Ramadan Mubarak to all our Muslim volunteers, friends, colleagues, occasional and regular visitors!

Living in Shanghai for nearly a week has been a very interesting and different experience for me. I can honestly say that I am actually not into cosmopolitan cities with bars, clubs and shopping malls surrounded by a city landscape as I am more interested in cultural aspects of a place full of history and custom surrounded by mountains and natural landscapes. However, Shanghai is a very unique place.

Ni Hao,

So much has happened since my last entry and when I tried to write, on the morning we left Beijing, it didn't save - so I'll try once again.

Back again, for my third blog! This time, I’m writing from the busy city of Sao Paulo, whilst sitting in a history class in Colegio Sao Luis; things are very different here to sunny Rio de Janeiro.

This weekend a lot has happened.  Saturday morning we started our journey to go and visit a village called Hemen Village - however it was a little manic before leaving as i couldn't find my room key to get into my room to get the bag that I was going to take with me. Not a very good start to the day.

Okay, so before I get started I would just like to say to all of you at home in Coventry: yes, I know I haven`t blogged once through out my two weeks in the beautiful city of Rio. BUT-- I have been writing regularly in my personal journal..so my experiences haven't been lost...I just need to transfer all the relevant info here on this blog. :)

So here goes ...

I'm sorry for not blogging for a few days but i hope you enjoy reading my updates.

Taking it from where I left off we've been privileged enough to have been learning Taiji and Kung fu every morning at seven. That is missions. Getting up early and then traipsing all the way downstairs for 30 minutes is a challenge but hey nobody said this would be easy :p I love doing it though. Kung fu is intense. Taiji is gentle and peaceful. It reminds me of Ying and Yang ;)

Walking for health takes off your mind the usual daily stress just by observing and commenting on what you see on your way.

It feels like an adventure. The best is on your return when you feel you did shade off some unnecessary calories.

[Below are some of Raadia's recent status updates on Facebook - we hope she'll write a blog for us sooon! - M]

22nd July I'm here in Brazil, and really enjoyin every moment --- it's so surreal, only five days and have had such a mad time. Visited a favela and a social project called AfroReggae, which was just inspirational! No time for blogs just yet ... but hopefully keep you updated! LOVE IT HERE!

IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE! We have done so much over the last three days it's unreal.

The GREAT Wall, The Bird's Nest Stadium, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City all in THREE days!!

After our class on Friday we visited the British Embassy and met many people that had come as representatives of the many different companies that are sponsoring or may be sponsoring the British Council in the future. It was an interesting experience with me holding a handful of business cards at the end.