Most of my trip will take place in the northern city of Belém. Belém is one of those places that you should know about, but have never heard of. Most Americans know of Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo, the tourist destinations in the south of the country. A few more will know Brasilia, the capital city. However, Brazil is the fifth largets country in land size and there are even more amazing places than the biggest cities.
Belém is the capital of the state of Pará. It is located in the Amazon river delta. As early as a hundred years back, this city was still considered part of the jungle. Now it is a thriving metropolitan area, as advanced as many cities in the United States. Many of the European and North American explorers started their journey into the Amazon from this city, including Theodore Rooselvelt. (There is a river named after President Roosevelt in the Western Amazon called the Teodoro. He um..."discovered" it.)
My journey will be one of great contrast as I move from the "gateway" city of the Amazon to the forest proper. It is going to be extremely exciting to see so many different lifestyles in such a short span of time.
Some good news- I was selected to be a travel correspondent with Reach the World. This non-profit organization offers travel experience for at-risk youths. I will be blogging about my trip on a separate web-page so that elementary school students can see the world through my eyes. Being a student who never had a strong multi-cultural mentor outside of my family, I am very happy to do this. Hopefully I connect with the kids and they can see a world worth saving.
I just have a few more days in the States and I'm not sure how to live it up. Lately I have simply been lazy, watching television at home. I need to figure out a way to be active for the few weeks I have left here.
Wishing you all the best and will update more frequently.
Today's mission: Skip one of your luxuries and give that money to someone who needs it.
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