It is day 5 of my trip and I have finally figured out how to post photos, so I will try to upload some shortly.
I am staying in Itu with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt, Michelle Nicolini, and her family. Michelle teaches and trains BJJ at Robert Drysdale`s club, Equilibrium, in Itu, and also at the larger club in Sao Paulo city. She has a commanding presence in both clubs; it is obvious how much her students and training partners respect her. She is also incredibly friendly and enjoys just hanging out with friends in BJJ.
Itu is a town, similar in size to New Minas and Kentville combined from what I have seen so far. Houses and buildings in general here have an open structure. Parts of buildings have open ceilings to let the breeze float through. Many buildings have 3 walls with one wall that can open and close, like a garage.
Sao Paulo is huge. It is similar to large cities like Toronto, but different in many ways. There are many favelas, or slums, here. Michelle and I have been discussing the huge gap between the rich and the poor which is evident in both Canada and Brazil.
Michelle´s father, Edson, is a Carpenter in Itu. He is a friendly, happy-looking man, who works very hard. Mira is Michelle`s mother, and she works very hard at home to keep her house in order and her children and grandchildren well fed. She is a wonderful cook.
Michelle has 2 sisters. Eliza is the eldest sister and is married with 2 girls, Isabella and Gyovana. Michelle is the second daughter and Jacqueline is the youngest; they live at home with Edson and Mira.
The family has a beautiful home in the busier part of Itu. Every morning I am woken by the sounds of birds and their 2 daschounds, Tibor and Dara. Loro is Michelle`s parrot; he is very strong-willed and intelligent. He also loves to play and sleeps close to people. Michelle`s family also has an incredible farm in the quiet part of Itu. Edson is hoping to build a house there one day. It has a swimming pool and many trees, including bananas, mangoes and a Brazilian type of green fruit which tastes like an orange. I will post pictures soon.
