Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - March 2nd 2012

We've been in two other cities since Rio and I have yet to write about the fantastic city. It was such a great place to have experienced, I'm trying to remember everything about it. Lets see, I remember I flew in to Rio alone from Sao Paulo. I had to take a later flight to accompany Amber to the international airport first. I remember because of the sunset I saw from the plane. It had just started as the plane began to descend which made my first view of Rio a spectacular one. At eye level was such a richly colored sky, streaks of dark burnt orange fading into light orange, pink and red. It looked incredible and I remember just below the sky I could see the black silhouette of the mountains. It looked like a painting. The really cool part was the millions of tiny lights all clustered together inside the crevices of the mountains. I knew even then that they were the lights of the favelas. The statue of Christ was lit up and big enough that I could see it from the plane. From the aerial view I had I could see that it was a beautiful view from top to bottom. I was so excited to be above such a potentially amazing city, I was anxious to share my excitement with the rest of the clan.

Once I arrived at the hotel I found Andre and a small group of our friends already enjoying some Capirinhas (a famous Brazilian drink) by the swimming pool deck/restaurant. Apparently those who had arrived earlier in the day had received the complimentary drinks as a welcome to the city. It was a warm night and I bought a Capirinha to catch up with the others and we all sat outside talking about how magnificent it was to be there and all of the things we wanted to do before we leave. Every so often someone would just stop and sigh at their surroundings, a brand new paradise waiting to be explored. Thinking about it, those times are some of the best times on tour. When you arrive in a new place and you just stop and take a minute to smell the roses and just be so thankful for the gift of traveling. Its literally a visible excitement amongst us.

The hotel was great. Our rooms were standard but the balcony and view of the ocean and favelas were a highlight. Outside, not only did we have a restaurant and deck next to the swimming pool but the hotel's very own small beach was just a few steps further on beyond the hot tubs. Warm night, tall palm trees, the sound of the waves, and the company of good people…. I had an amazing first night in Rio and a promising chance at many more.

~~~

I could have stayed there for so much longer but I think we made pretty good use of our time. Sure, Andre did everything in his power to sabotage my plans for exploration but still, I prevailed and we had lots of little adventures in the city of God. In the beginning of our stay we had heard about hang gliding being a common thing to do in Rio. Andre and I went with the girls from his act. We jumped off the mountain right by the huge favela near our hotel. It was A-Ma-Zing!! I was fine with the initial run-and-jump off the edge of the mountain, but as soon as I looked down and saw all of those tiny trees beneath me all I could think was, "Holy shit, if I somehow drop out of the sky right now I am going to have a very ugly and gruesome death". I was honestly terrified for the first 3 or 4 minutes and then it some how became relaxing. I was above the colorful stacked favela and the blue beach and I could see Christo in the distance. I remember thinking that I would never again see something like this and kept reminding myself to stay as absolutely present as possible and take it all in. It was not at all a thrill seeking sort of thing but more for a different perspective to have on the city. We were tandem flying so I had someone there to man the flight while I just admired my 360 degrees of fascinating scenery. I was up there for 14 minutes before we headed down and landed on the beach. Definitely a memorable experience!


We lived on Ipanema beach not long before Ipanema turns into Copacabana. The amount of people on the beach at any given hour is quite astonishing. I thought "Do these people ever work?" Then again, if I lived in Rio I doubt you'd find me many other places than the on the sand. Every Sunday the roads parallel to the beach are closed and hundreds of people run or ride their biked up and down the coast. Cariocas (which is what the people from Rio call themselves) are very active people and even have quite a few gyms along the beach. There were a couple really cool street markets in Rio too. Andre and I bought so many little decorative trinkets and paintings for our future house.


Aside from hang gliding and visiting Christo another must-do in Rio is a Favela tour. As soon as you drive through the opening going upwards on the mountain its like being in a whole other world. The favelas are largely pacified by the police now but they're still ran and led by the drug lords of Brazil. Its interesting the way these people build their houses. A shanty town of plots built on top of plots built on top of plots. There were endless tangles of electrical cords hanging over head and a lot of people walking around without shoes. I'm told the people of the favela resent the presents of the police but welcome visitors like myself. We come, we experience, we pay, and the community receives a profit. To really get an idea of what life is like in a favela, a good movie to watch is Tropa de Elite, a subtitled story based on true events of a Rio de Janeiro favela.



