A year ago I was in Brasil. I've thought about it a lot this week since it was such an amazing opportunity. It would not be possible to have a more welcoming experience than I had. A very warm and loving people took me into their hearts, homes and lives. And, it started the moment I set foot on Brazilian soil. It was truly one of my very best muraling adventures. So, I thought it was time for one more family portrait.
I observed right away that hugging was a part of every day life, every day in Brasil. While I was greeted at the airport by a young man who spoke no English, another woman who did speak my language decided it was time to practice a little. Before we parted ways, the young man hugged the older woman. I learned my lesson quickly. When I finally arrived at the last of three Brazilian airports that day, and had a crowd of eight people waiting for me, I dropped my luggage and the hugging began. It never stopped for the entire three weeks I was in Brazil. The first mural was at a community school in the little town of Barbosa Ferraz and my volunteer painters were part of an agricultural group sort of like Future Farmers of America. I didn't know it until the end of the day, but my group of thirty volunteers came from all corners of the state. It was a national holiday and they celebrated like family. I was so surprised that this warm and loving group only saw each other a few times a year. They were so close! Alessa painted a red tomato on the first mural. She couldn't have been any more proud of her work, and this portrait was taken of her in front of that confused fruit/vegetable. She and her husband Jeferson, lived in Barbosa Ferraz. They could not have been any more adorable and, fortunately for me, I saw them several more times since I painted two murals in their town. Alessa didn't speak a word of English and I didn't speak Portuguese. However, even if she weren't absolutely beautiful inside and out, I would have adored her because she was one of the few people I could speak to in Spanish. I was able to communicate with her without the aid of a Smartphone translation app (which is an awesome tool). Selfie with the adorable Jeferson and AlessaI was informed that even though I was born in the United States, I had the heart of a Brasilian. Believe me, that's high praise. People with that kind of heart were gracious, caring, loving huggers. There were no half-hearted, side-to-side huggers in Brasil. It's full body, full-strength, hold on tightly to make sure the other person knows just how loved they really are kind of hugging. I also observed that if you have a true Brasilian heart, it is possible to cry at a moment's notice. Just talking about the fact that you cry over emotional subjects can (and usually did) bring on more tears. Giving a special person a gift, saying goodbye, celebrating a birthday or reading my blogs about Brasil required tissues at hand. Alessa had this kind of heart. I'm fairly sure there will be more tears as soon as I see her again. I'll come prepared with the tissues.
