4 meses

Alright, since the last post I did was a big pile of complaining, dramatic quotes, and didn't really provide any information on what I have actually been doing, let me give you some insight as to why this is the best country  ever and anyone who doesn't want to go here is a yellow belly.

Three weekends ago, I went to this dinky little shack of a city. I think it's called Rio de Janeiro, but you probably haven't heard of it anyways. My awesome family took me. There's a reason my first host family is known for being the best in my city: they're perfect. They take such good care of me, but trust me and give me freedom. I'm not expected to act like someone I'm not, and Im supported all the time. I'm blessed to be living here. But back to Rio. I could write this whole post on a cidade marvaliosa. The people there are like something out of a beach vacation catalog. They're all strolling around in flip flops and sunglasses, drinking out of coconuts with tanned skin. It's like time just slows down there. For how crazy and party-oriented Brazilians are, they definitely know how to relax. One of the nights I got to go samba dancing with my cousin. Never have I ever seen so much glitter, big smiles and such a mass of movement. It was one of the best nights I've  had. The night before I went to my brother in law's grandmother's 94th birthday. Boy, was she a firecracker. I loved spending time with her and my brother in law's whole family. They're filled with the same spunk and joy as my relatives from home. Of course I also all the classic things of Rio, too. Copacabana and Ipanema beach, Christ the Redeemer, and the many delicious seafood restaurants. I adore the beaches. Everyone's laying on shrugs and drinking soda. Scattered alongside are tons of vendors selling everything from shrimp to tablecloths. It's crazy how inventive Brazilians get with job opportunities. No wonder Rio is considered home to one of the seven wonders of the world, it's unlike  any other place.

In addition to Rio, I had my birthday on November 1st. I was treated with so much warmth, and I don't think I've ever been as tired as I was the day following it. I went to a huge party with my family, filled with great food and parabéns. Another example of why my family is the best. I followed this with a fun night  out with friends. What a great way to pass into 19.

In general, I've been thoroughly loving my sacred time here. A lot of changes are up ahead. I'm finishing up my first semester of  school here, as long as my time spent with my first family. Although I love them, I'm curious to see how my exchange morphs in a new home. My best friends finish their exchange in Janruary. I'd do anything to keep them here longer. However, I know my year will continue and grow even without them here. Recently, I've started teaching english here. Who would've thought after four months I'd be able to teach? It's a very exciting accomplishment. I've joimed a gym to fight the classic exchange weight gain with few results. I'm at peace with this. At the end of the month I begin my Northeast trip, I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Tempo está mudando

This Saturday marks 4 months in Brazil. 4 MONTHS. I really can't believe it. I find it unbelievable that time can move so quickly, and life can change so quietly and slowly that it's hard for me to notice. I usually feel like everything is ultimately the same since getting here, I'm wasting my time and this whole 'exchange' thing is overrated. But boy, am I wrong. I have lived more, cried more, laughed more, and lived more in the past 15 weeks than I think I did in my previous 19 years.

I really like doing things like writing blogs, catching up with people back home, and looking at pictures I've taken on my Brazilian phone, for it allows me to reflect. Reflection is such an important part of being an exchange student for me. It forces me to see how much I've accomplished, changed, and learned in the little amount of time I've had here.
I wish I was a better writer, and could properly express why it is that people decide to travel, and why it leaves such a strong combination of emptiness and fullness within a person. I think I'll start with some common myths of long term travel, at least what I've noticed so far and isn't properly expressed in pictures and Facebook statuses.

First off, about 70 percent of time, exchange students aren't actually doing anything. It may seem like I'm living a life jam-packed with adventure, culture shock and knowledge... But I'm really just watching Pawn Stars with portuguese subtitles and eating Brazilian chicken. But, this is what I've found to be one of the most appealing parts of being here. I have minimal responsibility and can fill my time as I choose. This may come off as selfish, wasting such a golden year by not keeping it lively and exciting, but this is all I could've wanted. A chance to relax, to think, and just enjoy the little things. Instead of having a mental breakdown over my next organic chemistry test, or working until I feel like my feet are literally falling off my legs, I am incorporating myself into a casual Brazilian lifestyle, filled with long talks with locals, doing the kind of things I liked to to, and
enjoying the beautiful calmness and quietness that comes along with a year abroad.


