All Eyes on Me

My Rotary Presentation was scheduled but I only had a weeks notice. The nerves started to settle in as I  sat in portuguese class and wrote down facts about myself on a white lined paper. It was basically an autobiography about myself and about my country. As I sat there listening to my Ipod I was writing about my family. I started to tear up a little bit just thinking about them and missing them more and more each day. I quickly snapped out of it just thinking about this opportunity and given the chance for such a life changing experience. I always tell myself "I'll see them soon, don't worry Ave, don't worry!". After school I went to CNA (an English school here in Manhuaçu) I go every week to get tutored in Portuguese. Flavía, my tutor, helped my edit and practice my speech. Not much notice about when the presentation was (obviously it was that night) I practiced any chance I got. I practiced it in school, to anyone who would listen, to my mom and dad, and to my friends. Whenever you saw me, you would always see a piece of lined paper in my hand, and me reading off of it probably mumbling words to myself. The speech became second nature by the end, whenever I would start it off "Oi Boa Noite, meu nome é Averie Louise Cox. Eu sou dos Estados Unidos..." my friends would always imitate me and finish the rest. They even knew it by heart. As I made my powerpoint and got ready for the Rotary meeting, I was told there was going to be 50+ people there. I thought yo myself "50+ people" and the nerves got even worse. Lívia helped me make brownies for the guests there just for a little taste of a real American desert. They weren't from the USA but they tasted pretty similar. As I put on my navy blue blazer and hopped in the car, I knew it was time. Real time to present what I've been practicing so hard for. My dad and I arrived at the meeting and surprisingly it just looked like a regular Rotary meeting. Just familiar faces sitting around a table, I was confused. Apparently 50+ people was not the case, and I was so relieved. After talking about normal things the man started to set up the powerpoint projector and I just kept on practicing. After he was done, it was time. I was the center of attention. Nervous as ever, microphone in hand, I took a deep breath, and started talking. "Oi Boa noite. Meu nome é Averie Louise Cox. Eu sou dos Estados Unidos, eu moro en Norwell Massachusetts. Eu tenho dezoito anos..." the nerves wore off; I knew this, I can do it, everything that I've practiced. After the speech was over, I got a big round of applause and everyone was so impressed. Many people came up to me afterwards with a huge smile on their face, giving me a big hug! It went awesome, I didn't even mess up. I now felt like I was part of the Rotary club of Manhuaçu and felt noticed. I was so proud of myself it couldn't have gone any better!

So many hugs!