Blecaute

An older man walked into our classroom to talk to the teacher. He walked through the presenters and made everyone wonder what was going on. I thought he was just telling the teacher to wrap up because we were already 30 minutes over the class time, but thought it was strange that he went right up to the teacher. Then he left.

"Oi pessoal ... em Sao Paulo acenteceu um mega-blecaute."

That was certainly a quicker way to ending class.

Incredibly 20% of Brazil is powered by a hydroelectric dam in Itaipu (the second largest amount next to China's Three Gorges Dam). A shortage went out and most of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro were left in the dark. Including me.

It was strange to see. Cars and buses were the only lights, aside from small emergency or generator run lights. I saw Jay in the study lounge and we quickly noted down the closest U.S. Embassy's address and telephone number, then went outside with a darker walk back home.

It felt like we had gone camping. We got ready for bed in the dark and enjoyed the short "campout," with no electricity within miles, in our apartment right in the heart of the largest city in South America.



http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120299662

In other news I dyed my hair acaju. My teacher in class yesterday looked for "the American" to ask a question and was a bit surprised when he found me. He smiled and amid chuckles from the class he asked "Daniel o que voce fez?" I replied "Eu sou brazileiro agora."