As I descend this unfamiliar concoction of concrete – and in competition with the car next to me – neon lights of all colours burst in sync; as if the glowing eye of some monstrous organism is opening to witness our race.
Gripping the handlebars of my bicycle with desperation, I look across at the rival to my left – traversing the same terrain with much less exhaustion – unphased by the uneven ground inside their four wheeled metal machine. Unfortunately for me, I am completely absorbed in the task of staying alive; my minimal suspension and two barely pumped-up wheels working to their limits.
My competitor starts to pull ahead, but I pedal ferociously to keep up, I haven’t lost yet. Little do I know; this road isn’t kind. Potholes and sudden dips are constantly presenting themselves amid my descent. Whiplash has made itself clear at this point, as my bones shiver from the impact of each bump. It almost feels like I’m playing Mario Kart.
Suddenly, a motorbike materialises without warning, blocking my path. Lacking time to think, my instincts kick in and my legs battle gravity in a desperate attempt to stay upright. I swerve towards the footpath, where a set of stairs awaits me. “Shit, here we go”, I think to myself.
I pull the handlebars up, bend my legs, and jump.
SNAP.
My heart is pounding. Adrenaline has taken over my body. I brake to a halt and stand confused for a second. My bike is still under me, but what was that sound? I look back up the hill from where I just came, the red and yellow lights of traffic passing by in a slew of blurred colours…
After a brief moment, I focus on a peculiar object in the middle of the street. Hold on, is that my f****** seat?
Salve tropa, kia ora whanau!
Welcome to Brazil online, and my little space within the 360 international blog community.
What you just read was a true story that occurred while riding my bike home from university at 8pm at night. Although it may have sounded dramatic, I really did try to race a car, and I really did jump a set of stairs, and I really did break my seat in the process. I even ended up having to ride an hour home without it.
But that’s the end of that story. I wanted to have some fun introducing myself, so I hope you enjoyed it!
Anyway, my name is Lachlan, Lockie, or Loki as the Brazilians have been calling me. I am currently studying Portuguese and Arts at the university of Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado (FAAP) in São Paulo, Brazil! Funnily enough, in Auckland, I am studying Psychology in Politics. Interestingly, my depth of knowledge on Psychology and Politics has expanded exponentially as a result of my time living abroad, subsequent to the fact I am not studying these intellects at University here. This is a result of having lived experiences in a foreign country; by learning the language, the culture, and constantly staying curious of your environment, you come to discover unique perspectives never once considered. For example, my understanding of the way in which language shapes an individual´s disposition within society, and their own expectations of behaviour has come through the change I see in myself, and my own expectations.
What I would like for you to take away from this is that an exchange is truly an exploration of yourself and your limits. In my first month here, I have experienced an array of emotions; from hopelessness to extreme elation. Nothing is planned, and everything is discovered at the moment, yet despite this there is a unique freedom experienced along the way; a roller coaster full of experiences and challenges. Academically, there is an ever-greater understanding of your intelectual pursuits, simply gained through the explorations of contrastingly unique societies, culture, and language.
Since the beginning of this blog was quite long, I’ll keep the rest short, but I have some more moments in store for you soon!
As a goodbye, here are some photos which hopefully express the vibrancy of São Paulo in a way my writing cannot.
Until then…
Ngā mihi, até logo, e tchau tchau :).
