October 4th
I have mono and I'm applying to colleges...that's about it... I'll update my blog again when I have something worthwhile to write about.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
A LOT to Catch-up On
September 7th
As many Americans today have school/work off due to Labor Day, I don't have school because today, Brazilians are celebrating their independence from Portugal. Speaking of school, school has been great. I've been making loads of friends, am learning so much (whether it be Portuguese, material from various classes, or who has the best ass in the school), and have been so active that almost every day after school, I take a nice two-hour nap. Every morning I get up at 5:50am, take a shower, grab a banana for breakfast, and then walk about 15-20 minutes through downtown Juiz de Fora to school. After going through fingerprint scanners and meeting up with friends to discuss last weekend/upcoming churrascos and parties, my first class starts at about 7:20am. On Monday, my schedule is as follows: Physics II, Sociology, Physics II, Recreio (30 minute break), History, and then English. On a normal day, class will end promptly at 12pm so everyone can go home and have lunch. On Monday, classes end at the normal time of 12pm, but then I come back and have class (Portuguese, Math, Recreio, Chemistry, and Biology II) from 2:20pm to 6pm. Then, a half hour after class, about 20-30 of us get together and play soccer for a few hours. On Tuesday, I have English, Geography, History, Recreio, Geography, Math, and finally Portuguese, from 7:20am to 1pm. The rest of the school week follows the normal schedule of classes from 7:20am to 12pm. On Wednesday I have: Chemistry, Math, Biology II, Recreio, Biology II, and end the day with Religion. Thursday entails: Portuguese, Physics II, Geography, Recreio, Math, and Portuguese. And finally, on Friday I have: History, Portuguese, Biology II, Recreio, Biology II, and then end the school week with Physics II. Thus far, my favorite classes have been Geography, History, and Physics II. And, my least favorite classes include: Biology II, English, and Chemistry. Geography is my favorite subject here at Jesuítas because even though class is a lecture every day, it's pretty easy to follow and is mildly fascinating. On the first day of school, my Geography teacher gave me a textbook, turned to the middle of the book, and had me read about the U.S. Constitution--it was a small gesture that made me feel I had more competence with the Portuguese language than I actually had. Biology is definitely my least favorite class because my teacher, Lucio, always feels the need to give the students a lecture every class on how we are extremely boisterous and disrespectful. On average, two students are sent to the "principal", and two weeks ago my friend received a two-day suspension for laughing. On the first day of school, a girl next to me passed me a note saying, "Be careful. Lucio is crazy. He swims on beaches without clothing." However irritating Lucio can be, his class has been somewhat interesting, as he has taken us into the forest adjacent to Jesuítas, and has taught a few classes from there. Lucio also has made valiant attempts to make me like him--the first time he asked me if I was related to the famous director, David Lynch, and then went on to tell me how much he loved him; the second time, he showed me two wrinkly capsule-shaped plants covered in hair follicles and said to me, "Look! Balls of old man!". English is right up there with Biology mainly because the teacher (and my third host mom!) is extremely boring. She also took points off of my one test because I corrected her English that didn't make any sense gramatically. I always joke with my friends that the hardest class to comprehend is English because Pamela's (the teacher) English is so bad. Portuguese is not my favorite, nor my least favorite class for two reasons: 1. Portuguese poetry is impossible to comprehend for an exchange student, thus making the class extremely dull, 2. Luanda is hot. On the first day of school, the student sitting next to me said right before Portuguese class, "You're going to love the next class." I asked why, and his response was simply the movement of his two hands outlining a curvaceous woman, while simultaneously nodding his head and saying, "Luanda" with a huge smile on his face. The voluptuous teacher entered the classroom, proving all rumors of the perfect Brazilian physique true. The testosterone-filled portion of the class gawked and subconsciously slobbered, while the female student body boiled in jealousy. Okay, maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but it was certainly the first time that anything like this ever happened in school. The same student that said I was going to love Portuguese class passed me a note three minutes into class saying, "You like the ass of Luanda?" Overall, school has been a great experience, and this Saturday, my class will compete with all of the other classes in the second year in the annual Olympiades (Brazilian equivalent of field day). I will be playing soccer, basketball, volleyball, and individually competing in ping pong. The Olympiades at Jesuítas gets pretty intense--we have uniforms, a class song to play during the ceremonies, etc.; our uniform is black with gold numbers and our last name on the back.
