This is the report I sent to my Rotary back at home, a very short version of basically all that I have done.
Hello Tri-Town Rotary,
Greetings from Manhuaçu, MG, Brasil,
I just wanted to check in back at home and tell you some of the adventure I have had in Brasil, so far. On March 1st it will be my six month mark in Brasil. I have accomplished so much since I have been living here. I recently went on a trip to the beaches of the North East part of Brasil. The most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, exactly like a postcard. I went with an organization called Terra Brasil. There were 89 other exchange students from 21 different countries that went as well. Travelling in two Coach Busses up and down the NE coast of Brasil for 26 days we all became a family. I made some unbelievable relationships that I will have forever. School is going well, the beginning was tough because I did not understand anything the teachers or students were saying, but it all came together with time. I now understand everything. I really like biology and geography, we learn about the United States a lot, and it is amazing how much people here admire the USA. At times people make me feel as a celebrity just because I am an American. I will admit there were some people who put a stereotype on me before I came, just because I am from the USA, but I learned to stick up for my country through everything, at times get very defensive, but I am proud to be an American.
The holiday season came along and it was very difficult. I was very homesick during Christmas time and all I wanted was to be celebrating it with my family. The traditions are very different but similar at the same time, hard to understand. In Brasil the tradition is that on Christmas Eve the families open presents. I am used to waking up to my dad filming the family going downstairs to open and to exchange gifts. Here we had a party with my whole extended Host family and we ate, played games, and exchanged gifts. It was difficult for me because I am used to having the same routine on Christmas ever year. Whenever I was not occupied I was thinking about my family back at home. The worst thing about it was I could picture exactly what they were doing, and they were still doing it, without me. It is a hard concept to grasp not being at home with your family but knowing that they are still moving along without you. My host family here is amazing, and they helped me out a lot through these emotions. New Year was also so different. Since the seasons are opposite here in the southern hemisphere, everything was out of the ordinary. Even though everything is different and everything can be a bit uncomfortable at times, it is all a learning experience, and every new experience is making me a stronger person. Right now, I can’t truthfully say that I see the major changes from being on exchange, but I can see myself as a more mature person and I can see little changes along the way. I will say that those major changes are going to appear with time and I know I probably won’t realize it until I returned home. I see some of my friends that have already returned home after being on exchange for a year, and it makes it seem just like a dream; a dream accomplished, a dream never forgotten, and a dream that flew by. I am already on my down climb of my Rotary Youth Exchange Year. As sad as it is, I have been here for 6 months and I only have another 4 I am so proud of what I am doing and I thank you all again for giving me this opportunity. I can tell you one thing; the time sure does fly by. At the start of my exchange so many exchange students had told me to take every single moment in and don’t take time for granted because it fly’s by. In the moment, I did not believe them and I could not believe them, but the thing is; in the moment you don’t actually see the pace of time flying by but you do however, see it when you look back on an experience. I see all the people behind me supporting me and I am so glad of this decision on becoming a Rotary Exchange Student!
I come home on July 2nd, and I can no wait to share my experiences I had, with all of you. I also have banners from my Host club and the Clubs I visited. These are for our Rotary, as a gift or as they say in Brasil, lembrança.
Tchau,
Averie Louise Cox (Brasil 2011-2012)
