Im so sorry I havent been blogging!
I thought my account was deleted but it just let me back on!
I have been soooo busy latley! every night going out with friends, or just been so tired and passing out right away!
On the 26th, Wednesday, my host brother Natan, 17, went on his own exchange to USA Michigan! This was very sad, especially since he was the only one in the house who could speak any english!
Although, his plane left from the airport of none other than the largest city in South America, Sao Paulo, so I got a chance to visit and stay over night in this huge city!
Sao Paulo has a population of 20 million, which makes Canada's ENTIRE population of 32 million seem a little small! It was definitely a city though, the polution and the smell doesnt change no matter what country you're in!
It was very sad to say good bye to my host brother, especially since it reminded me of when I had to say goodbye to my own family 3 weeks ago back in Canada.
I didnt get to see much of the city, only what we saw when we drove around, seeing as we were at the air port all day and its a five hour drive back home. But, what I could see from the windows was definitely amazing.
Ive been really happy latley. Last weekend was the birthday of my city, Sacramento, so it was a holiday and I didnt have to go to school the Monday OR the Tuesday!
There was a big party for 4 nights in a row, with popular Brazillian artists performing. I went on the Monday night and it was very fun! Met lots of new people!
Things just keep on getting better and better here, and I love it so much, I've already been here for 3 weeks!
Definitely doesn't feel that long. Next Friday it will be a month!
I was supposed to have Rotary orientation this weekend, but unfortunatly it was cancelled due to all the exchhange students not being in Brasil yet. So it has been changed to next weekend instead. I am very excited to meet all the exchange students. I know from how much I loved them in Canada that I will love everyone here too! They are great to have as friends because they are going through exactly what I am going through so they can definitely understand.
Portuguese is definitely getting easier to understand! I can't speak much, but I can now pick out words when I hear people talking!
tchau ameigos! mutio amor <3
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
OIII
helloooo all.
I have been very busy this weekend, enjoying not having to wake up at 6 am hehe.
So far my weekend has been very very good.
Thursday night I went to a barbeque,
Friday, watched a movie with friends then went to a serenade!
Serenades happen when someone turns 15 years old. You wait a few days after their birthday and then go to their house while they are sleeping and play music right outside their window surprising them. There was about 30 people there! Then there was a little party in her house after wards. It was so fun and she was definitely surprised!
I discovered that girls here ALWAYS wear heels, which was a plesant surprise to me because I lovvvvee heels and I never get to wear them at home. So Saturday called for some shoe shopping, on sale of course mom ;)
Saturday night, last night, I went to a place called Mealnios with some friends, it was very fun. Then went for a walk around the town and met some new people.
Things have been very good and I think its safe to say that I am adapting very well.
I am beginning to understand what ´people are saying, well some things!
although i think one of the weirdest things is hearing people dicuss you and not being able to understand hah!
well, muito amor ameigas. <3
oh- and here is my facebook picture link, it should work even if you dont have facebook.
I have been very busy this weekend, enjoying not having to wake up at 6 am hehe.
So far my weekend has been very very good.
Thursday night I went to a barbeque,
Friday, watched a movie with friends then went to a serenade!
Serenades happen when someone turns 15 years old. You wait a few days after their birthday and then go to their house while they are sleeping and play music right outside their window surprising them. There was about 30 people there! Then there was a little party in her house after wards. It was so fun and she was definitely surprised!
I discovered that girls here ALWAYS wear heels, which was a plesant surprise to me because I lovvvvee heels and I never get to wear them at home. So Saturday called for some shoe shopping, on sale of course mom ;)
Saturday night, last night, I went to a place called Mealnios with some friends, it was very fun. Then went for a walk around the town and met some new people.
Things have been very good and I think its safe to say that I am adapting very well.
I am beginning to understand what ´people are saying, well some things!
although i think one of the weirdest things is hearing people dicuss you and not being able to understand hah!
well, muito amor ameigas. <3
oh- and here is my facebook picture link, it should work even if you dont have facebook.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Fooood
Okokokokok i finally figured out how we eat here.. Since its different then canada and each day has been slightly different.
Breakfast at 7 am. Includes hot milk, and bread with ham.
School snack at 9 am. Weird bread thing with meat and cheese in it.
Lunch, 1 pm. Always rice, and some kind of meet.
Snack, 4 pm. Usually bread.
Dinner, 8:30, 9 pm. Not as big as lunch.
This is very different frim at home, seeing as i wouldnt eat breakfast, eat lunch at 12, and a big dinner at 5:30.. Lol.
Breakfast at 7 am. Includes hot milk, and bread with ham.
School snack at 9 am. Weird bread thing with meat and cheese in it.
