Author: rosiecarls

Cristo Redentor

Brazil, Chruch, City, Exchange year, RIO, Travel

Also known as Christ the Redeemer…

Recently, I’ve been reading chapters out of the bible on my own time, but this time I read to comprehend and understand the context.  Before, I would just listen and not really pay much attention to the meaning. I was more interested in a summer full of night hide and seek around a neighborhood, going jeeping, watching movies, star gazing on a cliff (etc…) after youth group sessions and/or church.  I am more pleased with THIS summer’s activities full of enjoyable adventures and building friendships I will have for a lifetime.   There is more out there than just doing the exact same things over and over again every day with people I will have little in common with after high school.

It’s always been one of my dreams to get the chance to go to Rio de Janiero and see that statue, but this time I felt connected to it. The word redeem means “to buy out.” The term was used specifically in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. The application of this term to Christ’s death on the cross is quite telling. If we are “redeemed,” then our prior condition was one of slavery. God has purchased our freedom, and we are no longer in bondage to sin or to the Old Testament law. I was blind, but now I see. I was lost but now I’m found. My path was destruction, but my Savior has redeemed me! Thank you for finding me and redeeming me from myself.

You know what they say there’s a first time for everything… on a personal level this past September 12th, I accepted god into my heart and I prayed for the first time in my whole life all by myself. I think the good influences on me were the people that I got to know this summer at bible studies and occasionally church on Sundays for the first time. I wasn’t sure I wanted to become Christian because I’ve been raised not really knowing what to believe, but my time here in Brazil I have a lot of free time to think about myself and I decided to start believing. I became Christian because I do not want to be judged or punished for all the sins I’ve caused in the past, after life and I accepted God because he saves us and forgives our sins so I am willing to start over in a new direction. God’s gift is eternal life in heaven so I do not fear of what could happen to me when I die because god sent his only son to die on the cross for all my sins.

Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai

Brazil, Carnaval, Cool People, Exchange Students, Friends, Places, RIO, Tour, Travel

Our first day in Rio de Janiero! We visited Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai (the famous main street) where it all goes down the real deal. The big parade that last 5 long days of all kinds of different floats and people all dressed up. We were even lucky enough to get to try on all the traditional Brazilian costumes… Of course, we look like models, but in reality, we struggled to keep those big headsets up and to carry those big shoulders sets. They were just getting started decorating for Carnaval coming up at the end of this month and I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when its all done. I wish I could make it, but I’ll just have to come back again in the future!

Paradise – Paraiso Bahiano

Beach, Brazil, Cool People, Family, Friends, Places, Stories, Tour, Travel

Itacare has the most amazing beach on our trip!  Along with the crystal blue water, very green hills, bright red and pink flowers and huge palm trees, we scored with a spot with lounge chairs and shade made from leaves threaded together at Paraiso Bahiano.

That day there was not a cloud in the sky.  The sun shined all day long and kept heating up the sand causing us to sprint on our tippy toes just to get to the ocean. The boys attempted at making a sandcastle, but it was washed away by the high tide. Meanwhile, all the girls walked down the beach to have a photoshoot. If you stand in the right spot you could see hot rocks, crashing waves, the sky, and the palm trees all in one picture. This place had everything, I am coming back again soon!

Make a Wish!

Chruch, Cool People, Exchange Students, Family, Places, Salvador, Tour, Travel, Uncategorized

In Salvador, they are famous for sharing good vibes. This town reminded me of my neighborhood back in the US… every building is a different color. Salvador has a lot to offer, one day we spent getting a city tour about all the history and the next day we were riding a boat out to an island. Salvador is full of very friendly locals. With every purchase, you get a bracelet to tie around your wrist for someone, you are traveling with.

There’s is a place in this city that is covering in these bracelets and it’s on a fence right in front of a Catholic church. There they sell these bracelets in a bunches of 10-20  for very cheap.  The idea is that you purchase enough bracelets to add a few to the fence and share amongst your friends. These bracelets aren’t anything high quality, but they all have personal meaning. You cannot tie the bracelet on yourself.  A friend ties the bracelet on your wrist and with each knot, you make 3 wishes.  When the bracelet eventually falls off those wishes come true!!

Homemade Carnaval!

Brazil, Carnaval, City, Exchange Students, Friends, Places, Stories, Travel

Take me back to the night I dressed up like an Arabic Egyptian girl and danced on the street. We filled these streets with sound and color as we passed small restaurants and homes. This little town called Olinda is very small with tight streets and plenty of houses built on top of each other. It’s a cute little town very colorful and famous for their culture.  Some residents are very into religion and attending church, while others entertain with crazy funky dances in the streets.

As foreigners, we made fools of ourselves, but it was a blast trying to copy our Brazilian dance leaders. For as long as 45 minutes, we danced, paraded and chanted.  We were exhausted getting back on that bus by the end of the night because it’s not easy dancing like Brazilians.

