College Essays

Ok, well it´s about time that I got back to writing posts..haha lazy me=) it has just been so crazy here lately, wow changed families (long story), we went to Ouro Branco, Lambari, and I had to finish 3 shorter essays and 1 longer one and submit it about 2 days ago, for the college of my dreams (Stanford!), and I have had to spend my time with the computer working on those instead of writing posts here.  I think I have just about written my heart out. haha but for me there is always something more to write about! I need to sit down and write more like a journal, except I have never been able to keep up a journal, I am horrible at journals. Or maybe just another month summary and some more juicy stuff.  Let me brainstorm more in school tomorrow and I will come up with an idea. but for now, I will just post the essay about my exchange that I have been working on all this time, for your enjoyment:  (what do you think- Stanford material?)

It had always been a dream of mine to study abroad during high school. My mother used to tell me stories about her exchange to Switzerland back when she was a senior in high school, and I would fantasize about the small, cozy towns, each with their own type of cheese, and the untold adventures she must have had in that far off land. I longed to do the same, to keep the tradition alive, and to venture out into the unknown and face a challenge like I had never known before; it was my calling.


As I stared out the window at the clouds over Texas, I felt the thoughts twirling through my mind like little wispy clouds. It was time. No more taking everything for granted, no more eating cereal and a banana every morning, no more living in a small town where I knew every street and person. I had set out to make something of myself, and to try to understand a little more about this vast world we live in.

We spent a night in Miami, and then we were off again, passports in hand, the five brave souls who had chosen Brazil as their destination. I could never quite put my finger on what it was that drew me towards Brazil opposed to the other countries in Europe and Asia that hundreds of students exchange to each year. Maybe it was my dream of seeing the Amazon rain forest, or maybe it was the music of Brazil´s beautiful language, or it could have been just the sheer idea of Brazil and the adventure that was waiting for me there. As I sat on the plane, surrounded by matching shirts and Disneyland souvenirs between two people who spoke a different language, and listened to the Portuguese greetings over the intercom, the change started to sink in. I braced myself for the big invisible wall of culture shock and stomach aches that I had been prepared for, and sunk into a deep sleep over the rain forest. Then I woke up and I was Brazilian.

I was there, with my new red pepper necklace and skinny jeans, hair blow-dried and wavy, conversing with the other families and eating rice and beans with pieces of barbecued sausage right off the grill. It was incredible. I was already completely immersed in the Brazilian culture. To my surprise, it seemed that my two years of Spanish and 6 months of Portuguese pod-casts had prepared me quite well; I was speaking Portuguese and fitting into the culture so well that no one could believe I had just arrived.

Not to say that I didn’t experience any culture shock at all; I was quite shocked when I first met my teacher at school and was met with a kiss on the cheek. Also when I found a lizard in the shower, when I witnessed the peculiar yet delicious way that Brazilians prepare hot dogs, and when I realized how much Brazilian students have to study to get into college. Opposed to my small difficulties, the real challenges that I saw were those of politics, poverty, and preserving the environment.

However as the days went on, I began to understand and appreciate all of the things I thought were strange before. I learned without a doubt that the best way to learn a language and deal with uncertainty is to talk, it is best to keep your wallet in your purse, it makes sense to be organized, and that you should never make assumptions according to stereotypes. The beauty of Brazil is more than just its common stereotype of beautiful women, big cities, and beaches. The beauty is in the simplicity, in the way that people live, the pure hospitality of a family welcoming you into their house for coffee, and the intense, colorful culture that still exists today and unites this immense developing country. The beauty was in the voices of the clapping, chanting circle of people around a pair lost in the twisting dance of capoeira. It was in the map of Brazil that you could make from just the different types of music famous to each region. It was in the faces of the people walking down the street and greeting each other every morning. It was everywhere.

There was more to the country, and there was more about culture, humanity, and just plain life skills I have learned here that I don’t think I could have learned any other way. I wish high school foreign exchanges weren’t such a thing of the past that nowadays practically only the rich can afford. There is a great deal more that can be learned from understanding the culture of a country and becoming part of its people than by simply visiting as a tourist. I think many people don´t realize that, especially in places like Brazil and Latin America. And for students my age, there is also a great deal of about one´s self and place in the world, knowledge I know I have gained so far, that can be obtained from an experience like this. Perhaps if more people had the chance to study abroad and understood more about different cultures, the world would be a more friendly and peaceful place. When I get back, I hope to spread the word about studying abroad, cultural acceptance, and the aspects of Brazil that shine beneath the stereotypes. Later on in life, I could see myself as a volunteer for a foreign exchange organization, or maybe even hosting an exchange student. Wherever I go, I will always have a piece of Brazil in my heart, and I will do whatever I can to give something back.

