Culture Shock Brazil - Tyler Simpson
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
I have flown on many airplanes since I was little and have never once thought I would get sick of them. Today however, I think it's safe to say that I got sick of airplanes. You know its been a long trip when you can't even remember the day of the week or when you last slept in a bed. When we got to Brazil customs took longer than I expected and I was in for a major culture shock. The airport in Sao Paulo was totally different than any in the United States. Instead of the organized lines, and signs pointing every which way, people were sparatically walking and traffic was very unorganized and hectic. I did like however how the luggage carts were free, instead of the $3.00 that most airports in the United States charge.
Once we finally were done in the airport, we loaded the bus and started towards our hotel by the beach. The bus ride was very refreshing as we were able to look out the windows and get our first glimpse of the Brazilian culture. The culture here is so different compared to that in the United States; everything here is so much more simple compared to the complex technology we are used to at home. The beach was amazing and even though the weather wasn't the best and we had sat on an airplane for close to 36 hours it was still refreshing to go for a run along the beach. I am very blessed to have this opportunity and can't wait for tomorrow!!!
Tyler