I'll start at last Wednesday. I took the bus alone to my friend's place so we could all go out for acai together. I was dying of the heat of course because it was 37 degrees outside yet when I looked out onto the street, the majority of people were wearing jeans. Brazilians...
So I finally arrived and we met up with Romain (Belgium), Sandra (Canada), Eli (USA), Mateusz (Poland), and Paul and Manon (France).
After the acai, Eli and I took the bus back to the Diamond Mall because we both live ridiculously close to it which is AWESOME!
Her and I just walked around and then we heard music so we ended up having dinner at a restaurant where there was a jazz band playing. It was a very lovely date :)
Thursday I went to this country club type thing with my grade at school. This place was amazing, it had like 5 pools, 6 courts for tennis/soccer/basketball etc, a mini zoo, a bunch of little concessions that looked like huts, and a waterslide! It also had a huuuuge mango tree where I got to pick a mango and eat it right there. I died of happiness.
We took a bus to get there (yes you guys, it was a bus. A bus. Yep.. a bus) and on the way there, one of the guys brought his guitar and everyone was singing along to the Brazilian music. One of my friends told the guys that I sang so they tried to find songs in English so I could sing too.
So we got there and everyone changed into their swim suits... something I still have to get used to. I've kind of gotten used to the girls but I don't know how long it's going to take to get used to the boys. Many of the boys wear those little speedo shorts and maaaan, I would've loved to have seen my face when I saw the guys come out. Oh yeah so I also got my first ever burn that day because I was smart and didn't really wear enough sunscreen (by 'enough' I mean none).
My friends told me that the club had monkeys in it so I got really excited! But unfortunately I didn't actually see any. I haven't seen any monkeys at all in Brazil yet and it's to the point where I might even just walk down the street waving a banana in the air until I find one!
That day I also drove a swan boat around in a big pond, almost fought an emu, and watched an old man belly flop into the pool. Twas a great day.
Friday I didn't have school so I slept in then went out for acai with Sandra, Lucas (an outbound student going to Holland in February) and the new exchange student that just arrived and is staying in his house. Her name is Haley and she is from the US. She has a very nice name.
After the acai, Sandra and I went back to her place to get ready for this big party. We got all dressed up fancy and took a taxi with her brother to Savassi to meet others. There was a giant van that picked us up and we drove a half hour to get to the party. This building was huge and so fancy! Once you gave your ticket, there was a photographer waiting there to take your picture. Then everyone we were with wanted a picture with the Canadian girls. I felt like a celebrity.
The inside was beautifully decorated, had two stages, a giant open bar, open food, dance floor, lounge area and an upstairs VIP area. Everyone looked amazing as well.
The band was really awesome and they played some really famous Brazilian music that I actually knew! I also danced Forro with one of my friends because I took classes so I know the steps.
I've never been to a party like that before, I was really impressed with everything. I didn't want to leave.
Saturday I slept in a lot, got up and made apple cake with my host parents. We made oatmeal raison cookies as well. It was really nice to spend time with them in the kitchen for the whole afternoon.
Saturday night was pretty chill, I was going to go out but then kind of decided not to until Clarice was just about to leave but then said 'Hailey change your clothes, we're going to a party!' So I ran into my room, got dressed, make up, hair, boom gone. It was a goodbye party for one of her friends who was moving to the US.
Sunday after lunch I went with my host family to visit my host dad's aunty who is 96 years old. Nossa!
It was a really nice visit and I was proud because I was able to follow the conversation for the most part.
Sunday night was nice because I got to Skype my family for a good 2 and a half hours.
I forgot the mention this before but the other day, I Skyped my family and then introduced them to my host family. It was really cool but really confusing at the same time because the only way anyone could communicate was through me. My host parents would say something in Portuguese and then I would translate it to English for my Canadian family and then vice versa. I kept accidently speaking Portuguese to my Canadian family so it made things really difficult and my brain was confused. But overall it was a really cool experience. I was weird talking in another language in front of my family, knowing they don't understand me. HAHA it's my superpower now.
Until next time, Beijos.
About Me
- Hailey in Brasil
- This blog is for anyone to follow me on my journey to Brazil on the Rotary Exchange. I am from British Columbia and I will be living for a year in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
Monday, 28 October 2013
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Things I Miss
It is still early in my exchange so I don't really have any feelings of homesickness HOWEVER there are a few things that I do miss...
- Butter Chicken and Samosas. Basically any curry type food.
-Pachos
-Spicy food
-Milk from BC
-Tim Hortons
-Ranch Dressing
-Subway (surprisingly)
-Free water at any restaurant
-Caesar salad
-MONEY every two weeks!!
-Peanut butter sandwiches
-Music classes
-Pie!
-A sky full of stars
-Muffins... no one eats muffins here
- How I Met Your Mother
- Subway cookies
-Lakes
-My puppies
-Steak
-Chips
-Bacon
-Mom's pasta
That's all I can think of for right now. Notice how most of those things are food? HAHA well I love the food here but there are some things that I crave from Canada.
- Butter Chicken and Samosas. Basically any curry type food.
-Pachos
-Spicy food
-Milk from BC
-Tim Hortons
-Ranch Dressing
-Subway (surprisingly)
-Free water at any restaurant
-Caesar salad
-MONEY every two weeks!!
-Peanut butter sandwiches
-Music classes
-Pie!
-A sky full of stars
-Muffins... no one eats muffins here
- How I Met Your Mother
- Subway cookies
-Lakes
-My puppies
-Steak
-Chips
-Bacon
-Mom's pasta
That's all I can think of for right now. Notice how most of those things are food? HAHA well I love the food here but there are some things that I crave from Canada.