Buggy Rides

Brazil, Cool People, Exchange Students, Exchange year, Sandunes, Tour, Travel

Day 3 of my Northeast trip we went jeeping in the sand dunes. We started our month off at the highest point in Brazil also known as Jericoacoara! I’ve never been jeeping in the sand dunes before and today I experienced it with people from all over the world.

Buggies

This past month I traveled along the coast with 56 different exchange students from three different districts. The moment we realized we would be traveling together, we started to get to know each other. I remember that first morning at the airport around 6:15 am like it was yesterday. This month I traveled to 8 different cities and probably 14 different beaches. Out of all those places, my top 5 favorites are Jericoacoara, Pipa, Recife, Salvador, and Itacare.

This month I traveled to 8 different cities and probably 14 different beaches. My top 5 favorites,  Jericoacoara, Pipa, Recife, Salvador, and Itacare.

Jericoacoara is literally a town built in the sand dunes. We spent 3 days in this up and coming beach community. Many visitors and a lot of new construction. Beautiful modern hotels are being built with views of the beach, forest, and desert all from one location.

The locals were very nice and the food was delicious. A little on the expensive side, but it’s understandable because we were out in the middle of nowhere.

I enjoyed the place we stayed at. It felt like a huge housing complex with a bunch of rooms surrounding by hammocks hung up by a pool and a lounging area for card games or just talking.

We filled one entire side of the hotel so it was like we were the only ones there.  There I roomed with 4 other girls, we had the biggest room out of the whole place.

Jeeping was my favorite thing to do in Jericoacoara because it was new and exciting and a fun get away from any service and society.

And so it begins… 2017

Beach, Brazil, Exchange year, Holidays, host families, Rotary, Stories, Travel

A normal New Year’s resolution usually is about traveling to the city of your dreams AND I got to start the New Year in the Country of my dreams. How lucky am I? A year ago I didn’t know this city even existed and now everything in my life happens here.

Today is my 147th day in Brazil!  I am told by the people around me that I am growing up to be someone more wise, mature, outgoing and friendlier than the person I was 5 months ago. I think it’s the amazing people that surround me,  and the time spent with each and every day with that has had a huge influence on who I have become.

I enjoy meeting new people and building all kinds of different relationships.   My connection with all the other inbound students in Brazil started because we are all students exploring a foreign country, learning a new language and culture.  The connections I have with friends in SUMMIT is built amongst everyday hobbies, class, sports (etc…) we have in common.  The friendships are both important but built on different experiences.

Traveling makes it easy to see different cultures, but to have a relationship with the culture is special. I might post pictures like a total tourist, but I have stories behind them that say otherwise. The touristic side and local sides are very opposite. I think sharing the holidays with my host families makes a huge impact on my experience. In my opinion, the way you spend holidays with your parents would stay the same where ever you might be to spend it. But to celebrate with your host parents you really get the feeling of the another culture and new traditions.

The best news to finishing out 2016 was our host parent’s surprise was to spend New Years at the beach here in Parana. It’s not ideal paradise, but we made the most of it.  It recently had a hard rainstorm that wiped out most of the sidewalk along the beach and knocked out the cellphone signal. For the last 4 days of the year, If we weren’t laying out in the sun at the beach in Mathinos, we were playing cards, cooking delicious fish or churrasco and listened to Brazilian music.  Each day the beach got more and more crowded with families visiting for the holiday. It was tough taking photos without someone standing in the background!

Here in Brazil, it’s a tradition to wear all white representing peace with colored underwear representing how you are feeling. For example loved = pink, happiness = yellow, lucky = green. Everyone stays up until midnight then heads down to the beach to pop some champagne while you watch the fireworks. After doing so, you think of 7 wishes for the new year and jump 7 waves for good luck.

Fireworks
She was my Mid-night Kiss
1
2
3… JUMP

2016 Highlights:

The greatest lesson I learned, your best friends will be the ones that notice when you’re gone and miss you but more importantly can’t wait until I get home!

The most difficult thing of 2016 was letting go of my past so I could stop being defined by past mistakes and start living for the new challenges and strive to be a better me.

Favorite memory would be my school trip to Spain only because that was the first time I flew overseas without my family.  That was the first time I lived with a host family.  The first time I got super close to new people both from my school and in Spain!

I will never forget meeting all the other exchange students that are living in Curitiba. Our friendships are built off the experiences we face together during these incredible 10 months aboard.

Looking ahead to 2017:

Right now, I am looking forward to my Northeast trip that will start at the top of Brazil and continue down the coast to Rio in a bus with all the exchange students from my district.

I want to learn how to Zumba dance and cook my favorite Brazilian meal before I leave.

For school,  I want to get these online classes out of the way so I can enjoy my exchange!

On a personal level, I want to be spiritually grounded.

