Day to day

I need explain something as I receive many emails and questions. I am NOT a computer professional. In just four years know how to use computers and I am still learning. I will answer any questions honestly as I can. I am writing in English because I have many friends who want to know about my life here in Rocinha. Foreign people are more interested in learning about we who live in these comunities. Brazilians hate and fear we who live in Favelas. There is much negative things said about poor in Brazil.

To come and visit is one thing but to live life here everyday is much diferent. Many athropological students have contacted me too about life here, so finally I think is the time for people on the outside to know how we in favelas live. The entries below will be from when I first returned to ROCINHA in December. I wanted to put entries in earlier but I did not know what Blogs to put on or how to do it. But, now I understand how this works. So, you will be reading my diary of times past and, I will try to put many in at a time to keep update. But please, I will need sometime becase I do not always receive internet access here. Please be patient. If you have any questions you can email me: rocinhajj@yahoo.com.br 

Thursday, 12 dez..On returning to Rocinha..My flight was boring and I did not use the sleeping pills given me by the doctor. But then again I did not get sleep either. I arrived at the airport and expected to be questioned by officials becase of the way I look, but no, nothing eventful took place. They passed me through but I did not mention that my body, arms and legs were covered so no tattoos were visible. My observation was that anybody of color was stopped to have their stuff searched. This prejudice exists everywhere from what I have seen. 

The frescao bus ride was long and seemed like it took forever to get to the bottom of the hill. Once there, my eyes started to water becase of two things, one, I was finally here and two, all the memories of my younger years. I was excited to see family and friends again. In the beginning I had to stay with friends becase my family does not have acess to the internet and I did not have a fone. This is normal as the western world has access to so much technologies that in favelas we do not. We have LANHouses for Internet but they are crowded and slow. Walking through Rocinha, the sites, smells, brought back so many emotional feelings that are hard to describe here. At some point I will elaborate, but for now, I am so happy! I will be staying with a friend until I get everything settled with my family. I had other plans to stay in another place but they fell through, so I am happy to have many friends here who can help. But Rocinha is this kind of place. People help each other! 

My friend Ed and I met and because the luggage I have was heavy, we decide to take one of the vans to Ed’s house in the Paula Brito/Dioneia area of Rocinha. It is situated about half way up the hill to the left side above Fundacao and Cachopa where I grew up. The weather was rainy but it felt good because it was hot. As soon as we arrived to his house, all I wanted to do was sleep. And that is what I did.