So, the first blog post I've ever written. As slightly nervous as this makes me, I actually think I could be quite a great blogger. I mean, just imagine the amount of hilariously random thoughts that fly through my head every day. Apart from that I think people might find it fun/reassuring to see that I am still alive and to digitally take part in all the stupid/fun/life-changing experiences I will encounter for the next two months. The journey begins!

Starting already in Kastrup it seemed like everyone was as excited as me about going to Salvador. Heading up to security I was thrown into the Fast Track - "let's get you out of the country as fast as possible"! I think even the Starbucks guy could sense my joy scribbling my name and adding a nice smiley face that took up half of the cup. The flight to Zürich was nothing interesting, but we got food meaning I had extra left after! Being a person who eats constantly I obviously spent my transit time munching on a goat's cheese sandwich and almost didn't have time to catch the bag that was rolling down the escalator and about to knock over the nice man behind me. Following this adrenaline rush of a near-death experience he asked me if I was Danish taking my incoherent grunt as a yes. (In other words I did actually attempt to say something, but a mouth full of food and a potato language doesn't always work out.) This fine introduction led to a very useful conversation and what became my first new acquaintance on this journey.

Jakob is pretty cool. He's travelled to Brazil often, currently working on a new start-up project - a blog kind of like AoK or DKBN, but directed towards Danes in Brazil. He of course was super curious to know where I was going and with the mention of Salvador all the fatherly advice immediately came: "Yeah, in Salvador you definitely shouldn't be waving your money around", "They don't go for the people, they go for the possessions" and a last one before going our separate ways in the immigration que: "By the way, that bling-bling on your finger - as soon as you land in Salvador, it goes into your suitcase." Mais oui Mr. Jakob, your wish is my command! But jokes aside it is really nice to meet someone (who actually speaks your language) and can give you a few tips from the inside. Also, he gave me some contact info for "the Dane in Salvador" that I of course should call if anything came up. If I encountered problems I could definitely also call Jakob, but he would probably be busy partying in Sao Paulo.

Jakob wasn't my only acquaintance though. I spent the next 12 hours next to a sweet girl my age who was finally heading back home to Sao Paulo after half a year of ballet in Monaco. She has an audition on Friday and both dance and her hometown are her life, so she really hopes to get the part. If not, I guess it's back to Europe. Upon hearing my age she was super interested to know what I wanted to do with my life. She lectured me on the freedom of young age stating that "You are young, you can do whatever you want! With ballet though, you start and then you have to live your life after what everyone else wants. I live with it because dance has been my life since I was 11 and I can't function without it". Pulling in over the city at around 5 AM she only had one thing to say "my city" with a smile crossing her face. That did it - fingers tightly crossed for Friday!

My last "encounter" was an incredibly cute little Brazilian boy, probably two years old or something of the like. He found it surprisingly funny to walk right up next to me on the bench outside Guarulhos airport and make fart sounds adorned with spit and little crumbs from the wafer he was eating. His mom found it slightly embarrassing, but to be honest one can ask whether it was him or me that was the most amused with his game.

So, these are the people I have actually spoken to. All the rest, well, let's just say "lost in translation" makes a bit more sense to me now. Give me some time though, I'll eventually get what they are trying to tell me.

Now here I am sitting by the gate 24 hours of travelling away from Copenhagen waiting for my connecting flight. Armando, my buddy, will be picking me up in the airport and he and his mother have been so kind as to take me in tonight, as the host goes through. So, that was it for now. Have fun and take care. :)