Monday, 21 October 2013
Can't Think of a Name for this Post
So the last few days have been pretty average (except Sunday but I will get to that) but still awesome none-the-less. Last week was Dia Das Crianças like I mentioned before so last Friday, my whole class brought in a toy from their youth and dressed as little kids. That day was pretty slack compared to the other days so two of my friends brought in their guitars. They are both so good! They jammed to songs by the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, etc. They played and I sang with one guy who played and sang really well. We sang 'Come Together' which was so cool because I sang that song in Blues Band last year. We also sang 'Hotel California' which actually sounded really awesome. It felt so good to just jam like that.
That night was pretty chill actually, I just went home and hung out with my family. It was raining so hard that day, I didn't really want to go anywhere!
Saturday, I woke up and helped my host mom in the kitchen. We made rice, beans, prepared vegetables, and I learned how to make fresh suco de maracuja (passion fruit juice). She also brought out a little kids work book that her daughter had when she was little. It was to help learn Portuguese. She would choose a page and I would read it to her and then describe what was in the picture. It actually helped with my Portuguese so much, I am so happy she loves to teach.
Saturday afternoon I was supposed to go to the 'Pie Festival' with a couple other exchange students (Julia from Australia, Romain from Belgium). We were going to meet at my place and then take the bus there. We didn't end up going because by the time they got to my place, and we take the bus the festival would have almost ended because it is really far from my place. Instead, we decided to go to the supermarket, buy ingredients, and make chocolate chip pancakes for my family. My family loved this idea! So that night we had chocolate chip pancakes, maple syrup, blueberry syrup, peanut butter, coffee, and pao de queijo. It was probably the best supper I've had in a while. Everyone loved the pancakes.
That night I went to a party with Sandra (Canadian exchange student) and her host brother Renan. It was a party with Renan's university. I met tons of people and spoke lots and lots of Portuguese. It was really awesome. It was that night that the time changed to be an hour ahead so we lost one hour of sleep. Dang it.
I slept over at Sandra's that night and then on Sunday I went out with her family to visit some caves in Sete Logoas (a city an hour away).
That caves were AMAZING! You walk in at ground level and then you keep walking further and further down the stairs into the caves. There were different colours and designs on the walls. So many stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and sizes. It was so amazing. I liked it in there because surprisingly, the air seemed more fresh. There was a sense of peace and silence in there that made it all the better. I'm just going to point out that on my drive home last night it was about 8:30pm and I looked outside at the temperature gage and it read 30 degrees Celsius. 30. Thirty. Like Three with a zero after it. 30. yeah. BRAZIL... WHAT! How is that okay? Anywho, I'm alive.
Today is Monday and I am writing this while I wait to go get acai with friends. SURPRISE! Acai again! Today is really freaking hot. I played soccer with the boys (and one other girl) in the blazing hot sun. I scored a goal, wooop!! They cheered for me and they kind of looked surprised but after that they passed to me! hahaha I don't blame them for not passing before, I was sucking pretty hard core.
Once again it was so hot out. I'm dying here and it's only spring!
That night was pretty chill actually, I just went home and hung out with my family. It was raining so hard that day, I didn't really want to go anywhere!
Saturday, I woke up and helped my host mom in the kitchen. We made rice, beans, prepared vegetables, and I learned how to make fresh suco de maracuja (passion fruit juice). She also brought out a little kids work book that her daughter had when she was little. It was to help learn Portuguese. She would choose a page and I would read it to her and then describe what was in the picture. It actually helped with my Portuguese so much, I am so happy she loves to teach.
Saturday afternoon I was supposed to go to the 'Pie Festival' with a couple other exchange students (Julia from Australia, Romain from Belgium). We were going to meet at my place and then take the bus there. We didn't end up going because by the time they got to my place, and we take the bus the festival would have almost ended because it is really far from my place. Instead, we decided to go to the supermarket, buy ingredients, and make chocolate chip pancakes for my family. My family loved this idea! So that night we had chocolate chip pancakes, maple syrup, blueberry syrup, peanut butter, coffee, and pao de queijo. It was probably the best supper I've had in a while. Everyone loved the pancakes.
That night I went to a party with Sandra (Canadian exchange student) and her host brother Renan. It was a party with Renan's university. I met tons of people and spoke lots and lots of Portuguese. It was really awesome. It was that night that the time changed to be an hour ahead so we lost one hour of sleep. Dang it.
I slept over at Sandra's that night and then on Sunday I went out with her family to visit some caves in Sete Logoas (a city an hour away).
That caves were AMAZING! You walk in at ground level and then you keep walking further and further down the stairs into the caves. There were different colours and designs on the walls. So many stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and sizes. It was so amazing. I liked it in there because surprisingly, the air seemed more fresh. There was a sense of peace and silence in there that made it all the better. I'm just going to point out that on my drive home last night it was about 8:30pm and I looked outside at the temperature gage and it read 30 degrees Celsius. 30. Thirty. Like Three with a zero after it. 30. yeah. BRAZIL... WHAT! How is that okay? Anywho, I'm alive.
Today is Monday and I am writing this while I wait to go get acai with friends. SURPRISE! Acai again! Today is really freaking hot. I played soccer with the boys (and one other girl) in the blazing hot sun. I scored a goal, wooop!! They cheered for me and they kind of looked surprised but after that they passed to me! hahaha I don't blame them for not passing before, I was sucking pretty hard core.
Once again it was so hot out. I'm dying here and it's only spring!
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Thanksgiving
I realize I am late with this Thanksgiving post but I figured better late than never.
Like I said before, I have been here a month and things are starting to feel a little more real. I can honestly say I am pretty much past the culture shock for the most part. The part that still gets me and I really cannot imagine getting used to is the poverty.