Me and Tia Cristina

Capoeira

Picture day!!!!!

I couldn´t leave these out =)

We had a "picture day" where official school pictures were taken, and the whole gang ran around and where two people gathered, three did, and where four people gathered, ten did, and pretty much we caused a bit of a ruckus with the guys following behind each and every camera until we pushed them out for the girl's picture;) one of the most hilarious days of my life. Taking pictures is truly a party in Brazil, almost as much as a party as saying goodbye and proceeding to kiss each and every person in the room goodbye on the cheek!

 not quite sure what this means...

 or this??

 they attacked me

 kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk;)

 cool people!

 the girlies!!

 My crazy class- Terceiro B! (3rd year, room B- equivalent to senior in the US)

 Prof Daniel! o professor de matematica mais legal

 Will and...I forgot;)

 Bruna!

nossa, everyone in Brazil is so photogenic! kkk;)

UFO

oowweeeeoo alien spaceship!! another ET attraction here in Varginha- I found out later that it is actually a water tank

August

I wish I had time to sit down and write more posts, but I have just been sooo busy, not to mention that I am not usually home during the day.  In a few weeks I may have fixed this problem though, because my aunt/friend/AFS volunteer persuaded me to buy her a netbook from the US (waay cheaper) and send it here for her while she would pay me back the money my parents payed for it and let me use it while I am here (avery good deal if you ask me). 

Here is a short summary of the amazing things I did in my first MONTH (it´s already been a month?) here:

The first weekend we had barbecues at each other´s houses in the middle of the day for the biggest meal of the day- lunch-, rice, beans, barbecued sausage, chicken, beek, lamb sometimes, this yummy edible root that I forgot the name of, barbecued pineapple, salad, fruit salad, pão de queijo, and I discovered what it means to eat good food!  I no longer have any fear of meat.  I also discovered that if anyone asks you if you "want to drink coffee," it means "do you want to have a snack?" this confused me at first, as well as MANY many other things, but after a week or so of settling in to my schedule and class in school I felt comfortable.  Everyone was impressed at my ability to speak portuguese so early in my stay here, they couldn´t beleive that I had just arrived.

Then came school, I had my first week of class, answered questions, learned swear words, and talked a lot (in portuguese) while making a bunch of new friends, and trying to figure out how to fit into my schedule.  The next weekend I went to a "show" by famouse "axé" star, Ivete Sangalo that came here to Varginha.  It was the most different and craziest show I have ever experienced.  Luckily I had Fernanda there to guard me and I didn´t get into trouble.  The next weekend we went to one of the very pretty "clubs" which are places with pools, soccer, basketbal, golf, etc.  -where everyone goes to go swimming.  More barbecues. 

The next week in school, we had to take tests the whole week for half of the day.  Ahhh made my head hurt, but I was able to take them and got scores scattered around the "middle" mark (and that´s saying something) and that weekend we went to my aunt´s small farm just outside of the city.  I got to ride horses into the sunset.

There were many many other things that happened also, to my appearance, and my voice, and my thoughts, and playing soccer, and walking around the fascinating streets, and stress, and frustration, and things that go unnoticed, things other than the things I listed above that feel like the things a tourist would note, things I learned about myself.  I was wrapped in culture and accepted into a family, kissed by my teacher and hugged by a crowd of boys, and exhausted by everything that was happening, while at the same time completely enchanted.

Now, it is already well into September, and untill about mid October, I have to focus my writing energy into writing my college application essays instead of blog posts.  However, I will still post pictures untill then!  Why all of the focus on essays you ask? one word. STANFORD 

MUSIC

Music in brazil is so very interesting, and mixed- american music!  it´s everywhere! lady gaga, rihanna, mariah carey, justin beiber- I don´t think I´ve heard the same Justin Beiber song so many times before in my life!
here is a hilarious interveiw of justin bieber that was on tv not too long ago-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSoWi3QxKIA

This is a series of videos from the BBC that I watched to learn a little more about the history of brazilian music before I came here- very informative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XEJ29Q1YfA

This is a good example of the brazilian style of Choro- which I am learning to play on the cavaquinho! (the ukulele look-alike)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zap_txvFTGg