It seems like it was just yesterday that I was packing for my 2 month “internship” at a nonprofit in Brazil. I met some amazing individuals at the nonprofit and made some new friends. I shed tears as I said goodbye to the beautiful people I met and those that have been long time friends. I can honestly say I could see myself living in Rio de Janeiro but alas the time to leave was here. I now flip the last page of this chapter and a new one begins. I learned so much about how a nonprofit can function internationally and made invaluable connections during last week’s global symposium (aka conference).
4p.m. – Tuesday (April 7, 2009)
It is 4pm and our cab was outside waiting to pick us up en route to Rio’s international airport. It took me about 2 hours of packing but I finally had all my possessions in 3 big size luggages. We had one of the most smoothes ride to the airport and made it in record time, less than 40 minutes. Walked right into through security/custom and got to the gate 3 hours early!!! LOL, we did a quick run through duty free and while passing a different gate I ran into an old friend, Trisha, from NYC (full-brighter in Rio) as she was waiting for her flight too. She’s been in Rio for over a year and was key in introducing me to my Rio “posse”.
We sat for over an hour catching up because for the past 3 weeks we just couldn’t find time to meet. Ain’t it funny how you can live so close and not have time to hang, kinda like NYC, huh?
8p.m. – Tuesday (April 7, 2009)
After chatting with Trisha, we sat down at the airport bar and started drinking Skol beer cans (R$3.5o) until we ran out off local currency. LOL. Funny part was that we still had $R12 left that just goes to show you how cheap things are in Brasil. Needless to say we got to our gate pretty buzzed and I fell asleep as soon as we sat down.
3a.m. – Wednesday (April 8, 2009)
The b’fast cart slammed into me waking me up and I screamed Apple Juice! LOL. Apparently the flight caught the right wind and got to MIA 30 minutes earlier. We landed at approx 3.30a.m. and sat on the tarmac because US Customs in Miami does not open until 4am – ugghh. Despite my mood, I cruised right through customs and found myself saying goodbye to Claire too soon. She went through the reboarding doors and I through the exit. And as soon as I opened those doors I cursed in 3 languages because the weather was in the 50’s. Apparently, some kind of cold front was going through Florida. After 20 minutes of waiting my cousin outside, I was finally in the car en route to my aunt’s house (Melvin’s temporary digs).
6a.m. – Wednesday (April 8, 2009)
I was graciously provided 1 hour to unpack and repack my dirty cloth (to be washed at the hotel). I slammed the back door after packing the SUV with our luggage and we were en route to Orlando, Florida. Luckily it was only 3 of us, there was one car driving from Jacksonville and another from Homestead, Florida. In total, there was 12.5 family members about to embark on a 3-day all park access to Walt Disney World. I can’t remember the last time I was in Disney. It was either on GayDisney (The one day out of the year that Disney makes special accommodations to the homosexual community) or 5 yrs ago at my lil cousin’s 5th birthday. We were here this weekend to celebrate her 10th b-day.
10a.m. – Wednesday (April 8, 2009)
We finally arrive to the hotel and join the other 9 family members. We checked into our hotel, but our rooms weren’t ready (shocker!) and got our 3day park passes. We jumped on the hotel bus and headed to Epcot! Oh yeah, we stayed at a Disney hotel – All Star Hotels (Music).
3p.m. – Wednesday (April 8, 2009)
After eating at a Chinese restaurant on epcot’s famous circle of countries, we headed back home for a quick nap, b4 the evening festivities began.This ends yet another untypical 24hr in Melvin’s life.
Next blog will about the nonprofit in Brasil and my work in the global conference.
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