Last weekend I stepped outside my comfort zone by going to Tapiraí, Brazil. Tapiraí is a town of about 10,000 in the Mata Atlântica (“Atlantic Forest”), a huge dense forest in 13 states along the coast of Brazil. The Mata Atlântica is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is now highly protected through this program. Work is being done to not only maintain what is there but to also restore its biological diversity, which, according to the UNESCO site, is among the richest in the world. The area of Tapiraí consists of low mountains covered in very dense forests and is home to tons of animals, including jaguars, monkeys, lots of poisonous snakes, and vampire bats.
Even though the nature there is incredible, we went for a different purpose: to visit some of my husband’s family. His mother was born there, and some of her siblings never left the area, so my husband has 2 uncles, 1 aunt, and lots of cousins living there. We stayed in a chalet at a “farm hotel,” located down a dirt road of several miles right in the forest.
The chalets at Hotel Fazenda
The accomodations: The hotel seemed nice enough, with a lake, a small playground, and a nice breakfast room. However, the rooms were the first way I had to step outside my comfort zone. The room had no insulation or proper ceiling, so above our heads were the roof tiles with plenty of spaces for the cold night air to come right in. There is no heat in Brazil, but luckily we brought a small portable heater knowing that it would be too cold for us (it is winter here, after all); plus, my son was sick. The forest is extremely humid, so the room smelled like mold. There was a frog, a large spider, and a dead cockroach in the room, none of which bothered me but did make me wonder what else might creep in during the night. Then several times at night I heard what I swear was a bat on the roof right above my head. When I got back to my sister-in-law’s house, they told me that there are lots of bats there, including huge vampire bats. Yikes.
The family reunites: We spent most of the weekend at Tio Olivá and Tia Zilda’s houses with lots of cousins and their small children. Everyone is very nice, but it’s a little hard to be the foreigner in such a situation. Even though I speak Portuguese, I have trouble understanding their accent; plus, they’re reuniting to see each other and chat about their families, which can be a little isolating.
My husband's uncle's house
Poverty: One thing I have a hard time coming to terms with in Brazil is the poverty. It’s not exactly everywhere, but when it’s there, it can be shocking. Because the forest around Tapiraí is protected, there is no industry there– no possibility of cutting the forest to make farms, no mining… Of course this is good for the forest, but it means very few opportunities for the people. The town is depressing– a long strip of run-down shops and bars and sickly stray dogs. Tio Olivá’s house is the size of a large shack, the ceiling just the roof tiles, the walls dotted with mold, but he and his family seem happy. They are deeply religious people who believe in a simplicity of life and seem to happily accept the conditions in which they live.
All in all the weekend was fine. I am happy that my mother-in-law and husband got to spend some time with their family. I’m happy that I saw the family members again and met some new ones. It was nice to see the trees and flowers and hills of forests. I’m glad that I did something that wasn’t my first choice of how to spend the weekend and that it was all fine, but I’m not sure if I’ll go back there anytime soon.
Have you stepped outside your comfort zone in another country? If so, how and why?
Wow! That was a great post (very illuminating yet honest) – and it introduced me to a place I knew nothing about. Thanks, too, for including so many aspects of life in Tapirai – from the poverty (and reasons for it) to its beauty & the protection of the area. Interesting, too, to have a look behind the usual tourist’s viewpoint to your visit with family. It’s always good to step outside one’s comfort zone… though I have to admit that when I plan a vacation, I usually don’t go that direction. Sleeping in our 1959 Airstream and doing without some of the conveniences of home when we camp is about as far as I go!
This is a great post! So insightful and honest about being challenged when you travel. I really enjoyed reading this.
Thanks! It challenged me but now that it’s been over for a few days, it’s a nice memory. I’m glad I did it, and I appreciate the opportunity to see another side of life in Brazil.
Jenna, Another excellent post. Going outside one’s comfort zone really is a measure of contrasts and just how much contrast one can or is willing to accept. When we travel, we do so not because our jobs allow us the time off to take holiday, but rather we are in pursuit of contrast, primarily from our daily grind and all too familiar surroundings, whether that be going to the mountains, sea, visiting a new place or even something like (ugh) a theme park. Otherwise we would waste our holiday time sitting around the home front, visiting local relatives and friends, and so on.
As you experienced it also provides opportunity for us to see and realize first hand the lives and hardships in other locations/cultures thereby appreciating our lives a bit more, but also accepting that oftentimes these people are able to exist in their environments.
In my opinion your blog does a wonderful job of bringing forth this concept of contrast.
As for my personal experiences, far too many. One in particular. Spending several weeks in a remote village in the far reaches of Papua where I observed local children entertaining themselves playing a game or ring toss but the posts were nails hammered into the ground with a rock, the rings were rubber bands. They were ecstatic in their simple joy.
Let’s see, a place that’s full of “jaguars, monkeys, lots of poisonous snakes, and vampire bats”, ….hmm….yeah, I’d STILL want to go there!! I’m such a nature/animal lover so that would totally appeal to me! Jenna, this is a great post! It is unfortunate about the poverty though, but it’s a double-edged sword as you say, and presents challenges on both ends.
Mark, I agree that the nature there IS appealing (it is so special!), but there was something about the accomodations that didn’t sit well with me. The bat noises on the roof 2 nights in a row didn’t help! Yeah, the poverty is unfortunate, and I feel so helpless when I see it.
Having never travelled outside of the US, I feel so sheltered when I read some of your blogs. Maybe that is why I so enjoy reading about your experiences. I cannot even imagine your accommodations though – a bit too close to nature for me!
Jodi, Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. I’m glad you enjoy reading about my experiences! I agree about the accomodations (although it really wasn’t too bad).
This is a great post, Jenna! Part of traveling is exposing oneself to the uncomfortable and your post covered it wonderfully.
I encountered similar sounding accommodations in Costa Rica, and I was surprised with how ok I was with it – cause if I was at home, I would of left right away…haha. We were in the jungle near Tortuguero, and while I could of done without the bugs, I was rather fond of the salamanders that were living in the bathroom.
Thanks, Ashley! Being in the jungle in Costa Rica might have been more fun than this was.
As I think I mentioned in other comment replies, the hotel really wasn’t so bad, but putting it all together left me feeling outside my comfort zone.
I’m very impressed you could stay with bats above your head. I must admit I would have a hard time with sleeping in accommodations like that. Whenever I do step outside my comfort zone in a new place, it is always difficult at first, but once you are back in a cushioned life, they are usually the moment you remember the most vividly.
It’s so important for the growth of our souls to challenge ourselves from time to time by stepping out of comfort zone. Glad you did! The rooms are a bit dodgy, but the place itself looks AMAZING!!!
Andi,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment! You’re right– challenging ourselves is so important for growth. The place really wasn’t that bad, but the combination of factors, especially with my son being sick the whole time, made it a challenge. The place is amazing simply because of the raw nature that is there, but since it’s not developed for tourism, there aren’t hiking trails or other obvious ways to explore the forests. I did some exploring about 7 years ago when I came there the first time, but it was too cold this time.
According to what I have seen on your site (the boat rides in India), I’m pretty sure you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone many times!