Who am I without saying where I come from? I study in Leblon, and when I talk about my neighborhood, people look at me with doubt, and when some remember it, they say I'm silly for studying so far away. It's not news that we know about the current state of public education, but I've never stopped carrying with me, wherever I go, who I am and what made me this way. The food, the childhood memories, the trips to the market on the next street... it all brings me a huge smile!
It's so comforting and joyful to remember the runs on the day of São Cosme e Damião. The kids would get together and go all over the whole condominium, several times, and people would come by car because they knew we were always here waiting for a little bag of candy. On my street, a devout old man would always throw money, hand out a bag packed with sweets, and even give out toys. By the end of the day, we were already sick from so much candy, but the tiredness was rewarding.
Image taken from: @falamerck on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/falamerck/
Image description: This is a photograph of a street in Taquara, Rio de Janeiro. On the left, we see a white car parked, followed by a red car with people inside it. Ahead, there is a group of people walking toward the left. In the background, there are more people walking along the sidewalk and some trees. On the right, there is a gray car parked and a person standing near it. The ground is concrete, and there are blue and black trash cans along the street.I was born and raised in Taquara; we've thought about leaving the condo where we live several times, but never about leaving this neighborhood. My mother is in love with this place, and my grandmother even more so -- the whole family is nearby, and all we have to do is cross the street to find another little snack spot.
I was never much of one to go out, but I remember the family fun and the various sweets that my grandmother, my mother, and I used to make for children's birthday parties.
Leticia - Text Author Photo from personal collection
Image description: This is a photograph of a smiling child, wearing an apron with green and yellow details. The child is sitting on a wooden bench, with a black car parked behind her. In the background, there is a building with large windows and a metal grille.When I grew up, I ended up leaving to study outside my usual area. It wasn't easy, but I can't help being grateful for the countless opportunities I had and the people who showed me an amazing path. I go and come back every day; between Taquara and Leblon it's almost a two-hour trip, but getting close to my stop, I feel a huge relief knowing I've arrived home. Several relatives of mine, for years, made this same journey because they studied at the same school as me.
My father and my mother lived in the same condominium but never ran into each other, and curiously enough, they ended up meeting. The two of them fell in love.
For the volleyball at the little square and studied Law at the neighborhood's university. It's funny to walk around here, everyone knows me and associates me and my sister with my parents, telling the stories they went through with them in childhood and adolescence. We play on the same court where they used to have fun 30 years ago, nothing has changed but, at the same time, so much has changed.
Author's mother Photo from personal collection
Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph. In the image, we see a boy walking in a courtyard. On the left, there is a rocking chair, and in the background, trees and a fence. On the right, there is also another rocking chair. The boy is wearing long pants and a white shirt.I have so much to say, but I'm left speechless by the tangle of feelings I have. BRT, Tião's hot dog stand, Mercadinho Carioca, the Vitor Meireles Community Action, Menguele's Ice Cream Shop, Mestre Barba's Capoeira... I can't count on my fingers all the perks of being a resident of Rio de Janeiro's West Zone. Right now, all I want is to eat an angu à baiana from the square while I write this.
It's incredible to be a carioca. Having these customs, this accent, the love for the place we come from, and not being ashamed of it, is undoubtedly a gift!
