Chá e Desfile

Well I just learned how to change my blog back to English. Um primeira dia meu pai changed the language to Portuguese. From then on I would press all the links to try and figure out where to go. My "real" mom (yes, debbie I'm talk about you) said that it was good and it would help me but no I did not remember what links I pressed to get to the link that said Nova Postgem, so it did not really help, mom. But anyways, the outro dia eu fui a chá e desfile. It was muito bom! Right after breakfast I went to help set up, it took forever even with so many people there to help. Guila and I helped do many things. First we picked up the leaves around the yard outside I was not sure why we did this but it gave us something to do. Then, we filled the baskets on each table with cookies and such; eating more than actually putting in the basket, basically getting fat but thats another post for another day. After, we folded around 80 napkins. Once we finished everything we went home at this point it was about 4 and the tea started at 5 so we had to rush, something I am not very good at. But we went back to AABB (where the event was held) and everything was so beautiful, so fresh. The place filled with white chairs and glass tables, little flower bouquets in the middle of each table and little tea cups each accompanied by a ripened, red strawberry. Down the center of the room was a catwalk for the runway show. Once all the people arrived it was time for the fashion show (desfile) to start. The music started, everyone got quiet, and the first girl walked out. The clothes were so cute! Everyone so unique and so fierce.

meu pai checking people in

behind the scenes

whole room

Livia

Raiany

Clean up crew

School

I am so sorry I am slacking on these posts. I am so busy and can never find time to sit down and write an entry. But school: anxiously waiting the first day I would go. Not knowing what to expect, just like every other adventure here, I went. My dad drove me up to the school gate and my friend Livia was waiting there for me. After we walked up, met the principle, and after it was time to go to class. The school was already so different even just by the looks of it and the layout. Everything was so open and outside. The classrooms were the only thing that was actually all enclosed. The school is 3 floors, each are one long hallway with classrooms all along the left side. The grades go from elementary classes all the way up to 3rd year in high school (senior year). So, I walked in my class only to find out the first class is English class. The teacher introduced me and I took a seat. She introduced some students to me who spoke English pretty well. I talked with the teacher for a while, she was very interested in everything. While talking with her, I noticed that her English was lacking a little. She talked at a slow speed and would mispronounce words every so often. Besides that, I observed that the kids in my class were very shy, but I knew that once they warm up they would be awesome, and thats just what happened! Physics, Biology, and Portuguese classes were very hard. In general those classes are hard...try learning them in a different language. I did not really listen because everything just sounded like gibberish. I have acquired this new skill, where I can tune everything out completely just like no one is talking, it's very awesome! So thats just what I did. The schedule is confusing to say the least. I've been in school for about 2 weeks now and I still do not understand it. All I know is that we have classes and then have a little break in the middle for a snack (sort of like lunch in the US). School starts at 7 and ends at 12:15, and then we go home for lunch. Depending on the day, we go back to school at around 2, thats just if we have a test or a lab. The teachers and students have a totally opposite relationship here. In the US students and teachers have a thick boundary. The students and teachers are way more connected and they are friends. Here everyone are friends and live one another all the same. Hugs and kisses are normal when you meet someone basically a given. I feel so closed off because I was not brought up that way and it is hard to get used to. The next few days in class the students would come to my desk when they had to hand in a paper and they would ask me questions about the US and more and more kids would circle around my desk. They had questions on about everything; books, music, dance, food, parties, and just about everything. The next English class they made a circle with their desks and I sat in the middle answering questions. They were very interested in American parties. It was weird openly talking about the parties, but it was acceptable. Even the teacher was interested and was asking questions! I would always get introduced as "the Americana" and the person would usually look at whoever was introducing me and say "Ela fala Portuguese?" and everybody would turn and look at me too see what I would say. The next few days were better, I met more people, and more people talked to me on their own. Never did I think kids would soon be fighting over me to take the English test with (for) them, but I guess I thought wrong. SAT's all over again...not fun, but I didn't mind. Anything that was in English I now get excited for and I will willingly do, just to speak or write in English. Sometimes I will not understand people speaking to me in English because it is an instinct now to listen for Portuguese words that I know so I can figure out what they're saying, and embarrassingly I have to ask them to repeat what they said.

A Living Statue

I made scrambled eggs for my mom and dad. I don't think they liked them very much but they tried them anyways, which made me happy. On our way home from the beach we made a few stops. First we met Charbel's (my dads) sister, who spoke English. She also was an Intercambio (exchange student). She went to Denmark, where she learned her English. It was a relief to speak to someone who knew English. Then, we went to the mall. It was the same as a mall back at home just everything in a different language. My mom, my dad, and I went to the glasses store. My dad was looking to buy new sunglasses. He tried on many pairs of sunglasses and each pair he would look in the mirror and swiftly turn to us and make a face as if he was posing for a movie cover. It was very funny, although I don't think he was doing this on purpose.

I've come to a conclusion. I am a living statue. I breathe, I walk, but I don't say anything. I just follow the crowd with the same scared and confused look on my face. Everybody probably thinks I'm crazy, but everything is just so new. I sit there and think to myself, I sit there and take everything in. My family asked me if I was timido. I wouldn't say timido in the least bit, I just don't know what to say. Watching TV and listening to people talk is funny. I make up a conversation in my head putting the words in when the people on TV are talking. When people get mad or excited its funny seeing there reaction. When they get mad and all worked up I have no idea what they're saying they just look funny. I can't help but laugh to myself, even if the matters serious.