I live a very good life here in Brazil. In fact, I live in one of the richest neighbourhoods in Belo Horizonte. The crime rate is not high in that particular area, which is comforting but that doesn't stop me from seeing how other people live as well. One minute you are on a perfectly paved street, the next is torn up and uneven ground. Some buildings here are magnificent and beautiful and others (that could be right next to them) are worn and torn buildings with barely a stable wall.
I watch the richest people all dressed in suits, carrying briefcases, talking on their expensive Bluetooth, walk right past a food-deprived child with a terrible cough and their hands held out asking for change. They walk right past them as if they didn't even notice. At many intersections, people will come up to your window and stick their hands out. Some are so sick, they can barely talk or walk. Their cheeks are concaved and their eyes are nearly blank.
I've never seen anything like this in small-little Armstrong. It breaks my heart to see the contrast of the rich and the poor here in Brazil but I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to see it first hand. In just one month, Brazil has opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart to many things I didn't have any prior knowledge about.
This post is tied in with thanksgiving for a reason. There are so many things in my life I have to be thankful for. I am thankful for my family and friends at home in Canada, who have been supportive as usual. I am thankful for the family I have here in Brazil, who consistently put food on my plate (maybe a little too much I might add), give me a warm bed to sleep in, a place to call my own, and all the many more surprises they do for me. I am thankful for my friends here, who have been making my exchange very memorable. I am also overwhelmingly thankful for this opportunity to see the world from another point of view. To anyone and everyone who made this happen for me: I am thankful for you.
Sometimes the littlest things are the most beautiful things but the only way to recognize this beauty is to really open your eyes. So breathe deep, laugh way too much, smile always, love everything and everyone, and please just do what makes you happy.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! :)
Like I said before, I have been here a month and things are starting to feel a little more real. I can honestly say I am pretty much past the culture shock for the most part. The part that still gets me and I really cannot imagine getting used to is the poverty.
I live a very good life here in Brazil. In fact, I live in one of the richest neighbourhoods in Belo Horizonte. The crime rate is not high in that particular area, which is comforting but that doesn't stop me from seeing how other people live as well. One minute you are on a perfectly paved street, the next is torn up and uneven ground. Some buildings here are magnificent and beautiful and others (that could be right next to them) are worn and torn buildings with barely a stable wall.
I watch the richest people all dressed in suits, carrying briefcases, talking on their expensive Bluetooth, walk right past a food-deprived child with a terrible cough and their hands held out asking for change. They walk right past them as if they didn't even notice. At many intersections, people will come up to your window and stick their hands out. Some are so sick, they can barely talk or walk. Their cheeks are concaved and their eyes are nearly blank.
I've never seen anything like this in small-little Armstrong. It breaks my heart to see the contrast of the rich and the poor here in Brazil but I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to see it first hand. In just one month, Brazil has opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart to many things I didn't have any prior knowledge about.
This post is tied in with thanksgiving for a reason. There are so many things in my life I have to be thankful for. I am thankful for my family and friends at home in Canada, who have been supportive as usual. I am thankful for the family I have here in Brazil, who consistently put food on my plate (maybe a little too much I might add), give me a warm bed to sleep in, a place to call my own, and all the many more surprises they do for me. I am thankful for my friends here, who have been making my exchange very memorable. I am also overwhelmingly thankful for this opportunity to see the world from another point of view. To anyone and everyone who made this happen for me: I am thankful for you.
Sometimes the littlest things are the most beautiful things but the only way to recognize this beauty is to really open your eyes. So breathe deep, laugh way too much, smile always, love everything and everyone, and please just do what makes you happy.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! :)
Monday, 14 October 2013
Patos De Minas
This past weekend I took a trip to a city 6 hours from Belo Horizonte called Patos De Minas where my host mom's side of the family lives. We arrived Friday night and then left on Sunday. Saturday was a holiday in Brazil called "Dia Das Crianças" meaning "Children's Day". We should defs have that holiday in Canada..
There were fireworks going all day, every place was filled with activities made for the children and the children were also given gifts. We left on Friday after lunch and arrived in Patos at around 9pm. The drive was beautiful. Once you get outside of BH, it is all country side. As it became darker, we watched the sun go down with a perfect sunset. I couldn't keep my eyes away from the window. I talked a lot of the car ride (in only Portuguese of course) and learned lots about where we were.
When we arrived in Patos we stayed in the house of my host grandparents. Most of us went to bed shortly after our arrival because we had a long travel.
On Saturday many members of the family joined us for lunch. Now. My host mom has 8 siblings so you can imagine how many people I had met that weekend. There were about 30 people in a out and that wasn't even all of the family! Before lunch, Clarice and I went for a walk around the town and went shopping. I actually bought clothes for the first time since being in Brazil because it was actually decently priced in that store. We also went to the grocery store, which I have to say I love grocery shopping in Brazil. Every mall has a grocery store right in the middle of it.
After shopping, it was lunch time. Lunch time here is a huge deal, especially on a holiday. There was so much food I didn't even know where to start. Rice, beans, potatoes, chicken, beef, salad, other vegetables, unknown but yummy thing in a pot, more rice and beans. After a month of being in Brazil I learned to take really small portions of everything first and then ALWAYS go back for seconds because no matter how much food you take at the start, they will always try to feed you more and more. I reckon if you take a little and then go back for more, they will see you going back for more therefore, you enjoyed their food. It totally works.
During lunch I also met a couple of Clarice's cousins, Deborah and Nayanna, and also little Alise who is 2 years old and ADORABLE!
I spoke with Alise in Portuguese and then I was told that Dora the Explorer teaches her English. Later on she counted to 10 for me in English and said 'Come on Hailey, let's go!' oh my, my heart melted.