I've been so busy every day that I'm going to condense some of my recent/upcoming activities/aspects of the Brazilian culture I find fascinating into a list:
-The first time I had milk in Brazil was August 17th--I downed an entire liter for dinner (milk in Brazil can either come from cows or a powered mixture--milk from cows is obviously much better--they also come in either liter jugs or liter bags--bags are cheaper)
-Cashew yogurt has become one of my favorite foods down here (just crush up cashews and stir them into plain yogurt); have also been trying scores of unfamiliar fruits from the Amazon such as maracujá
-I made brownies for my host mom without a set oven temperature and they were a success
-I registered my visa on the 27th of August, the day before it was due
-I've joined a nearby club called Clube de Bom Pastor (Bom Pastor is the name of my neighborhood)
-Picked up my first Portuguese colloquialism--"todo o mundo" (literally translates into "the whole world"--commonly used when referring to a group of people)
-In Portuguese, when a word starts with an "r", it's pronounced in English as an "h" (very funny when talking about bands such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers (pronounced Hedge Hot Chili Peppers)
-Drivers never stop for pedestrians in Brazil
-Went to my first Rotary Club meeting two weeks ago (spoke for about five minutes in front of everyone--met with my counsellor)
-Go to church every Sunday night with my host mom--was blessed by the priest for a good stay in Brazil
-Every Friday my friends and I get together at Mario's (classmate of mine) house to box (some fights are just boxing, and some consist of: Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, and Wrestling)--it now has the official title of "Mario's Fight Championship"...videos will be available on YouTube shortly
-After a party, my host mom sent me a message saying that I should come back to the house quickly because she just bought two cartons of ice cream. I misinterpreted her text as "pick up ice cream after your party" and proceeded to ask what types of ice cream--long story short, we ended up with four cartons of the same two types of ice cream in the freezer
-After a three-hour car ride to and from Rio with host mom and future host dad (previously married), I quickly discovered why they're divorced
-Had an interview set-up with Gettysburg College admissions counsellor for this Friday at 6pm--was cancelled due to unexpected medical leave
-Tomorrow I'm going with my friend Luiz Octavio to join his boxing club; I'm also going to enroll in a Portuguese for Exchange Students class at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF)
-From the 9th-11th of October Luick and I are traveling with Nick Mendes and his dentistry classmates for an Olympiades-like competition
-On the 15, 16, and 17th of October I'm going to a huge party in Juiz de Fora called JF Folia (famous for its bands and prevalence of women)
This past weekend, I traveled with my host mom (Jade is now in the U.S.) to visit my host mom's boyfriend in Campos do Jordão, a small city about nestled in the Brazilian mountains about three hours away, rich in Swiss heritage. My host mom and I stayed there for a night and then left for Praia Grande (where Luick lives) on Friday (I didn't have school last Wednesday-Friday because Jesuítas students are taking their simulados, which are practice tests for the end-of-the-year vestibulares, which are standardized tests students need to take in order to enter university down here in Brazil). On Saturday, we had a churrasco at my host Aunt Monesie's house, and then on Sunday morning we left for Santos, another coastal city about a half hour to an hour away. During the churrasco, I was talking with my host Aunt Marjorie (Nick Mendes' mom who is a dentist) and she inquired about my retainers and my two missing teeth--I told her each implant in the U.S. would cost around $3000. She stated that her husband, who is also a dentist, is an implant specialist, and also added that dental care in Brazil is so much more inexpensive than in the U.S. because in Brazil, they use more machines than dentists do in the U.S., and therefore, their expenses, and in turn the cost of the surgery, are significantly lower (A few weeks ago this girl in my class who really likes me asked if I kissed with or without my retainer. After talking for a little while about my mouth, she said that her dentist is the best in Juiz de Fora. The next day, she told me that she talked to her dentist and he said an implant would be approximately 1300 Reias, which is about U.S. $700--just something to keep in mind while I'm down here.). Meire and I met up with my host grandmother, had lunch, and then left for Juiz de Fora around 3pm, not getting in until around 2:30am. At my host grandmother's place, I gave her a present consisting of Aunt Jemima pancake mix and a bottle of Vermont maple syrup--my host grandmother then proceeded to tell me about how she went to New York and saw an exhibit on the history of pancakes and even watched a video on the life of Aunt Jemima.
All in all, Brazil is amazing--the beautiful culture, language, women, etc. I'm having the best time down here (already over homesickness) and am extremely grateful for this experience. I love living in downtown Juiz de Fora, where I'm close to all of my friends and my school--a few weeks ago I went to José Medeiros' house (where the other exchange student is living) hous- excuse me, palace, and really didn't envy the exchange student living there. Yes, he does have three permanent maids and a gardener, not to mention a spectacular house, but I prefer living in the small apartment in which I reside because I don't need all of the wealth and luxury. I prefer being able to walk everywhere throughout the city, live close to my friends, and do things on my own, which is making me more independent in the long run. I'm always doing something, and there is never a dull moment. Hope everyone is doing well. Love you all. I'm going to be extremely busy in the coming weeks with normal everyday life and college applications; however, I'll try and update the blog more often.