Our timing in Rio may not have had us there in time for Carnival but we did get to celebrate Christmas on a yacht and ring in the new year on Copacabana beach, which is probably one of the most memorable tour experiences I've had. 2.5 million people, mostly dressed in all white, crowd the beach to celebrate. Andre and I, and a few friends of ours, put on our white attire and went to a rooftop party looking directly down on all of the madness. We had to leave in the late afternoon because the roads fill up quickly and getting a car to Copacabana becomes impossible in the evening. The rooftop was situated in such a way that we could see Copacabana Palace to our right and had a clear view of the people and stage they had built for the performers on the beach. At midnight there was a magnificent fireworks display over the ocean. They say the fireworks are famous for begin one of the biggest pyrotechnics displays in the world. I don't know if it was indeed the biggest but it was certainly grandiose. I sat on Andre's shoulders the entire duration of the fireworks display and then proceeded to drink Champagne until early hours of the morning. I started 2012 off with a bang! :D



Theres a bunch of other things I remember about the paradise, city of God but I can sum it all up with one word… Perfection! I hope one day I will find myself there again.

Back in Europe and its kind of a trip - February 15th 2012

Barcelona, Spain

So I find myself not only back in Barcelona, but right in the exact spot I was in October-December 2010. Which seemed like just yesterday up until now. Amber wanted to visit home in Belgium and so that means she needs to be accompanied on her flights. I decided to stay with some friends of ours from Varekai who now work with Corteo (another Cirque show). Its strange to feel so familiar in this once, foreign place. Some times in life you go full circle and this is one of those times. Awesome!
I went shopping today in the same mall I bought my xmas gifts in two xmas's ago. And as I was walking there I thought of all the things I did and didn't miss about Europe and here it is: I totally miss hearing EuroPop in clothes store dressing rooms, before traveling I always thought of American music and entertainment as the only music and entertainment capable of grasping my attention. Also miss the crispy cold feeling on my cheeks and wearing gloves and scarves. Though equally do [not] miss the freezing cold nights and red nose that accompanies it. Subway stations. Anyone who has ever traveled through Europe knows the handiness of a good underground system. The clothing selection isn't too shabby either. No too-tiny-waisted pipe jeans like Asia and no junk-in-the-trunk pants like in Brazil. And last but not least, the chocolate! Of course you can find good chocolate anywhere if you look hard enough but Europe has an abundance of good Belgian and Swiss chocolate pretty much everywhere.

As for the things I definitely didn't miss… Europe's obsession with techno music, having to wear two pairs of pants to avoid shivering, waking up with a sinus headache every morning, and the excessive amount of static electricity in Barcelona. Today marks the first time I've ever cut my hair and then tied it up into a ponytail to avoid the look of several tiny hairs having a party on the top of my head.

I had a huge fit of homesickness when I first arrived last night. The friends I am staying with were out for the evening and I realized Andre had just landed in California and was on his way to see his family and friends. Nothing like the feeling of coming home. Its a strange feeling for me, and Andre too, but its definitely good to be home. Its like you're yourself again. Well you're always "yourself" but at home you are the you who is most comfortable and familiar and unguarded. Its the safe place for us all I suppose.

I haven't blogged in a while and I know I am missing the Rio de Janeiro blog. Its coming. Right now I am going to succumb to the exhaustion I feel and hit the sack. I plan to use the plane ride to Lisbon on Saturday to write and post about Rio.

Until next time folks….

November 25th - End of Sao Paulo

We have just past Thanksgiving and are working our way pretty quickly into the new year. When you're constantly moving and always starting over or ending a new city, time moves by much too fast for my liking. I've said this before but it is one of the biggest contrasts to my non-tour life. This may however be a blessing over the next eight cities since we will be in Brazil for all of them. The same country for too long can become a little too familiar for us gypsies.

