Brazil (Part 2) Being of good cheer in Brazil

        "Those who sing throw sadness away"--Brazilian saying

Meeting some happy young women in Sao Paulo who were working on their "Young Womanhood" awards. 

I speak mas or menos Spanish and sometimes, certainly not all the time, I could get a gist of what people were saying in Brazil. One term I heard was, "Fique Tranquilo." That means just keep being optimistic. Don't sweat it. Keep calm or tranquil: When you barely missed your bus, enjoy the next ten minutes waiting for the next one. Who knows? Maybe you could even meet a new friend. It essentially means, "Don't worry. Be happy." 

Many Brazilians showed their happiness as they spoke, played music, sang, made sandcastles, sold fruit, did art. I even saw some people dance spontaneously in restaurants, on a boat, and a museum. They don't seem to need any music to do the samba at any moment's notice. Bright and bold colors ribbon city walls and freeways. Walking down the street can be a museum itself with all the grafetti. In fact, Rio has the world's largest graffeti walls (by The Museum of Tomorrow). They go on for blocks. 

I observed many people doing things that made them happy--even when life perhaps was not what they wanted that day. There was a fun loving humor from most everyone I met--a joke, or a story when they start waving around their hands. A Brazilian saying, "Soltar a franga" sums up what I saw. It means "Release the chicken" or to act like nobody is watching you--to be uninhabited. In a museum, boat, tram, and on the streets and beach, I saw people start swinging to the samba or just belting out songs. There was a childlike exhuberance for life that made me smile. In their glee, all self consciousness vanished. Their enthusiam cheered me, and even made me want to join in. 

One clever Brazilian saying when parents talk to their children if a darkening mood seems to be coming on is: "What mountain bit you?" The mountains, being analogies for greed, anger, envy, unforgiveness, vanity, etc. I like the way the parents try to explore their children's feelings, but get them back on track to being cheerful again or "Fique Tranquilo." Teaching children to recognize the figurative mountains of negativity which we need to descend is important--especially when it is done in a funny way. 

When I think of Brazil, I will remember the easy conversations, the ready smiles, the witty jokes, and of course their music and dancing. The essence or core of the people in Brazil is to be happy--no matter what or come what may. 

Some of my favorite people we met. We even got invited to their wedding. I have rarely met a couple so happy.

Fishing in the morning on the beach

This man epitomized happiness to me on a morning walk.

Pick up soccer games are everywhere.

You can find many sand castle artists on the beaches.

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              Colorful art everywhere. I loved all the street art. 

Paintings with water bottles full of sand to keep them from blowing away

Loved watching the young surfers' smiles on the Cococabana Beach

This man started an art school in the Santa Teresa area and invited my artist in. 

I have never seen so much artistic graffiti on the street.

More colorful graffiti 

A musical school--playing their traditional instruments

Music is everywhere--on the street and every cafe seems to have live music.

This young musician exuded so much joy that I think it could have spread all over Rio.

A ready smile from a young girl who is selling acai--a frozen fruit dessert that is sold everywhere.

Lovec watching this family on the beach fishing together. Again, so much happiness on a Saturday night. 

A wedding we found--this time on the beach. 

More pick up soccer games

More happiness on the street

A young man selling the best orange of my life.

I found some fellow cellists who were in Sao Paulo for a musical conference.

A potter on the street--so excited to tell me in broken English about his creations.