It. Was. Crazy!!
I had forgotten how much patience you need with this country!!
Why?! Well first of all, when I booked my flights, what they neglected to tell me was that I would have to pick up my bags again when I arrived in my connection airport because they couldn't automatically do it between international and domestic flights. So if the plane were to land on time that would give me one hour and twenty minutes to get off the plane, go through customs, get my luggage, check in my luggage and get to the departure lounge... There was no way that was going to happen and what solidified that was the fact that my London to S.Paulo flight was then delayed by forty minutes due to security check hold ups on the plane before flying. I was sat in the little departure lounge clutching my hand luggage bag, half of me calm and resigned to praying the Brazilians would be chill about putting me on the next flight and half a nervous wreck and just wanting to get there so it could all be smoothed out (not the best way to be before an eleven hour flight cross-Atlantic over night flight). I just sighed after writing this, ha!
I'm really glad I did pick British Airways this time round because the crew were great, albeit slightly snobby but at least they knew what they were doing :) I ended up being placed in the middle of two other passengers this time which has never happened to me before when I've flown alone, so it put me on edge a little bit at first. But I must have reached the stage of delirious tired passenger because I suddenly found myself feeling slightly squished and unable to move, and suddenly in my head I was thinking: "oh hell no! Both of you with your elbows on the arm rests! Uh uh! Window seat gets the window and somewhere to lean, aisle seat gets the extra leg room and middle seat gets the arm rests! Ain't nobody be messing with the unspoken rules of plane seat etiquette!" (I don't quite know why I came over all sassy girl in my head either). To which I then proceeded to put both elbows firmly on the rests and they both then moved: *satisfied nod to self in my own head* Oh dear....
When we finally landed, in one last desperate hope I quick walked it off the plane and through to customs where I finally fully accepted that I would be missing my connection but was then incredibly pleased that I had rushed because I had to wait a lot less (although it still took the best part of an hour) to get checked and stamped through.
Brazilians are generally open and some can be hilarious without even meaning to be. I was bored but also kind of keen to speak Portuguese with a native speaker again so I had a chat with the woman while she checked my VISA, did something on the computer and stamped my passport. At the end she looked up at me and said "voce fala bem o portugues" ("you speak Portuguese really well") in the most suspicious of tones. If she had been a guy from a cartoon, she would have been stroking a goatee/beard while she said it: it was that kind of tone. I chuckled and said "thank you very much" because, well, what else do you say to that? "I am actually English, I swear! Not a Brazilian or Portuguese native in disguise?"
Anyway! I made it through, grabbed my suitcases (that's right! I got two this time!! SO happy!!) and made it towards the entrance. I had had mixed responses from security, check in and cabin crew about missing the second flight so I was a bit nervous. Fortunately the attendant said to get in line for domestic check ins and I could be put on the next flight. For the second time in S.Paulo Guarulhos airport the guy on the check in desk was fascinated that I was from England and marvelled at the boarding pass I had printed out for my Florianópolis flight back in Heathrow airport, handling it like a rare treasure. Um, it's a piece of tree dude.
He told me I could get on the next flight leaving just before 4pm that same day... It was 8am at this point, my missed flight just leaving the ground.... But still I was actually relieved more than anything because at least I would get out that day and not have to stay over night or anything crazy.
Next thing I had to do was let people in Floripa know I was getting in late, easy right? Wrong. As a heads up for anyone flying there and wanting to rely on the Wifi there: don't! It's horrible, and I lost my Brazilian SIM card over the summer so I couldn't switch it over and send a text to anyone. You might be thinking at this point: "um, why don't you just buy a SIM card in the airport? You have nearly eight of hours of waiting to do." The thought did cross me, BUT, one vital thing to remember when you get out here is that SIM cards are assigned to regions and you end up paying a bit extra when you send from another region, so there seemed no point in buying a SIM in SP because I would end up paying lots extra over the course of the next four months back in Floripa. Still with me?
To sum up the proceeding waiting hours: I got five minutes of Wifi here and there so I managed to send a message to my flatmate. I did some studying (languages student scenarios). The power went out in the entire airport for about ten minutes: people screamed as we sat there in darkness. I got really into a new book I bought a couple of weeks previously: "The Book Thief" which I'd definitely recommend!!
