I am convinced the universe does NOT want me to be happy, i.e. go to Brazil. Tomorrow is about to be my third time flying to Brazil, and each time I encounter problems *cue ATCQ 8 Million Stories* What rubbish am I talking about…
Well below is a blog post from the second time I was going to Brazil in 2010 (dated January 21st)
“Background Information:
In 2004 I went to Brazil with my sister; I was flying from South Africa, whilst my sister came from the USA. The trip wasn’t as problematic as it was exhaustive, but it still was not 100s enjoyable! So the trip – My dad dropped my mom and I off in Lady brand (don’t worry if you have NO idea where that is) at 8ish PM to catch a bus coming from Durban going to Bloemfontein. The bus was late, it was June = Cold, so from the onset it was not a fun trip. We got to Bloem and had a bus layover, which was pretty fun, or as fun as watching the Euro cup without any sound at the Bloem bus station can be . The Bus left Bloem in the wee hours of the morning and my mom and I arrived in Johannesburg (feels so weird spelling out the full name) with 4 hours till my flight. I then had to take a taxi, NO not a taxi cab but a 16 seater bus to the airport; and for anyone who has ever been in a South African/Lesotho taxi, you know that is an experience on it’s own. Once I FINALLY arrived at the airport, a porter poser stole my night bag/carry on piece, which resulted in me crying for a good 30 min. In the end, I fortunately boarded the plane, and arrived in Rio de Janeiro, happy to be in the country of my dreams!
What is the correlation between that story and now you ask? Well, the Brazilian consulate in Boston had my passport for a good three weeks and never answered their phone when I called or replied to emails. After a changed flight ticket and borderline depression, my sister urged, to which I agreed, me to go to Boston and ask about my passport + visa. Thus I left my sisters house at 5ish AM, to board a 7 am China town bus to go to Boston the day of my flight. Once in Boston went STRAIGHT to the consulate, and within 20 minutes I was promised a visa. Awe, Jeito Brasiliero! I got my passport + visa at 1:30, and dashed franticly to the Boston station to take the 2 pm China town bus back to New York. I felt like vodka with Redbull, conflicted emotions, pissed yet hella ecstatic. But I had one more hurdle to jump over, getting to the airport on time! My flight was at 10pm, meaning I had to be there at 8. However, I only got into the city at 6:30pm, and I still had to get to my sister’s apartment to get my bags, and it takes an hour to get there, *sigh*. And it doesn’t help that I got lost in China town trying to find the subway….But with a powerful intervention from the above, and my sister’s HUGE contributions ($$$) I made it to the airport sin problema ”
NOW (2013)
well, a week before leaving for Johannesburg I went through misfortunes, hoops, and about to jump over another hurdle (fingers crossed)
So it was my quarter life birthday to Sundays ago YAY, and as I was overly excited, and aided by fermented juices, I started to countdown my birthday. With 2 minutes to go, I placed my cellphone back into my bag and celebrated with a few friends. At stroke of midnight, I received a shout out from the DJ, got a hug from a friend, and as I turned back to my bag (which was laid at the side of my friend on a couch) it was gone! Cellphone, Wallet – with bank cards, social security card about $50 cash, house keys, and other miscellaneous items…GONE!
I chose to party on, my bag was gone and there was no use crying over it…an enjoyable birthday I had….
Also living as a semi illegal citizen, I had to pull Houdini stunts at the border (wont go into details…I want to be President one day)
Now, I am sitting at a Pizza place in Johannesburg, drinking a latte and decided to quadruple make sure that I do not need a visa to travel to Brazil (I have no real plan if I find out that I do) Well as luck would have it, I don’t BUUUUUUTTTTT, I have to show proof that I have had my yellow fever shot..FUCK MY LIFE!!!
Not only have I been to Brazil twice already, I have had my yellow fever shot and my certificate! BUT, I didn’t read this detail before leaving Lesotho, so now I have to pull missions to an International Clinic to have my yellow fever shot AGAIN! Im pretty calm for a person leaving tomorrow who has NO idea how I am going to get my shot!
I’m already in Salvador mind set, and believe that Tudo vai certo
It’s also Tunesday sooooo
This is a song and video about the city I am going to call home for the next three months, Salvador, Bahia – The land of eternal happiness
Lebophoo 