I was fascinated by our visit to the Escola de Samba as we were introduced to an integral part of Brazilian culture and lifestyle today. Carnival is a yearly event scheduled around Easter that brings together people of all backgrounds and statuses to enjoy 2 nights full of fun, entertainment, dancing, music, and partying. While it may not seem too difficult to throw a street party with some music and costumes, I can say for certain after seeing all that goes into the floats and the costumes, that it takes much more than it may seem. Members of each samba team spend a whole year on designing, planning, creating, and building the show that they will host for 65 minutes during the event to compete in the competition. And what’s even more interesting is that all those that help are all volunteers! While this activity brings them closer to their communities and becomes a creative outlet for them, I learned that people also join to have an opportunity to do something outside of their busy or stressful lives, or in order to deal with personal issues or difficult times. It provides them not only a network of kind and like minded people but also a support system. I find it beautiful to see that people may unite towards a specific goal in such a way. They can come together and spend time working towards a passion of theirs while also connecting with their communities. In Canada, I don’t believe we have something quite as complex or as impactful and important to our various communities and neighborhoods. We may have hockey and sporting events, but this is definitely on another level. I am touched by their passion and drive.
(Note: We also visited UNIFESP, and learned more about Brazil and similarities to Canada. Our Brazilian friends shared with us a great presentation and some delicious finger foods!)
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