Last weekend I met my next host family.
Well hopefully they will be my next host family. Things with that are a little messed up, and both I and another exchange student are planning on living there. We'll see, but I'll live with them eventually.
So they were really great. I was worried because so much time had gone by without me hearing anything from them, but its fine. I went to the country club, lunch, a drive to see the forest preserve that I think my next host dad works on, and then to their house to rest and spend some time together. It will just be me, my host mom, my host dad, and the maid living in the house, because both of their sons are out on exchanges now. I think that it will be just fine, I'll be living in a neighborhood with a lot of other kids my age, and I live really close to everything, so getting board, or feeling alone should not be a problem. Also, most of the time I will be living in this house, if everything works out as planned, will be summer vacation, so my host mom will not be working or going to class.
Right now she is a teacher in the morning and night at a university here in MOC, and then on the weekends (friday to sunday late) she is in Belo Horizonte taking classes. But during summer vacation, none of this stuff is going on, so she will be home a lot.
I really like my new host mom, she seems like a really sweet woman, very educated.
The day after I met her, she called me to say that she missed me and was excited to have me stay in her house. I thought that was really nice.
I still have a month, but now I'm not dreading leaving my current host family so much. All though, still, I wont want to leave them.
The new house is nice. It isn't very big, but for 3 people, its perfect. It has bunches of windows, kinda reminds me of home. There is a porch and a yard that I can go to, and i have a comfortable room. My host mom is remodeling the bathroom for the exchange students that will live there. So its going to be a nice place to live. I'm feeling good about it. Except that I know I will miss my host family now. After these 3 months, I've completely fallen in with them, I know my house, I know my neighborhood, family, extended family, so its going to suck to start all that up again. But it will also be exciting to have a bunch of new things, new opportunities.
My second host family has a farm somewhere that they go to, with horses and all that kinda stuff, so I'll be riding again!!! I'm excited. And the cool think about Brasil is that you can find all kinds of things to eat along the way. A coconut here, a berry there...its neat.
So the doubts have been lifted now, and I'm excited to see whats new.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Falling in
Ah, all the time, I'm liking Brazil more and more...probably because I can kinda speak Portuguese now.
But everything is really great. I'm a little bipolar about this, because there are days that I feel sad, and all I want is to be at home with the comfort of well known things, but most of the time now, I'm happy. And right now, I'm really content.
I went with my host mom to her night college today. I met a bunch of the people of her college on the last trip I took. So I ran into a bunch of them, and it was great, because finally I can talk. Finally!!!!
My host mom's college is connected to the shopping mall of Montes Claros, so I waited for her to finish in the mall. It's really small, but it is pretty much like a little mall there in the States. Except it has a supermarket and gym attached, and there are not really outlet stores. They are all little shops.
I was hoping, while walking around alone, to run into someone I knew. I didn't, but I did talk with attendants of some shops, and it was nice. The conversations were conversations, not hand signals and confusion. I can finally feel myself falling in, and its a good thing after so much time spent uncomfortable.
After my host mom's class finished, we went to go eat a little something at this 'Arab' food place. It was not exactly what I would consider Arab food, but it was good none the less. It was the first time me and my host mom went out and talked together, just us two. And now I'm wanting, even less, to change houses.
Everything here is going really well. My friends are getting closer. I'm learning how to make new friends....which I'm embarrassed to say, I didn't know how to do before. I'm growing all the time, learning to deal with things I had not encountered before, and it's really good for me. This year is going to be one of the years, if not the year, that I grow and change the most.
Earlier today, I went to the house (condo) of one of my classmates, to work on something for school. There are about 8 of us working on a song and dance to present to the school next friday. So all of us went there to work on this project. We have been 'working' on it for the past 2 weeks, and I have yet to see any work done. Haha.
