you wont believe...more vacationing

Well, I arrived from my beach vacation safe and sound and more tan then I have ever been in my life. :D

It was a nice trip, pretty much the same as the first time I went to Porto Seguro.
The same beaches, same foods, and same festas, but it was nice to have some time to spend with my first host family again, and it was good to get some relaxing time on the beach.

Tomorrow I'm off on another vacation. yes another, to Diamantina. I have already been to Diamantina. Earlier in the year one of my classmates and her family took me there to see a big band (classical) show.
I fell in love with Diamantina, it's antique Portuguese architecture, and awkward uphill streets. And now, I'm off to celebrate Carnaval with one of my classmates and her family there. I am more then excited, I'm elated.
We have a house in the center of town, with a pool and area to do barbecue. There will be 15 members of her family staying in this one house, should be pretty interesting.
I think that carnaval will be something that I have never experienced before. Music and dancing in the street, 24 hours a day for 5 days strait. I think I'll get pretty exhausted, but it will be worth every moment of sleep I lose.
I dont exactly know what to expect from Carnaval in Diamantina. I just know that people say its one of the best Carnavals in Minas Gerias, so it must be good.

Update is sure to come after I get back.

Other then that...my return flight has been booked, I hate to think about the return date...now it's set, I have 5 months and counting here in Brazil.
It makes me sad to think about going home, because I'm going to miss Brazil and everything I have here. All of my friends, the families I have gained, the foods I have come to love, the customs that I have picked up, the language I have finally gotten comfortable with...and its going to be strange.
I know I will be able to deal with going home, because leaving New Mexico was almost the same situation, allthough I think this will be even harder. Because when I left New Mexico, I knew I was coming back, I knew that the people there, would still be there when I came back, that there was always a way to stay in contact, that this was not the end. But leaving Brazil...who knows when I will have a chance to go back? who knows where the people I've come to love have gone by that time...

This exchange has been, and will continue to be full some of the most difficult times I've experienced. First there was leaving home, leaving everything I knew out into this huge world alone, not knowing what to expect. Then there was learning to stand on my own two feet and walk, regardless of how hard it was. Then, understanding that it would take time to become comfortable, and except that and be patient.
Now that I have gotten through those hard parts, I'm in the best stage of the exchange. I have become strong enough to stand on my own two feet, I have been patient enough to learn what I need to know to function comfortably, and now is the pay off. But soon, It will be the hardest part of all...giving up everything that I have gained and going back home. Back to normal life, not knowing where I'll end up... not knowing if I will come back to Brazil.
Exchanging is a huge series of adjustments and change...it never stops.
But I suppose life is like that too...



well, enough babbling for today,
update on Carnaval to come!!!!!!!