Lunch, 1 pm. Always rice, and some kind of meet.
Snack, 4 pm. Usually bread.
Dinner, 8:30, 9 pm. Not as big as lunch.
This is very different frim at home, seeing as i wouldnt eat breakfast, eat lunch at 12, and a big dinner at 5:30.. Lol.
:)
I just got home from my third day of school and thought i would do some updating.
Things have been gooing bery very very good.
I went to a rotary meeting on monday night, meet all of the rotarians and my youth consellors in Brasil which was very good. I sat at the front of the room, hehe. Everyine seemed thirlled to meet me.
At the end end of the rotary meeting, as i was driving to my new house with my host mother, and my 2 host brothers, i found myself laughing and giggling like i would if i was at home and i realized that Brasil is a place that suits me so perfectly, i cannot describe it.
Schoooool.
School has gotten much much better since the first day. i have made some friends and everyone in my class is very nice to me.
Last night, i went out with some new friends. We went shopping, got ice cream, and watched one of my favourite tv shows, Pretty Little Liars. They try hard to speak in English, but otherwise i do not understand a word they say, what with all the slang they use lol!
Today, my teachers started to take time and teach me some portugese. I learned all the pronouns, as well as some verbs and how to congigate them!!!
It is sooooo hot here. But i love it. Its going to be hard to go back to the snow in a years time.
Muito amor.
Things have been gooing bery very very good.
I went to a rotary meeting on monday night, meet all of the rotarians and my youth consellors in Brasil which was very good. I sat at the front of the room, hehe. Everyine seemed thirlled to meet me.
At the end end of the rotary meeting, as i was driving to my new house with my host mother, and my 2 host brothers, i found myself laughing and giggling like i would if i was at home and i realized that Brasil is a place that suits me so perfectly, i cannot describe it.
Schoooool.
School has gotten much much better since the first day. i have made some friends and everyone in my class is very nice to me.
Last night, i went out with some new friends. We went shopping, got ice cream, and watched one of my favourite tv shows, Pretty Little Liars. They try hard to speak in English, but otherwise i do not understand a word they say, what with all the slang they use lol!
Today, my teachers started to take time and teach me some portugese. I learned all the pronouns, as well as some verbs and how to congigate them!!!
It is sooooo hot here. But i love it. Its going to be hard to go back to the snow in a years time.
Muito amor.
Monday, August 9, 2010
my life exactlyyyy
I found this on another exchange students blog.
If anyone wants to know what it's like to be an exchange students, this honestly defines it ALL!
I've bolded the ones that are my favorite and I find myself doing most.
TOP 10 REASONS YOU KNOW YOU ARE AN EXCHANGE STUDENT:
1. You're better than your teacher in your foreign language class.
2. You do something wrong, people look at you weird, and your excuse is: 'Well, that's how we do it in my country,' even if it isn't.
3. Your dreams are bilingual.
4.You have gone in to greet someone with a handshake and found yourself being pulled into an awkward hug/double kiss on the cheek.
5.You spend a lot of time smiling, nodding, and pretending you understand what's going on.
6. It becomes a habit to introduce yourself by saying: 'I am from (country) and my name is (name).'
7. You've tried so many different foods only because you can't understand the person asking you what you want. You just nod your head, and pray that it tastes half-decent.
8.You sometimes walk around school during breaks to act like you're doing something because you don't see anyone you recognize and don't want to stand there awkward.
9. You've said something like 'oh yes' or 'no thanks' only to have everyone laugh because your answer made no sense compared to the question.
10. You actually got a high-five when you understood what someone said to you.
If anyone wants to know what it's like to be an exchange students, this honestly defines it ALL!
I've bolded the ones that are my favorite and I find myself doing most.
TOP 10 REASONS YOU KNOW YOU ARE AN EXCHANGE STUDENT:
1. You're better than your teacher in your foreign language class.
2. You do something wrong, people look at you weird, and your excuse is: 'Well, that's how we do it in my country,' even if it isn't.
3. Your dreams are bilingual.
4.You have gone in to greet someone with a handshake and found yourself being pulled into an awkward hug/double kiss on the cheek.
5.You spend a lot of time smiling, nodding, and pretending you understand what's going on.
6. It becomes a habit to introduce yourself by saying: 'I am from (country) and my name is (name).'
7. You've tried so many different foods only because you can't understand the person asking you what you want. You just nod your head, and pray that it tastes half-decent.
8.You sometimes walk around school during breaks to act like you're doing something because you don't see anyone you recognize and don't want to stand there awkward.
9. You've said something like 'oh yes' or 'no thanks' only to have everyone laugh because your answer made no sense compared to the question.