My motto to be a good person, but don’t waste time proving it!

Hot vs White Christmas Day!

Brazil, Cool People, Exchange year, Holidays, host families, Places, Stories

Feliz Natal…Merry Christmas

Christmas is finally come to end! As my weekend was full of visiting all my host families places or checking up with my family that’s finally all back together in the US over facetime. As a result, this was my first Christmas without snow. In fact, I got to wear a summer dress and flip flops to all the Christmas gatherings.

It started out with going to see the famous orphanage choir sing to Brazilian Christmas songs in the center of Curitiba. It is a 45-minute show the audience stood outside and the orphans sang out windows of a bank that was decorated everything from lights to a stage and projections on the sides to follow the theme of each song. And ended the night with opening presents. I am so grateful for my 2nd host family, I was not expecting to get any gifts but they surprised me with new sandals, jewelry, beach towel, a tank top and makeup!

It was new to me to learn all the different ways people celebrate Christmas around the world. At first, I thought it was strange when my Hungarian sister and I fought about which day was ACTUALLY Christmas. But in reality it makes sense in Slovakia, Holland, Denmark, and Hungary Christmas is on the December 24th otherwise Santa Claus wouldn’t be able to visit every house in one night! Fun fact I learned this weekend was Santa Claus was actually created in Finland and wore all green originally. But the Coca-Cola company invested in paying for extra advertising so that Santa wore red instead.

The clique saying going around this weekend was in America the kids are only a morning people on December 25th because its only a tradition in the US to open presents in the morning. I noticed Brazilians like to decorate for Christmas as far out as the middle of November. It was new and different for me because its normal for me to at least wait until after Thanksgiving but they don’t have such thing here. Here in Brazil normally they open presents at 10 pm on the 24th. Some Catholic traditions are taken seriously others are not even touched depending on the family. As far as my first host family everyone lives close to each other, but on the December 24th, they spend it on their dad’s side and 25th with their mom’s. As far as the family I live with now my host mom’s family came to us for the holidays but every other year they try and get away to spend at least one of the holidays at the beach.

Not only did I get to experience Xmas in Brazil this year but also Hungary. Zsofi (my sister) explained to me that her Christmas is actually spent on both December 6th and December 24th. On December 6th Saint Nicolas comes and puts chocolate in your shoes after they simply clean them. But on December 24th little Jesus comes to town to drop off their presents under the Christmas tree. They also decorate the tree on the 24th, walk around their tree caroling and light sparklers. Specifically, her family always buys a new board game to play with after all the gifts have been opened. Then December 25th is simply just spent relaxing, visiting other friends and family and having a feast.

Here in Brazil, it is the start of summer so everyone’s goal is to have a nice body to look good in a bikini but officially starting the break off with holidays full of huge feasts its hard to keep working on that nice summer body. I guess that’s the only nice thing I miss about having Christmas and New Years in the winter. Because you don’t have to worry so much about how you eat but more about how to stay warm and still look stylish!

Natal dos Crianças

Brazil, Clubs, Cool People, Exchange year, Rotary

IMG_8140Today, my rotary club brought Christmas to the less fortunate. It kills me to even imagine the lives of all these children.  In their eyes, poverty and drugs are their idea of normal. We spent the day making food like fruit salad for a snack and hot dog sandwiches for lunch followed by experimenting with cotton candy for a little sweet treat while they played at the playground in the mean time.

These kids come from a little village called Colombo Parana and their school brought them here today for a little Natal (Christmas) surprise. At the end of the day, Papa Noel (Santa Claus) came to visit and deliver some gifts. The boys received a World Cup soccer ball and the girls, little purses with different Disney characters on it to carry their school supplies or their makeup every other day! It was warming to see their reaction to Santa Claus when he showed up with bags full of wrapped gifts.  We got the impression that they don’t normally receive gifts in their everyday lives. As the kids lined up to visit with Santa Claus, one by one the Rotarians explained that their parents usually just spend their money on drugs or food, but very rarely do the kids receive gifts. It touched me to see some kids weren’t very excited about the gifts. But as I put myself in their shoes they just weren’t sure how to react because they have never gotten a surprise before.

Right before they headed back to their school, we held a raffle for a backpack full of school supplies and a bike. The kids were previously numbered on the attendance list and all the numbers were put into a bag.  My soon-to-be exchange sister from Hungary and I helped pull out the numbers from the bag. First, we raffled off the backpack. A little boy in spouted out of his seat with excitement when his name was called. Shortly after, we raffled off the bike and the shyest little girl in the crowd won.  She seemed so confused. I felt bad jumping in her face and taking photos, but seconds later her brother came and protected her. I can’t imagine living in a small village and the families surprise when this small girl comes home with a new bike! I don’t think she even knows how to ride a bike, but I hope someday she will learn and enjoy it for the rest of her life!