As many Americans today have school/work off due to Labor Day, I don't have school because today, Brazilians are celebrating their independence from Portugal. Speaking of school, school has been great. I've been making loads of friends, am learning so much (whether it be Portuguese, material from various classes, or who has the best ass in the school), and have been so active that almost every day after school, I take a nice two-hour nap. Every morning I get up at 5:50am, take a shower, grab a banana for breakfast, and then walk about 15-20 minutes through downtown Juiz de Fora to school. After going through fingerprint scanners and meeting up with friends to discuss last weekend/upcoming churrascos and parties, my first class starts at about 7:20am. On Monday, my schedule is as follows: Physics II, Sociology, Physics II, Recreio (30 minute break), History, and then English. On a normal day, class will end promptly at 12pm so everyone can go home and have lunch. On Monday, classes end at the normal time of 12pm, but then I come back and have class (Portuguese, Math, Recreio, Chemistry, and Biology II) from 2:20pm to 6pm. Then, a half hour after class, about 20-30 of us get together and play soccer for a few hours. On Tuesday, I have English, Geography, History, Recreio, Geography, Math, and finally Portuguese, from 7:20am to 1pm. The rest of the school week follows the normal schedule of classes from 7:20am to 12pm. On Wednesday I have: Chemistry, Math, Biology II, Recreio, Biology II, and end the day with Religion. Thursday entails: Portuguese, Physics II, Geography, Recreio, Math, and Portuguese. And finally, on Friday I have: History, Portuguese, Biology II, Recreio, Biology II, and then end the school week with Physics II. Thus far, my favorite classes have been Geography, History, and Physics II. And, my least favorite classes include: Biology II, English, and Chemistry. Geography is my favorite subject here at Jesuítas because even though class is a lecture every day, it's pretty easy to follow and is mildly fascinating. On the first day of school, my Geography teacher gave me a textbook, turned to the middle of the book, and had me read about the U.S. Constitution--it was a small gesture that made me feel I had more competence with the Portuguese language than I actually had. Biology is definitely my least favorite class because my teacher, Lucio, always feels the need to give the students a lecture every class on how we are extremely boisterous and disrespectful. On average, two students are sent to the "principal", and two weeks ago my friend received a two-day suspension for laughing. On the first day of school, a girl next to me passed me a note saying, "Be careful. Lucio is crazy. He swims on beaches without clothing." However irritating Lucio can be, his class has been somewhat interesting, as he has taken us into the forest adjacent to Jesuítas, and has taught a few classes from there. Lucio also has made valiant attempts to make me like him--the first time he asked me if I was related to the famous director, David Lynch, and then went on to tell me how much he loved him; the second time, he showed me two wrinkly capsule-shaped plants covered in hair follicles and said to me, "Look! Balls of old man!". English is right up there with Biology mainly because the teacher (and my third host mom!) is extremely boring. She also took points off of my one test because I corrected her English that didn't make any sense gramatically. I always joke with my friends that the hardest class to comprehend is English because Pamela's (the teacher) English is so bad. Portuguese is not my favorite, nor my least favorite class for two reasons: 1. Portuguese poetry is impossible to comprehend for an exchange student, thus making the class extremely dull, 2. Luanda is hot. On the first day of school, the student sitting next to me said right before Portuguese class, "You're going to love the next class." I asked why, and his response was simply the movement of his two hands outlining a curvaceous woman, while simultaneously nodding his head and saying, "Luanda" with a huge smile on his face. The voluptuous teacher entered the classroom, proving all rumors of the perfect Brazilian physique true. The testosterone-filled portion of the class gawked and subconsciously slobbered, while the female student body boiled in jealousy. Okay, maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but it was certainly the first time that anything like this ever happened in school. The same student that said I was going to love Portuguese class passed me a note three minutes into class saying, "You like the ass of Luanda?" Overall, school has been a great experience, and this Saturday, my class will compete with all of the other classes in the second year in the annual Olympiades (Brazilian equivalent of field day). I will be playing soccer, basketball, volleyball, and individually competing in ping pong. The Olympiades at Jesuítas gets pretty intense--we have uniforms, a class song to play during the ceremonies, etc.; our uniform is black with gold numbers and our last name on the back.
I've been so busy every day that I'm going to condense some of my recent/upcoming activities/aspects of the Brazilian culture I find fascinating into a list:
-The first time I had milk in Brazil was August 17th--I downed an entire liter for dinner (milk in Brazil can either come from cows or a powered mixture--milk from cows is obviously much better--they also come in either liter jugs or liter bags--bags are cheaper)
-Cashew yogurt has become one of my favorite foods down here (just crush up cashews and stir them into plain yogurt); have also been trying scores of unfamiliar fruits from the Amazon such as maracujá
-I made brownies for my host mom without a set oven temperature and they were a success
-I registered my visa on the 27th of August, the day before it was due
-I've joined a nearby club called Clube de Bom Pastor (Bom Pastor is the name of my neighborhood)
-Picked up my first Portuguese colloquialism--"todo o mundo" (literally translates into "the whole world"--commonly used when referring to a group of people)
-In Portuguese, when a word starts with an "r", it's pronounced in English as an "h" (very funny when talking about bands such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers (pronounced Hedge Hot Chili Peppers)
-Drivers never stop for pedestrians in Brazil
-Went to my first Rotary Club meeting two weeks ago (spoke for about five minutes in front of everyone--met with my counsellor)
-Go to church every Sunday night with my host mom--was blessed by the priest for a good stay in Brazil
-Every Friday my friends and I get together at Mario's (classmate of mine) house to box (some fights are just boxing, and some consist of: Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, and Wrestling)--it now has the official title of "Mario's Fight Championship"...videos will be available on YouTube shortly