After lunch I went to Nayanna and Deborah's house to hang out and jam. Deborah plays guitar really well so we played and sang for a good 2 hours. Then they had to get ready for a birthday party of one of their cousins. The two of them and their mom began to dress themselves as if they were going to a party of the Queen! They all looked so good with their makeup, dresses, heels, hair, everything. I was thinking this must be some fancy party.
When they brought be back to 'Avos' house' (Grandparents), they asked if I wanted to go to the party with them so I said yes and quickly got dressed up to match them.
We arrived at the party and they told me that it was for their cousin who was turning 1. There were about 50 people there all dressed up, waiters bringing around food and drinks, a photographer, tables FILLED with little chocolates, an area outside for the kids to play in, and a corner filled with presents for this 1 year-old. The place was decked out in a jungle theme with little stuffed animals, and balloons. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen a birthday party like that, and it was for a 1 year-old.
After the birthday party we headed back home to have some Churrasco (BBQ) with more of the family. Oh man it was so good. Them Brazilians never stop feeding you!
Later that night, I went out dancing with my host cousin Nathalia and a couple of her friends. So once again, I got all dressed up and headed out. It was a ton of fun.
Sunday was the 85th birthday of my host Grandpa. Everyone came over for lunch again and we sang happy birthday. I gave him a magnet from Canada and a little jar of maple butter. Everyone was so thrilled that I had a present for him, and he had the biggest smile on his face.
We said our goodbyes after lunch and each person said they hope to see me around more often. I love Brazilians, they are so nice!
Throughout that whole weekend, I only spoke in Portuguese. No English. By the end of the weekend, I was starting to think in Portingles, half English and half Portuguese. It is a really good feeling. I have now passed the one month mark in Brazil, time flies way too fast!!
There were fireworks going all day, every place was filled with activities made for the children and the children were also given gifts. We left on Friday after lunch and arrived in Patos at around 9pm. The drive was beautiful. Once you get outside of BH, it is all country side. As it became darker, we watched the sun go down with a perfect sunset. I couldn't keep my eyes away from the window. I talked a lot of the car ride (in only Portuguese of course) and learned lots about where we were.
When we arrived in Patos we stayed in the house of my host grandparents. Most of us went to bed shortly after our arrival because we had a long travel.
On Saturday many members of the family joined us for lunch. Now. My host mom has 8 siblings so you can imagine how many people I had met that weekend. There were about 30 people in a out and that wasn't even all of the family! Before lunch, Clarice and I went for a walk around the town and went shopping. I actually bought clothes for the first time since being in Brazil because it was actually decently priced in that store. We also went to the grocery store, which I have to say I love grocery shopping in Brazil. Every mall has a grocery store right in the middle of it.
After shopping, it was lunch time. Lunch time here is a huge deal, especially on a holiday. There was so much food I didn't even know where to start. Rice, beans, potatoes, chicken, beef, salad, other vegetables, unknown but yummy thing in a pot, more rice and beans. After a month of being in Brazil I learned to take really small portions of everything first and then ALWAYS go back for seconds because no matter how much food you take at the start, they will always try to feed you more and more. I reckon if you take a little and then go back for more, they will see you going back for more therefore, you enjoyed their food. It totally works.
During lunch I also met a couple of Clarice's cousins, Deborah and Nayanna, and also little Alise who is 2 years old and ADORABLE!
I spoke with Alise in Portuguese and then I was told that Dora the Explorer teaches her English. Later on she counted to 10 for me in English and said 'Come on Hailey, let's go!' oh my, my heart melted.
After lunch I went to Nayanna and Deborah's house to hang out and jam. Deborah plays guitar really well so we played and sang for a good 2 hours. Then they had to get ready for a birthday party of one of their cousins. The two of them and their mom began to dress themselves as if they were going to a party of the Queen! They all looked so good with their makeup, dresses, heels, hair, everything. I was thinking this must be some fancy party.
When they brought be back to 'Avos' house' (Grandparents), they asked if I wanted to go to the party with them so I said yes and quickly got dressed up to match them.
We arrived at the party and they told me that it was for their cousin who was turning 1. There were about 50 people there all dressed up, waiters bringing around food and drinks, a photographer, tables FILLED with little chocolates, an area outside for the kids to play in, and a corner filled with presents for this 1 year-old. The place was decked out in a jungle theme with little stuffed animals, and balloons. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen a birthday party like that, and it was for a 1 year-old.
After the birthday party we headed back home to have some Churrasco (BBQ) with more of the family. Oh man it was so good. Them Brazilians never stop feeding you!
Later that night, I went out dancing with my host cousin Nathalia and a couple of her friends. So once again, I got all dressed up and headed out. It was a ton of fun.
Sunday was the 85th birthday of my host Grandpa. Everyone came over for lunch again and we sang happy birthday. I gave him a magnet from Canada and a little jar of maple butter. Everyone was so thrilled that I had a present for him, and he had the biggest smile on his face.
We said our goodbyes after lunch and each person said they hope to see me around more often. I love Brazilians, they are so nice!
Throughout that whole weekend, I only spoke in Portuguese. No English. By the end of the weekend, I was starting to think in Portingles, half English and half Portuguese. It is a really good feeling. I have now passed the one month mark in Brazil, time flies way too fast!!
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Random Facts and Differences
Okay so this post isn't really about anything in particular, it is mostly to point out things that I have noticed that I haven't really mentioned before. I think I will make a list. Yes. Lists are nice.
-20 degrees in Brazil is cold. Very cold.
-15 degrees (which is the coldest I have experienced here) is death to Brazilians. Everyone wears huge sweaters and more than one of them.
-People look at you funny when you eat acai while it is "cold". I told them that in Canada it could be snowing super hard out and you will still see people with slurpies or ice cream. Totally normal.
-Rice and beans. Everyday. I actually quite like it though so I am not complaining. But really, everyday.
