Oh jeez, I really need to be more frequent about these entries.
What have I been up to lately...
I am still Just going to school on the week days, 7 to 12. I come home, usually sleep a little..
On Tuesday through Thursday I have classes at the public art school. I'm doing guitar of course and also singing.
The guitar is difficult, because I have to learn to play in the classical style, in a different position, and now I'm learning to read music, which is really difficult when you have no one to explain it to you. But I've started to understand how it works, now I just have to memorize every location of mi fa sol la si and do. agh.
I'm learning a samba piece now, it's fun to play, but the rhythm is really strange.
Singing is hard too, but I have already felt a difference in my range. Now I can get a bit louder. Its strange, because I didn't think there was so much to singing. But the breathing and control is really precise.
The art school is neat though. Sometimes I stay there after my class, and play guitar with whoever is around. I've met a bunch of cool people, so it's good that I am going there.
My family is getting better and better all the time. I like them a lot.
Right now, my host dad is in the other room playing guitar and singing, trying to teach my younger host brother to play and sing too. super cool.
We keep having these really sweet family moments, all sitting around the dinner table, laughing and having a good time. I am moving families in 2 months, or less, and I hate to think about it. I want to stay here for the whole year.
My host mom is a little cold, but she can be really sweet too, and I like her a lot. My host dad is extremely intelligent, and my host brother is hilarious. Ah, I don't want to leave here.
But I suppose that I will learn to adapt really well by moving families.
If there is one thing I will learn from this exchange, it will be to adapt. Adapt to a new culture, a new house, family, country, language, school, population, climate, food...everything.
I still think I'm so crazy for doing this.
Today is 2 months here in Brazil. Strange. Time feels so weird here. It feels like I have been in Brazil for a year, and away from home forever. It's like I'm suspended in time.
I think that finally, things here have become normal, so time is passing normally, but I have already gone through this crazy period of complete time confusion, so my reference to everything is a mess.
I was walking around my house yesterday, and realized that it has become my home. I don't hesitate to do anything anymore.
I'm accustomed to school now too, but that makes it all the more boring. Man, its boring. Honestly, I just sit there for 5 hours. Sometimes I joke around with the kids in my class, or talk to them, and I used to read a book, but I finished it, and now...ah. I just study Portuguese, or try to understand the class, but after about an hour of trying, and succeeding some of the time, I tire, and return to the boredom of solitude. But the language is getting better all the time...logically.
I can talk with people fluidly upon meeting them. Because those things are normal. Always the same questions. Where are you from? How is it different? Do you like Brazil...ext..
In the beginning I was saying after 2 months, I would speak mostly, and understand everything...well those were high hopes, but I'm doing fairly well.
I really had no idea what I was getting into. I thought the language would be a lot easier.
I think/really really hope that in one more month I will be understanding mostly everything, and speaking for the most part, because now that I am starting to speak, it is so much better. I'm getting friends, and bonding with my family, and I think I can get around alone in the city now just fine. So it's good. Things are going well.
I still need to take some photos of my city, and if you haven't already seen, I have a photo site set up with pictures of my house and life here so far. The link is http://picasaweb.google.com/sommerbrazil
I will try to write more frequently, and be more descriptive of my life here, daily activities...not just my emotions. :p
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Independencia
Last weekend was a long weekend, I had Friday off of school. So my whole family, minus the grandparents, went to the country club to stay the weekend.
It was a lot of fun. Pretty much just relaxing, enjoying each other's company. I spent a lot of time at the pool, or playing batecca (like badmitton, but without rackets), or playing the guitar. It was a nice.
The club has these little houses, pretty much just a room with beds in it, that I stayed in with my family. There was a little kitchen outside of the room, that we used to do all the cooking, and playing guitar, and sitting. Sadly, we had to share a bathroom with the rest of the world, but it was not so bad.
Anywhere you went, you would see people playing music. Everyone brought instruments, so there was samba going on most of the time. That is pretty much how Brazilians function. There is always music. Always upbeat.
Last Friday night I went with my host cousin to a restaurant/bar on the aveneda where she was playing a show. She is in a band called Meninas de Minas *girls of Minas*, and she plays the guitar and does back up vocals. They play mostly popular Brazilian music, I don't know if they play their own stuff...Pretty sure just covers, but they are definitely good.
