I am now back in Minnesota. It was a long flight back and I was very happy to see my own bed. So happy that I think I slept about 15 hours when I got home. I had an incredible trip and I had an opportunity to experience Brazil in a way that very few tourists get to. We were immersed in so much of the country because of our tremendous guides and the many experiences that were arranged for us.
Many people asked what I could possibly learn from touring Brazil's schools. Much more than one would think. It was neat to see the partnerships between businesses and schools and the empowerment of the teachers. Just like we are proud of the accomplishments of our students, they are very proud of theirs. There were so many take-aways from each school visit. I know I will need some processing time.
What probably hit me the most was how the 10% of the country that holds the nation's wealth, sits right next to the poorest of the poor. There was such striking contrasts between the haves and have nots. Beautiful neighborhoods of buildings sitting right next to the favelas or slums. It is understandable that there were widespread protests that started because of increases in bus fares. A huge amount of the working class' income goes to transportation. It was an amazing experience to be in the country during this historic time. I truly hope I have the opportunity to to travel here again some day. Thanks for following Stanley and my adventures!
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| Beautiful apartments like these... |
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| sit next to favelas like these. |
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| These cars were very symbolic of the economic divide. |
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