-After a party, my host mom sent me a message saying that I should come back to the house quickly because she just bought two cartons of ice cream. I misinterpreted her text as "pick up ice cream after your party" and proceeded to ask what types of ice cream--long story short, we ended up with four cartons of the same two types of ice cream in the freezer
-After a three-hour car ride to and from Rio with host mom and future host dad (previously married), I quickly discovered why they're divorced
-Had an interview set-up with Gettysburg College admissions counsellor for this Friday at 6pm--was cancelled due to unexpected medical leave
-Tomorrow I'm going with my friend Luiz Octavio to join his boxing club; I'm also going to enroll in a Portuguese for Exchange Students class at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF)
-From the 9th-11th of October Luick and I are traveling with Nick Mendes and his dentistry classmates for an Olympiades-like competition
-On the 15, 16, and 17th of October I'm going to a huge party in Juiz de Fora called JF Folia (famous for its bands and prevalence of women)
This past weekend, I traveled with my host mom (Jade is now in the U.S.) to visit my host mom's boyfriend in Campos do Jordão, a small city about nestled in the Brazilian mountains about three hours away, rich in Swiss heritage. My host mom and I stayed there for a night and then left for Praia Grande (where Luick lives) on Friday (I didn't have school last Wednesday-Friday because Jesuítas students are taking their simulados, which are practice tests for the end-of-the-year vestibulares, which are standardized tests students need to take in order to enter university down here in Brazil). On Saturday, we had a churrasco at my host Aunt Monesie's house, and then on Sunday morning we left for Santos, another coastal city about a half hour to an hour away. During the churrasco, I was talking with my host Aunt Marjorie (Nick Mendes' mom who is a dentist) and she inquired about my retainers and my two missing teeth--I told her each implant in the U.S. would cost around $3000. She stated that her husband, who is also a dentist, is an implant specialist, and also added that dental care in Brazil is so much more inexpensive than in the U.S. because in Brazil, they use more machines than dentists do in the U.S., and therefore, their expenses, and in turn the cost of the surgery, are significantly lower (A few weeks ago this girl in my class who really likes me asked if I kissed with or without my retainer. After talking for a little while about my mouth, she said that her dentist is the best in Juiz de Fora. The next day, she told me that she talked to her dentist and he said an implant would be approximately 1300 Reias, which is about U.S. $700--just something to keep in mind while I'm down here.). Meire and I met up with my host grandmother, had lunch, and then left for Juiz de Fora around 3pm, not getting in until around 2:30am. At my host grandmother's place, I gave her a present consisting of Aunt Jemima pancake mix and a bottle of Vermont maple syrup--my host grandmother then proceeded to tell me about how she went to New York and saw an exhibit on the history of pancakes and even watched a video on the life of Aunt Jemima.
All in all, Brazil is amazing--the beautiful culture, language, women, etc. I'm having the best time down here (already over homesickness) and am extremely grateful for this experience. I love living in downtown Juiz de Fora, where I'm close to all of my friends and my school--a few weeks ago I went to José Medeiros' house (where the other exchange student is living) hous- excuse me, palace, and really didn't envy the exchange student living there. Yes, he does have three permanent maids and a gardener, not to mention a spectacular house, but I prefer living in the small apartment in which I reside because I don't need all of the wealth and luxury. I prefer being able to walk everywhere throughout the city, live close to my friends, and do things on my own, which is making me more independent in the long run. I'm always doing something, and there is never a dull moment. Hope everyone is doing well. Love you all. I'm going to be extremely busy in the coming weeks with normal everyday life and college applications; however, I'll try and update the blog more often.
Monday, August 10, 2009
School, School, School
August 10th
School, finally, school. After being delayed a week due to the Swine Flue scare, I finally get to start school at Juiz de Fora's "best" private school, Colègio dos Jesuìtas. So much to look forward too, yet so many obstacles in my way. Three twenty-four a.m. The countless meats I have devoured in these past days have come back to haunt me (I will not get into the specifics, but one thing I will say is that I need more vegetables to balance out my diet here in this land of carnivores). After going back to bed, my alarm buzzes at 6 a.m. Way too early for school. I hit the snooze, and am then woken up by my host sister. Great. I'm running late on my first day of school in a foreign country, and have somehow miraculously gotten a sore throat to accompany my cold. After a quick shower and a photo taken of me in my uniform, Jade and I hurry to the bus stop (not enough time to make it by foot), meet up with some friends, and finally arrive at my new school. Jade and I then meet up with the two other Americans, who are also anxious to start school in a foreign tongue. Steps away from my classroom. So close... And, of course, I don't make it. Apparently Rotary didn't register Sam and I at Jesuìtas, so our morning was spent filling out various matriculation documents, along with walking to Medeiros' house to get some information from our Rotary packets. However, Mike, the AFS student's forms were filled out (the same agency that sent an exchange student to live with a family in Egypt that fasts for more than 200 days out of the year, has somehow topped Rotary in one aspect). Finally, all of my transcripts, passport, and visa copies are submitted, and the secretary tells me I will start school tomorrow. Great. I just woke up the earliest I've woken up all summer (I usually sleep in until past the time school is over--12 p.m.) So, I have no new information about any of my classes, except that on every Monday, all students in the second year return to Jesuìtas at 2 p.m. for another class...still don't know which one. While I was waiting with Sam in the lobby, I met a girl entering the third year at Jesuìtas, who is from Holland. Apparently this is the eighth school she's attended, and is fluent in Dutch, English, Spanish, knows some Portuguese, Italian, French, and three types of Latin. Wow. I thought starting my senior year in a foreign country was rough...try eight. I took some pictures of the school, and will put them up on facebook after I'm done with this post.