Another interesting point, is that the concept of homesickness completely morphs during long term travel. For me, homesickness isn't missing the feel of my bed sheets, the sound of my dad's voice or the taste of Taco Bell. It's moreso an appreciation for where you come from. To coin a phrase, you don't know what you have until it's gone. I've never been an overly patriotic, but I have never been so proud to be an American until I'm a legal citizen 5000 miles away. I come from a strong family, and grew up priveleged. I love Brazil and want to be here more than anything, but my pride for my upbringing is stronger than ever, and I'm excited to enjoy life there once again.


Lastly, there is no right way or wrong way to be an exchange student. In all of our Rotary orientations, they give us so many tips and directions on what it is we need to do in our host countries to have a successful time. Personally, I don't think it's necessary. The beautiful thing about being here is that it isn't that easy, and I'm not prepared for a lot of the things that I'm faced with. It's a year of surprises. Like, I'm surprised that it isn't as easy to make friends as I thought it'd be. I'm not as flawless as I thought I was. Portuguese isn't as easy as it seemed. And that all my problems from home didn't just melt away simply because I paused my life there. I'm so grateful that some nights I feel sad, that some people here don't want to be buddies, and that I'm not getting my way. These are the kind of things that cause my subtle improvement as a person, and encourage my ascent into adulthood. What more could I ask for?

Ill write an update on what I've actually been doing following this post for those who are interested.

Cheers and God bless

Dois meses aqui

So as of this upcoming Saturday, I have officially hit the two month mark in Brazil. I wish I could say it's all been perfect and I'm constantly having the time of my life, it isnt. Being here can be really hard at times, in ways I never anticipated. But it amazes me what new insight and knowledge can emerge from the challenging moments.

I haven't actually done that much new stuff in terms of activities. I went to a smaller city nearby called Sete Lagoas two weeks ago for a weekend with my australian friends. One of the Australians, Darci, lives there. It was eye opening to see how much different of an experience she is having in comparison to me. Unlike here in BH, it is extremely rare to find anyone who speaks English.  Her only options for company are Brazilian kids from her school who she has to speak Portuguese with. It was nice being there and working on the language some more. We all went to a party and her friends were very excited to have foreigners there.
The longer I'm here, the more I'm seeing an in depth view of Brazil and Brazilians. Many  of them really don't like Americans which can be uncomfortable for me. They feel as if we feel superior over them and lack interest in them and the condition of the rest of the world. I've been trying hard to break these stereotypes and show them a different side to Americans that is sometimes missed or misunderstood. It's also amazing how much poverty and struggle there is in this country. It's depressing to see how big the favelas are here,  and how many people have to beg for food. This amount of poverty I think is what gives Brazil the reputation of being dangerous. I don't think this is the casee. Poor Brazilians aren't bad people,  or aren't always dangerous,  they're in need because of the struggling job availability and economy. Brazil isn't the safest, but it is not always the poor who are committing all of this crime. It is often gang and drug related. Personally, I feel safe here. With necessary precaution,  there's no reason I shouldn't be okay, despite the high poverty percentages.
I've been excited about the changes I have noticed in me. I feel as if I have a more mature handle on my emotions. Some things stress me out a lot here. My closest friends here are Australians and will be returning in January.  I'm afraid to lose them.  I didn't think that I'd make such good friends so quickly. But I feel like I'm becoming more emotionally prepared and able to handle change like this. Part of why is because I'm learning about the growth that occurs when I allow things to happen that I have no control over. I can't go visit my parents when I'm feeling homesick,  and I can't always have others solve my problems for me. In the meantime I can  rely more on the people here for support. My Brazilian family is fantastic.  We all had a party last weekend and they were so excited to speak with me and hear about my life here. It's reassuring to know  in a country like Brazil I will always be well taken care of and loved.