Sao Paulo, our first Brazilian city is coming to an end and on November 28th Andre and I will be on a plane to Rio with the rest of our Varekai co-workers. Amber will be using the 7 days off to head home to Belgium and see her family and friends. For her this week off is needed as she is still getting acclimated to tour and being homesick is a very real cross for her to bare for her right now. The week for most of us though will be a time to relax and spend time [away] from the rest of the group. After a long city such as this 3 month run it is very normal to see tempers flare and patiences running thin with the majority of employees. This is typical when you live so closely with the same people for years and is also something Andre had warned me about that I had never actually experienced. Since I never worked in the artistic tent or had an official job on site, I never spent "too much time" with anyone. Now however, I am anxiously awaiting our break and time off.

Sao Paulo was a bit of a boring city but there were some highlights. Andre started a Ju Jit Su class with some of the other guys and has been practicing moves on anyone who will stand still long enough. I enjoyed the fact that even though Brazil is an expensive country, some things are much cheaper here than anywhere else. Laser hair removal and dental work has been the priority for most of the girls on tour since arriving in a place where they are both more than affordable.

Unfortunately it seems that everything has an end and I believe our time here is coming to an end. Andre and I are both signed on for another year (end of 2012) but I think its safe to say that we both will be ready for something new by then. I'm a little unsure of what that means since there are so many possibilities. Andre could possibly get into a show in Vegas or another touring show, I could go to school if we are stationed in one place or I could find a job with CIrque again too. It is of course a possibility that we will simply return home to California and begin making a life for ourselves in whatever way we can or change our minds next year and stay on tour. The good part is that we have a while to decide and its a great satisfaction to not only be on the same page as Andre but also to be discussing our future together. It is now that Andre and I are preparing for our lives together instead of just preparing for life. Jessica likes!

The experience of being a guardian has become very real over this past city. Amber is in many ways, a typical teenager. Being a parental role-model for a teenager is an adjustment on its own but when you add in the fact that she is also an athlete, it becomes even more unfamiliar. Dealing with hormones and homesickness, diet and weight maintenance, injuries, transitioning herself from an athlete to an artist with athletic abilities. These are all common things for Amber now and it is important that I know how to help her and manage these things also. Its going to take me a minute to get the hang of everything but I'm learning.

At first it was a little hard to get my head around helping her maintain her weight and diet. It seemed so harsh that a 16 year old should care so much about her weight, I felt I was perpetuating the common self esteem issues young women have by helping her stay at a certain weight. Now I understand that her talent is a discipline in more ways than one and her need for control is solely to keep her fit, healthy, and in shape. Like I said, I am still learning how to be there for Amber and where my place is. It has been a little stressful at times but I am thankful for the experience.

Having a week together with Andre in romantic Rio de Janeiro sounds quite promising right now and frankly, this is as far ahead as I am thinking at this very moment.

Stand by for updates from Rio.

October 2011 - Sao Paulo, Brazil

Well it seems I haven't written a blog post for quite some time. At the moment Andre, Amber, and I are in Brazil but lets go back a few steps.

We all left Manila the end of July and had gotten to see a better side of the city by then. The three of us and three of our other friends made acquaintances with the owner of the hotel (promoter of Varekai in Manila) and his family. On a few occasions Ricky took us out to dinner, drinks, and also his Uncle's shooting range where we were afforded the wonderful opportunity to use automatic assault rifles. That day turned out to be one of our main highlights of Manila. One bar in particular that he took us to is named Opus and shows a whole different side of the city. If you ever find yourself in Manila and want to get away from the poverty that seems to be everywhere, go to Opus. Opus is a bar/lounge that caters to the rich and beautiful locals and expats living in Manila. (Photographs: Our day at the shooting range; Our fabulous premiere party, pictured with one of Manila's style icons)




After a great run in the Philippines Varekai left for a seven week break. Normally our annual leave is two weeks but no one minded the extra five we had to return home or visit new places. Amber when back to Belgium, Andre decided to go back to Ukraine to visit with his grandparents while I went home to see my family.