10. You actually got a high-five when you understood what someone said to you.
School time!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13942758&l=6763338c52&id=791335060
Today was my very first day of school here in Sacramento, Brasil!
School here is berry different from school back home, for instance, they start school here at 7 am, meaning that I had to wake up ever so early at 6 am. Holy early!
This was a big shock to me, considering that i just got in the habit of sleeping in until 3 pm back home.
I was nervous about my first day,
What were the people like?
Would they be mean?
What would they think of me?
Will my work be hard?
Even though I had all these worries, I had a very good day. Everyone was very friendly, they weren't mean at all, they are all very interested to know me, as they say. My teachers understood that I didn't speak one word of portugese and didn't expect me to do any work at all! It was a breeze.
Some of my girl class mates told me that they could read and write English better than they can speak and understand it, so for one of my classes we passed around a note where they asked all about my school back home.
Here are the main differences between my new school, and my school back home in Canada.
- the school houses all grades in one very small building.
- only grades 10-12 are considered highschool grades.
- they have six classes a day, with a break between every 2 classes.. They have no lunch break. (my school at home has 4 classes a day, ten minute breaks between each one, with an hour long lunch break.)
- since all classes are mandatory, you stay with your class in the same classroom for the whole day, switching teachers. Much like public school.
- there are no pa systems
- they're are no computers, only chalkboards.
- school ends at 12:30 pm, compared to 3:10 pm.
My uniform is: jeans and a Rosseau College, shirt. Although I don't have a shirt, so I can practically wear whatever I want.
Also today, I went shopping with my host brother and my new friend. I bought jeans, seeing as I have to wear them everyday but didn't think to pack any.. And some shirts.
I love life.
Muito amor!
Today was my very first day of school here in Sacramento, Brasil!
School here is berry different from school back home, for instance, they start school here at 7 am, meaning that I had to wake up ever so early at 6 am. Holy early!
This was a big shock to me, considering that i just got in the habit of sleeping in until 3 pm back home.
I was nervous about my first day,
What were the people like?
Would they be mean?
What would they think of me?
Will my work be hard?
Even though I had all these worries, I had a very good day. Everyone was very friendly, they weren't mean at all, they are all very interested to know me, as they say. My teachers understood that I didn't speak one word of portugese and didn't expect me to do any work at all! It was a breeze.
Some of my girl class mates told me that they could read and write English better than they can speak and understand it, so for one of my classes we passed around a note where they asked all about my school back home.
Here are the main differences between my new school, and my school back home in Canada.
- the school houses all grades in one very small building.
- only grades 10-12 are considered highschool grades.
- they have six classes a day, with a break between every 2 classes.. They have no lunch break. (my school at home has 4 classes a day, ten minute breaks between each one, with an hour long lunch break.)
- since all classes are mandatory, you stay with your class in the same classroom for the whole day, switching teachers. Much like public school.
- there are no pa systems
- they're are no computers, only chalkboards.
- school ends at 12:30 pm, compared to 3:10 pm.
My uniform is: jeans and a Rosseau College, shirt. Although I don't have a shirt, so I can practically wear whatever I want.
Also today, I went shopping with my host brother and my new friend. I bought jeans, seeing as I have to wear them everyday but didn't think to pack any.. And some shirts.
I love life.
Muito amor!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Muito amor!
Today was my first day in Brasil.
I woke up to a breakfast on the table, unpacked all my clothes and then spent the morning with my family in the family room. I still don't understand anything, so mostly I just sit quietly and smile.
Then I went with my host brother to meet all his friends and watch a movie. I met about 6 girls and 2 boys. We made a desert that is kind of like fudge, they didn't give me a name for it. It was very good and very sweet. It is very common here and they eat it with just about every desert. I am happy that I met a few of my classmates before I got to school on Monday.
They are all very nice and very welcoming! One of the boys I met knew how to speak French, so we had a short conversation en Francais! It was nice to finally undertstand and be understood! Lol.
I am slowly learning to language, I can say a few words already.. Understanding my family is getting easier too, as they have began to use hand signals haha.
After the movie I met my host brother's girlfriend's family, then went to a restaurant and to get ice cream. At the resturant we ate French fries with cheese and bacon on it.. Seemed very Canadian to me!
They listen to a lot of the same music that I listen to, like Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber. Minha iramo (my brother), who is 10 LOVES Justin Beiber! Hehe.
It is so beautiful here. I am in love with the atmosphere, everyone just seems so happy and celebrated, it is like a breath of fresh air.
Although it is very hot in the day time, at night time it gets quite cold, which I wasn't expecting.
I am very happy here. Even though I can't understand a word anyone is saying, lol.
