Today is another Independence Day holiday, but this time for the state of Rio Grande du Sul (where we live). The state's history is more or less parallel to that of Texas, and it was an independent country around the same time as Texas. We went to a parade, and everyone is VERY excited about this independence day in comparison to the other one a couple weeks ago.
Many cowboys (gauchos) from all over the state to participate in the parade. A few of the horses got spooked, and one gaucho fell off his horse. The horses are a special breed called cavalho creole. This guy is wearing the typical gaucho outfit. The girls would wear long, colorful dresses that covered the back of the horse.
It was a little bit crazy because local elections are also going on right now. Supporters drive around town in cars blasting dance and other traditional music. It gave me a chuckle thinking about how this might translate to the US. Can you imagine Romney supporters driving around playing polkas and Bach? Or Obama supporters playing Al Green? Other people walk around carrying flags for the candidate of their choice.
Here come those guys carrying spears! Apparently there's a dance in which gauchos challenge each other to see which one can hop over the spear the fastest. Marcio's nephew learned it at school and gave us a demonstration.
We were lucky to have a nice, cool, sunny day. The weather has been like a schizophrenic warlord the past few weeks, dramatically and swiftly alternating from stormy and cold to hot and sizzling. Yesterday, the wind was so strong, it felt like a hurricane with no rain.
But yesterday was also exciting because I started Portuguese classes at a school for foreign language students! The last couple weeks, I've been working with Rosetta Stone, but the classes should help a lot.
Many cowboys (gauchos) from all over the state to participate in the parade. A few of the horses got spooked, and one gaucho fell off his horse. The horses are a special breed called cavalho creole. This guy is wearing the typical gaucho outfit. The girls would wear long, colorful dresses that covered the back of the horse.
It was a little bit crazy because local elections are also going on right now. Supporters drive around town in cars blasting dance and other traditional music. It gave me a chuckle thinking about how this might translate to the US. Can you imagine Romney supporters driving around playing polkas and Bach? Or Obama supporters playing Al Green? Other people walk around carrying flags for the candidate of their choice.
Here come those guys carrying spears! Apparently there's a dance in which gauchos challenge each other to see which one can hop over the spear the fastest. Marcio's nephew learned it at school and gave us a demonstration.
We were lucky to have a nice, cool, sunny day. The weather has been like a schizophrenic warlord the past few weeks, dramatically and swiftly alternating from stormy and cold to hot and sizzling. Yesterday, the wind was so strong, it felt like a hurricane with no rain.
But yesterday was also exciting because I started Portuguese classes at a school for foreign language students! The last couple weeks, I've been working with Rosetta Stone, but the classes should help a lot.