Towards the end of the show, like 1am, she called me up to play a song, so I went up, and played and sang my favorite song First Day of My Life for them. It went semi-well. I was really nervous, and I think you could tell, as I hit my face on the microphone, but it was fine, I did it.
Sunday I went out for the last time with my exchange student friend from Denmark. He decided to go home after the homesickness and discomfort got to be too much.
It was really difficult to say goodbye, but one has to do what they have to do. I'm sad that he's gone, because we were going through exactly the same thing. Wanted the same things, thought the same things, and after being thrown into this insane mess of confusion and displacement, it was nice to have someone to identify with.
But I suppose now, I am on my own, which in the long run is better for my exchange. I have to make good friends with Brazilians, not that I wasn't already doing that, but I have to really do it now, and I can speak only Portuguese in school...really, which is good for my language.
An American girl has taken my Danish friends place in Montes Claros. She lives in his host house, and now goes to my school. Its...bad for me I think. Having an American in the same school is going to make it difficult to not speak English.
I really need to learn Portuguese.
Its almost been two months now, one more week and its been 2 months.
By this time, I was expecting to speak well, and understand everything, maybe those were high hopes, but I'm thinking that I slacked off.
It's so hard to judge where I should be with this language thing. Its something I have never experienced before, so I cant tell where I should be or where I am. In reality, it is an entire language, and expecting to learn it in a month is ridiculous, but also, I think I could be trying harder to learn. But I'm tired...It's difficult.
I am hoping to set up a class of Portuguese soon, so that I can get things together, because the sooner I speak, the sooner I am going to start my exchange, for real. Right now, that is the only thing I have to complain about. I love the family, the city is ok, the school is ok, the people I know are great, its just that I am still confused and uncomfortable a lot of the time. Once that is resolved, I'm going to love it here.
This weekend I have plans to go out with friends to the aveneda...go to a pagode (brazilian dance festa), and also, to my first soccer game out. I think that should be interesting.
Here soccer is just as big of a deal as people make it out to be. One of the first things my host family said to me is that my soccer team has to be Gallo if I'm staying in their house.
In Montes Claros there is one major rivalry, Gallo vs. Cruzero. The game this weekend is those two teams. I'm going to a restaurant somewhere on the aveneda to watch, wearing the team jersey. I'm expecting a lot of yelling. A lot.
It should be interesting.
Well, for now I must go, but I will write later.
And I'll try to be more frequent...just lots of things.
It was a lot of fun. Pretty much just relaxing, enjoying each other's company. I spent a lot of time at the pool, or playing batecca (like badmitton, but without rackets), or playing the guitar. It was a nice.
The club has these little houses, pretty much just a room with beds in it, that I stayed in with my family. There was a little kitchen outside of the room, that we used to do all the cooking, and playing guitar, and sitting. Sadly, we had to share a bathroom with the rest of the world, but it was not so bad.
Anywhere you went, you would see people playing music. Everyone brought instruments, so there was samba going on most of the time. That is pretty much how Brazilians function. There is always music. Always upbeat.
Last Friday night I went with my host cousin to a restaurant/bar on the aveneda where she was playing a show. She is in a band called Meninas de Minas *girls of Minas*, and she plays the guitar and does back up vocals. They play mostly popular Brazilian music, I don't know if they play their own stuff...Pretty sure just covers, but they are definitely good.
Towards the end of the show, like 1am, she called me up to play a song, so I went up, and played and sang my favorite song First Day of My Life for them. It went semi-well. I was really nervous, and I think you could tell, as I hit my face on the microphone, but it was fine, I did it.
Sunday I went out for the last time with my exchange student friend from Denmark. He decided to go home after the homesickness and discomfort got to be too much.
It was really difficult to say goodbye, but one has to do what they have to do. I'm sad that he's gone, because we were going through exactly the same thing. Wanted the same things, thought the same things, and after being thrown into this insane mess of confusion and displacement, it was nice to have someone to identify with.
But I suppose now, I am on my own, which in the long run is better for my exchange. I have to make good friends with Brazilians, not that I wasn't already doing that, but I have to really do it now, and I can speak only Portuguese in school...really, which is good for my language.
An American girl has taken my Danish friends place in Montes Claros. She lives in his host house, and now goes to my school. Its...bad for me I think. Having an American in the same school is going to make it difficult to not speak English.
I really need to learn Portuguese.
Its almost been two months now, one more week and its been 2 months.
