The day after our show at GATS Theatre, my husband is leaving Brazil. He needs to get back home to attend a conference.
I am staying on for a few days, as Enéias and I have one more show to do.
My husband asks me to accompany him to the airport in Florianopolis, to help with the language in case the need arises.
It's a long, tiring journey by car; for me the round-trip is seven hours.
Arriving in Florianopolis, the check-in goes smoothly, we kiss goodbye, and he's on his way back to Australia.
The driver returns to collect me for the trip back to Jaraguá. He is a man of few words. He switches on the radio. I sit in the back seat, listening. It is some sort of comedy show; I can make out some of the phrases.
We stop at a roadhouse. I ask him "Tem banheiros acqui?" (Do they have toilets here?) He replies "Tem!" (Have!). As I say, a man of few words.
Over the next couple of days, we relax and prepare for the final show. We go to Samuca's home to watch the video of our show at GATS theatre. Samuca has done a good job - I gratefully hand over a wad of banknotes to him.
I'm nearing the end of my visit, and I am beginning to feel more at ease with the language. At times I even manage to crack a joke that makes people laugh. It's always very ironic that by the time you get a grip on the language, it's time to go home.
I put on the Jaragua promotional T-shirt that I have been given, and wear it around the town. I pose for a photo outside the hotel, to demonstrate my gratitude for their sponsorship. We visit some of the town's dignitaries - the Mayor, and the Director of the Cultural Foundation. Wherever we go, there is coffee, strong and sweet, served in tiny cups. I receive gifts, including a large, glossy book about Jaragua.
The Director of the Cultural Foundation tells me that next year the town will celebrate its 140-year anniversary. He wonders if I would like to come back to Jaragua and perform for their celebrations? Yes, I would be happy to consider doing this. Perhaps I could set up the show in Rio to coincide with it?
We rehearse for our final show, which is in a pub. We try out some new songs. Some of them work; some don't. There are songs I'd love to sing, but the Portuguese lyrics are too long and difficult. I'll need to practise them at home over the next few months.
This show will be more light-hearted, and we prepare some comedic touches. Rubens sings a song about a duck, and brings out a whistle that makes a quacking sound. During a break in the rehearsal, he produces a snack that he has made for us - chunks of caramelized coconut. It is so delicious, I can't stop eating it.
We arrive at Stannis Pub for our sound check. Jean once again joins us on drums. Seeing the setting in which we will perform, I decide to "bring back the rock chick". It's a pub - no one is going to listen to quiet bossa nova music here. I am determined to get their attention; I will not be "wallpaper".
At 9 pm we commence our show. Surprisingly, "Bossa as rock music" works really well. Just sing louder and add a bit of attitude! The people near the stage are paying attention. Then I begin my most difficult song - "This Happy Madness" (Estrada Branca), with its complex chromatic steps; it requires intense concentration, or you can get badly lost. As I sing the first line of this song, the sound of shouting erupts from the next room. The football just got exciting, and now they are chanting loudly. Noooooo! How can I compete against this? I am not going to lose it. I turn away from the chanting sound, and face towards the table where Eneias' friends and family are sitting. I sing the song to them. Towards the end of the song I am able to turn back and look at the other side of the room.
I hold the song together and end on the correct note. This is my proudest moment of the tour.
When Rubens and I sing together, it makes a fun ending to our set.
After a short break, Eneias and his friends continue with a second set, and Rubens performs a very funny comedy routine.
Next morning, I pack up everything - including my new pandeiro and a pile of CDs given to me by local musicians. I say my farewells to everyone, promising to return. Rone accompanies me in the car to the airport. We arrive early, and our driver, Ishmael, takes us on a short tour of Florianopolis.
After the impossibly long flight, I arrive home. I tell my husband about the invitation to go back to Jaragua next year to sing for their celebrations.
My husband looks at me for a moment, and says "Some men have wives who take up ... gardening."
I am staying on for a few days, as Enéias and I have one more show to do.
My husband asks me to accompany him to the airport in Florianopolis, to help with the language in case the need arises.
It's a long, tiring journey by car; for me the round-trip is seven hours.
Arriving in Florianopolis, the check-in goes smoothly, we kiss goodbye, and he's on his way back to Australia.
The driver returns to collect me for the trip back to Jaraguá. He is a man of few words. He switches on the radio. I sit in the back seat, listening. It is some sort of comedy show; I can make out some of the phrases.
We stop at a roadhouse. I ask him "Tem banheiros acqui?" (Do they have toilets here?) He replies "Tem!" (Have!). As I say, a man of few words.
Over the next couple of days, we relax and prepare for the final show. We go to Samuca's home to watch the video of our show at GATS theatre. Samuca has done a good job - I gratefully hand over a wad of banknotes to him.
I'm nearing the end of my visit, and I am beginning to feel more at ease with the language. At times I even manage to crack a joke that makes people laugh. It's always very ironic that by the time you get a grip on the language, it's time to go home.
The Director of the Cultural Foundation tells me that next year the town will celebrate its 140-year anniversary. He wonders if I would like to come back to Jaragua and perform for their celebrations? Yes, I would be happy to consider doing this. Perhaps I could set up the show in Rio to coincide with it?
We rehearse for our final show, which is in a pub. We try out some new songs. Some of them work; some don't. There are songs I'd love to sing, but the Portuguese lyrics are too long and difficult. I'll need to practise them at home over the next few months.
This show will be more light-hearted, and we prepare some comedic touches. Rubens sings a song about a duck, and brings out a whistle that makes a quacking sound. During a break in the rehearsal, he produces a snack that he has made for us - chunks of caramelized coconut. It is so delicious, I can't stop eating it.
We arrive at Stannis Pub for our sound check. Jean once again joins us on drums. Seeing the setting in which we will perform, I decide to "bring back the rock chick". It's a pub - no one is going to listen to quiet bossa nova music here. I am determined to get their attention; I will not be "wallpaper".
At 9 pm we commence our show. Surprisingly, "Bossa as rock music" works really well. Just sing louder and add a bit of attitude! The people near the stage are paying attention. Then I begin my most difficult song - "This Happy Madness" (Estrada Branca), with its complex chromatic steps; it requires intense concentration, or you can get badly lost. As I sing the first line of this song, the sound of shouting erupts from the next room. The football just got exciting, and now they are chanting loudly. Noooooo! How can I compete against this? I am not going to lose it. I turn away from the chanting sound, and face towards the table where Eneias' friends and family are sitting. I sing the song to them. Towards the end of the song I am able to turn back and look at the other side of the room.
I hold the song together and end on the correct note. This is my proudest moment of the tour.
When Rubens and I sing together, it makes a fun ending to our set.
After a short break, Eneias and his friends continue with a second set, and Rubens performs a very funny comedy routine.
Next morning, I pack up everything - including my new pandeiro and a pile of CDs given to me by local musicians. I say my farewells to everyone, promising to return. Rone accompanies me in the car to the airport. We arrive early, and our driver, Ishmael, takes us on a short tour of Florianopolis.
After the impossibly long flight, I arrive home. I tell my husband about the invitation to go back to Jaragua next year to sing for their celebrations.
My husband looks at me for a moment, and says "Some men have wives who take up ... gardening."
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