Touchdowns, ‘Touch and Go’ and Toilets
By Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
Greetings from Campo Verde, in the western Mato Grosso region of Brazil near the Bolivian border. First things first.
After 40 grueling hours that involved weather delays, four flights from four jumping off points and plenty of memorable commentary from Errol Domingues, members of the LSU AgLeadership Development Class XI arrived in Brazil. Touchdown in Sao Paulo was 5:30 a.m. Central Standard Time, or 9:30 a.m. here in Brazil after a nine-hour, 35-minute flight.
Our heads finally hit the pillow just after midnight Tuesday, January 26, at a small hotel in Campo Verde that had major electrical problems, but we’ll get to that later. There was no internet access at the hotel, which is why the first post is three days late. Such are the challenges when leaving the land of wi-fi.
To quickly recap our first 48 hours, we left New Orleans without incident, arriving in Dallas at around 6 p.m. Sunday. We were able to watch a little of the Saints’ game, but had to leave before knowing the outcome.
Todd Ellefson, a longtime Saints season ticketholder, missed what was to be the team’s most crucial game since the franchise began in 1967. But not to be denied, Todd used the plane’s Airfone to call a buddy just as the Saints’ were lining up to kick the winning field goal in OT. The back of the plane erupted as word of the team’s Super Bowl-bound 40-yarder crossed the uprights. “Saints win! Saints win!”
Todd said he wasn’t sure whether the call was $5 to initiate and $50 a minute, or the other way around. Either way, the satisfaction of knowing at 42,000 feet the “Ain’ts, the “Boys,” the “WHODATS,” whatever you call them, were on their way to their first Super Bowl was worth it.
Our flight from Sao Paulo to Cuiaba was delayed an hour due to heavy rains which drenched the city prior to take off. We made one stop at a small airport before taking on new passengers and heading for our final destination. However, the fun was just beginning.
On final approach to Cuiaba International our pilot noticed another jet on our runway. He quickly hit the throttle, fired up the General Electric’s to full power and avoided the plane. On our “second” final approach Christian Richard said he had a little déjà’ vu. “I’ve seen this before,” he said. We laughed and 10 minutes later we were on the ground.
After a two-hour bus ride we arrived at our hotel. After a dinner of pizza we retired to our rooms only to find that the electrician who wired the place didn’t anticipate 39 Americans running computers, cell phone chargers, blow dryers and a curling irons.
The lights popped on and off much of the night, but in the end the fatigue of such a long travel day made sleep easy and fast.
Is it No. 1 or No. 2?
We’re just getting our first taste of the culture here in Brazil. But like any visitor in a strange land there are certain etiquettes to which one must adhere. Our guide and translator, affectionately known as Geraldiney, instructed us on the proper protocols when doing “No. 1” and “No. 2.” That’s right, that natural, albeit universal description for going to the bathroom.
On the bus you’re only allowed to do “No. 1, for obvious reasons,” Miss Geraldiney said. And in the hotel you’re not allowed to flush any toilet paper. Apparently the same guy who wired the place also installed the plumbing. Paper clogs the local sewer system, we’re told, so after use the paper is to be put in a small wastebasket next to the toilet.
See how nice it is to be an American?
In addition to photos, I’ll also be posting video snippets taken with my iPhone, so be sure to give them a view. Until next time…