The best thing I could have done!

Oi!

I make a decision without a good reason why I should do it – lets say truly following my heart. In the end it turns out to be the best thing that I could have done or the very thing I needed. Not really knowing why, but deeply feeling that it’s right.

The same kind of situation was my internship. Before I come to YIP, I chose to work with children in the social center Associação Comunitária Monte Azul, located in a periphery of the huge city São Paulo, Brazil.

Associação Comunitária Monte Azul is a social center in the favelas of São Paulo started in 1975 by the Austrian Waldorf teacher Ute Creamer. It began as a kindergarden for the local children. I has grown into a beautiful meeting place that gathers people of different ages from all over the world.

Today Monte Azul has two outgrowths: Horizonte Azul and Favella Peinha – the heart of the favela.

Through the years Monte Azul has had many volunteers. Many Germans and Japanese. One of the many Germans is my dear friend, a YIP-ie, Christoph Walter, who spent the year before YIP in Brazil, working as a volunteer in Horizonte Azul, and to whom I am very thankful. He was the thread between me and Brazil.

After a struggle with my visa, I arrived in Horizonte Azul on the March 19th. I spent four amazing weeks there. I stayed with a Brazilian lady called Tia Lila. She is very hospitable, kind and funny, loves kids, chocolate, sleeping, Brazilian culture and never cooks. She didn’t speak English, I didn’t talk Portuguese. Somehow it worked out excellently.

For the first week I worked in the Horta (Organic garden in the middle of favela.), Cozinha (Kitchen. Is focused on gossip.), and Reciclagem (The main man at the recycling place is friendly and wise is t). In the following weeks Berçário was added to my working schedule (The most beautiful children, 5 months to 1.5 years old.), Maternao (Wild and sweet kids up to 3.5 years.) and Jardim (Clever and joyful little human beings between 3 and 5 years old).

Every single day was a small challenge – language barriers, health trouble, lifestyle, attitude, culture, etc. Yes, it was a struggle, but it was worth it. People I met, places I saw, things I did. Self challenge. Giving your hands and your heart to the world. Listen, look around, think, walk and do.

Simplicity. Smile. Rhythm. Love. Dance. Heart. Hands. Friends. Laughter. Mango. Hospitality. SUN.

Eu estou saudades do Brasil.

Beijos,
Natalia

P.S. Neither a word nor a picture can describe my experience. It was awesome.

Read more about the YIP internships