Speaking of school, I have finally come up with a complete list of the colleges I'm going to apply to. They include: Gettysburg College (early decision), PSU University Park, UPitt, Temple, and La Salle. I decided to oust the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica because I don't want to spend my college experience far from home, at a school that I'm not quite sure is accredited or not. I then took McGill and UToronto off my list also because they're far away, and because I don't think I'd get in anyway. I'm going to start writing all of my essays and compile letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc. in the coming weeks.
I just can't wait until I have some routine in my life here in Brazil. My host mom left the fifth for Buenos Aires, and will return the 17th. And, hopefully school will start tomorrow. So, after a few weeks, hopefully my homesickness will cease and I'll feel more stable. That's all for now, I will keep in touch.
***This computer will only let me upload photos on flickr. Here is the link to a few of the pictures I've taken so far: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40811278@N05/?saved=1
School, finally, school. After being delayed a week due to the Swine Flue scare, I finally get to start school at Juiz de Fora's "best" private school, Colègio dos Jesuìtas. So much to look forward too, yet so many obstacles in my way. Three twenty-four a.m. The countless meats I have devoured in these past days have come back to haunt me (I will not get into the specifics, but one thing I will say is that I need more vegetables to balance out my diet here in this land of carnivores). After going back to bed, my alarm buzzes at 6 a.m. Way too early for school. I hit the snooze, and am then woken up by my host sister. Great. I'm running late on my first day of school in a foreign country, and have somehow miraculously gotten a sore throat to accompany my cold. After a quick shower and a photo taken of me in my uniform, Jade and I hurry to the bus stop (not enough time to make it by foot), meet up with some friends, and finally arrive at my new school. Jade and I then meet up with the two other Americans, who are also anxious to start school in a foreign tongue. Steps away from my classroom. So close... And, of course, I don't make it. Apparently Rotary didn't register Sam and I at Jesuìtas, so our morning was spent filling out various matriculation documents, along with walking to Medeiros' house to get some information from our Rotary packets. However, Mike, the AFS student's forms were filled out (the same agency that sent an exchange student to live with a family in Egypt that fasts for more than 200 days out of the year, has somehow topped Rotary in one aspect). Finally, all of my transcripts, passport, and visa copies are submitted, and the secretary tells me I will start school tomorrow. Great. I just woke up the earliest I've woken up all summer (I usually sleep in until past the time school is over--12 p.m.) So, I have no new information about any of my classes, except that on every Monday, all students in the second year return to Jesuìtas at 2 p.m. for another class...still don't know which one. While I was waiting with Sam in the lobby, I met a girl entering the third year at Jesuìtas, who is from Holland. Apparently this is the eighth school she's attended, and is fluent in Dutch, English, Spanish, knows some Portuguese, Italian, French, and three types of Latin. Wow. I thought starting my senior year in a foreign country was rough...try eight. I took some pictures of the school, and will put them up on facebook after I'm done with this post.
Speaking of school, I have finally come up with a complete list of the colleges I'm going to apply to. They include: Gettysburg College (early decision), PSU University Park, UPitt, Temple, and La Salle. I decided to oust the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica because I don't want to spend my college experience far from home, at a school that I'm not quite sure is accredited or not. I then took McGill and UToronto off my list also because they're far away, and because I don't think I'd get in anyway. I'm going to start writing all of my essays and compile letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc. in the coming weeks.
I just can't wait until I have some routine in my life here in Brazil. My host mom left the fifth for Buenos Aires, and will return the 17th. And, hopefully school will start tomorrow. So, after a few weeks, hopefully my homesickness will cease and I'll feel more stable. That's all for now, I will keep in touch.
***This computer will only let me upload photos on flickr. Here is the link to a few of the pictures I've taken so far: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40811278@N05/?saved=1
Stuffing My Face
August 8th-9th
After a week filled with numerous parties (including three birthdays), my life finally started to slow down and become somewhat normal as school neared. On Saturday, Luick, Jade, and I went to lunch with my host father and a bunch of his friends, so that I could sample a traditional Brazilian dish, Feijoada. Feijoada consists of pork and beans that are slow-cooked in a cauldron-like bowl for hours, until the pork becomes as tender as the bean soup. It is eaten with rice (as everything is), farinha, and some greens that actually looked and tasted like grass (although I really hope it wasn't). After about three servings (equivalent to a Brazilian sampling) of the warm, gooey mouthwatering dish, it felt as if my stomach was about to burst open (I've been getting that feeling a lot lately). That night, I met the other Rotary exchange student that will be attending Colègio dos Jesuìtas, Sam, who is from Illinois. We were both extremely relieved to be able to talk to someone in English (me more than him, as I had been in Brazil for eleven days, and he had just gotten off the plane). Sam is living with Medeiros, the Rotary chairman of Juiz de Fora, and had already received his monthly $100 allowance from Rotary before me. I have been having trouble withdrawing money from my USAA debit card, but hopefully I will figure it out soon. All in all, there will be four exchange students attending Colègio dos Jesuìtas (me, two other American guys--one with Rotary, one with AFS, and then a girl from the Philippines).