General updates. My Portuguese is comjng along much better.  It's more comfortable to speak with locals and I feel better about my skill level.
Although I hate waking up early,  I love my school.  The people there are really cool and I'm feeling closer to them than I expected I would. Most of them are younger than me and I feel silly for thinking this would keep us from becoming friends.
I have enrolled in the Nordeste trip provided by Rotary.  It's 3 weeks long in November.  Many of us exchange students will be traveling by bus throughout the Northeast of Brazil where there are many gorgeous beaches. We will then go to salvador, and end up in the infamous Rio de Janeiro for a few days. I'm beyond excited.

I have a lot of fun things planned coming up here.  I look forward tp writing about them.

Beijos

Estou ficando estabelecido: Building a Brazilian life

I feel as if I have been living in Brazil for 10 years and 10 minutes all the time nowadays. Some things are starting to feel so normal and comfortable to me, like having my leite com chocolate every morning or taking taxis here. But almost everyday I experience something different, and I get to feel like it's my first day all over again. I feel so blessed for this.

I have recently engaged in several new and exciting things here. I started school, which was daunting and I was nervous to do. In the United States, when a new student joins a class, the new presence is noticed and sometimes acknowledged, but for the most part seen as indifferent. Since students here all have the same classes with the same people, getting a new student is extremely exciting to them. When I walked in, I was received more warmly than I think I ever have been. Everyone was fighting over who got to sit by me and talk to me; it was an amazing feeling. School days here are short (7h-12:30h) and the class schedule varies by day. They learn a lot of the same things we do, including quite a substantial amount of information about the United States. I was speaking with my school friend nathalia about this. She said they study so much about the world, and try desperately to learn enough English to get a proper job. But, they don't learn enough about their own country. This saddens me that they are so focused on us and not appreciating the culture and knowledge of themselves. It's so opposite of America, where I don't think half of the people even know the Capitol of Brazil or what language they speak (along with many other countries), but could name many of our own presidents and history facts. Just a little food for thought.

And speaking of food (nice segue I know), my pallete continues to increase here. I have eaten chicken hearts, every fruit known to mankind, and so much chocolate and candy. Although I love the food here, I am missing it back home. Sometimes a girl just wants a box of Mac n cheese with some hot dog cut up into it, which I simply cannot find here.

I've endulged in more of Brazils fantastic nightlife here in the past two weeks. I have done more dancing and socializing since getting here than I think I did in two years back home. I'm absolutely loving it. I tried a type of traditional dance here called forró. I was dreadfully bad at it, but it didn't stop me from meeting great people and having a wonderful time. I hope to do it again soon. 

My Portuguese is starting to improve I have noticed, which has made it so much easier for me to connect with locals here. It's hard to make friends with someone with whom you can't properly communicate, so I'm thankful I'm getting closer and closer to being fluent as the days go by. 

As for now, I am snuggled up in bed after another great day here. It is O dia dos Pais, or Father's Day. I met all of my four grown siblings, their significant others, and my two beautiful host nieces. We had a giant lunch, talked, and laughed. My host father seemed so pleased and I could tell he was very proud to be the parent of such wonderful people. I attached a picture we took today below. It made me think of how lucky to have such a caring father here, and a caring one waiting for me at home as well. I love them both dearly.

For now, beijos lindas.

Minha primeira semana: my first week here

I don't think one realizes how comfortable and routine their home life is until they change it completely. It's crazy for me to think that not too long ago, I was laying in my same old bed with the same cats, watching movies in the same language. Now everything is so new and different, and I am loving just about every bit of it.