-When you want juice, there is a 90% chance in a lot of homes/places that if you don't see it come out of a carton or a jug then it is probably fresh juice. I love you Brazil.
-I am now becoming a true Brazilian because I cross the street when I am not technically supposed to. (Don't worry mom, I am always careful ;) )
-Brazilians love to touch you. That sounds weird but it is relatively true. There isn't really such thing as personal space among friends but I am learning to love it.
-Chocolate chips are not a common thing to find in supermarkets. I just wanted to make cookies...
-The milk here is different... Not good or bad just different.
-Transit buses like to play a game called "Let's see how many people we can fit onto the bus and then see how fast we can go with or without hitting people" It's fun. I've played that game a couple times. I had to shower after.
-I have not watched TV at all since I have been here besides the morning news but I wasn't really watching. Yes that is correct, I have not even watched 'How I Met Your Mother'.
-When someone says that something is 'close by' they really mean it's a half hour walk.
-My Portuguese is getting better, I speak more Portuguese during the day than English. There are some words that even in my head I am saying them in Portuguese. It's a start :)
-Brazilians and their dancing... weoo ;) I'm just going to leave it at that.
-Brazilians wear shoes in the house. Still trying to get used to that one.
-There is a thing next to the toilet that looks like a toilet but it is not. I have been here for one month and I am still hesitant about asking what it does...
-If you see a road that looks like it is just wide enough for one car then it is probably a two or three lane road.
-Brazilians are honestly the most generous people.
-Be careful with the way you say "pão" (bread); it is a very nasally sounding word and if you don't say it with that nasal sound you are actually saying a word that is pronounced like "pow". Don't use this word. Without the nasal sound it means 'the male sex organ' (that is the most polite way I can say it). So when talking to someone about how much you love the 'pão' in Brazil... make sure you are using the right sound. So after a couple days of telling my new family how much I love the 'pow' in Brazil and how I would love to have it everyday, someone finally told me what I was really saying (I thought I was talking about bread..)
-Shopping here is hard. The food is cheap but the clothes are soooo expensive! This is a problem because the food is so good and cheap that exchange students will just eat but then they will need more money to buy new clothes because they are too fat to fit in their old clothes from all the really amazing and cheap food. I see what they are trying to do there...
-I tried sushi with mango in it. Yea.
-Here it is very common to drink hot milk. It is very different but actually quite soothing.
-Also, people here use spray on deodorant. It's tingly.
-In Brazil, nooo one blows their nose. At least not in public. People will sit there and just sniff really hard to keep everything in there and I don't see why they don't just get a tissue!
-I am in a place right now where I am not homesick but I do miss my family... and maybe Tim Hortons. However I am at a place right now where I actually feel like I live here. I am comfortable.
-One more thing I have noticed is that I don't really talk to many people from back home except my family. To those of you who I have not really talked to lately, I apologize, it is nothing personal I am just crazy busy. You're still in my thoughts.
I could go on forever about all the cool and different things I have found here but I think I will leave it at that for now. All I can say is that I know I am meant to be here and I couldn't be happier.
Also a shout out to the people who have their Rotary interviews coming up! I want to wish you all good luck! You are in for a wild ride.
It is hard for me to believe that I was in that position a year ago now!
Anyways, good luck to all :)
Beijos xox
-20 degrees in Brazil is cold. Very cold.
-15 degrees (which is the coldest I have experienced here) is death to Brazilians. Everyone wears huge sweaters and more than one of them.
-People look at you funny when you eat acai while it is "cold". I told them that in Canada it could be snowing super hard out and you will still see people with slurpies or ice cream. Totally normal.
-Rice and beans. Everyday. I actually quite like it though so I am not complaining. But really, everyday.
-When you want juice, there is a 90% chance in a lot of homes/places that if you don't see it come out of a carton or a jug then it is probably fresh juice. I love you Brazil.
-I am now becoming a true Brazilian because I cross the street when I am not technically supposed to. (Don't worry mom, I am always careful ;) )
-Brazilians love to touch you. That sounds weird but it is relatively true. There isn't really such thing as personal space among friends but I am learning to love it.
-Chocolate chips are not a common thing to find in supermarkets. I just wanted to make cookies...
-The milk here is different... Not good or bad just different.
-Transit buses like to play a game called "Let's see how many people we can fit onto the bus and then see how fast we can go with or without hitting people" It's fun. I've played that game a couple times. I had to shower after.
-I have not watched TV at all since I have been here besides the morning news but I wasn't really watching. Yes that is correct, I have not even watched 'How I Met Your Mother'.
-When someone says that something is 'close by' they really mean it's a half hour walk.
-My Portuguese is getting better, I speak more Portuguese during the day than English. There are some words that even in my head I am saying them in Portuguese. It's a start :)
-Brazilians and their dancing... weoo ;) I'm just going to leave it at that.
-Brazilians wear shoes in the house. Still trying to get used to that one.
-There is a thing next to the toilet that looks like a toilet but it is not. I have been here for one month and I am still hesitant about asking what it does...
-If you see a road that looks like it is just wide enough for one car then it is probably a two or three lane road.
-Brazilians are honestly the most generous people.
-Be careful with the way you say "pão" (bread); it is a very nasally sounding word and if you don't say it with that nasal sound you are actually saying a word that is pronounced like "pow". Don't use this word. Without the nasal sound it means 'the male sex organ' (that is the most polite way I can say it). So when talking to someone about how much you love the 'pão' in Brazil... make sure you are using the right sound. So after a couple days of telling my new family how much I love the 'pow' in Brazil and how I would love to have it everyday, someone finally told me what I was really saying (I thought I was talking about bread..)