Sunday, Brazilian father's day, was celebrated with a Churrasco of colossal proportions at my host father's girlfriend's house on the outskirts of Juiz de Fora. Various succulent cuts of meat were grilled, each being devoured as soon as they were brought over on cutting boards and skewers. And, during this Churrasco, I enjoyed one of the strangest and probably most nutritional foods I've eaten in Brazil so far--chicken hearts. All of this was washed down with Suco, a Brazilian juice, and two slices of delectable key lime pie (however, that's obviously not the name they gave it). The day continued with some swimming, and a very challenging conversation with my host grandfather. When we got back to Juiz de Fora, I slept like a baby, and was offered dinner when I woke up, but I had to politely say "não obrigado", as my belt was still struggling to contain my bulging stomach. Time to hit the gym!
After a week filled with numerous parties (including three birthdays), my life finally started to slow down and become somewhat normal as school neared. On Saturday, Luick, Jade, and I went to lunch with my host father and a bunch of his friends, so that I could sample a traditional Brazilian dish, Feijoada. Feijoada consists of pork and beans that are slow-cooked in a cauldron-like bowl for hours, until the pork becomes as tender as the bean soup. It is eaten with rice (as everything is), farinha, and some greens that actually looked and tasted like grass (although I really hope it wasn't). After about three servings (equivalent to a Brazilian sampling) of the warm, gooey mouthwatering dish, it felt as if my stomach was about to burst open (I've been getting that feeling a lot lately). That night, I met the other Rotary exchange student that will be attending Colègio dos Jesuìtas, Sam, who is from Illinois. We were both extremely relieved to be able to talk to someone in English (me more than him, as I had been in Brazil for eleven days, and he had just gotten off the plane). Sam is living with Medeiros, the Rotary chairman of Juiz de Fora, and had already received his monthly $100 allowance from Rotary before me. I have been having trouble withdrawing money from my USAA debit card, but hopefully I will figure it out soon. All in all, there will be four exchange students attending Colègio dos Jesuìtas (me, two other American guys--one with Rotary, one with AFS, and then a girl from the Philippines).
Sunday, Brazilian father's day, was celebrated with a Churrasco of colossal proportions at my host father's girlfriend's house on the outskirts of Juiz de Fora. Various succulent cuts of meat were grilled, each being devoured as soon as they were brought over on cutting boards and skewers. And, during this Churrasco, I enjoyed one of the strangest and probably most nutritional foods I've eaten in Brazil so far--chicken hearts. All of this was washed down with Suco, a Brazilian juice, and two slices of delectable key lime pie (however, that's obviously not the name they gave it). The day continued with some swimming, and a very challenging conversation with my host grandfather. When we got back to Juiz de Fora, I slept like a baby, and was offered dinner when I woke up, but I had to politely say "não obrigado", as my belt was still struggling to contain my bulging stomach. Time to hit the gym!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Not Enough Baggage
Day Seven (August 3rd)
Word to the wise--never, ever pack syrup. I had thought that my mom was being way too careful, insisting that I put the bottles of syrup that she bought for gifts in Ziploc bags. Well, apparently the bottles' thick glass, along with a Ziploc bag covering each, is not enough. I found that out when I reached into my one suitcase for some clothes, and my hand met sticky goo instead of soft cotton. Luckily only a few of my clothes were affected, but maybe the syrup not getting onto more items is not so lucky after all. When I picked up my luggage from the airport in Rio, the one suitcase felt a tad light. I thought nothing of it, and was just glad to be in the right airport. Well, later on, I found a little present from the good 'ole TSA:
Word to the wise--never, ever pack syrup. I had thought that my mom was being way too careful, insisting that I put the bottles of syrup that she bought for gifts in Ziploc bags. Well, apparently the bottles' thick glass, along with a Ziploc bag covering each, is not enough. I found that out when I reached into my one suitcase for some clothes, and my hand met sticky goo instead of soft cotton. Luckily only a few of my clothes were affected, but maybe the syrup not getting onto more items is not so lucky after all. When I picked up my luggage from the airport in Rio, the one suitcase felt a tad light. I thought nothing of it, and was just glad to be in the right airport. Well, later on, I found a little present from the good 'ole TSA:
NOTICE OF BAGGAGE INSPECTION
"To protect you and your fellow passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law* to inspect all checked baggage...During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag."
"To protect you and your fellow passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law* to inspect all checked baggage...During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag."
