Tenho Vontade de Ficar Aqui

Two months have passed since I left Minnesota and I can hardly believe it! I didn't realize when I started, but keeping up a blog is difficult! So for future reference I want you to know that my blog posts are going not going to be on a regular basis, but I will do my best to post every month.
Since my last post a bittersweet milestone in my exchange has passed: I had to say goodbye to my amazing host sister, Clarice, as she traveled to France to start her own RYE adventure. I passed some exciting milestones too: I walked to the center of the city alone, which is safe as long as I walk during the day. This is exciting because it is a 2.5 mile(30 minutes) walk and I didn't get lost! Another milestone for me was something that I never realized requires much thought: watching TV. At home it was something that I did when I was tired and didn't want to think any more, but here I have to concentrate really hard! Anyways so after trying to watch TV many times, I completed a full episode of Biggest Loser and understood everything that was said! Portuguese is becoming more natural for me everyday. My host mom and I like to have a little fun and surprise people who think that I don't speak any Portuguese!
During this time I have done some really fun things with my families, Brazilian friends and exchange student friends. I went to Japanese celebrations, a wedding, a baptism party and I also had the opportunity to go camping with my class from school. I have been keeping myself busy and taking classes for Portuguese, Jiu Jitsu fighting and dance acrobatics! It is such an awesome experience learning these new skills here! I don't have time to talk in depth about each one so I will post some pictures of them below.
The feeling I have as an exchange student is so great! It is empowering, loving, excited, nervous, crazy, open, happy and so much more! You won't know the feeling until you have been an exchange student! I have to tell you what a gratifying experience it is to be making strong bonds and friendships with the people here! I am so grateful to Rotary for this year and proud of myself for choosing to be a Rotary Exchange Student!

This is my class at school.

These are pictures from when I when to my friend's farm.

Day of the children. This event is put on by my Rotary club.

 These are pictures of my Jiu Jitsu coach and I fighting.

 

This is my class on folkloric dress-up day.

My friend from school brought me to the television station where her dad works.

 These are photos of my dance acrobatics class.

 

Here are some of the exchange students in my city hanging out.

These are photos from my class camping trip.

These are photos from the wedding my second host family brought me to.

 These are my friends at school trying Reese's for the first time. I think they liked it!

 This is all the exchange students in the bus on our way to a Rotary event. We enjoyed ourselves, but I think the rest of the people on the bus were annoyed with all of our excitement by the end of the eight hours!

This is Naiomi (the only other exchange student at my school) and I on independence day

That's all for now! 

Tchau!

Estou Gostando do Brasil!

As of today, it has been one week that I have been in Brazil and I am loving it! My family has been so welcoming of me that I already feel comfortable here in their home. They are teaching me so much about they way they live, their culture, their language and of course about their food! I love all of it! My Portuguese is not great, but I am able to understand most of what people say. Speaking is definitely the more difficult part for me. I know that it will come with time because my host family is very helpful in teaching me Portuguese.They speak slowly, explain words to me when I don’t understand and are patient when I speak. Sometimes what I think I am saying, what I actually say and what my host family thinks I am saying are all different things. My conversations with my family are some of the most interesting, confusing, hilarious and enjoyable conversations I have here!

On Monday I went to school to meet the friends of my host sister, Clarice. Then on Thursday I went again for my first real day of school and it turned out that I am in the class that my host sister’s friends are in. It was great that I got to meet them before, so I knew some of my classmates before I started classes. My classmates were very welcoming and excited to talk to me. They told me about all the foods I should try, places to go and many other things.

I really enjoyed the social events I have gone to in Araçatuba. The night I arrived, I went out with my family for dinner at a famous restaurant in the city. Although I was exhausted, the food was delicious! Especially in comparison to the plane and airport food. On Thursday we had a Rotary father’s day party because my host dad is the president of our club. I loved meeting more wonderful Rotarians and Brazilians! Yesterday Clarice’s friends came over. We ate brigadeiro and had some fun girl time.

Overall, I am loving Brazil! The people, the food, the weather, the lifestyle, everything is amazing!

Next I have an assortment of pictures about my life so far.

This is my Backyard

 Here are some cool plants in my backyard.

A Maritaca

 Loro the bird.

 Tchau!

The Big Day!

Tomorrow is the big day! I will leave comfortable little Northfield for a new life in Araçatuba. I feel a little nervous to travel alone for the first time, but really I am not alone. Although I am traveling without my family for the first time I will be flying with Olivia Paulsen who is also an RYE from Northfield. Most of all I feel a great amount of comfort in that my lovely host family will be waiting for me at the airport when I arrive!

I can't wait to become part of their family!