Carnaval em Riviera de São Lourenço

I think that the next interesting/major event to occur was Carnaval. My host sister was working every day of Carnaval, so my family planned to stay here in Mirassol with her, so she wasn't alone. For this, my host parents arranged for me to go the beach with my host mom's relatives, where they always spend Carnaval. This was incredibly nice, and it was great that they offered to take me, and as ungrateful as it sounds, I did not enjoy Carnaval as much as I had thought I would.

First, I had to go to my relatives house a weekend before they were going to leave because both of my host parents work, so I stayed with my host grandmother, which is like two blocks from my host aunt's house. I must admit, that I love my host grandmother. She's 88 years old, but I would have guessed mid seventies at the most. She's spunky and crazy and if she doesn't want to do something, either she won't do it, or she'll complain the entire time. But so, I have two host cousins, one is 17 and I think I have exchanged fewer words with him in my life than I have with the average stranger on the street. He isn't much for conversation. I also have a nine year old cousin, who basically spends her life begging her mother for things, which she always receives. It's like teaching a dog to beg; it just keeps doing it. I didn't really have anything at all to do in their city, called São Joaquim da Barra, because I didn't know anyone and it's really, really small, so like, I stayed in my host cousins' house while they went to school, or in their light store, which is next to their house. There is an exchange student there, who I had technically met twice, once at Maracanã, and the other time in São Carlos and Brotas, but I didn't know that. I went out with him and his host sister and their friends once, but he had school and other things to do. Then, after my host cousin got home from school it was kind of expected that I would spend all of my time with her doing what she wanted to do, when she wanted to do it. This being said, I got pretty tired of her pretty quickly.

Because of this, I was tired of her before we go to the beach, where she informed me that, while I was there to have fun, my main purpose was to be company for her and essentially follow her around and stick to her side as like a personal babysitter who doesn't get paid. But aside from this, the beach was really, really pretty and clean. The apartment in which we stayed was right on the water, and it was huge. There were three bedrooms, and three bathrooms and a porch that looked out onto the beach. There were pools, one that was warm and one that was a hydro-massage, as well as a work-out space and a game room.

The beach was good for walking, though the sun was hot. They like to get in their cars and drive around to look at pretty houses here in Brazil. And there are a lot, especially here on beaches that are frequented by the more wealthy. So, basically every afternoon, we got into the car and drove around for a while.

At night, my host cousin and his friend went out every night, but I only went with them once, partly because it was three guys and no girls, which makes it harder, and partially because they spent like 80 reais per night to go out. The nice thing about this vacation is that they paid for things for me. I wasn't expected to buy my food, or pay for my hotel, as it was in previous situations.

Anyways, after I got back, I went to a wedding of my neighbor who grew up with my host sister, my host brother got back from the US, and left immediately to go back to college, life returned to normal, as in school and karate and going to the club to work out or go swimming or go to the sauna.

São Carlos e Brotas

Anyways, so the weekend after Rio, I went to the TAM Airline museum in São Carlos with the other exchange students from my district and the district near Riberão Preto. I'm going to be incredibly honest in saying that I found it incredibly boring. However, afterwards, we went to Brotas, at this fazenda-like place called "Areia que Canta," or Singing Sand and it reminded me a lot of the Afterglow, in that they have lots of activities planned and these rooms where people stay, except that they feed you as well. It was some pretty high quality food, I must say. But so the first day we got to know the other district and had a lot of free time to go out in kayaks and paddle boards on the lake, and swim in the pools and play in the rec room area, where they had ping-pong and other games. That night we had a "gincana" that was boys against girls and there are a series of challenges and whoever wins the most wins the whole thing, but it kind of failed miserably because there were too many people for everyone to participate fully. Then there was a bonfire and people just kinda hung out. It was fun. Til they made us go to bed at like midnight and then came around and taped our doors and windows shut so we wouldn't leave our rooms. Though, in retrospect, it was also mildly amusing.

Anyways, so the next day was cool. We went for a long walk and first we went to the areia que canta, and there was this sand, that sings, it was super cool. We entered into this water area, and there was this awesome sand that sang if you rubbed it together in your hands. And then after everyone did this, we walked a bit more and came to this mini waterfall thing and you could jump in the water like belly-flop dive thing, and the water pushed you downstream, and it was really, really, fun. Then it started pouring so we took this like wagon thing back and ate lunch and exchanged pins and took pictures and went home.