Then finally came the time to jump on the FLoripa plane!!! Yesssssss!! Some guy at the front decided to stear me down and brush my leg with the back of his hand while I waited to get to my seat. I actually found it quite flattering because I knew that I smelt a bit from having been traveling nearly a whole day and I might have found him a bit attractive if it hadn't been for the creepy stare and the fact I didn't actually know him...
The whole time from when my family dropped me off at Heathrow even to getting on the plane to FLoripa I had been having mini frantic panics about returning to the island. What if I got back and fell back into the old pattern of negativity and loneliness? I felt like I'd improved so much over the summer and really picked myself up after the slight shambles that was my first semester in Floripa. However these thoughts were dashed as soon as I wheeled my luggage out of Floripa airport, into a taxi, speeding past places I knew and at last arriving back in our apartment in Carvoeira!! I caught Ceci on the stairs and it was a wonderful moment to be back somewhere familiar!!
We got to chatting for five minutes before the busy bee had to rush off and meet some friends and it was great to hear what she had been up to! I will admit that I did break down a bit and start crying, although I'm sure it was more from lack of sleep, general overwhelmed-ness and relief of finally getting back!
Having slept on a sofa or shared a bed (with FRIENDS thank you!) for the previous two months, it was such a relief to have a bed to myself again!!
It. Was. Boiling! When I arrived. Although summer is well and truly over, it's still rainy season which has meant sunny, clear but muggy days with temperatures in the 30s (Celsius) and then very rainy and stormy nights. Doing stuff in the day has been a huge effort with the tropical air but the storms are absolutely incredible to watch!! Dangerous, but captivating!
Not gonna lie, although I was calm and ready to come back I was still pretty nervous about coming back. However! Now I'm back I do feel like I've made the right decision and I'm happy to be here. I feel so much more positive already and am looking forward to seeing how this semester unfolds. I may not be going out very much for the first six weeks because we have our research project due at the beginning of May: the final piece too!! But I hope that you will stay tuned and continue on my journey with me :) So far I think I'm going to stick to Sundays as my blogging/vlogging day but we'll wait and see :)
Beijos (kisses) and I hope you've had a wonderful start to your year!! xxx
I had forgotten how much patience you need with this country!!
Why?! Well first of all, when I booked my flights, what they neglected to tell me was that I would have to pick up my bags again when I arrived in my connection airport because they couldn't automatically do it between international and domestic flights. So if the plane were to land on time that would give me one hour and twenty minutes to get off the plane, go through customs, get my luggage, check in my luggage and get to the departure lounge... There was no way that was going to happen and what solidified that was the fact that my London to S.Paulo flight was then delayed by forty minutes due to security check hold ups on the plane before flying. I was sat in the little departure lounge clutching my hand luggage bag, half of me calm and resigned to praying the Brazilians would be chill about putting me on the next flight and half a nervous wreck and just wanting to get there so it could all be smoothed out (not the best way to be before an eleven hour flight cross-Atlantic over night flight). I just sighed after writing this, ha!
I'm really glad I did pick British Airways this time round because the crew were great, albeit slightly snobby but at least they knew what they were doing :) I ended up being placed in the middle of two other passengers this time which has never happened to me before when I've flown alone, so it put me on edge a little bit at first. But I must have reached the stage of delirious tired passenger because I suddenly found myself feeling slightly squished and unable to move, and suddenly in my head I was thinking: "oh hell no! Both of you with your elbows on the arm rests! Uh uh! Window seat gets the window and somewhere to lean, aisle seat gets the extra leg room and middle seat gets the arm rests! Ain't nobody be messing with the unspoken rules of plane seat etiquette!" (I don't quite know why I came over all sassy girl in my head either). To which I then proceeded to put both elbows firmly on the rests and they both then moved: *satisfied nod to self in my own head* Oh dear....
When we finally landed, in one last desperate hope I quick walked it off the plane and through to customs where I finally fully accepted that I would be missing my connection but was then incredibly pleased that I had rushed because I had to wait a lot less (although it still took the best part of an hour) to get checked and stamped through.
