From Terehell to Terenowhere

Abstract

The chapter begins by investigating Teresina’s inescapable heat to show how the experience of extreme heat combined with an imagined superior and “cooler” outside world manifests as be-longing—a desire for Teresina, Piauí, to be seen as a place worthy of recognition. The chapter introduces the reader to the region’s long history of drought, poverty, and marginal position in the national imaginary and examines how residents perceive and deal with the heat on a daily basis, revealing how this experience contributes to their sense of be-longing in the city. The chapter sets the reader up for the subsequent chapter’s discussion of Teresina’s present moment—a city undergoing acute urbanization and socioeconomic change, and, therefore, a chance for residents to finally claim a rightful place for themselves.