I Smell With My Nose…
My SouL cried out that it was time to move. The Womb in me sang to the Man in me, “Take me away from here. Take me somewhere where Love feels like Breathing.” As much as I love the cold weather, around late November, early December, the days all start to run together, and I desperately need something to break up the monotony of living the same day over and over again. Enter Bob Marley’s words into my being, “If you’re not living good, you gotta TRAVEL WIDE>”
The options were simple…Bali or Brazil.
Bali was tempting because a GO(O)D Sister of ours, Sheree, just moved there from NYC, and her pictures of the natural landscape were rather inviting. And then there was Brazil. All I could think of was the dancing and drumming in the streets, all because it is Tuesday [insert any random day], or the fresh fruit that grows locally, with sweet juices dripping from my lips and chin as I devour them in ecstasy. I could hear the singing, chanting, drumming from the Candomble rituals coming from the house down the street. I could bask in the sights and sounds of the beautiful melanated men drumming the heartbeat of Africa; there they rocked side to side, black as midnight, shirts off, skin glistening as the Sun kissed their skin. One, in particular, would stand out in the crowd. When we locked eyes, I could see GOD Himself in his gaze. I would allow myself to be carried away to another dimension through the rhythm of his drums in a trance-like state, praising GOD for Life itself with every sway of my hips; every stomp of my feet. After the dancing and drumming, he would find me in the crowd and speak the sweetest Portuguese Brasileira to me. I’d smile, answer in the few short sentences that I knew. He’d smile too and ask “De onde você é? I’d answer “Eu sou americano. Eu moro nos Estados Unidos.” Wanting to prevent him from flying into hyper speed with his speech, I would quickly ask, “Você fala Inglés?” He’d smile and begin to speak the sweetest, most sexy English tinged with Brazilian flavor I have ever heard.
All of this was in my vision as to which country I would choose. Any guess which one I chose?
Because I have an Alma Brasileira (“Brazilian Soul”, and my Mama MAMA name is Alma), I AM IN BRAZIL; Salvador, Bahia to be exact. The largest concentration of Africans who maintained their indigenous culture and traditions outside of Africa. I arrived on December 30th, and I am HOME (everywhere I am)! This place feels like Cuba, like Trinidad, like Jamaica, like Kenya, proving the point that when handed lemons, the original people of the planet will make lemonade, lemon meringue pie, lemon cookies, lemon tarts, lemon deodorant, lemon all-purpose cleaner, lemon candy, etc., all while finding reasons to smile, laugh, dance, play, build, procreate; giving thanks to the Source that creates life for this Abundance of LEMONS.
With roughly one month remaining in my Artist-in-Residency position, teaching dance at Blenheim Middle School for Discovery, I began to learn Brazilian Portuguese in November. As with any other country I have ever visited, I make it my business to be able to greet people and ask and answer the basics…Hi. Good morning. Good afternoon. Good night. Bye. What’s your name? Where are you from/live? What do you do? Are you married? (A good question to ask and one that I get asked a lot). My go-to learning tool was a YouTube video that went over 600 basic words and expressions often heard in Brazil. One such phrase, “Eu sinto cheiros com o meu nariz.” The translation—I smell with my nose. This was one of the first full sentences that stuck with me, and I await on the sidelines, eager like a Double Dutch jumper to casually use it in a conversation. Will I ever get the chance? Perhaps it is a Brazilian saying that has a deeper meaning because doesn’t everyone breathe with their nose? (With the exception of mouth breathers, I suppose). I will look into it.
Until next time, I am here in Brazil, taking in full nervous-system regulating breaths with my nose and enjoying the natural rhythm of a place where Love feels like breathing.
Ciao Ciao
How will I spend Old Year’s Night? Stay tuned…