We leave class to go work on the project, and end up playing Patecca, or soccer, or just messing around. And today was exactly the same. We did absolutely no work. I got to the condo, then we played guitar for a while, played soccer, swam, played patecca, played videogames, ate...and then left because it was getting dark. Its funny the difference in attitude. They dont seemed worried about it at all. I suppose we are just going to work on it in the coming week...we'll see how well it actually goes. So far, we've got the music set up. But none of the dance is coordinated yet. :p
But it was cool, just hanging out with some Brazilian kids. Falling in. :p
But everything is really great. I'm a little bipolar about this, because there are days that I feel sad, and all I want is to be at home with the comfort of well known things, but most of the time now, I'm happy. And right now, I'm really content.
I went with my host mom to her night college today. I met a bunch of the people of her college on the last trip I took. So I ran into a bunch of them, and it was great, because finally I can talk. Finally!!!!
My host mom's college is connected to the shopping mall of Montes Claros, so I waited for her to finish in the mall. It's really small, but it is pretty much like a little mall there in the States. Except it has a supermarket and gym attached, and there are not really outlet stores. They are all little shops.
I was hoping, while walking around alone, to run into someone I knew. I didn't, but I did talk with attendants of some shops, and it was nice. The conversations were conversations, not hand signals and confusion. I can finally feel myself falling in, and its a good thing after so much time spent uncomfortable.
After my host mom's class finished, we went to go eat a little something at this 'Arab' food place. It was not exactly what I would consider Arab food, but it was good none the less. It was the first time me and my host mom went out and talked together, just us two. And now I'm wanting, even less, to change houses.
Everything here is going really well. My friends are getting closer. I'm learning how to make new friends....which I'm embarrassed to say, I didn't know how to do before. I'm growing all the time, learning to deal with things I had not encountered before, and it's really good for me. This year is going to be one of the years, if not the year, that I grow and change the most.
Earlier today, I went to the house (condo) of one of my classmates, to work on something for school. There are about 8 of us working on a song and dance to present to the school next friday. So all of us went there to work on this project. We have been 'working' on it for the past 2 weeks, and I have yet to see any work done. Haha.
We leave class to go work on the project, and end up playing Patecca, or soccer, or just messing around. And today was exactly the same. We did absolutely no work. I got to the condo, then we played guitar for a while, played soccer, swam, played patecca, played videogames, ate...and then left because it was getting dark. Its funny the difference in attitude. They dont seemed worried about it at all. I suppose we are just going to work on it in the coming week...we'll see how well it actually goes. So far, we've got the music set up. But none of the dance is coordinated yet. :p
But it was cool, just hanging out with some Brazilian kids. Falling in. :p
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Indeed, another trip.
I went on another trip this weekend. Lots of excitement lately.
I went to a town close to my own here with my host mom and dad, called Janiuba...or something like that, to see a project going on, somehow related to my host mom's university courses.
A bunch of people from the college went, of all ages. The trip overall was really fun, but the project was a little boring. When we arrived there in this town, probably equal in population to the East Mountains, we stopped at the little farm we would be staying at, and had some coffee, crackers... fruit. Sort of met the area we would be staying, and then went on our way to see the project. The project is...well, I didn't completely pay attention, but the town is an agricultural town, based on production of fruits. And the largest river of Minas Gerais passes through this town, so they have this elaborate system of canals and such to water the orchards, and so we went to the diversion canal, and walked around in all the machines and such, and that was kinda interesting. After we went to the warehouse where they package all the limes from the area. That was neat to see, all though no production was going on. They let us take some limes for free, and of course, the Brazilians went crazy, and took literally SACKS of them. haha. Then we went to the orchards, which was really cool. I got to eat a tangerine right off the tree, and then some weird tropical fruit I had never seen before. The flavor was good, but had a semi-horrible texture, and apparently it's so acidic, that if it gets on your clothing, it burns it. For some reason you can still eat it though. There is a picture on my photo site. There were also orchards of mango trees, but that is so normal now. There are literally mangos in the street. The city is about to be completely overloaded with them, which is great for me, I love them.
After the orchard we went back to the farm where we were staying. Everyone was extremely hot and tired, and there was one bathroom for literally, 80 people. We set up tents and got situated. And to decide who got to take a shower when, everyone chose numbers from a hat. I was super lucky, and chose the last number possible, but ended up getting to take a shower 2nd, because the American can't go thinking that she has to wait in line to shower. YESSSSSSS!!
