The weekend

Well I spent the weekend at a settlement of MST (The Braziian LandlessWorkers Movement.) It was incredible and fascinating and will take me forever to write about, but for now there is this. It was absolutely amazing to walk around with are feet and not have to worry about stepping on any needles or trash. I was also great to go the whole weekend withour being referred to as a gringa once and just being welcomed into the community from the get-go.

Also there is this - in the midst of some of the poorest places I have ever been education is held up as something of utmost importance. A school is always the first thing built whether it is a temporary encampment or a more permanent one. And the kids learn about the movement itself in addition to the things that the rest of Brazilian kid learn. It makes for some politically and socially aware youngsters.

Oh also- I watched a kitten being born in the middle of the road (to a cat that looked like a kitten itself.) A little kitty trotted up to me and I just happened to notice she was having a little trouble. I got her to lay down and she proceeded to give birth to the last of her kittens...and then run off. She was scared of the samba party taking place about ten meters away and I was scared she wouldn't come back. And God knows I would probably end up carrying a cat around Brazil with me for two and a half months. Luckily we talked to the people who were descending on the kitten, got them to back off enough to let the cat run and grab the kitten and flee. I am pretty sure my brazilian mae and my mom are in agreement on the no cat thing so this could have potentially made me homeless in two countries. Whew.