Ipanema/Leblon with some Paulistanos

On Day ? of my trip, a monday I think...I've already lost track.  Everyday is a saturday right?  Anyway when I moved into the Ipanema Beach House the dorm I was assigned to was occupied by three Paulistanos (people from Sao Paulo) that spoke solely in Portuguese.  As I went about my business in the room they kept talking and laughing and talking and laughing.  I couldn't help but think the laughter was directed at me and due to the language barrier they were able to get away with it.

However, when we awoke on Monday one of the guys told me "Coffee go" at which I had no idea what he was talking about and simply said "ok."  He started to leave, but then noticed I had not moved.  He came back in and said something along the lines of "No, with me coffee go" in an accent that made the words impossible to understand.  I gave him a blank stare.  He tried a few more combinations of the same words before eventually I figured out he was going down to breakfast and surprisingly wanted me to join him.

We met the two other Paulistanos at breakfast.  We exchanged words doing our best to teach each other enough of our language so that we could actually converse. When breakfast was over they told me I was going to the beach with them.  To which because of the language issues I hesitantly agreed.  They spoke Portuguese, French, and a few words in English.  I speak English, some Spanish, and even fewer words in Portuguese.  Despite the language barrier we somehow got along.  It was a great day discussing pop culture in our two countries.  Having the opportunity to spend a day with native Brazilians was certainly an experience, one I used to improve my Portuguese and knowledge of the Brazilian lifestyle.

Disappointingly the Paulistanos had to leave in the afternoon so I went back to the hostel, for a bit, before venturing out in the neighborhood around the hostel.  I bumped into this Swedish metal head I had met the night before few times and ended up meeting him back at the hostel for a drink.  Much conversation about our lives ensued and I had a great time learning about the culture he comes from.  By the end of the night my confidence in this trip being as good I was hoping it would be is as high as its been.  I am able to meet people from different places and get to know them, I am learning a bunch about other people, as well as my self.  I am learning how to better open up to people, show emotion, and initiate conversation.