-Shopping here is hard. The food is cheap but the clothes are soooo expensive! This is a problem because the food is so good and cheap that exchange students will just eat but then they will need more money to buy new clothes because they are too fat to fit in their old clothes from all the really amazing and cheap food. I see what they are trying to do there...
-I tried sushi with mango in it. Yea.
-Here it is very common to drink hot milk. It is very different but actually quite soothing.
-Also, people here use spray on deodorant. It's tingly.
-In Brazil, nooo one blows their nose. At least not in public. People will sit there and just sniff really hard to keep everything in there and I don't see why they don't just get a tissue!
-I am in a place right now where I am not homesick but I do miss my family... and maybe Tim Hortons. However I am at a place right now where I actually feel like I live here. I am comfortable.
-One more thing I have noticed is that I don't really talk to many people from back home except my family. To those of you who I have not really talked to lately, I apologize, it is nothing personal I am just crazy busy. You're still in my thoughts.
I could go on forever about all the cool and different things I have found here but I think I will leave it at that for now. All I can say is that I know I am meant to be here and I couldn't be happier.
Also a shout out to the people who have their Rotary interviews coming up! I want to wish you all good luck! You are in for a wild ride.
It is hard for me to believe that I was in that position a year ago now!
Anyways, good luck to all :)
Beijos xox
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Orientation Weekend
Yesterday I just arrived home from the most amazing week with the other exchange students in my district. It started last Sunday (September 29) and all the exchange students met at the Rotary building at 7am. There were 56 of us. I already knew a couple of them but the rest were absolute strangers. We all boarded the bus and started talking with one another. They made each of us speak into a microphone introducing ourselves (in Portuguese of course). Our first destination was Ouro Preto. The bus actually stopped about 30 minutes outside of Ouro Preto and we got to take a train through the country side to get to the city. The cool thing was that I had already been to Ouro Preto but this time we went to a different part of the city that I had never been to. All 56 of us and our chaperones walked around the entire city for the whole day. We got to go into these caves as well which was really neat. The path was very narrow and the walls were made of clay.
After a long day of walking and meeting new people, we went back to Contagem where we were going to stay for the week. I stayed in a room with 11 other girls, it was so big!
This resort place had 2 huge pools, and tons of basketball/volleyball/soccer courts, a bunch of playgrounds, multiple huge buildings for lunch/games, classes/I don't even know. That night we all got together and played a bunch of group games to break the ice. We were split into groups and had to make up a short skit in Portuguese. It was really neat to start getting to know each other. Mostly everyone spoke English so that was basically our only way of communicating. There were only 3 out of 56 that didn't speak English and 2 of those 3 could speak Portuguese. We did the pin and card trading that night and my goodness I have a lot now.
The next day we began our Portuguese lessons. Before we started, we had to do a little presentation about ourselves then we were split into our groups. I was put in the easy class for Portuguese and then found out that it was actually waay too easy. Surprisingly I knew more than some people that have been there for 2 months. It was okay though because they figured out quickly that some people were at different levels than they had thought so they moved me into the harder class.
A typical day would general go like this: 7am breakfast, 8am Portuguese, 10am snack break, 10:30am more Portuguese classes, 12:30 lunch, 2pm, activity/rules, 4pm snack, 4:30 more games, 7pm dinner, 9pm games\dancing. Notice how I did not put a time for bed? That is because there is no sleeping that occurs when with exchange students.
One of the activities they made us do that day was split into two huge groups, everyone gets a dance partner and you have a dance competition kind of. It didn't really work out because they just gave us partners, put on music and said "go". Most of us didn't know what kind of dance or how to dance so we just did our own thing. By the end everyone was on the floor dancing and no one really cared about the competition. They put on Brazilian music and all of us just had the most amazing time making fools out of ourselves. It was at that moment when I realized how much I love where I am and how lucky I am to be here. Looking around at all the different faces and knowing that these faces are going to be the ones we will miss most is really quite an extraordinary feeling.
On Tuesday we did our normal routine with the Portuguese lessons and everything. They spent another 2 hours explaining the rotary rules and most of us were falling asleep. Outside of our classroom where we were learning the rules, there was a huge hall with a stage. During our lesson, there was a huge group of old people doing dancing and stretching exercises being lead by a couple of younger people. It looked like so much fun so Kristian and I (the boy from Slovakia) decided to join in on the dancing. Next thing you know everyone follows behind us so we had a huge group of old people and exchange students dancing. It was such a great time, everyone loved it.
After supper that night there was a group of people around our age who came to teach us how to dance Forro. The guys stood in a circle and a girls stood in a circle inside of them so we could all rotate partners. This is a very intimate and difficult dance if you are doing it right but of course we were all just learning so we probably looked really funny. I think I got the hang of it after a while, it was so much fun. I'm going to hopefully be taking Forro classes nearby my house a couple times a week. They also taught us samba... ugh. It looks amazing and I really wish I could do it but it is so hard! I think I need to practice alone in my bedroom first so I can actually get it. I will not go back to Canada without knowing how to Samba.
Wednesday we did our routine once again in the mornings. Now I know it sounds like everyday is the same but it really wasn't! Everyday was so awesome because each day I talked to different people. The nice thing about this group of exchange students is that there are no 'cliques'. Everyone can talk to everyone and you sit with a new group of people all the time. I can honestly say that I am friends with each person on some level in that group. Later that night we had kind of a 'talent show' which wasn't really a talent show because people just stood up and did a cartwheel or something but it was still really entertaining. After that we played a really intense chair game that basically involves tackling. We all came out alive so I guess it was somewhat successful. Funny how the most popular games among this group all have to do with inducing pain on one another. I learned some defensive skills in jujitsu and how to do kill people with their pressure points... I just hope I won't have to use those techniques on anyone. On Wednesday during the afternoon however, some people got sick. I still don't know if it was a virus or food poisoning but I am just thankful I didn't get it. It spread for a couple days to different people. By the end of the week there was between 15-18 people who got sick. Sick as in throwing up, and having diarrhea. More than half of the people I shared a room with were sick. I felt so awful, I am glad they are okay.