By this time, I was expecting to speak well, and understand everything, maybe those were high hopes, but I'm thinking that I slacked off.
It's so hard to judge where I should be with this language thing. Its something I have never experienced before, so I cant tell where I should be or where I am. In reality, it is an entire language, and expecting to learn it in a month is ridiculous, but also, I think I could be trying harder to learn. But I'm tired...It's difficult.
I am hoping to set up a class of Portuguese soon, so that I can get things together, because the sooner I speak, the sooner I am going to start my exchange, for real. Right now, that is the only thing I have to complain about. I love the family, the city is ok, the school is ok, the people I know are great, its just that I am still confused and uncomfortable a lot of the time. Once that is resolved, I'm going to love it here.
This weekend I have plans to go out with friends to the aveneda...go to a pagode (brazilian dance festa), and also, to my first soccer game out. I think that should be interesting.
Here soccer is just as big of a deal as people make it out to be. One of the first things my host family said to me is that my soccer team has to be Gallo if I'm staying in their house.
In Montes Claros there is one major rivalry, Gallo vs. Cruzero. The game this weekend is those two teams. I'm going to a restaurant somewhere on the aveneda to watch, wearing the team jersey. I'm expecting a lot of yelling. A lot.
It should be interesting.
Well, for now I must go, but I will write later.
And I'll try to be more frequent...just lots of things.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Describing
Hello,
I got an email from a friend today, with some questions, I thought I should answer them here, in case someone else was curious.
I've gotten a bit caught up in the emotions of Brazil, and have not taken time to give you guys a background. So here it is:
Starting with the most important thing, food!
Food here is, rice and beans, and rice and beans, and meat.
Pretty much this.
They dont eat many veggies, but they do have a lot of fruits. Many of which, I have not seen before. There is one called Goiaba, which I ate for the first time a few days ago, which looks like a guava on the inside, but is not so sweet. Its kind of acidic, has a green skin, and pink center, and the texture is like a ripe pear. They have this other fruit, maracuja, which is like no other fruit I have ever eaten before. It has a really thick skin, and you just eat the seeds and the juice that is in the center. It is also acidic, the flavor is like...orange and passion fruit mixed together.
They have this potato like thing here, called manjoca, (I have no idea how to spell it). its...like a potato, but better, more fiber-y.
As for the meats, they are very salty. Mostly people eat beef, but also chicken and pork. Fish is not common at all. I have eaten it only once, and it was a little awful. Barbecue is the most common way of cooking, all though broiled chicken is popular, and fried things as well.
The beans are beans, and the rice is white rice. Normal.
As for the breads...there are so many. When I was in the US, I dont think I went into bread stores, really ever, but here it is a once a week ritual. There are always French rolls, and a sweet bread, which i find not sweet enough (just have a coating of egg and sugar and maybe some cinnamon). They have little cookies that have a little jelly in the center. I have yet to see any chocolate chip cookies, I think I will have to make some for my family here soon. I think they have no idea. They have this think called pão de queso, which is a little round ball of bread, and the center is cheesy bread, its really good.
The cheese here is good. They have this white cheese that you buy in huge wheels, I think its a kilo... and its not fat at all. Its really light, the flavor is very mild, and its barely salted. Even though it is a little plain, its delicious.
Here, I'm not sure what kind of spices, seasonings, or anything of the like, they use. I dont know if they cook with oil or something else, as the maid is the one that cooks. which is strange for me to say.
There is one thing here that we dont have in the US that is delicious. but it has so much sugar, more then one person should have in a month. but it is realllllly good.
its simply a can of condensed milk and 5 spoonfuls of chocolate milk mix, like nesquick. You put all it into a sauce pan and stir for about 10 minutes, after, allow to cool, and then you eat it. you can eat it plain, or with cookies. Its bad for you though. Sadly.
Another thing, what do I do for fun:
I have been to a place called the aveneda, which is like a main-street with restaurants and bars lining it. That is pretty much where everyone in Montes Claros goes to hang out on Friday or Saturday nights...well actually any night.
There are chairs all on the sidewalk, with barely enough space to walk, and anywhere you go, you find people you know. There are a few places with live music, some just chill music, some dance music. It depends on the night. Sometimes there are things called "Pagoges" which is where you go to dance. you dont sit. People, usually from 16-35ish go to dance. There is samba music, along with fórro (you should look this up, its gooood), and some axé. all very dance-able music.