The house on the farm was super antique. All the lights were wired by hand, because surely, when it was built, electricity wasn't available. The furniture was all weathered wood, there was an old, sort of southern like porch in front, and a tile roof that was visible from inside the house.
At night, we had a barbecue, with lots of music and dancing, and it was really great. The project was more or less boring, but the party, was worth the trip times 10. Brazilians are so much fun, I dont know how to explain it. They have no inhibition when it comes to parties. They dance and sing and act crazy (in a good way), without any problem. So we ate barbecue and played cards, and danced, and talked until the wee hours of the morning. I finally can talk with people, so that is really great. I had bunches of conversations about the US, differences and such. Sadly, they think we just eat hamburgers, watch tv, and think we own everything in the world, but I'm setting them strait. ;)
I finally got to dance Fórro, which is this type of music I have fallen in love with here. Its kinda folkie...sort of, and has accordion. Its really upbeat, and great to dance to. Before my host sister left for the US, she taught me to dance fórro, but until this weekend, I had not danced with anyone else. So that was neat. The dance is, well, you are close to the other person, and its a tap with one foot, and then a step with the same foot, then you do the same with the other foot. And there are a bunch of tricks you can do. The guys at the barbecue knew how to dance, which was so refreshing, as guys in the US don't dance...of very few do, so I learned a bunch of new tricks, and had a great time. Goodness, the party was fun.
I went to bed at like midnight, because I was just so tired from the day and such, but the party continued on until 3am-ish. At 7, everyone woke up and then we left the farm. It was a great trip, lots of fun.
I went to a town close to my own here with my host mom and dad, called Janiuba...or something like that, to see a project going on, somehow related to my host mom's university courses.
A bunch of people from the college went, of all ages. The trip overall was really fun, but the project was a little boring. When we arrived there in this town, probably equal in population to the East Mountains, we stopped at the little farm we would be staying at, and had some coffee, crackers... fruit. Sort of met the area we would be staying, and then went on our way to see the project. The project is...well, I didn't completely pay attention, but the town is an agricultural town, based on production of fruits. And the largest river of Minas Gerais passes through this town, so they have this elaborate system of canals and such to water the orchards, and so we went to the diversion canal, and walked around in all the machines and such, and that was kinda interesting. After we went to the warehouse where they package all the limes from the area. That was neat to see, all though no production was going on. They let us take some limes for free, and of course, the Brazilians went crazy, and took literally SACKS of them. haha. Then we went to the orchards, which was really cool. I got to eat a tangerine right off the tree, and then some weird tropical fruit I had never seen before. The flavor was good, but had a semi-horrible texture, and apparently it's so acidic, that if it gets on your clothing, it burns it. For some reason you can still eat it though. There is a picture on my photo site. There were also orchards of mango trees, but that is so normal now. There are literally mangos in the street. The city is about to be completely overloaded with them, which is great for me, I love them.
After the orchard we went back to the farm where we were staying. Everyone was extremely hot and tired, and there was one bathroom for literally, 80 people. We set up tents and got situated. And to decide who got to take a shower when, everyone chose numbers from a hat. I was super lucky, and chose the last number possible, but ended up getting to take a shower 2nd, because the American can't go thinking that she has to wait in line to shower. YESSSSSSS!!
The house on the farm was super antique. All the lights were wired by hand, because surely, when it was built, electricity wasn't available. The furniture was all weathered wood, there was an old, sort of southern like porch in front, and a tile roof that was visible from inside the house.