As usual, I bounced around to a few places to ensure visiting with everyone. Among the highlights of my trip are: Visiting the grand Canyon for the first time with my eleven year old brother, wine tasting in Napa Valley with friends, playing in the pool with my niece and nephew at my mom's place in Las Vegas, seeing Hollywood/Santa Monica with my dad, and hanging out with everyone I've been missing in San Jose and Las Vegas. The last one doesn't exactly sound like much of a highlight (hanging out with friends/family) but sometimes the best thing for the soul is just to be in the presence of those you care about. Visiting with my mom and dad will forever be a highlight. I like to share my crazy/random stories from around the globe with them. They don't get the chance to travel much so I try to share a lot and take a bunch of pictures so that they can sort of "travel through my travels". They've always been very supportive of me touring with Cirque even though it keeps me far from home so the least I can do is share my experiences.
(Photographs: A picture I took of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge; At the Hollywood walk of fame with my dad; Visiting Huntington beach; With my older brother and his son in Las Vegas)






Both unfortunately and fortunately our seven weeks are up now and we are currently in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We're working and have only been here a few weeks so I haven't seen too much yet. The few interactions I've had with people and places I've seen have been, so far, great experiences. Brazilian people seem to be very warm and helpful people. I expect Rio De Janeiro to be a little more 'tourist friendly' but I am enjoying Sao Paulo nonetheless.

Standby for more on Sao Paulo and our entry to Rio!

Manila, Philippines - June/July 2011

My first sight of Manila was from the window of the plane when we arrived here with cirque on may 30th. I looked down on the city and saw that I was about to enter into a third world, shit hole. A dirty, impoverished city that Cirque had for some reason exiled us all to. The look I gave to Andre was expressive enough of my worry to have to live in this place for the next two months.

The fact of the matter is that we would not be here, or any place like this, if it weren't for unforeseen business advances on the company's behalf. The show was literally bought out for two months by a promoter who also happens to own a five star hotel in the center of the city that was made available to us for the entirety of our stay. All for the good of bringing Cirque to the Philippines for the first time... A place where no body can afford to buy tickets and actually witness what goes on inside our magnificent chapateu.

In complete contrast, our hotel and the surrounding shopping malls have proven to be glorious havens away from the eye sore that is the rest of the city. The hotel is enormous and decadently designed throughout. Complete with a gym, sauna, spa, ballroom, several restaurants, and a resort style swimming pool with swim-up bar. Also found in the hotel is a doctors office, dentist practice, and a hair and nail salon. I have a feeling I will find even more amenities before leaving here in July.

The first few weeks here were amazing due to the fact that everyone was on vacation for the first three weeks and the weather was 100% perfect for laying by the pool. Andre, Amber, and myself along with the rest of the Varekai family spent almost everyday tanning and swimming and eating our dinners [in] the pool at the swim-up bar. We checked out the local malls and we bought beach balls and blowup beds for the pool. When we had had enough of the pool and the constant company of the rest of our tour family the three of us and our other three friends hopped on a plane and headed to the island of Boracay for some beach fun. Not quite Thailand but still a stunning island with white sand and clear warm waters. There we tanned some more, snorkeled, and parasailed around the island. I feel its needless to say that we vacationed quite nicely before returning for work in Manila.

Getting back to the city of Manila... I've found that anytime I leave the hotel, be it to go to 7/11 or to site (those are the only reasons I deem it necessary to leave) I am bombarded with things I do not want to see. For example, young kids begging me for money. I'm not talking about a kid sitting at a curb with a cup full of change, I'm talking about six or seven half-dressed, unkept children walking alongside me with their hands out asking for cash. This is a daily occurance. After the shows it is already dark out and kids are laid out sleeping all along the curbs and in the grass. I can't imagine what happens to those kids when it's flooding here.