On the way back, Rotex gave out awards for various things, such as best Portuguese, most...excited, I'm not really sure what but I won some mug thing for not being a lot of work...hahahahaha

Rio

So, I'm really behind in this blogging but February, besides being shorter, has also been incredibly crazy. The first weekend, I went to Rio with Belo Brasil, as an exchange student trip. It was really cool and there were about 64 exchange students from Rotary and AFS. We stayed in this hotel on Copacabana, ironically named Hotel Mirasol, almost the name of my city. But there were a whole bunch of people I knew, from my district and from the US. There were also four Wisconsinites, which was kind of crazy, I mean, let's be real, no one has ever heard of Wisconsin and here we are in Rio in four. There was also a healthy dose of Thai folk. Consequently, everyone started conversations with me in Thai, followed by a confused look on my part, more confusion in their part, and usually a clarification in English. A majority of this trip was English, to be honest, and there were Thai students who were speaking better Portuguese than the Americans, sad fact cuz the American couldn't put together a single sentence in Portuguese. 

Anyways, I found myself good friends with a girl from Stevens Point and another from Iceland, as well as the Italians in general, who were the only country to speak Portuguese.

But as for what we did:

The day we arrived, we went and swam in the hotel, ate dinner, then walked along the sidewalk near Copacabana.

The next day we walked through the historical central of Rio, which is really cool, but better described in pictures. There was also a Starbucks, which all the Americans started screaming about. After this we went to some mall to eat (a very expensive) lunch and wander around, while people bought r$100 mascara and brasil jerseys that cost r$200. After lunch we went to the Pão de Açucar which you get to via cable car and it's pretty, but honestly I think they stay kinda cool and get increasingly cooler throughout the trip. Also I forgot, we went to this super cool staircase with tiles from all over the world and it's huge, but also better describable in pictures. Then we ate dinner and went to this feirinha to buy cheap souvenirs from Rio.

Day two, we started off...ok, to be honest, I'm a little bit lost as to when we did what after this but we went to Praia de Ipanema, which was cool but it was Friday morning so there was essentially no one there. We also went to this military fort thing and the cool part there was going up on top and looking out over the ocean.

I think it was this day that we also went to a favela, and the one we went to was famous because Michael Jackson filmed a music video there for a song "They Don't Care About Us" http://youtu.be/QNJL6nfu__Q. And in this favela, which was one of the better ones that exis, you're not allowed to photograph any of the residents; just the things. Honestly though, I did t even bring a camera, and it felt kind of invasive to be there. Like, all the residents were super used to it and waited for our group of 70 to pass instead of trying to push through the crowd, and supposedly our money goes to better the place, but this being said...it felt invasive and disrespectful nonetheless. 

Oh also, after this we had a samba and funk class...haha...samba is hard and let's not talk about funk...ha....

Day 3: 

Today we started out at Cristo Redentor, by far my favorite location of the trip. You go up by train, for like half an hour then there are tons of shops that sell exactly the same things for exactly the same overpriced prices on the way to Cristo. There, there are tons and tons of people taking pictures, and the trick is zoom way out and lie on your back because Cristo is huge...like I'm pretty sure there isn't a part of Rio from which you can't see him. As unreligious as I am, it's impossible to not admit that it's and pretty incredible landmark...more so than the Statue of Liberty, and comparable with the Eifel Tower, in my opinion, at least.

After this, we went to Maracanã but weren't allowed in to look around because it was a game day. However, we went and bought tickets for the game, which was Flamengo vs. Fluminense, the two biggest teams in Rio de Janeiro. We chose to root for Flamengo, as they are more popular.

After this, we went to Copacana, which was super close and super crowded as it was Sarurday afternoon. Then we all grouped up for the game and the lucky few of us who were ready early got to go on the bus of the Northeast Dream Trip 3 and didn't have to pay for a van, as this wasn't part of the normal schedule. But anyways, so we met up with the dream trippers, and there were even more people who I knew, from my district here and another girl who I met in the Dallas airport on my way here (weird, right?) Anyways, Flamengo lost 0-3 and after the second goal, half the stadium got up and walked out in frustration. 

Anyways, after this, we went back to the hotel and ate pizza. Afterwards, people were all signing things and being thrown in the pool and the Belo people tried to make people calm down but eventually they gave up in mild amusement and left us to our chaos. Then they tried to announce departure times but after like half they told the first group to leave so everyone started crying and hugging and after about and hour of this, they got a bit annoyed, since half the people still didn't know what time they were leaving. But anyways, the next morning we got up at like 4 in the morning to see the people before they left, and to leave ourselves and on the flight back, I had a bunch of people on the first one to Campinas, and two from my district to Rio Preto. 