My first encounter with Brazil was landing in the airport in São Paulo. I came off the plane, walked down the hallway and was greeted by Portuguese signs and speakers. It was overwhelming. What is such a perk about Brazil, however, is it is so easy to find help from people. Within minutes, I met a girl who was flying from São Paulo to my city Belo Horizonte and she guided me through all the steps. She was so friendly and spoke a clean English. I am so thankful I had her with me to get me through that complicated airport process.When I landed in BH (belo Horizonte), I was nervous to meet my family. It is scary to be meeting people who come from a very different background from you and a culture you don't understand, especially when you know you'll be living with them. But when we were finally united, I felt so much more at ease. I was greeted with big hugs, kisses, and smiles from my mom (Marcia), dad (Guilherme), and brother (Luis Gustavo). I thoroughly love and appreciate all of them. Guilherme is a character, with broken English and a fantastic sense of humor. Marcia is the glue to the family, with so much knowledge and joy, and an undeniable amount of love for her husband and son. Luis Gustavo is a great mix of his parents. He has his dad's goofiness and his moms intuition and pleasant smile. I feel so blessed to be living with all of them and really feel accepted as one of the family. They all thought to take me to drive around BH and see it's fantastic views upon my arrival there. This city is unbelievably beautiful. It is surrounded in hills and has many colorful and interesting buildings. I was mesmerized at how big it actually is, it seems to go on forever. It has bars and restaurants in every corner, with many little shops and street vendors. Many sell American brand items, since this is a large influence on Brazilian culture. Proceeding this, I encountered one of the greatest things Brazil possesses: their food. If you are a food lover and have been flipping through travel books as to where your next vacation should be, look no further than right here in BH. Brazilians worship food here. A traditional meal includes rice and beans, meat or fish (which they are fantastic at cooking) one of their many tropical fruits which are a huge staple of their diet and drinks, and a sugary desert. Not only do they love their food, but they want you to love it even more. Every time I am eating something here, I get asked by a brazilian if I like the food, what I like about it, would I like some more etc. That is such a huge factor about Brazilians in general. Of the many I've met this week, hospitality is vital to them. They will make sure you are comfortable, happy, and full of food no matter what the circumstance. It really is nice to be here and constantly have people worry about my well being, it makes me feel considered and loved. But that is just Brazilians in general, they really are the most loving and kind people. Everytime I meet someone new, not matter who they are or who I am, they always give me a hug and kiss and say something like 'bom dia' or 'muito praze'. It is one of my favorite things about being here. Shyness just doesn't exist in this culture. People will meet me and automatically want to talk to me, hear about my life, give me their number, feed me, and so on. It is a huge change from home, where many relationships are more timid at first and definitely not initially physical. Here, acquaintances  doesn't exist. You are automatically regarded as a friend when you are introduced to each other. It makes me feel so accepted being here.I have experienced many new and exciting things this week. Me and my mother went to a symphony, which was considerate of her to think of considering I enjoy orchestral music. I have met many new people through rotary and my host family here, all of which I look forward to seeing again. I have learned a surprising amount of Portuguese, which pleases the people here when I tell them I am American (which, by the way, is huge here; they are fascinated by Americans) and proceed to attempt their language. Most importantly I have gotten to enjoy the relaxed, slow paced style of life here. People appreciate the simple things here, like watching tv as a family or sitting down together for dinner with no phones out. All of these things have grown my love for Brazil even more so than befor e I left.There are so many things, however, that I am itching to try. This weekend I will be going and trying the infamous brazilian dance clubs that light up the city every weekend. I have many places left to see, and feel grateful that I have quite a few weeks ahead of me to enjoy them all. Next week I will be staring school, which I am both excited and anxious to go to. I will keep you all updated on how this all goes.

 Sorry  for the lengthiness of this post, I iust have so much to say and so few complaints about my first week, I look forward to writing about and experience upcoming ones.

Por agora, tchau é boa notie-

Lila

And so it begins

Two Days Away

It is two in the morning, July 17th, and I had the sudden realization that I am actually going to Brazil. Two days from now, I will be most likely tossing and turning in bed, feeling immense nostalgia and looking around my room for the last time for a year. How crazy is that!

I had the pleasure of having some of my close friends out to the farm today for snacks and a bonfire. Being so close to leaving, I am beginning to realize how much they have all helped mold me into someone who would even feel comfortable enough and self assured to the point where I think studying abroad is even a possibility.  They all seem to want the best for me and know better than  anyone else what to say to help me stay positive and focused on the adventures ahead. I am so thankful for them and the many years of joy and laughs they have provided. 

I would like to say I'm prepared for Brazil, but no matter how many sites I read, or people I talk to, there's no way for me to know just what to expect until I get there. All I know is based off of the lovely people I am going to be living with, the amount of support I have back home, and the beautiful sites and cultures of my city (Belo Horizonte), I will be able to find my place among millions. And I do mean millions... Big city. 

Now all that is left to do is pack, eat my last order of American French fries, and wave goodbye. Kisses to all.