So much for planning ahead and packing three new pairs of shoes, knowing I won't find a size 15 in Brazil. My brand new Nike Air Force I Mids were stolen, and I'm sure they weren't the only things that were "endangering fellow passengers". I could've sworn my bag was 10 pounds lighter when I picked it up in Rio. The shoes were heavy, and hopefully they were the only items taken. I am finally completely unpacked, and so far I haven't noticed anything else missing so that's a good sign...until I'm rummaging through empty suitcases for something specific. What pisses me off the most is the fact that when I weighed and tagged my luggage in Philly, the one luggage handler specifically warned me that my one bag's (the one containing the AF Is) locks would be broken if I had any on it (I didn't). Luckily, I was smart enough to listen to Marina and pack each pair of shoes in separate suitcases.
Today I met with my Rotary counsellor, José Medeiros, a lawyer in Juiz de Fora, and he informed me that two other American exchange students (both arriving the 8th--the group departure date) will also be attending Colégio dos Jesuítas. That gave me a sigh of relief, but then I thought about it and that might mean that I have more competition. But then I thought, I didn't come to Brazil to compete with other exchange students. I'm just going to continue to go with the flow and befriend them. Why make enemies with the people I probably have the most in common with in this city of 500,000? Medeiros gave me his contact information and then told me we'd have a meeting at the end of each month at his house. I bought my uniform today, and am very anxious to start school (my host mom also bought me a cell phone so that I can easily get in touch with her or some of the new friends I'll make). I have been a bit homesick, but hopefully I'll be so involved in school and Rotary activities that I won't be anymore. Luick leaves the same day I start school for college in Santos, and Jade leaves the 22nd for Spring Mills, PA. My Portuguese is getting better, although I'm still not confident speaking it. What has come out of my mouth these first few days has been a combination of Portuguese, Spanish, and English. The most difficult aspect of Portuguese is the nasal pronounciation, and for that reason, I can read much better than I can speak. I have been rather quiet this first week, but that's due to a combination of things: I've been travelling all over a foreign country and right when I got somewhat acclimated to Luick's apartment, we left for Juiz de Fora, I've been sick with a cold I must've caught at Cousin Camp X, everything is completely different, and by everything, I mean everything, I've been a little homesick, and in general, I'm just a pretty quiet person. I try not to think about home that much--just so I don't get anymore homesick, and I just discovered that we have Skype, so we'll all be able to see each other late October! I definitely underestimated the challenges of living abroad. But, everything will soon change once I start school, and, I'm going with Jade tomorrow to meet up with some of her friends, so hopefully everything will only get better. And, I won't forget to get my host mom to take a picture of me on my first day of school to continue the tradition!
Today I met with my Rotary counsellor, José Medeiros, a lawyer in Juiz de Fora, and he informed me that two other American exchange students (both arriving the 8th--the group departure date) will also be attending Colégio dos Jesuítas. That gave me a sigh of relief, but then I thought about it and that might mean that I have more competition. But then I thought, I didn't come to Brazil to compete with other exchange students. I'm just going to continue to go with the flow and befriend them. Why make enemies with the people I probably have the most in common with in this city of 500,000? Medeiros gave me his contact information and then told me we'd have a meeting at the end of each month at his house. I bought my uniform today, and am very anxious to start school (my host mom also bought me a cell phone so that I can easily get in touch with her or some of the new friends I'll make). I have been a bit homesick, but hopefully I'll be so involved in school and Rotary activities that I won't be anymore. Luick leaves the same day I start school for college in Santos, and Jade leaves the 22nd for Spring Mills, PA. My Portuguese is getting better, although I'm still not confident speaking it. What has come out of my mouth these first few days has been a combination of Portuguese, Spanish, and English. The most difficult aspect of Portuguese is the nasal pronounciation, and for that reason, I can read much better than I can speak. I have been rather quiet this first week, but that's due to a combination of things: I've been travelling all over a foreign country and right when I got somewhat acclimated to Luick's apartment, we left for Juiz de Fora, I've been sick with a cold I must've caught at Cousin Camp X, everything is completely different, and by everything, I mean everything, I've been a little homesick, and in general, I'm just a pretty quiet person. I try not to think about home that much--just so I don't get anymore homesick, and I just discovered that we have Skype, so we'll all be able to see each other late October! I definitely underestimated the challenges of living abroad. But, everything will soon change once I start school, and, I'm going with Jade tomorrow to meet up with some of her friends, so hopefully everything will only get better. And, I won't forget to get my host mom to take a picture of me on my first day of school to continue the tradition!
Rotary Is Everywhere...
Day Four-Six (July 31st-August 2nd)
On Friday night, it continued to rain, and the relatives and I attended the 12th Annual Tainha Festival (Tainha is a popular local fish), which raises money for the homeless. Amongst the volunteers and the Tainha-inhaling rest of us, were a series of stands set up, selling blankets and whatnot--the proceeds benefiting the homeless. Out of the various stands, one in particular stood out...the Rotary Club of Forte Itaipu. It seems that especially in Brazil, Rotary is everywhere. When I say especially in Brazil, it's because in the U.S., most people I've come across aren't familiar with the organization. But, in Brazil, everyone has at least heard of it. Nick Mendes was an exchange student to the U.S., his sister to Argentina, and his younger brother hopes to study abroad in Japan. Not only that, but my host mother was an exchange student, and so was at least one of her sisters. That same night, I found out that I won't start school at Colégio dos Jesuítas until the tenth of August because of the Swine Flu "pandemic" (apparently it takes a couple months for the latest exaggerated scare to reach Brazil).