Also, the Shihan, like the master from karate, was on the flight from Campinas to Rio Preto. I almost had a heart attack I was so surprised. But anyways, I went to this future outbound orientation where they chose their countries for next year. It's different, because they have this test and the people who score highest on the test choose first from available vacancies and they all go up on stage and announce the country they want and whether to send their application now or wait.

Also this year, a vacancy opened for Taiwan and no one was choosing it so the district chair went up promoting t and I said ok next person up is going to choose Taiwan because of her doing this. I was right. And not impressed. Whatever, this kid'll figure it out eventually.

Outra missa

Uii  I changed the name of the other post and therefore completely forgot to write about this mass I went to with my host family. We went to a church in Rio Preto and I can honestly say it was the most moving service I have ever been to in my life. This being said, it's not like I came out of the thing catholic, but in a seriousness, there was just something about it. The music was pretty, though kinda of loud and echoey coming from the speakers. This church here in Mirassol is by far much more aesthetically pleasing, but for some reason there was something about this service that stood out. 

Etc...

After returning from the beach, we celebrated my host mom's birthday with the entire family here in the house, then we went to the sítio of my host dad's parents, which is like half an hour away, huge and has fruits of all kinds on trees....mangoes, limes, tamarind, and some others that I've either forgotten or don't know the names of. But anyways, I learned to play, buraco a card game very similar to canasta, which was super fun. I also went fishing but kinda suck at that, haha. Then everyone left and we went back home and then for my birthday the entirety of our Rotary club came to my house and there was a party like thing which was cool.

This past Saturday I went to a wedding in Rio Preto, which was cool. I missed most of the ceremony at the church because I waited for the rest of my family to get here, and they were late, because of traffic, but the party part afterwards was really cool.

Also last Thursday I went to the waterpark with my exchange friends in Rio Preto, which was cool. It was less exciting to go for a second time, but it was cool to hang out with them, at least.

Also I am going to Rio in 9 days and for Carnaval, I am going to the beach with my host aunt, uncle, and cousins.

Santa Catarina e a Praia

After getting back from New Years, I slept approximately two nights in my new house, before leaving again for the state of Santa Catarina with my third host family once again. The one thing about traveling with them is that they stop about ever hour, half hour to go pee. Then, after using the bathroom, they drink about a liter of water to ensure that after another half hour, they will have to stop and pee again. But anyways, after we finally got there, we had this nice apartment with two bedrooms and little balcony porch thing from which you could see the ocean.

It was super rainy at first, so the first day we went to Florianopolis and visited a friend of the family. He lives alone in this giant house with about 7 floors and 40 bathrooms and has an entire soccer field and locker room thing as part of his house, in addition to the pool and everything else. Anyways, we ate churrasco at his house, then went for a ride around the city. We stopped first at this beach that I think is called Jureré or something like that. It's for really really rich people and the houses surrounding it are insanely huge and aesthetic. Next we did some sand boarding which, contrary to popular belief, is absolutely nothing like snowboarding, as you have approximately no control, so you just kind of keep your weight back and hope you don't fall. Also, walking back up that stupid dune afterwards is almost worse than sledding, because while you're not weighed down by all the extra clothing, you're sliding back down the hill because you're dying of sweat. But, it was pretty fun and afterwards we went and swam in the sea fully clothed, which was definitely a good start to the beach.

Every day following included the beach, which was literally down the elevator and across the street. One day we went to Itapema, another surrounding city and went to this park where you buy a ticket and take a cable car up and then there is this part with lots of lookouts and theme park like rides through the forest area. Then you get back on the cable car and it comes out to this beach and there are lots of shops and restaurants along the water. Then you get back on the cable car thing and return. 

Along the beach, there is this trais, and it's refreshing to walk along the beach, then through this trail, that leads to this other little beach that has far fewer people and it's just kinda cozily tucked in along the edge.

At night, everything stays open until really late, so we'd go take a walk along the main street and go get ice cream or look in the shops, or go in this mini fair like thing with lots of booths and people selling fake Hollister. Sometimes it was fun to walk along the beach at night, looking at the lights of the cities surrounding. One night, we went with my host brothers friend on this train like thing that does a loop between the city we were in and the next one and it's super fun because everyone screams and says hi to all the passerbys and cars honk and wave and every time the things starts to ascend, people start clapping and screaming "sube sube sube," encouraging the thing to make it up the ascent.

