Where in the World is Jamila?: Nossa Paz to Sao Paulo to Chao Community

This morning there were still stars in the sky when I woke up and walked down past lit lamp-posts to the minha (meeting/offering place). During the week the first horn sounds at 5am to meet at 6am and sings songs, have a lesson/teaching, and then have breakfast before starting the day. About 90 people live at the Chao Community/Community of the 12 Tribes, near Londrina (still in Brazil). This is a Christian Commune, and I learned when I arrived they have communities all around the world, including three in BC and one on the island.

I've only been here since Saturday night, but it is definitely interesting to see how a large community lives and functions together. I am technically here as a wwoofing volunteer, as with the last farm, but today was the first day I helped in the garden - weeding and harvesting corn for planting. I find myself internally resisting some of the culture here, (women in the kitchen; men in the fields) but it is also quite a friendly and beautiful place (someone always sits beside me and translates whatever they are talking about during the morning and evening meetings). They have a kiosk at the entrance to the community where they sell delicious fresh juice, candles they were making, and sandals and bread they currently make here now.

Persimmon fruit

Before arriving here I spent two nights in Sao Paulo, the biggest city in South America and the second largest population of Japanese people outside of Japan (I had some delicious sushi, which the city is famous for). It was a busy two days, seeing some of the sights and learning to navigate the multi-line metro. It was also interesting spending my birthday in a city where no one knew me... kind of like any other day.

Square where Sao Paulo was "founded" in 1554

View from the top of a 36th story building

Beautiful church covered in graffiti I found when semi-lost

Part of my expensive b-day lunch. This fruit was $10!

And last but not least... my last week at Nossa Paz was quite wonderful. I helped Simon take pictures of some wooden stools and side tables he had made, crafted lavender pouches, and helped plant little coffee trees in an area we had cleared. It was hard to leave such a beautiful place, but I am very grateful I spent a month of my life there!