Oktoberfest!!!

I really, honestly did not think that I would be going to Oktoberfest. But Friday, last minute, serendipitously Brenna, Patrick and I bought the last three tickets for the bus, so why not? (although because of his internship, Patrick couldn't go). Oktoberfest is held in the strongly rooted Germanic town of Blumenau in Santa Catarina-- two hours away from the city I live in. The 1920s attracted a massive influx of German immigrants because of WW1 and so till this day, the German influence is still fairly strong in the southern region of Brazil. Oktoberfest in Blumenau is the biggest celebration of German traditions outside of Germany in the world! The celebration started at the beginning of October (or Oktober, cos I can't spell properly any more...!) and yesterday (Oktober 18th) was the last day of the festivities. I went on Saturday, the second to last day--which is also the most crowded day to go. and oh boy, it was such an experience! Here are a couple of highlights:

- BEER. there was so much beer! they had chopp de vinho/ wine beer! it was so good! and whole wheat beer, which is a bit sweeter and has a distinct taste that I can't quite describe. The atmosphere was so cultural. People were dressed up in traditional German clothes. They played German music. Flags of Germany. It was amazing!

- I have never felt SO Japanese in my life...and by extension, since I am not Japanese, I have never felt SO ASIAN in my life! In the U.S., the standard Asian is Chinese; in Brazil, it is Japanese. Every where I went, people would yell "Jappa!" or "Adoro orientais!"...it was so strange! Then when men tried to hit on me, they would be like, "oh you're not Brazilian? You're American! I've never kissed a jappa or an American before."/ "vc não é brasileira? Americana! Nunca beijei uma jappa nem americana!" Right. not a pick-up line I'd recommend!

- Because of said Asian perceptions, I was bowed to by SIX people. uh, ???. Also, on another random note, an Asian-Brazilian guy came up to me, asking for a high five...for reasons not understood by me.

- I think this is by far the funniest thing I did that night. So there was a group of guys hollering at me, and for some reason, there is always one guy who absolutely adores Asians and all the others encourage him to pega/get an Asian girl whenever one passes by. So of course, I pass by this group of guys and of course I hear "olha-só, Jappa, vai, vai!"/ "look a Jappa, go, go!" and cheering on to this one guy and I'm like oh shit. and I feel him grabbing my arm but I manage to slip away. A bunch of people past by between us and I RUN! I'm like weaving through the crowd. The guy sees me running and CHASES after me! who would think a guy would work so hard to get a kiss? I turn around for half a second and see him closing in on me...yelling "jappa, jappa". but I don't give up and continue running till he throws his arms around and catches me. then I'm just like fuck. I was so close to getting away. He's laughing and asks why I was running away...and I'm like, you know, getting some exercise? duh. Then he kisses my hair with his gross beer stained lips. ugh. not surprisingly, he also wants to kiss my lips and I duck and slip away underneath him. but he still has a hold of my arm, and I'm like "não, não, tenho namorado." (what else could I say?) this guy just doesn't give up. and after 5-10 more minutes of talking to this guy, I manage to get away with Brenna. I won't lie, the best part of this experience was trying to run away from this guy in a huge crowded street--I really thought I could get away. hmf.

so many more stories, but I gotta get going, I have done absolutely no homework this weekend! but I just had to write about Oktoberfest.