking skills. It is quite ironic that here in Brazil, I am taking classes in a setting similar to ELI except that now I am the one learning a foreign language practicing with international students and locals. Crazy how things work out!
Today, I had the privilege to go on a Maracanã Stadium tour, which was a very awesome experience. I was able to see the field from all different angles and learn more about the history of the stadium, Brazilian soccer, and about the protests against government spending on commercial mega-events. Although the Maracanã Stadium was a magnificent sight, I couldn’t help but think about how much money was spent on renovating such a stadium while the problem of severe economic inequality exists in Brazil. It seems like with everything glamorous in Brazil, there is also a dark side that comes with it.
This study abroad program has been such a great experience! Enjoying the beautiful Brazilian nature and culture, and also learning about the needs of people here, have been both a relaxing and humbling experience!