9/6/15
(Urgh, I am not sure why but my writing is particularly poor today. Sorry!) 
There is a popular saying: the writing is on the wall (which is a bible reference, by the way. This is why I always feel learning a language is ofteb difficult: it is not only about grammar, but also about cultural references, sayings, idioms, etc.). I have never really written anything permanent on a wall, but that’s also because I have been told that it is a crime to vandalize properties. During this trip, I learned about the movement to legitimize graffiti art from a few graffiti art tours. It is an interesting concept: to try to move public opinion on an action that used to be viewed as destroying properties to treasure them as art instead. Artists now spent days to paint a wall with original concepts, and usually with the blessing of the owners. Cities are slowly starting to recognize the beauties of graffiti, instead of the uniformed cookie cutter (man, so hungry for cookies) buildings we have come to know and love.
During our walking tour yesterday, the guide mentioned a great place to see graffiti in the city of São Paulo: the Beco Do Batman neighborhood (and that they will be starting a tour on graffiti soon). It definitely caught my interest (and with a neighborhood named Batman, how can I not visit?!), and so after a quick run, I took the metro and walked to see the graffiti. It was an interesting place: the graffiti simply started out of nowhere and took over all the walls for about one block. Since today is Sunday, many of the shops were closed and there was no much traffic on the street, allowing for some great photo opportunities. Unfortunately, with my limited knowledge of graffiti artists and symbolism, I can only appreciate the drawings in my limits capacity. I think a tour wold be a great idea, but of course I am bias from my great tour experience in Bogota.
For dinner, I met up with a new/old friend: Renato from Mendoza. Argentina. He was nice enough to take time from his buys work and study schedule to have dinner, and brought along 12 friends (luckily we did not come up to 13…). We had a pretty decent conversation going on with limited (my favorite word of the day) English and Spanish mixed with Portuguese. It was so great to meet a friend from the trip, and even better to be able to meet some locals (mostly Asians) who shared their experience and views.
It is tough to change people’s views and expectations. From graffiti to race to interracial marriages (something we discussed a little during dinner) to politics (how the current Brazilian president only has 7% approval rating), change is tough. I guess it take a long of character and persistent effort to affect other people’s view points, and even more hard work to affect the change. I am just glad there are people with enough conviction and strength to lead the way for the rest of us to follow.
(Well, it is a very long winded way to say I am too lazy….hmm.)
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