Seated at a small table shaded by a large yellow umbrella, I sip my beer and savor the mid-afternoon sun of early autumn and the gentle but steady sea breeze. I’m surrounded by possibly the most beautiful collection of people that I’ve seen anywhere in my travels. Fit, confident, and stylishly attired, they hustle past to the last meeting of the week or grab one of the remaining available tables. I could be in Florence. Or Milan, perhaps.
I never envisioned myself teaching English. Perhaps you feel the same way. But soon after I started my five-year career in this field, I found that I enjoyed it, largely because the students are so enthusiastic and wonderful to teach. They need English to enjoy more opportunities in their life and career, they are grateful to have a native speaker as their teacher, and they apply themselves to learning.
Cariocas, the laid-back residents of sensuous Rio de Janeiro, welcome 1.5-million vacationers a year. But when it’s time for their own vacations, many of them head to the Região dos Lagos, or “Lakes Region,” also known as the Costa do Sul (Southern Coast).
From the Via Costeira (Coastal Way), I descend the dirt path to the beach. Kicking off my sneakers, I jog barefoot south toward the breakwater. The near-white sand is so soft that it squeaks under foot. Though only 8 a.m., the sun is high, announcing yet another beautiful day.
Tonight is samba night at Armazem de Paraty (Paraty Warehouse), a small restaurant and craft shop in the historic city center. Amateur musicians will begin to drift in around 8 p.m. Within an hour it will be standing room only. The regulars will nod and smile when I arrive. Someone will press a homemade maraca into my hands.