That's another thing that is a regular occurrence. Flooding. Since we are here during typhoon season it is more often than not that we have to walk through 10 inches of water in order to get to site. The tent is directly across the street from the hotel (which is a blessing) but that doesn't keep anyone from getting completely drenched on the way to work when there is such strong winds and torrential rain. It is most certainly an experience however to live here with such precarious weather conditions.

This city has been a trip for a lot of us and its taken some getting used to. Fortunately we learn to adapt well since we are always moving yet sometimes even we are pushed out of our comfort zones and I think this is one of those times. It is now July 1st and we have nearly the rest of the month here still to go. After, we will all be off for seven weeks before premiering in Sao Paulo, Brazil in September.

Until next time folks...

Tokyo, Japan - May 2011

As stated in my previous blog post, my first task as a CDS employee was to fly to Tokyo, obtain a work visa from the Korean embassy, and then fly back into Korea with said visa. Sounds pretty simple right?

I left Korea on Tuesday night (May 10th) and hoped to return the following Thursday since CDS had asked that my visa be expedited. After all, I needed to be back quickly incase Montreal decided to send my new faux-daughter a few days early (the CDS headquarters in Montreal have a habit of exhibiting poor communication skills with touring shows).

I made it to Tokyo alright on Tuesday night but Wednesday was one of those nothing-is-going-right days. I ran out of the cash and when I found a foreign friendly ATM, advances on my credit card didn't work. I spent a total of 24 minutes at the Korean embassy before I understood that they were telling me I was in the wrong place. At the consulate I am told that I am at last in the right place but my visa will take an extra 24 hours than originally anticipated... It is then that I realize a taxi ride back from the consulate would be difficult without cash. Hm, a tad frustrated by now, I left the consulate.
By my own good fortune I make it back to the hotel and all was right again by Thursday. Much appreciation to Andre for transferring funds! Sigh. Now to start enjoying my first ever "business trip" and Japanese visit.

Even in the rain I'd have to say that Tokyo is quite an enjoyable city. The people seem to be much more tolerable of foreigners than places like Taiwan and Korea. I feel more at ease without being stared at and in a city where cultural diversity is of the norm. The Japanese have cool and eclectic styles and are surprisingly handsome people. Though not a lot of English is spoken, I feel less helpless and frustrated than in other non-English speaking countries I've visited because everyone I encounter is so eager to be accommodating.

I try and make the most of my time by indulging in things like sushi, authentic ramen noodles, a massage, conversing a bit with the locals, and a walk around the city as well as a visit to Asakusa temple near Shinjuku.

At this point, I am loving the city and also the fact that this is the first time I've ever traveled alone. I find myself proud of the fact that I am at ease with finding my way around and enjoying meals alone. I am without Andre's keen sense of direction to follow and as a result I get to know the area by my hotel and metro system well enough to be comfortable.

It was just 2 months ago that an earth quake and subsequent tsunami rocked Japan and ailed one of their nuclear power plants. Only two blog-posts ago that I mentioned watching the news of the devastated country from a Las Vegas casino while visiting my mother in the states. At that point I felt a world away away, so disconnected from it all. I cant believe I'm actually here now, talking with people who have first hand accounts with the quakes. Their sadness is quite obviously, still very fresh.

It's hard to explain, this feeling you get when you travel. I even forget it myself from time to time too when we've been stationed in one place for more than a month or so. The thing is, it's easy to feel disconnected from the rest of the world, from places you've never been or are not currently at. It's understandable to find traveling to a foreign place daunting and watch the news of a far away country without identifying with their natural disasters. Some countries just seem like they're a world away. Once you get somewhere though I expect that you will besurprisingly calmed by the abundant uncomfortableness and unfamiliarity you [don't] feel. Make no mistake, it is not an underwhelming or blah feeling but more a feeling of "Wow, how could I not have been here before? Its been just right here the whole time". It's simpler than we build up in our heads.

Culture differences or not, I have realized that people are still just people no matter where you go. Different backgrounds or origins don't change the fact that when something's funny, people laugh and when something's sad, people cry. We all bare the same egotistical needs and we all have a favorite food, smell, or season. We're not much different than the next guy. That sounds simple but traveling has really drilled that into my head over these past 17 months.

