Cool People

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!

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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

Today, 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!

Road Trip!

Brazil, Cool People, host families

I just got home from a 5-day road trip with my 2nd host parents and their poodle. Spending 5 hours in a car with my host parents (or anyone for that matter) can really bring you together. Of course, most of the conversations consist of them pointed at signs, trucks, animals and products growing in the fields and I would translate it into English. They would attempt at repeating it and we would laugh and laugh. My relationship with my 2nd host parents is a lot stronger than what I had with my last host parents. I think it is because I am an only child now and my last family I had two older sisters. I miss my first Brazilian family because I was just getting comfortable and close to my sisters. Now, I feel like I’m really getting a Brazilian experience. My new host parents don’t know any English. I can feel my Portuguese increasing every second. The two family experiences are very different so I’m glad I get to experience both of them.

On our road trip, we traveled to Fransisco Beltrao to meet all the relatives and extended family. Every day, I met at least 4 new family members. I now have 7 new cousins, 5 new aunts and uncles and 6 new grandparents. My immediate family in the US is very small, so it’s crazy to think my Brazilian family is twice as big. This past vacation I connected with people in a way that I would never have imagined. Whether it was comparing English words to Portuguese or sharing pictures of my town, family, friends, housing, foods… I think the most mind blowing thing about my culture was I come from somewhere that is majority cold, snowy and mountains taller than their tallest building. I think the hardest question to answer is “Do you miss United States food?” I don’t typically eat “American food” because my mom is Pescatarian, Vegan, and Gluten free so I don’t normally have hamburgers, chicken wings, or any red meat on a daily basis. Don’t get me wrong, I got opportunities to eat meat back in the US. Mostly at special occasions, eating out or when staying at a friend’s house. But here in Brazil, I eat meat at least once a day, every day I can’t remember the last time I had fish.

Saturday was probably the busiest craziest day of the road trip. My dad’s sister, his nephew, and his other niece all have the same birthday, so all day Saturday we went to birthday parties. It was his nephew’s 1-year-old birthday and his sister was turning 35. After his nephews birthday party, my cousins took me driving around the city so I got to see more about it. Fransisco Beltrao was where my host dad is from. Fransisco Beltrao is a city famous for rotary clubs and they have a copy of Christ the Redeemer in Rio Janiero. My cousins and I got to know each other through the music we shared in common. Their favorite thing to do with their friends is finding a spot at a park and spend time playing cards and drinking traditional ice tea in the shade. Fransisco also continues to stay super hot throughout the year so many of the houses normally have pools. If they aren’t at the park they enjoy pool parties. Later, we showed up at his aunt’s house to hang out with the adults and eat more food. We didn’t get much time to spend at his aunt’s house because seconds later we were driving my host dad’s mother to the emergency room. We were all enjoying the food and having conversations out on the patio when all of a sudden their grandma walked right into the glass sliding door. She hit the glass door so hard her glasses cracked the glass and cut her eyebrow. As she was losing balance my cousin and I raced over to catch her, while we slowly walked her to the car I thought to myself. This day was so ironic, I met them this morning and here I am almost midnight and on my way to the emergency room. When my cousin and his grandma gave me the option to come with them to the emergency room I was shocked and honored. Out of all the other family members, she’s clearly known longer? It made me feel accepted and a part of the family.

It’s crazy to think I only spent 36 hours this family but when I had to say goodbye I started to miss all one of them. They opened this door into their world and welcomed me in with open arms. I really connected with them in such a short period of time. Meeting new people will always have an effect on you, but realizing that I may never get to see them again was kind of depressing. Of course, people say as long as you stay in touch, your feelings for those people will stay the same… until we meet again. Luckily they want to come visit U.S. I would be more than happy to welcome them into my little house in Colorado in the future, but as I walked away from that visit I really reflected on how much I hate saying goodbyes…