Journal Entrys (more difficult)

Journal Entry 7-26

I'm in an airplane in Sao Paul now...It's funny how things work here. The flight was an hour and a half late, and we boarded like 30 minutes ago, and are not leaving for another 15....that is almost 2 hours late. I hope I make my flight to Montes Claros.
I meet my family today. That is pretty crazy. I'm excited and nervous and anxious, but mostly excited.
Right now, Im completely alone in a city I dont know, where the people dont speak my language. This is my first complete immersion in Brazil. It's pretty exciting. I've really got to learn Portuguese though. ahh
Today I went out with Barbara's mom for almost a whole hour, just us, only Portuguese. It was really fun, but the communication was a little difficult, as I dont speak Portuguese and she does not speak English. We could understand each other for the most part though, with hand gestures and broken language.
She took me shopping for some manicure things, chocolate, and some funny slippers....ahhh i wish I was staying longer with them, at least for her aunts wedding. So much fun. But I have to go to my host family, to meet them, and fall into things before school starts.
Barbara's family feels so much like my own...I hope I see them again
The plane has finally lifted off...2 hours late. I hope I can make my flight...I have one hour to get my baggage, re-check in, and board my flight, and I dont speak Portuguese... We will see how well this goes.
I'm meeting my family today!!! scary.
I know I'm going to be comparing them to Barbara's family...those are some big shoes to fill. I think I'll like them, but god...Barbara's family is the best.

Journal Entry 7-28

I've not written in a long time. I have wanted to, But things have been so crazy.
My flight from Sao Paulo to Belo Horizonte was 2 hours late, and I had to switch airports in Belo Horizonte in one hour. I had no idea I had to switch airports. I barely made it to the other airport in time, and I had to take a frightening taxi ride that cost $40.
On the flight over to Montes Claros, I talked to another student in the Rotary from Finland. She was very nice. When we were landing, we both got so excited. I was so excited, gah.
We landed at night, so the city looked very beautiful, and it's pretty big.
The plane was very small, and the airport too. When we landed, we walked out onto the runway, and over to the "terminal" which was a tiny room with a circular baggage pick up belt, and nothing else.
When I saw my family, I was so excited. Really really excited. I didn't even want to get my baggage, I just wanted to go hug them.
We went out to eat after I arrived, and then went home. I was very worried at first because they were apologizing for their house being small, and the area that we were driving in was a little ruff. Then we turned onto this street that was all washed out, and the houses were falling apart, and then I was really really worried. I had gone from Barbara's amazing family to this feuding mess.
But the house is very nice. Granite counters and stairs, and new...its nice.
The city of Montes Claros is poor in general. But the people seem very nice, and that is what is important.
Yesterday I met some of Thandara's friends, they were nice. Once of them speaks perfect english, so he should be able to help me understand portuguese...
My family here seems a little disfunctional. The mom is a little cold, none of them are close to the others.

I'm feeling tired and I miss home. Yesterday I talked to Julia fro the first time in a long time. I cried for the first time...the past few days have been hard with the new family. Sometimes things are really good...other times...not so much fun.
Last night was a lot of fun though. My host brother, sister, mother and I went out to a birthday party for a little kid. I really did not want to go, but they thought it was important that I did. I thought it was going to be very lame, but it was nice. Everyone dresses up so much here to go out. Even for an 8 year old's birthday party. There were suited waiters bring food and drinks, and everyone was looking their best...it was very nice.
And all the people are so nice here! I got invited to go horseback riding, and to go out to lunch from 2 different families at the party. I also got offered samba lessons, which I am going to need.
Who knows if these things will work out, but the offer is nice anyway.

Yesterday, I met the rest of my host family's family. The great grandmother, grandmother, aunt, uncle, and cousins. That was very nice. They are very loving towards one another. Families are very close here, as a whole at least.
I feel sad and worried now. I think that is normal, but it's not so good.

Journal 7-29

I'm having a hard time lately. I'm tired, I miss my family, friends, barbara's family...and I'm having trouble getting close to my host parents. Me and Thandara, my host sister, are very close now though, which is nice. She is very smart, and can comfort me when I'm missing home.
I'm a little uncomfortable with my host brother (13) though...I dont know if I need to be or not, but eh,
I went out yesterday with my host sister to a restaurant for Pagode, which is a kind of Brazilian music that young people like a lot. It's...kind of salsa like. very upbeat. Most of the music here is like that. very very fun.
My host dad has said that he is going to put me into a music school. I'm very excited. His sister, and sister-in-law both work there. It's a college for the arts, and I'm very excited. There I will take guitar, and also painting and drawing I think. maybe some dance classes too, if I have time.
Here, regular school starts at 7:30 and goes till 11:40. Lunch is the most important meal of the day, so I would go home for lunch with my family after school, and then I think I would go to my art school for classes.
I start school on Wednesday. I'm very nervous. Everything will be in Portuguese, and seeing as I dont speak Portuguese, it will be difficult. But I will learn the language very very quickly I think. My school is Catholic, which also makes me nervous. I've never been religious, and now I'm going to be praying everyday...it will be interesting and good for me to be exposed to these things..its part of the culture too.

Not many people here speak English, which is good, but I've been speaking a lot of English...with Thandara (host sister) and random people I meet that speak it. I need to start immersing myself in the language though, because the longer I take to learn it, the worse off I am.