Brazilians are generally open and some can be hilarious without even meaning to be. I was bored but also kind of keen to speak Portuguese with a native speaker again so I had a chat with the woman while she checked my VISA, did something on the computer and stamped my passport. At the end she looked up at me and said "voce fala bem o portugues" ("you speak Portuguese really well") in the most suspicious of tones. If she had been a guy from a cartoon, she would have been stroking a goatee/beard while she said it: it was that kind of tone. I chuckled and said "thank you very much" because, well, what else do you say to that? "I am actually English, I swear! Not a Brazilian or Portuguese native in disguise?"
Anyway! I made it through, grabbed my suitcases (that's right! I got two this time!! SO happy!!) and made it towards the entrance. I had had mixed responses from security, check in and cabin crew about missing the second flight so I was a bit nervous. Fortunately the attendant said to get in line for domestic check ins and I could be put on the next flight. For the second time in S.Paulo Guarulhos airport the guy on the check in desk was fascinated that I was from England and marvelled at the boarding pass I had printed out for my Florianópolis flight back in Heathrow airport, handling it like a rare treasure. Um, it's a piece of tree dude.
He told me I could get on the next flight leaving just before 4pm that same day... It was 8am at this point, my missed flight just leaving the ground.... But still I was actually relieved more than anything because at least I would get out that day and not have to stay over night or anything crazy.
Next thing I had to do was let people in Floripa know I was getting in late, easy right? Wrong. As a heads up for anyone flying there and wanting to rely on the Wifi there: don't! It's horrible, and I lost my Brazilian SIM card over the summer so I couldn't switch it over and send a text to anyone. You might be thinking at this point: "um, why don't you just buy a SIM card in the airport? You have nearly eight of hours of waiting to do." The thought did cross me, BUT, one vital thing to remember when you get out here is that SIM cards are assigned to regions and you end up paying a bit extra when you send from another region, so there seemed no point in buying a SIM in SP because I would end up paying lots extra over the course of the next four months back in Floripa. Still with me?
To sum up the proceeding waiting hours: I got five minutes of Wifi here and there so I managed to send a message to my flatmate. I did some studying (languages student scenarios). The power went out in the entire airport for about ten minutes: people screamed as we sat there in darkness. I got really into a new book I bought a couple of weeks previously: "The Book Thief" which I'd definitely recommend!!
Then finally came the time to jump on the FLoripa plane!!! Yesssssss!! Some guy at the front decided to stear me down and brush my leg with the back of his hand while I waited to get to my seat. I actually found it quite flattering because I knew that I smelt a bit from having been traveling nearly a whole day and I might have found him a bit attractive if it hadn't been for the creepy stare and the fact I didn't actually know him...
The whole time from when my family dropped me off at Heathrow even to getting on the plane to FLoripa I had been having mini frantic panics about returning to the island. What if I got back and fell back into the old pattern of negativity and loneliness? I felt like I'd improved so much over the summer and really picked myself up after the slight shambles that was my first semester in Floripa. However these thoughts were dashed as soon as I wheeled my luggage out of Floripa airport, into a taxi, speeding past places I knew and at last arriving back in our apartment in Carvoeira!! I caught Ceci on the stairs and it was a wonderful moment to be back somewhere familiar!!
We got to chatting for five minutes before the busy bee had to rush off and meet some friends and it was great to hear what she had been up to! I will admit that I did break down a bit and start crying, although I'm sure it was more from lack of sleep, general overwhelmed-ness and relief of finally getting back!
Having slept on a sofa or shared a bed (with FRIENDS thank you!) for the previous two months, it was such a relief to have a bed to myself again!!
It. Was. Boiling! When I arrived. Although summer is well and truly over, it's still rainy season which has meant sunny, clear but muggy days with temperatures in the 30s (Celsius) and then very rainy and stormy nights. Doing stuff in the day has been a huge effort with the tropical air but the storms are absolutely incredible to watch!! Dangerous, but captivating!
Not gonna lie, although I was calm and ready to come back I was still pretty nervous about coming back. However! Now I'm back I do feel like I've made the right decision and I'm happy to be here. I feel so much more positive already and am looking forward to seeing how this semester unfolds. I may not be going out very much for the first six weeks because we have our research project due at the beginning of May: the final piece too!! But I hope that you will stay tuned and continue on my journey with me :) So far I think I'm going to stick to Sundays as my blogging/vlogging day but we'll wait and see :)
Beijos (kisses) and I hope you've had a wonderful start to your year!! xxx