Post #13: Bye for now, Brazil
What we know is this: all things in life come to an end. I leave Florianópolis today with mixed feelings—excitement at seeing my loved ones in Toronto, sadness at stepping off this “island of magic”—and a full heart.
It is said that Floripa either embraces or expels people. It was my good fortune to have the city embrace me in a tight grip, to offer me endless adventures, and to place a cast of delightful characters along my path. I marvelled at, and at times felt undeserving of, all the warmth and welcome I received.
Perhaps not all of it was luck. Learning Portuguese gave me a ticket to the local residents’ lives, to their hopes and fears and frustrations with their own country. While my initial goal of “sounding like a native” proved overambitious, I was able t
o understand and make myself understood, to share laughter and tears with my friends, and even to tell a few bad jokes.
Taking social risks also helped. I cast wide nets online, invited people for coffee after fleeting exchanges in stores or on hikes, and approached a local musician after his set—a gambit that culminated in a private concert on my back porch. Just about all my overtures were met with interest and several led to friendships.
There were challenges, to be sure. I learned that “venha jantar com a gente, quando quiser!” did not mean an actual dinner invitation was forthcoming. Along similar lines, the cultural tic of leaving plans to the very last minute, and then cancelling said plans due to a father’s birthday or a sick dog, caused me all manner of frustration. In time I came, if not to love this aspect of Brazilian culture, to roll with it and tease my friends about their flakiness.
Like all great trips, this one was above all a journey of self-discovery. I discovered that I could deal with bank machines that sometimes accepted my credit cards and sometimes did not, a public transport system that often left hour-long gaps between buses, and engarrafamentos that made Toronto’s traffic look like an Indy 500 race, without my customary first-world impatience. I discovered that I don’t need much material comfort to be happy. Living in a 12’ x 12’ apartment, washing clothes by hand witho
ut hot water, shooing away the occasional cockroach—none of this put a dent in my mood.
Above all, I learned that age does not place hard limits on what a person can dream and do. (Well, that’s not quite true. I can confidently state that I will never ride a surf board amid Floripa’s crashing waves.)
Through all my adventures, I never lost sight of my husband and children, who understood my need for this trip and cheered me through it. I also drew strength from my two Brazilian friends in Toronto, whose support blasted through the miles between us.
I plan to come back someday, possibly with my family. But I will not attempt to repeat an experience that, by its very nature, can only happen once. And that shines all the more brightly for having a finish line.
Thanks for reading. To leave a comment, scroll to the bottom and type in the box.
Gabrielle Bauer 
amiga …como foi maravilhoso passar esse tempo contigo, amei cada segundo dessa aventura e me ajudou a ser melhor do que um dia fui…. gratidão por essa breve passagem por minha vida!!!
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Your blog has been a great read! It was a very brave endeavour to leave behind everything and everyone familiar for 5 months. Terry keeps yelling that I left him for ONE month each of the past 3 winters, but I will do it again next winter. It will be great seeing you again and hearing of your adventure in person.
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This blog entry has moved me to tears. As a result of your previous entries I feel like I not only experienced some of those Brazilian adventures with you but am also now sadly leaving them. It’s clear that this trip was exactly what you needed to do and I am both looking forward to seeing you again in T.O. and reading the novel that hopefully will come out of this fabulous time!
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Thanks, Sheila. I’ve become a bit of an expert in tears these past few days. They’re not tears of happiness or sadness, but “fullness.” Looking forward to catching up!
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Hey Gabi, welcome home!
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Amazing, Gabrielle. So brave and impressive. I look forward to the art that results from your experience!
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Beautiful closing post, Gaby! Bravo!
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What an accomplishment – well an accomplishment – more than most of us do (more than me, for sure) … looking forward to seeing you back here in Toronto.
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Você é realmente uma pessoa incrível! Estamos te esperando de volta🇨🇦❤️🇧🇷
Sent from my iPhone
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About the jokes. When I started learning Chinese at the tender age of 36 I tried and failed many times to make jokes in Chinese. My Chinese friends thought my attempts at humor were simply more newby mistakes, and they usually helped out by correcting them. After three years of trying, someone finally laughed. I was so happy!
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It’s an amazing feeling, isn’t it? I was at a picnic and told one of the few jokes in my repertoire, and everyone laughed! I felt as though I’d launched a rocket. 😉
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I’m grateful you’re back, and understand what an emotionally powerful experience it must have been. Bravo, Gabi!
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Congrats on what sounds like a fulfilling, exciting and fun experience!
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Wow! What an high-quality ride thru Brazil captured in these gorgeous photos! Each picture tells a brilliant story, imparting a glimpse into the prosperous culture, breathtaking landscapes, and colourful traditions of this stunning country. Thank you for sharing these charming moments with us. It’s without a doubt inspiring and makes me prefer to pack my luggage and ride the magic of Brazil firsthand!
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