On Thursday we took a bus to a place called Inhotim where we visited a very famous museum\gallery thing. I call it a museum\gallery thing because it wasn't really either. It was the biggest gallery I have ever been and it apparently takes 3 days to see the whole thing. Essentially, it was a very large forest with many different buildings filled with modern art. You just walk down a trail in the forest and it leads you to different buildings. The galleries were very messed up to be honest... in a cool hipster kind of way. There was one building where you had to take your shoes off before you went inside. Then inside the building there were different rooms. One room was all foam and it was so thick that it was difficult to walk; you could only jump. Another room was just a pool to soak your feet. One was a room with a bunch of hammocks, and another with a bunch of beds on the ground. Each room had a projector going with creepy hipster music and creepy dead people pictures. I felt like that artist was on drugs when they thought of that. But that is okay because it was very interesting. Also that forest had some of the most beautiful lakes I've seen. I really wish I could explore the whole gallery one day.
When we got back from the trip we ate supper and played a game of soccer and just hung out. It was very unfortunate that many people were sick and had to miss out on the trip. Later that night the dancers came back and we practiced more and more dancing. I can honestly say that I suck at Samba... for now. It was so much fun, I am really looking forward to taking the classes.
On Friday we woke up early for our last Portuguese class. In total, we took 20 hours of Portuguese that week. It helped a lot I think. After the lessons, we had lunch then went to this building for a presentation on all the different trips that are offered to our district. I would really love to go on all of them but obviously that is not going to happen. Thankfully I get the opportunity to go on at least one! I am really praying that I will have a spot reserved for the Northeast Trip. This trip is my dream. You get to travel to all the most amazing beaches in Brazil, learn how to dance, stay in Rio, learn the culture and taste the cuisine. It is a month long and it is with many of the other exchange students from my district. I also am dying to go on the Amazon trip. It's shorter but you get to boat down the Amazon river, sleep in hammocks in the jungle, meet Amazonian tribes, swim with pink dolphins and play with sloths. I would actually use all of my college money and give my right leg to do that trip. I can't even explain. So if anyone wants to get me a really awesome Christmas present.... *wink wink*
Anywho.. after the presentation we ate food (surprise surprise) and then waited to meet the other outbounds and rebounds. These were the outbounds that would be going on their exchange in January. It was really good to talk to them because I got the chance to speak in Portuguese again. (I have been bad because the exchange students really on speak English).
After dinner we all gathered in this 'bar' area and listened to a live band play Brazilian music. After a couple songs everyone started to get up and dance. I absolutely love Brazilian music so I was right in there dancing the whole time. The live band was so good! And they all got really into what they were playing. It was such a great night.
On Saturday I got to sleep in until 11!! That never happens! That whole week had been no sleep at all and having to wake up at 6 or 7 everyday. So 11 was amazing for me. We ate lunch and then packed up our stuff to head back to Belo Horizonte. We toured around Pampulha for about an hour. There were a few shops set up so we went looking around. ALSO I saw an alligator! IN THE LAKE! Holy man I was excited. I also saw a tarantula the night before. I am loving this wildlife in Brazil.
After Pampulha, they brought us to this famous 'Praça' in BH called 'Praça da Papa'. It was a place where you could see the whole entire city. I have been there before but only at night. It was such an amazing view. And it was the perfect opportunity for taking selfies.
Then it was time to say goodbye. It was weird saying bye to people that you just spent every second of a whole week with. It was sad but I know I will be seeing them again soon.
I love this group of exchange students. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to share the same experiences with. I know these will be the friends I will have for life.
Thank you Rotary for making this possible :)
After a long day of walking and meeting new people, we went back to Contagem where we were going to stay for the week. I stayed in a room with 11 other girls, it was so big!
This resort place had 2 huge pools, and tons of basketball/volleyball/soccer courts, a bunch of playgrounds, multiple huge buildings for lunch/games, classes/I don't even know. That night we all got together and played a bunch of group games to break the ice. We were split into groups and had to make up a short skit in Portuguese. It was really neat to start getting to know each other. Mostly everyone spoke English so that was basically our only way of communicating. There were only 3 out of 56 that didn't speak English and 2 of those 3 could speak Portuguese. We did the pin and card trading that night and my goodness I have a lot now.
The next day we began our Portuguese lessons. Before we started, we had to do a little presentation about ourselves then we were split into our groups. I was put in the easy class for Portuguese and then found out that it was actually waay too easy. Surprisingly I knew more than some people that have been there for 2 months. It was okay though because they figured out quickly that some people were at different levels than they had thought so they moved me into the harder class.
A typical day would general go like this: 7am breakfast, 8am Portuguese, 10am snack break, 10:30am more Portuguese classes, 12:30 lunch, 2pm, activity/rules, 4pm snack, 4:30 more games, 7pm dinner, 9pm games\dancing. Notice how I did not put a time for bed? That is because there is no sleeping that occurs when with exchange students.
One of the activities they made us do that day was split into two huge groups, everyone gets a dance partner and you have a dance competition kind of. It didn't really work out because they just gave us partners, put on music and said "go". Most of us didn't know what kind of dance or how to dance so we just did our own thing. By the end everyone was on the floor dancing and no one really cared about the competition. They put on Brazilian music and all of us just had the most amazing time making fools out of ourselves. It was at that moment when I realized how much I love where I am and how lucky I am to be here. Looking around at all the different faces and knowing that these faces are going to be the ones we will miss most is really quite an extraordinary feeling.