September 7th is a holiday in Brazil. Independence Day for Brazil. No school, no work, everything stops. There was a parade in my town and the Rotary club who sponsors me asked me to walk in it with them. I was not sure what to expect but I agreed to do it for sure! My grandmother picked me up the morning of the parade. Leaving the house in my blue blazer with so many charms and pins hanging off of it I looked like a chandelier . A specific story to tell behind each and every one. Some pins from other exchanger students, some from amigos, and alguns homemade or bought. At the parade I met so many more Rotarians. It is tough not being able to speak the language and at times very frustrating but I managed. They were all so happy to meet me, and I was honored they asked me to march with them. So many people filled the streets, so much noise, and so much happiness! I marched and held an American flag proudly. Many people got up in my face to take a picture, as if I was a celebrity.

After we went to the "farm house". My vision was totally different then what is actually was. It was so beautiful! A little pink house with blue windows. Casa rosa, janela azul. The back yard had 3 waterfalls. I walked around with Raiany and learned so many words. It was amazing. Three houses in every type of living; a house in the city, a house on the beach, and a house on a farm. I'd say you're set! We had lunch and then napped a little bit. It was so peaceful. Later that evening my dad was trying to learn English words. He pronounced almost all of them wrong. White was "whych", red was "hedge", blue was "bluey". It was so funny! He was so confident with his answers too, but they were all wrong.

Casa rosa, janela azul

Cachoeira

My dad, me, Raiany, Salomao

minha mae

meu pai

Vamos à praia

 Off to the beach. I had no idea what to expect, I was just going with the flow. Since I still do not understand portuguese I never know where we're going. I just go with the crowd. I try and figure out what people are saying by hand signals and ssslllloooooowwww words usually followed by 'onde está o dicionário?' The 4 hour car ride was impossible to sleep. Up, down, devaga (slow), rapido (fast), and sorts of bumps did not help the situation. We finally got there and it was amazing to say the least, everything you would imagine but actually in real life. I couldn't believe it was real and that I was actually placed right in the middle of a postcard. It was breathtaking! Many tall condo complexes surrounding the shore but also beautiful mountains off in the distance. Crystal blue water and sound of the waves crashing against the sand. I never wanted to leave. The next day we actually went to the beach. The hot sun beaming down on the blue water. The best part was... it is winter. I did not think sunburns and winter mixed but I will take it! Many vendors pacing around, you never have to leave your chair when your hungry or thirsty. Nothing like Peggotty, when you're hungry having to walk a solid mile to get food. Everything was right there for you. Complete paradise.

Goodbye USA

   The final day arrived, I had no power since Sunday which made it very hard to pack. So obviously I was scrambling to pack the hour before my flight. Once I said my tough, but final goodbyes to all my friends I was off. Logan bound, but more so, Brazil bound. I arrived at the airport and every emotion you could imagine was flowing through me. Happy to leave, but also sad to leave, excited to arrive, but also nervous to arrive, anxious, but mostly scared to be living away from home for 11 months. No idea what to expect. Friends and family were just a thought, a picture, and a voice from the moment I said  my goodbye's. I walked through the airport not knowing what to expect and not knowing what to feel. I wiped away the tears and I thought to myself 'stop, it is time to grow up' I went through security and I was off. Off to the year of my life, the year millions could only dream about, and the year I will never regret and always remember. I sat in the gate anxiously awaiting my flight, but not looking forward to the long trip. The long journey of traveling began once I heard my flight number 861. I took a 1 hour plane to Dullus, Washington DC, I had an hour layover where I walked 12 gates to gate 1 (my gate). Once I got there I was already lost. I was still in the US but everything was confusing. Every single person in the terminal sounded like Gilmar from Blue Moon Pizza. The 10 hour plane ride to Sao Paulo was rough. Thankfully there was no one in the seat next to me so I could stretch out. Still very minimal sleep. I arrived in Sao Paulo, Brazil and I was in a different world. Some challenges got in the way but I managed to get past them. The language barrier was difficult, I did not know where to go but I found a worker my age who helped me. She did not speak much english but with a lot of hand signals and pointing I found out  where to go. In the airport I met 2 other exchange students, they were from Mexico and were very nice. I was happy I was not alone anymore. I arrived in Belo Horizonte, the last stop. Rosely (my host mother) and Livia (my friend from Manhuaçu) were waiting for me anxiously.

   The 4 hour drive from the airport to my house was long and at some points frightening. Speeding past big trucks on mountainous roads, not to mentions a double yellow line, é louco (it is crazy). Rosely does not speak any English so Livia was the permanent translator. We finally arrived to my house and it was amazing. So modern and so chic. Communicating with my host mom and dad was tough. Them not knowing any English, and me not knowing much Portuguese.

   The next morning, I woke up and it was time for lunch (almoço) the biggest meal of the day. I knocked on the kitchen door and I found a lady dressed in maroon, uniform looking clothes, with an apron and a hair net on. I was caught off guard. Parev was her name, and I soon found out she was our housekeeper/chef. I introduced myself 'Oi como vai voce? Meu nome é Averie' she was stunned. Lunch consisted of rice (arroz), beans (feijões), e fruitas. Era muito bom.

  Rosely and I sat in my room as we both looked through our dictionaries trying to have a conversation. She had a Portuguese to English dictionary and I had an English to Portuguese dictionary. It was funny. Livia came over and I went to her house. I met all of her friends. The city looked so different in the day time. So beautiful. I tried many foods and learned how to dance at Livia's house, the samba and funk. It was very fun! Her friends talk a lot and very fast, but it is the best for me to observe and absorb. We watched a Brazilian movie but they thankfully put on American subtitles.

  Later that night we went out. I learned so many words and I could even put a few full sentences together! I met so many people and they are awesome, eu estou muito animado! Eu vou a praia amanhã and I can't wait!