Viçosa is not the first image that comes to mind when you think of Brazil, but it is a captivating city. It doesn't have a beach, coconut trees, or music on street corners. But it does have a beautiful forest on campus, a new tree blooming every week, and a drum circle that announces the end of the day around 6pm and that mysteriously echoes through the city walls. It's a captivating city.Like most college campuses, UFV (Universidade Federal de Viçosa) has its quirks. There are two main cafeterias on campus: RU or MU. Every student has their preference. Are you an RU student or MU student? You can break it down even more: What side of RU do you eat on? One side apparently has more hippies and the other has more cowboys. Quirky.
UFV has its quintessentials as well. Ever been to a mud party? It's exactly as it sounds: a bunch of college kids sloshing around in mud and listening to some bangin' music. A quintessential party that only happens in Viçosa.
Viçosa also has an awesomely diverse community, down to the animals and bugs that inhabit the city. The amount of street dogs is incredible. These dogs rule the Viçosan world and have all the freedoms we humans want. We rush to class as they sleep basking in the sun. They enter whatever class they want. They enter and leave church at their leisure. They stay up late and walk us home from parties. They are fed by the sympathetic veterinary students or those that miss their dogs in their hometowns. These Viçosan street dogs are living the dream.The capivaras contribute additional diversity to the Viçosan community. As pictured you can see these animals have the hair of a donkey, the snout of a hog, the shape of a guinea pig, and the mystical element of a...unicorn? They dip in and out of the lake on campus and live a tranquil river life, taking the advice of CCR in "Proud Mary". The first time I saw these creatures, I couldn't help but laugh out loud in awe.
The most recent biodiversity I discovered here in Viçosa is the cigarra bug. As the summer heat arrived, so did this strange hum at twilight throughout the city. I asked someone about it, and he said it's the cigarra bugs singing. They sing until they explode! This myth was recently debunked, as a student told me the truth. But I will continue with the mythical story because I can't think of a better way to die. Unfortunately with the arrival of the summer heat comes the buzzing mosquitos that can drive any strong-willed mind crazy while trying to get some beauty sleep, myself included.In conclusion, I have about three weeks left here in Viçosa and I am just now writing about this city I've learned to love. I will leave soon, but the captivity of the city will not. I am sure to return.