At night, we had a barbecue, with lots of music and dancing, and it was really great. The project was more or less boring, but the party, was worth the trip times 10. Brazilians are so much fun, I dont know how to explain it. They have no inhibition when it comes to parties. They dance and sing and act crazy (in a good way), without any problem. So we ate barbecue and played cards, and danced, and talked until the wee hours of the morning. I finally can talk with people, so that is really great. I had bunches of conversations about the US, differences and such. Sadly, they think we just eat hamburgers, watch tv, and think we own everything in the world, but I'm setting them strait. ;)
I finally got to dance Fórro, which is this type of music I have fallen in love with here. Its kinda folkie...sort of, and has accordion. Its really upbeat, and great to dance to. Before my host sister left for the US, she taught me to dance fórro, but until this weekend, I had not danced with anyone else. So that was neat. The dance is, well, you are close to the other person, and its a tap with one foot, and then a step with the same foot, then you do the same with the other foot. And there are a bunch of tricks you can do. The guys at the barbecue knew how to dance, which was so refreshing, as guys in the US don't dance...of very few do, so I learned a bunch of new tricks, and had a great time. Goodness, the party was fun.
I went to bed at like midnight, because I was just so tired from the day and such, but the party continued on until 3am-ish. At 7, everyone woke up and then we left the farm. It was a great trip, lots of fun.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Saudade
Oh my, oh my, oh my.
Lots of homesickness this week.
For a while there, I was doing good with everything. Lots of stuff to distract me I suppose, but now, all I can think about is how freaking hot it is here, and how I would love to be home, where it is cold, with a big cup of coffee and a fire.
But here is good too. I just have to enjoy it now, because I only have 8 months left now.
I've already been here for 3 months. It's a long time, but I know the next 8 will pass quickly, and when the time to leave comes, I will not want to go.
I was sitting in my classroom on Tuesday, after arriving home from my trip to the beach, and I was thinking how much I missed my classmates. That was just after a week.
I think leaving Brazil is going to be harder then it was to leave the US, because I know that when I go back to the US, my friends and family will still be there, my home will still be there. Things will be, more or less, the same. But when I leave Brazil, who knows when I will come back, if I come back. Who knows where the people I meet will go, how much things will change. So I just have to remember to enjoy here while I've got it.
Tonight there is a barbecue for all the people from my school that went to Porto Seguro. I'm excited to see everyone reunited again. The kids on the trip were great. Everybody got along well, and we had bunches of fun. Now, when I see the kids from the trip at school, it's always a big hug to greet each other. We all got close, which is really good. I have 40 new good friends, so its great.
Things are coming along here. My Portuguese is finally getting acceptable, and I'll be starting a class on Monday. The guitar...could be going better, because still I am having difficulty with reading sheet music, but its good for me, and its coming along. My family is great, my friends are becoming closer and closer friends. So all is well. I just have to stop letting myself get carried away with romantic ideas of home.
Lots of homesickness this week.
For a while there, I was doing good with everything. Lots of stuff to distract me I suppose, but now, all I can think about is how freaking hot it is here, and how I would love to be home, where it is cold, with a big cup of coffee and a fire.
But here is good too. I just have to enjoy it now, because I only have 8 months left now.
I've already been here for 3 months. It's a long time, but I know the next 8 will pass quickly, and when the time to leave comes, I will not want to go.
I was sitting in my classroom on Tuesday, after arriving home from my trip to the beach, and I was thinking how much I missed my classmates. That was just after a week.
I think leaving Brazil is going to be harder then it was to leave the US, because I know that when I go back to the US, my friends and family will still be there, my home will still be there. Things will be, more or less, the same. But when I leave Brazil, who knows when I will come back, if I come back. Who knows where the people I meet will go, how much things will change. So I just have to remember to enjoy here while I've got it.
Tonight there is a barbecue for all the people from my school that went to Porto Seguro. I'm excited to see everyone reunited again. The kids on the trip were great. Everybody got along well, and we had bunches of fun. Now, when I see the kids from the trip at school, it's always a big hug to greet each other. We all got close, which is really good. I have 40 new good friends, so its great.
Things are coming along here. My Portuguese is finally getting acceptable, and I'll be starting a class on Monday. The guitar...could be going better, because still I am having difficulty with reading sheet music, but its good for me, and its coming along. My family is great, my friends are becoming closer and closer friends. So all is well. I just have to stop letting myself get carried away with romantic ideas of home.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
A Vida Boa
Yesterday I got home from my trip to the beach. Finally I got to see the beach in Brazil.
It was so much fun.
All of Brazil's students go to this one beach, and they have concerts and luaus and hang out in the sun. And it's the best.
