Sunsets on the Amazon

Today was Brazil Day on the MV Explorer.  Tomorrow we reach Manaus, but today we spent preparing.  We didn’t have classes, but we had meetings and seminars about Brazil, and what to expect.  There were talks with the people from the Brazilian Embassy who came on board a few days ago, cultural classes, and a music and dance presentation.

                We have two students on board who are from Brazil, so they were able to help to teach us some Portuguese as well as show us demonstrate some of the dances and play some music.  The main dances they showed us were the samba and the capoeira.  I thought the capoeira looked really fun, it looked a lot like fighting and they said it was practiced by slaves that needed to learn how to fight, but had to be very discreet, so they learned to fight through their dancing.

                After all of the Brazilian programs were finished we had our preport meeting for before we arrive in Manaus.  This is the second preport meeting we have had.  Both times one of the deans has come up to the podium to speak, pulled out a blow up globe and small toy boat and proceeded to describe to us where we came from, where we are, and where we are going.  He also mentioned hearing someone earlier say that we were on vacation in Manaus and informed us that we are not on vacation; we are on an epic voyage.  I like the sound of ‘epic voyage’ much better. 

During the safety lecture at the preport meeting some students were called up to reenact some bad decisions that people could make while at port.  This was not necessarily very interesting, except that whenever one of the actors made a bad decision the guy leading them would ring and bell and say into the microphone in a very serious voice “BAD IDEA.”

               

The other important thing I should mention about today is this incredible sunset over the Amazon River.  I am truly amazed each and every day as I am able to see more of God’s creation!