But when it's not night, I go to get ice cream with friends, which is reallllllly sweet here. I like sweet, but jesus.
I also go to the country club, where you can swim, play volleyball, basketball, batecca (which is like badmitton but without a racket), handball (I dont know what this is, but people talk about it), and of course, soccer.
People here dress like...brazil. I dont think that they fit into any American city exactly, but the guys, for the most part, would be like California, the girls, depend. They all wear high heals, wedges are really popular too. They wear skimpy things, a lot of tank tops, halter tops, and things of the like. They wear jeans, shorts, skirts. I suppose California is as close to Brazilian girl style as you can get.
Well, for now I must go to sleep. But more to come, as always.
I got an email from a friend today, with some questions, I thought I should answer them here, in case someone else was curious.
I've gotten a bit caught up in the emotions of Brazil, and have not taken time to give you guys a background. So here it is:
Starting with the most important thing, food!
Food here is, rice and beans, and rice and beans, and meat.
Pretty much this.
They dont eat many veggies, but they do have a lot of fruits. Many of which, I have not seen before. There is one called Goiaba, which I ate for the first time a few days ago, which looks like a guava on the inside, but is not so sweet. Its kind of acidic, has a green skin, and pink center, and the texture is like a ripe pear. They have this other fruit, maracuja, which is like no other fruit I have ever eaten before. It has a really thick skin, and you just eat the seeds and the juice that is in the center. It is also acidic, the flavor is like...orange and passion fruit mixed together.
They have this potato like thing here, called manjoca, (I have no idea how to spell it). its...like a potato, but better, more fiber-y.
As for the meats, they are very salty. Mostly people eat beef, but also chicken and pork. Fish is not common at all. I have eaten it only once, and it was a little awful. Barbecue is the most common way of cooking, all though broiled chicken is popular, and fried things as well.
The beans are beans, and the rice is white rice. Normal.
As for the breads...there are so many. When I was in the US, I dont think I went into bread stores, really ever, but here it is a once a week ritual. There are always French rolls, and a sweet bread, which i find not sweet enough (just have a coating of egg and sugar and maybe some cinnamon). They have little cookies that have a little jelly in the center. I have yet to see any chocolate chip cookies, I think I will have to make some for my family here soon. I think they have no idea. They have this think called pão de queso, which is a little round ball of bread, and the center is cheesy bread, its really good.
The cheese here is good. They have this white cheese that you buy in huge wheels, I think its a kilo... and its not fat at all. Its really light, the flavor is very mild, and its barely salted. Even though it is a little plain, its delicious.
Here, I'm not sure what kind of spices, seasonings, or anything of the like, they use. I dont know if they cook with oil or something else, as the maid is the one that cooks. which is strange for me to say.
There is one thing here that we dont have in the US that is delicious. but it has so much sugar, more then one person should have in a month. but it is realllllly good.
its simply a can of condensed milk and 5 spoonfuls of chocolate milk mix, like nesquick. You put all it into a sauce pan and stir for about 10 minutes, after, allow to cool, and then you eat it. you can eat it plain, or with cookies. Its bad for you though. Sadly.
Another thing, what do I do for fun:
I have been to a place called the aveneda, which is like a main-street with restaurants and bars lining it. That is pretty much where everyone in Montes Claros goes to hang out on Friday or Saturday nights...well actually any night.
There are chairs all on the sidewalk, with barely enough space to walk, and anywhere you go, you find people you know. There are a few places with live music, some just chill music, some dance music. It depends on the night. Sometimes there are things called "Pagoges" which is where you go to dance. you dont sit. People, usually from 16-35ish go to dance. There is samba music, along with fórro (you should look this up, its gooood), and some axé. all very dance-able music.
But when it's not night, I go to get ice cream with friends, which is reallllllly sweet here. I like sweet, but jesus.
I also go to the country club, where you can swim, play volleyball, basketball, batecca (which is like badmitton but without a racket), handball (I dont know what this is, but people talk about it), and of course, soccer.
People here dress like...brazil. I dont think that they fit into any American city exactly, but the guys, for the most part, would be like California, the girls, depend. They all wear high heals, wedges are really popular too. They wear skimpy things, a lot of tank tops, halter tops, and things of the like. They wear jeans, shorts, skirts. I suppose California is as close to Brazilian girl style as you can get.
Well, for now I must go to sleep. But more to come, as always.
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