The Holidays

So I arrived in Manaus, Brazil in time for the holidays. Apparently it was once called thr Paris on the Amazon for the huge performing arts theatre they have here. I plan on staying with Labbish, a friend of the family as well as a Marine Biolosist like my father, who works down here. Unfortunately there was some miscommunication (mainly on my part) and I had some troubles finding his place. Luckily a guy I met on the boat was nice enough to put me up with his family the first night and also invite me to spend christmas with them. It was a lot of fun, and a little more realaxed than on the boat because most of them speak really good spanish. I finally did make it to Labbish's place. A few of his colleagues from China left this morning, they spoke very little english and understood even less so much of the few days together were spent writing notes to each other on pieces of paper. Made for a very different type of conversation. But I'm here now, and even though its 95 degrees in the shade and extrememly humid, the mango tree that hangs over his back wall has been kind enough to drop a few on his side of it each day and so far, from what I've seen of it, Manaus seems like an interesting place. Labbish isn't back until the 4th, he has tons of tanks of colorful fish here from the Rio Negro which I think have inspired me to go with him on the week long trip he has planned mid January to visit his main operation in Barcelos. He runs Project Piabas, which teaches locals how to raise and sell aquarium fish rather than cutting lumber from the jungle. As for me, I've been in touch with a few local NGO's concerning water projects but no luck yet. If I can't find work from here I really have no plan, probably Rio de Janeiro at some point but so far Brazil seems promising.