As soon as all that becomes apparent you start being able to identify with people and places more on a global level, so to say. Am I making any sense?

On a different note, my trip to Tokyo for a visa was a success. Now back to Korea to start my new job as an official guardian!

A New Door Opens - Seoul, Korea - May 2011

It turns out this city -those of us on tour have adapted this strange thing where we talk in terms of location rather than time- Anyway, this city happened to hold a slew of good news for Andre and I. An exciting job opportunity for myself and a new artistic prospect for Andre along with an awaited victory for our country.

First and foremost, Monday May 2nd. I was still trying to wake up for the brunch we had planned with some friends at Butterfinger Pancakes, an American breakfast joint we had found here is Seoul. My buddy Sarah calls and tells me to turn on the news and that Osama Bin Laden was dead. Turns out the Al Qaeda founder and leader was not only dead but was killed by the U.S. It seems he was killed a week earlier in Pakistan and our president, Obama was now informing the rest of the world. It is a bittersweet victory for reasons of which are well known and not necessary to discuss, however it is a victory none the less for the victim's and families of 9/11, for our country, and for anyone fighting in the war against terrorism.

Oddly enough, I am stuck with conflicting emotions regarding this shock of a CNN report. I feel two things for certain; fear for what this might stir up amongst members of Al Qaeda and hypocritical for any positive feeling I get from another person being killed. I don't think the United States should lean back in any kind of reprieved manner and assume that there will be no repercussions to Bin Laden's execution. I believe that that would be severely naive. And yes, I think the world is better off without such a wicked instigator which is why I referred to this as "good news". Unfortunately I feel that it is counterproductive though to think this way, which is why I also referred to this as "conflicting emotions". I think that MLK can explain this feeling I have more succinctly and eloquently with just a few short sentences.

-‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.-

Aside from the news that affected millions across the globe, Andre and I also received news from Montreal - Cirque Du Soleil Headquarters. Turns out that they had found a new partner for Andre since his current one is leaving. Amber is an amazingly talented acrobat from Belgium. Andre looked her up immediately without hesitation and was more excited than I have seen him be about work in a while. He was impressed with her skill and told me that he really hoped she'd accept the contract. In the days waited for the final word from Montreal Andre was adorably anxious, giddy, and excited. He and Amber chatted on Facebook and she told him that she had accepted her contract and would join us in the last two weeks on Seoul! Wait, it gets better...

Amber is only 16 and therefore needs a guardian. Enter Jessica! After a few conversations with our tour manager I am now on contract to be Amber's tentative custodian (tentative because all contracts at Cirque are made temporary in the beginning). Me, a job, seriously!? I had worked in the kitchen as a local employee for Cirque but now I am a full and legitimate employee of the great circus. This means a lot of new changes for me regarding life on tour. First, I will save much more money because not only will I be getting paid but all of my flights, lodging, and meals will be paid for. In addition, I will be much less reliant on Andre. After 17 months it seems that the loss of my independence is slowly being regained. There is something about having your own job, your own money, ultimately your own means of supporting [yourself]. I don't disrespect my time here without a job or any of the other "wives". Actually I give them props because I know what it means to give up everything and follow someone else out of respect for their relationship with that person. Having a job though does offer a new dynamic to mine and Andre's current relationship and to my own personal progression as Jessica. A dynamic I proudly accept and look forward to.

My first task as an official employee will be to obtain a work visa for Seoul. This requires me leaving and reentering the country and the closest place is Japan. The earthquakes have died down and so I am less afraid, and actually I have had so much on my mind recently that I haven't thought about that too much. I will be leaving here this Tuesday to stay with Kooza (anther Cirque show) in Tokyo and should be returning the following Thursday. Not too shabby if you ask me. I am so thrilled for this new chapter.

A lot of good things are happening right now and again I am reminded of how things tend to just "work themselves out". The universe has its own way of making things happen whether we stress, or want it to, or not. Both a comforting and relieving thought.

Next stop Tokyo!!