The next day, I had my first Churrasco (Brazilian BBQ) at my host Aunt Marjorie's house. So much for losing roughly 40 pounds in the spring and summer, when I'm pretty sure I'm quickly gaining it back (hopefully not all of it). No worries though, in a few days I'll start school, and I plan on joining some sports, and joining the local gym, Bom Pastor.
All of Sunday was spent in the car, as my host family and I drove for eight hours back to Juiz de Fora. What am I saying, "back to"?! I haven't even seen my new home, yet have been to so many places already!
On Friday night, it continued to rain, and the relatives and I attended the 12th Annual Tainha Festival (Tainha is a popular local fish), which raises money for the homeless. Amongst the volunteers and the Tainha-inhaling rest of us, were a series of stands set up, selling blankets and whatnot--the proceeds benefiting the homeless. Out of the various stands, one in particular stood out...the Rotary Club of Forte Itaipu. It seems that especially in Brazil, Rotary is everywhere. When I say especially in Brazil, it's because in the U.S., most people I've come across aren't familiar with the organization. But, in Brazil, everyone has at least heard of it. Nick Mendes was an exchange student to the U.S., his sister to Argentina, and his younger brother hopes to study abroad in Japan. Not only that, but my host mother was an exchange student, and so was at least one of her sisters. That same night, I found out that I won't start school at Colégio dos Jesuítas until the tenth of August because of the Swine Flu "pandemic" (apparently it takes a couple months for the latest exaggerated scare to reach Brazil).
The next day, I had my first Churrasco (Brazilian BBQ) at my host Aunt Marjorie's house. So much for losing roughly 40 pounds in the spring and summer, when I'm pretty sure I'm quickly gaining it back (hopefully not all of it). No worries though, in a few days I'll start school, and I plan on joining some sports, and joining the local gym, Bom Pastor.
All of Sunday was spent in the car, as my host family and I drove for eight hours back to Juiz de Fora. What am I saying, "back to"?! I haven't even seen my new home, yet have been to so many places already!
Itchy All Over
Day Two-Three (July 29th-30th)
I woke up that Wednesday morning with one-half of my face (the side I didn't sleep on) covered with red dots--mosquito bites. I had sprayed Off onto my legs and arms, but had forgotten to spray my face. And, my ripe, prime mosquito real estate Gringo flesh had paid for it. After tending to my wounds, and a quick breakfast, my host family and I were off to Praia Grande (Long Beach) to visit with relatives. In my first full day in Brazil, I was already in two different states (Rio de Janeiro and Sào Paulo), and had been in the Southern Hemisphere's most populous city, São Paulo (Saint Paul). In about five hours, we had made it to Praia Grande, and set up camp for the night at Luick's apartment.
The next day, a few of my host family's relatives came over, one of which was Nickollas Mendes, a friend of Celso's, who spent a week with my family and me in Avalon the year Celso and Nick were exchange students in the U.S. We caught up on all of the latest news--Nick is going to dentistry school (both his parents are dentists), and he said Celso had been up to Santos, a city bordering Praia Grande a few weeks ago. Nick then got in touch with his American side as he and I battled it out, playing Madden '09; but in the end, the real American prevailed.
That night, we all met up at Nick's house for dinner--beef stroganoff with rice, and then coconut ice cream drenched in dulce de leche (dolce de leite em Português), sprinkled with crushed-up peanut butter candies for dessert. At dinner, Nick and his parents extended their belated thanks to my mom and dad for having Nick stay with us at Avalon.
I woke up that Wednesday morning with one-half of my face (the side I didn't sleep on) covered with red dots--mosquito bites. I had sprayed Off onto my legs and arms, but had forgotten to spray my face. And, my ripe, prime mosquito real estate Gringo flesh had paid for it. After tending to my wounds, and a quick breakfast, my host family and I were off to Praia Grande (Long Beach) to visit with relatives. In my first full day in Brazil, I was already in two different states (Rio de Janeiro and Sào Paulo), and had been in the Southern Hemisphere's most populous city, São Paulo (Saint Paul). In about five hours, we had made it to Praia Grande, and set up camp for the night at Luick's apartment.
The next day, a few of my host family's relatives came over, one of which was Nickollas Mendes, a friend of Celso's, who spent a week with my family and me in Avalon the year Celso and Nick were exchange students in the U.S. We caught up on all of the latest news--Nick is going to dentistry school (both his parents are dentists), and he said Celso had been up to Santos, a city bordering Praia Grande a few weeks ago. Nick then got in touch with his American side as he and I battled it out, playing Madden '09; but in the end, the real American prevailed.
That night, we all met up at Nick's house for dinner--beef stroganoff with rice, and then coconut ice cream drenched in dulce de leche (dolce de leite em Português), sprinkled with crushed-up peanut butter candies for dessert. At dinner, Nick and his parents extended their belated thanks to my mom and dad for having Nick stay with us at Avalon.
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