Category: Brazil

They Meet…

Brazil, City, Cool People, Exchange Students, Exchange year, Family

Now they are all connected! My real Family and my Host Families.  They have relationships stronger than I ever expected.  I know the connections will continue my entire life. It’s cool to be able to say that my parents flew to Brazil to visit me after 300 days being away.  But I’m glad to have these last few weeks of my exchange to spend with my host families and friends before I go back to the U.S.

I was nervous to have to translate everything back in forth because I know I don’t speak perfect Portuguese. There are a lot of words I don’t know how to say. And when it comes to my family, anything could come up at the dining table.  But luckily, I wasn’t the only one there willing to translate. At times, I got to sit back and relax when my host siblings were around to translate.  That was my favorite part!

It was shocking to see my family at first almost like a dream, but it becomes more real after they left and my host families continue to talk about them.  Meeting my family made it more real for my host families and I believe they will come to the US to visit. My exchange friends were very curious to know if my parents noticed any change in my personality. My family thinks I have “stepped it up” and am a more mature young woman.  Of course, when I am with friends and family, I am the same old sarcastic person when we stand alone.

It was awkward to see my parents reactions at first when my host families described me with words like calm and quiet, but then they got to see it for themselves and it made a little more sense.  I think its normal as an exchange student to change the ways you act with your host family because you can’t express yourself the same way you do at home. Maybe because there’s no translation in your host language or you are just not that comfortable with them for a first impression to go a certain way.

At this point, I can’t wait for my host families to come visit me in the US so I can show them my country, Colorado and my town! Breckenridge!

 

Festa Nacoes

Bands, Brazil, City, Exchange Students, Exchange year, Nation Fair, Rotary, Unites States

The highlight of March was a surprise visit from other exchange students in another rotary district coming to visit for our Nation Fair. That day was more special for the RYE outbounders 17/18, because it was good to see our friends we’ve missed from our Northeast Trip.

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Nation Fair is to share our nationalities with the community. This also helps the outbounds choose which country they will choose next year. Every country is responsible for serving a traditional food and decorating each stand so it catches the strangers attention. As a representative, we are given stickers with our nation flag on it.  When the outbounds come find us and ask about our nationality, we try to convince them to choose our country for the following information. When they fill up their booklets of stickers they turn it in and choose the top three places of their dreams. This event is open to everyone in the community,  so it was a big deal when the city’s governor made an appearance. To keep the energy up all day long they have dances from all over the world perform to keep the audience entertained. This event takes all day because all the outbounds have to finish their book then the Rotarians make the final decisions so they head home knowing where they will go. We get the honor to announce which exchange student will be coming to our countries next year!

It is a long process to be chosen for this amazing opportunity, but as soon as you get there all the hard work pays off. With all the friendships you make across the world it turns out to be the year that changes your life for the good!

District Aniversario

Bands, Brazil, Exchange Students, Exchange year, Family

April 7th,

The annual birthday of my district turned out to be a huge deal…. hosted at one of the most famous restaurants in South America known for seating the most people at once. This dinner was fancy and fun to attend. It amazed me how many Rotarians showed up that are a part of a club with nothing to do with an exchange student. But it worked to our advantage! We were responsible for selling a certain amount of raffle tickets for the final surprise that turned out to be a new IPHONE 7!!!

After lots and lots of mingling…. they pulled out that lucky ticket that turned out to be one of the women we sold it to! What a small chance, we sold 50 out of 250 tickets and ours was drawn. Of course, we didn’t win the iPhone but the woman that did came and found us afterward with a huge smile on her face!

After a huge honoring ceremony to introduce all the different clubs that make up with district we sat down for dinner. The restaurant was famous for Italian food, but if you are not aware restaurants here have a different system. With a party like this the buffet would take to long and then the people at the end wouldnt get anything to eat so they organize it so every table gets a family size potion for 6-8 people and when you finish a plate the servers will replace it with a new one. After stuffing our stomachs we took plenty group pictures and danced on the dance floor all night!

Ilha do Mel

Beach, beach soccer, Boats, Brazil, Bus trip, Cool People, Exchange Students, Friends

Stands for HONEY ISLAND…

Beachy Sunsets!

It takes exactly an hour and a half by car and 30 minutes by boat to this island from Curitiba. It’s known as the prettiest beaches in PARANA. This island is the farthest my Brazilian families travel to get away for vacation. When I mention I have been to Northeast, Falls Iguazu and Santa Catalina they are shocked because some of them have never traveled out of Parana.  Compared to all the beaches I have been to in Brazil this island is beautiful, but there’s nothing super special about it.

Lean on me!
We the Bomb.com

On the first day we walked 17 kilometers… we live for the motto “do it for the picture!”

We walked 17 kilometers between the fort and lighthouse.  The second day, we found a beach cove to lay out in the sun or play soccer!

Most of you must think Brasil must be made up of beaches because that’s all I write about, but as far the exchangers, it doesn’t feel like Brasil unless we are back in Curitiba. The local Brazilians disagree, they think Brasil is everywhere but Curitiba because the weather is so bipolar and colder than every other city in the country.

Funny faces

Foz Iguazu

Brazil, Bus trip, Cool People, Exchange Students, Exchange year, Places, Tour, Waterfalls

After spending almost 90 hours in a bus throughout January and now getting the opportunity to spend another 30 hours seemed easy. Our district was invited to be a part of the meeting with John F. Germ also known as the Rotarian international president this year. The meet invited over 8 different districts but we were the only one’s to bring INBOUNDERS. The meeting took place in the town of Falls Iguazu which was named after the famous waterfalls that cross Argentina, Paraguay, and Brasil. Foz Iguazu is 13 hours from my district so we drove all night. Arriving so early in the morning we spent our spare time getting drenched by the waterfalls.

After 2 hours at the falls, we gathered for lunch and then headed to the big conference with the International President. Our director reserved seats for us to sit right in the front row so our blazers would stand out to the staff. Meeting some of the staff gave them the idea to allow me and the two other girls from the US to sing the nation anthem to welcome President. My heart just about dropped when they asked us to sing without background music to follow along to. To be honest, I have never sung the whole anthem let alone now I have to do it in front of over 200 people I got a little nervous. But then I started thinking to myself I will never see these people again so what do I have to loose.

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!

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.