<3
I woke up to a breakfast on the table, unpacked all my clothes and then spent the morning with my family in the family room. I still don't understand anything, so mostly I just sit quietly and smile.
Then I went with my host brother to meet all his friends and watch a movie. I met about 6 girls and 2 boys. We made a desert that is kind of like fudge, they didn't give me a name for it. It was very good and very sweet. It is very common here and they eat it with just about every desert. I am happy that I met a few of my classmates before I got to school on Monday.
They are all very nice and very welcoming! One of the boys I met knew how to speak French, so we had a short conversation en Francais! It was nice to finally undertstand and be understood! Lol.
I am slowly learning to language, I can say a few words already.. Understanding my family is getting easier too, as they have began to use hand signals haha.
After the movie I met my host brother's girlfriend's family, then went to a restaurant and to get ice cream. At the resturant we ate French fries with cheese and bacon on it.. Seemed very Canadian to me!
They listen to a lot of the same music that I listen to, like Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber. Minha iramo (my brother), who is 10 LOVES Justin Beiber! Hehe.
It is so beautiful here. I am in love with the atmosphere, everyone just seems so happy and celebrated, it is like a breath of fresh air.
Although it is very hot in the day time, at night time it gets quite cold, which I wasn't expecting.
I am very happy here. Even though I can't understand a word anyone is saying, lol.
<3
Friday, August 6, 2010
The first day!
I have finally made it to Brasil! I love it here already, even though I was only able to stay conscious for about 3 hours before I had to sleep.
Eveerything here is different from Canada. Even the ground is a bright orange, compared to our earthy brown.
My family is so nice. I have two host brothers, one who is leaving on exchange on August 26. He is the only one in the house who speaks English.. So looks like I'll have to start learning portugese as soon as possible. I have only met my host mother for a brief ten minutes.. As she was not able to come to the airport to get me. They are all overly nice and I love them already.
I can't understand a word any one is saying, which makes things hard but mostly I just nod my head and smile and say obrigada! Which means thanks you. I thought the language barrier would bother me more.. But so far I am ok with it.
Everyone in my town is excited to meet me, according to my family. Many of them have already added me on Facebook and are writing on my wall. Luckily they all study English. My host brother has invited people over tomorrow to watch a movie so they can all meet me. I am both excited and nervous about this!
My host father calls me "minna filla" which means my daughter!
So far everything is good. Tomorrow is fathers day and also youngest brothers birthday.
I can already feel how amazing of an experience this will be.
Eveerything here is different from Canada. Even the ground is a bright orange, compared to our earthy brown.
My family is so nice. I have two host brothers, one who is leaving on exchange on August 26. He is the only one in the house who speaks English.. So looks like I'll have to start learning portugese as soon as possible. I have only met my host mother for a brief ten minutes.. As she was not able to come to the airport to get me. They are all overly nice and I love them already.
I can't understand a word any one is saying, which makes things hard but mostly I just nod my head and smile and say obrigada! Which means thanks you. I thought the language barrier would bother me more.. But so far I am ok with it.
Everyone in my town is excited to meet me, according to my family. Many of them have already added me on Facebook and are writing on my wall. Luckily they all study English. My host brother has invited people over tomorrow to watch a movie so they can all meet me. I am both excited and nervous about this!
My host father calls me "minna filla" which means my daughter!
So far everything is good. Tomorrow is fathers day and also youngest brothers birthday.
I can already feel how amazing of an experience this will be.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
First Post- the airport.
I Am currently sitting in the airport in Miami. Ive been meaning to start a blog before I go.. So I decided why not start while I have 3 hours of boredom facing me. I was really scared about my flight, as I had four airports and three connecting flights to catch.. And having to do it solo isn't the easy thing when you're sixteen, but so far all has been smooth except for a few little scares.
It's still like this hasn't set in.. Still feels like it's not all real.. Maybe when I'm on my last flight it finally will be. Right now it feels like I'm taking a vacation. Although I'm so excited! People have already been adding me on Facebook from my hometown in brazil and they all seem so friendly already! Which eases some of my worry. I've only really freaked out once, which is when I first said bye to my parents and headed through customs and security, at that point I actually thought 'what am I doing' but then I soon remembered that this will be the best time of my life.. Hopefully!
It's still like this hasn't set in.. Still feels like it's not all real.. Maybe when I'm on my last flight it finally will be. Right now it feels like I'm taking a vacation. Although I'm so excited! People have already been adding me on Facebook from my hometown in brazil and they all seem so friendly already! Which eases some of my worry. I've only really freaked out once, which is when I first said bye to my parents and headed through customs and security, at that point I actually thought 'what am I doing' but then I soon remembered that this will be the best time of my life.. Hopefully!
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