That's about all I can remember at the moment, but it was a pretty cool trip...

Natal, Ano Novo, e Familia Nova

Well, I was going to tell you about my Christmas, but then I decided to wait until New Years and write about both together. This happened to be a fairly decent plan, seeing as the customs for each are incredibly similar. For Christmas, I and my family went to the house of my aunt's mother-in-law, which is still in Mirassol. There was a Secret Santa-like exchange of presents, in which I gave my 8 year old cousin a swim thing and my host aunt gave me a nice shirt. Anyways, nothing happens until after midnight. Like, they all sit around and talk and drink and then a few minutes before midnight they all gather in a circle, hold hands, say a prayer-like thing, then when it turns midnight, everyone goes around hugging and kissing everyone else, wishing them a Merry Christmas, peace, health, success, love, and a number of other things. A majority of the people also start crying. Then, they start eating, and it's a pretty decent meal, and continue talking and crying. In my family, they all sat around the table sobbing because my brother in Mexico wrote a letter to my host mom, who starts crying just at sound of his name, so imagine what it was like with and entire heartfelt letter that he wrote... Anyways, then everyone exchanges gifts, which my family doesn't really do, because what they do is go to Paraguay the weekend before Christmas and buy basically everything their kids want for them there. Anyways, people kept partying til about 2AM, when people either go to bed or go home.

But then, the next day, everyone comes back together and hangs out some more and eats a lunch of the previous night's leftovers. It's a lot less exciting, and to be honest my host sister and I slept on the couch a majority of the early afternoon, after which we went home and the entirety of my family slept while I made origami.

Anyways, I was going to switch host families on the 29th of December, but my second host family was traveling, so I didn't officially move until the first of January. But anyways, as it worked out, it was kind of almost symbolic... Anyways, so I went to spend the New Year with my third family. My first family was going to travel on the first, and my second family still hadn't arrived from their vacation, so what happened was I packed all my bags and left them at my second house, before going to travel with my third host family. So, if you think about it, I was family-less the turn of the year, moving the first to a new home, and a new beginning, all withing the realms of the new beginning being this exchange. I don't know, I thought it was kinda cool...

Anyways, New Years... I went to this ranch that I'm pretty sure belongs to someone in my third host family's family. We left about one and I'm not sure what time we got there, but it was pretty chill and I spent the first while losing in ping pong, (though all-the-while improving). Afterwards, I went for a walk along the river with my future host mom, and it was super, super pretty - the river is huge, and clean and there was this bird protecting it's babies, at this one point; it was just peaceful, and cultureless, but all the while so full of culture, if that makes any sense... Afterwards I got kinda bored so I helped in the kitchen and washed dishes and did pointless tasks for the women who were running around crazily trying to get things done. But in the end, it was both something to do, and worthwhile, as I gained the respect of the women who were doing the cooking and stuff for just kinda doing what there was to do.

After everyone took a shower and got ready, more people started arriving, and eating, and about 11:30, things started going about the same as they did during Christmas...we stood in a circle and someone talked about being grateful and appreciating one another, then everyone said this prayer. Then everyone resumed eating and the actual turn of the year was pretty anti-climatic, as no one was really paying much attention, so at like 12:02 someone looked and went, oh, 2014!! And then the Christmas tradition commenced again, with hugs, kisses, well-wishings, and crying...(though this time there was no sitting around a table and crying for the host brother who's in Mexico).

After that, it was just kinda hanging out, partying, and eventually those sleeping in other places or going home left, and the adults went to bed and so it was just teenagers chilling and listening to music and talking until the early hours of the morning when I got bored and went to bed.

The next day, some people came back and hung out, as I did at Christmas. We ate more leftovers from the day before. I went swimming with my new 9 year old friend. It was just pretty chill, everyone eating and talking again. Then we went home, and I moved families officially.

It's super refreshing to move, but at the same time, sad. As much as I was ready to move and to have things different, I finally felt like I understood life in my first family, and routines, procedures, a way of living. I felt comfortable with asking my host parents for things and to do things. And I'll definitely miss my host cousins. But at the same time, all that I've lost, I'm gaining again, in a different family, with different people. And I love my new family, so all is well.

Going to the beach tomorrow, so I guess I'll let ya know how that goes afterwards...