On Tuesday we did our normal routine with the Portuguese lessons and everything. They spent another 2 hours explaining the rotary rules and most of us were falling asleep. Outside of our classroom where we were learning the rules, there was a huge hall with a stage. During our lesson, there was a huge group of old people doing dancing and stretching exercises being lead by a couple of younger people. It looked like so much fun so Kristian and I (the boy from Slovakia) decided to join in on the dancing. Next thing you know everyone follows behind us so we had a huge group of old people and exchange students dancing. It was such a great time, everyone loved it.
After supper that night there was a group of people around our age who came to teach us how to dance Forro. The guys stood in a circle and a girls stood in a circle inside of them so we could all rotate partners. This is a very intimate and difficult dance if you are doing it right but of course we were all just learning so we probably looked really funny. I think I got the hang of it after a while, it was so much fun. I'm going to hopefully be taking Forro classes nearby my house a couple times a week. They also taught us samba... ugh. It looks amazing and I really wish I could do it but it is so hard! I think I need to practice alone in my bedroom first so I can actually get it. I will not go back to Canada without knowing how to Samba.
Wednesday we did our routine once again in the mornings. Now I know it sounds like everyday is the same but it really wasn't! Everyday was so awesome because each day I talked to different people. The nice thing about this group of exchange students is that there are no 'cliques'. Everyone can talk to everyone and you sit with a new group of people all the time. I can honestly say that I am friends with each person on some level in that group. Later that night we had kind of a 'talent show' which wasn't really a talent show because people just stood up and did a cartwheel or something but it was still really entertaining. After that we played a really intense chair game that basically involves tackling. We all came out alive so I guess it was somewhat successful. Funny how the most popular games among this group all have to do with inducing pain on one another. I learned some defensive skills in jujitsu and how to do kill people with their pressure points... I just hope I won't have to use those techniques on anyone. On Wednesday during the afternoon however, some people got sick. I still don't know if it was a virus or food poisoning but I am just thankful I didn't get it. It spread for a couple days to different people. By the end of the week there was between 15-18 people who got sick. Sick as in throwing up, and having diarrhea. More than half of the people I shared a room with were sick. I felt so awful, I am glad they are okay.
On Thursday we took a bus to a place called Inhotim where we visited a very famous museum\gallery thing. I call it a museum\gallery thing because it wasn't really either. It was the biggest gallery I have ever been and it apparently takes 3 days to see the whole thing. Essentially, it was a very large forest with many different buildings filled with modern art. You just walk down a trail in the forest and it leads you to different buildings. The galleries were very messed up to be honest... in a cool hipster kind of way. There was one building where you had to take your shoes off before you went inside. Then inside the building there were different rooms. One room was all foam and it was so thick that it was difficult to walk; you could only jump. Another room was just a pool to soak your feet. One was a room with a bunch of hammocks, and another with a bunch of beds on the ground. Each room had a projector going with creepy hipster music and creepy dead people pictures. I felt like that artist was on drugs when they thought of that. But that is okay because it was very interesting. Also that forest had some of the most beautiful lakes I've seen. I really wish I could explore the whole gallery one day.
When we got back from the trip we ate supper and played a game of soccer and just hung out. It was very unfortunate that many people were sick and had to miss out on the trip. Later that night the dancers came back and we practiced more and more dancing. I can honestly say that I suck at Samba... for now. It was so much fun, I am really looking forward to taking the classes.
On Friday we woke up early for our last Portuguese class. In total, we took 20 hours of Portuguese that week. It helped a lot I think. After the lessons, we had lunch then went to this building for a presentation on all the different trips that are offered to our district. I would really love to go on all of them but obviously that is not going to happen. Thankfully I get the opportunity to go on at least one! I am really praying that I will have a spot reserved for the Northeast Trip. This trip is my dream. You get to travel to all the most amazing beaches in Brazil, learn how to dance, stay in Rio, learn the culture and taste the cuisine. It is a month long and it is with many of the other exchange students from my district. I also am dying to go on the Amazon trip. It's shorter but you get to boat down the Amazon river, sleep in hammocks in the jungle, meet Amazonian tribes, swim with pink dolphins and play with sloths. I would actually use all of my college money and give my right leg to do that trip. I can't even explain. So if anyone wants to get me a really awesome Christmas present.... *wink wink*
Anywho.. after the presentation we ate food (surprise surprise) and then waited to meet the other outbounds and rebounds. These were the outbounds that would be going on their exchange in January. It was really good to talk to them because I got the chance to speak in Portuguese again. (I have been bad because the exchange students really on speak English).
After dinner we all gathered in this 'bar' area and listened to a live band play Brazilian music. After a couple songs everyone started to get up and dance. I absolutely love Brazilian music so I was right in there dancing the whole time. The live band was so good! And they all got really into what they were playing. It was such a great night.
On Saturday I got to sleep in until 11!! That never happens! That whole week had been no sleep at all and having to wake up at 6 or 7 everyday. So 11 was amazing for me. We ate lunch and then packed up our stuff to head back to Belo Horizonte. We toured around Pampulha for about an hour. There were a few shops set up so we went looking around. ALSO I saw an alligator! IN THE LAKE! Holy man I was excited. I also saw a tarantula the night before. I am loving this wildlife in Brazil.
After Pampulha, they brought us to this famous 'Praça' in BH called 'Praça da Papa'. It was a place where you could see the whole entire city. I have been there before but only at night. It was such an amazing view. And it was the perfect opportunity for taking selfies.
Then it was time to say goodbye. It was weird saying bye to people that you just spent every second of a whole week with. It was sad but I know I will be seeing them again soon.
I love this group of exchange students. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to share the same experiences with. I know these will be the friends I will have for life.
Thank you Rotary for making this possible :)
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