Contemplating life over an ice cube and straw

When a plane touches down there's always a sense of relief that you've made it- I've never felt that so wonderfully than when the plane touched down in Rio, Brazil! 

Having waited 4hrs in miami I had convinced myself that the would be some problem preventing me from reaching the final destination for the beginning of tour. So when the 9hr journey was over and those wheels hit tarmack I was ecstatic. I'd made it to rio- maybe this wasn't too good to be true after all!

I had met a girl on the forum for the tour before we got there so after I got ripped off with a Rio taxi I walked to her hotel to meet. We knew we only had one day in Rio so had to do the obvious- Christ the redeemer! 

Gill and I went and spent 30minutes trying to get selfies and take in the giant and the views of Rio surrounding.

That evening we met the group and I judged books by their covers. Half the group are around 40+ which I hadn't expected. Oh how great they all are- there is a group of 15 of us, and its the greatest laugh ever. Within 24hrs I had been asked to have a vodka night and their all just hilarious! 

Thursday was a day of travelling to Ilha Grande- an island off the coast of Brazil just down from Rio. It was an island of pure beauty and just want to return! It all reminds you a little of Pirates of The carribean with sanded roads and idillic shops on the beach front, with rolling rainforest everywhere on the mountains you can see. We spent a day and a half there, and on one hiked through the rainforest at 9am to visit 3 beaches on the other side of the island. 

A tough hike but so worth the work as the views and beaches were incredible! Rolling white sand that squeeked when you walk on it because its so fine and blue seas with rolling waves. Due to the hike its not massively busy so was a great place to just relax and swim for the whole day- though now a little red! 

Today was a day of travelling to Paraty a colonial town further down the coast! We have walked through the town and now Im sitting in a hammock listening to thunder and rain as there's a tropical storm.

Brazil. Is. Bliss.

Last Of Honduras

So on Friday I had my last day at AFE after 1 month of volunteering there! 
Goodbyes are never nice and this wasn't especially because it holds a place in my heart. Having visited before and balled my eyes out I expected to cry lots- though at school I managed to just about hold it in!

The day was a crazy day as they had a team doing activities for them in the morning and then after, a government team was handing out crocs and had set up bouncy castles and popcorn on the campo! Therefore when the presentation had finished the kids had lots on and so I didn't have much time to say goodbye! 

Luckily the presentation provided a little of that opportunity! Every time a team volunteers at AFE on the Friday they all have a 'thankyou' ceremony. Each year group performs a play, dance or song which they perform. After they then create a circle and pray for the team in the middle, and after the count of 3 when finished- a hundred or so run at the team for a group hug! 

All good when there's a group..!
 After they finished the teams celebration they reformed the circle (I thought that was unusual) and then Ruth led me in to the centre!! (Uh-oh) They were saying thankyou to me for my work (I thought I'd be able to slip away!!) and then Ruth prayed for me (that really jerked some tears!). Then, all the kids on the count of 3, RAN at me! 100kids v. 1Emily. I think it's safe to say I squished 10 feet and almost toppled 20 times! 
None the less, after a hug from pretty much every kid, it was a lovely way to say bye to many of the students I had gotten to know over a month! 

Everytime I come here I fall in love with AFE more and more, so I'm already wanting to return asap- probably next year on a student budget!! 

Till next time AFE XX