The bus ride there is almost 16 hours long, so that was not so good, but it didn't feel like 16 hours at all because everyone was being crazy. There were like 40 kids from my school who went, and everyone was playing guitar, singing, making a mess. So it was not unbearable. We arrived there in Porto Seguro, and I was so ecstatic . I hadn't seen the ocean for years. I think sense my trip to Costa Rica. Minus seeing the ocean in Seattle, but that is cold ocean, and is not the same. Everyone on the bus got up, and was looking out the windows, it was exciting.
Our hotel was not as nice as it had seemed in photos, but it was still in a really good location (10 minutes walking to the beach), and in reality, we were only there to take a shower and sleep (which equals only like 4 hours per day).
Every night there was something going on. There were shows of the famous artists of Brazil, there were luaus, trances, parties. It was great. There was not one night that I spent bored. Not one.
During the day I went to the beach. Pretty much this. I usually woke up around 9am, but only because I had to get my free breakfast. and after, everybody would go to the beach, get a table all together, have a coconut, swim in the ocean, and talk. It was the good life.
There were so many people from my city, that I could walk around the beach for 15 minutes and be certain to see someone I knew. Everyone was nice, and everyone was there to have a good time, so it was just fun.
The beach was pretty. Not gorgeous, but pretty. Porto Seguro is not known for its beauty, but everyone goes there anyway because its so happy and fun. It's a yellow sand beach, with palms. the streets are clean for the most part, and the architecture is...well it's touristy. All mixed styles. On the beach there are more vendors then there are tourists, and that is a lot. But they don't really bother you. That is, they don't pressure you if you say no, they just move on. But there were people selling anything you can possibly make out of a coconut. Jewelry, purses, keychains, everything. There were people doing henna, and braiding hair. People selling all kinds of different foods. One popular food from Porto Seguro is called....I forgot the name, but it is like a corn bread..not really a bread because its fried in oil, but that bread, and shrimp and peppers. its really good. Corn on the cob is a popular thing to eat too, but its different from the corn in the US. Here its a lot more salty and more course. I like the US corn more.
When it was time to leave the hotel, I didn't want to go. Porto Seguro was so good. It was perfect. Ocean, relaxing, just having fun. But I was really tired. When I got home, I was happy to be home. I missed my family here, which is nice to know. I really like them a lot. I bought each of them a little gift from Porto Seguro, I think they liked it.
I'm coming up on 3 months. Still not speaking fluently, but its better for sure. On the trip I could have conversations with people, and it was so cool. I knew what was going on, which was nice. I'm improving. I just was expecting this to be a little bit easier then it has been.
I'll be starting a class with a English student here next week, and hopefully that will improve my Portuguese a little more.
Well, I have bunches of pictures up on my photo website of my trip, if you wanna go check them out. http://picasaweb.google.com/sommerbrazil
tchau!
It was so much fun.
All of Brazil's students go to this one beach, and they have concerts and luaus and hang out in the sun. And it's the best.
The bus ride there is almost 16 hours long, so that was not so good, but it didn't feel like 16 hours at all because everyone was being crazy. There were like 40 kids from my school who went, and everyone was playing guitar, singing, making a mess. So it was not unbearable. We arrived there in Porto Seguro, and I was so ecstatic . I hadn't seen the ocean for years. I think sense my trip to Costa Rica. Minus seeing the ocean in Seattle, but that is cold ocean, and is not the same. Everyone on the bus got up, and was looking out the windows, it was exciting.
Our hotel was not as nice as it had seemed in photos, but it was still in a really good location (10 minutes walking to the beach), and in reality, we were only there to take a shower and sleep (which equals only like 4 hours per day).
Every night there was something going on. There were shows of the famous artists of Brazil, there were luaus, trances, parties. It was great. There was not one night that I spent bored. Not one.
During the day I went to the beach. Pretty much this. I usually woke up around 9am, but only because I had to get my free breakfast. and after, everybody would go to the beach, get a table all together, have a coconut, swim in the ocean, and talk. It was the good life.
There were so many people from my city, that I could walk around the beach for 15 minutes and be certain to see someone I knew. Everyone was nice, and everyone was there to have a good time, so it was just fun.
The beach was pretty. Not gorgeous, but pretty. Porto Seguro is not known for its beauty, but everyone goes there anyway because its so happy and fun. It's a yellow sand beach, with palms. the streets are clean for the most part, and the architecture is...well it's touristy. All mixed styles. On the beach there are more vendors then there are tourists, and that is a lot. But they don't really bother you. That is, they don't pressure you if you say no, they just move on. But there were people selling anything you can possibly make out of a coconut. Jewelry, purses, keychains, everything. There were people doing henna, and braiding hair. People selling all kinds of different foods. One popular food from Porto Seguro is called....I forgot the name, but it is like a corn bread..not really a bread because its fried in oil, but that bread, and shrimp and peppers. its really good. Corn on the cob is a popular thing to eat too, but its different from the corn in the US. Here its a lot more salty and more course. I like the US corn more.
When it was time to leave the hotel, I didn't want to go. Porto Seguro was so good. It was perfect. Ocean, relaxing, just having fun. But I was really tired. When I got home, I was happy to be home. I missed my family here, which is nice to know. I really like them a lot. I bought each of them a little gift from Porto Seguro, I think they liked it.
I'm coming up on 3 months. Still not speaking fluently, but its better for sure. On the trip I could have conversations with people, and it was so cool. I knew what was going on, which was nice. I'm improving. I just was expecting this to be a little bit easier then it has been.
I'll be starting a class with a English student here next week, and hopefully that will improve my Portuguese a little more.
Well, I have bunches of pictures up on my photo website of my trip, if you wanna go check them out. http://picasaweb.google.com/sommerbrazil
tchau!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
BEACHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Today I'm off to the beach! Finally I get to see tropical Brazil.
I'm going with my school to town called Porto Seguro. This town has the closest beach to my city...12 hours by bus.
The 'senior' class is getting ready to graduate, and this is their trip. This year, not many kids from my school are going. Only about 15 or 20, but it will be great anyway because this week is student week, and there will be kids from all over Brazil. There are 3 or more other schools from Montes Claros going, 3 other exchange students from my city are going, and bunches of other students will be there, so it should be really fun.
There are concerts every day of some of the most famous bands in Brazil, there is beach, lots of people, great food, and I hear its spicy. Finally a taste of home.
People say that Porto Seguro is not the prettiest of towns, but that it is one of the most fun. Always there is a party, always people are dancing, and playing music. So I think its going to be great.
I will be sharing a room with 2 brazilian girls and the other American girl that is in my school. I dont know what to expect out of the hotel. I think that it is nice-ish. But it doesn't really matter, because I'm not expecting to stay there other then to sleep and take a shower.
We leave today at 4pm, and I think arrive tomorrow around 8am. It's a long trip, but its worth it.
I will be sure to take lots of pictures and post them up on my photo website when I get back.
more to come, tchau!
I'm going with my school to town called Porto Seguro. This town has the closest beach to my city...12 hours by bus.
The 'senior' class is getting ready to graduate, and this is their trip. This year, not many kids from my school are going. Only about 15 or 20, but it will be great anyway because this week is student week, and there will be kids from all over Brazil. There are 3 or more other schools from Montes Claros going, 3 other exchange students from my city are going, and bunches of other students will be there, so it should be really fun.
There are concerts every day of some of the most famous bands in Brazil, there is beach, lots of people, great food, and I hear its spicy. Finally a taste of home.
People say that Porto Seguro is not the prettiest of towns, but that it is one of the most fun. Always there is a party, always people are dancing, and playing music. So I think its going to be great.
I will be sharing a room with 2 brazilian girls and the other American girl that is in my school. I dont know what to expect out of the hotel. I think that it is nice-ish. But it doesn't really matter, because I'm not expecting to stay there other then to sleep and take a shower.
We leave today at 4pm, and I think arrive tomorrow around 8am. It's a long trip, but its worth it.
I will be sure to take lots of pictures and post them up on my photo website when I get back.
more to come, tchau!
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