2 months in

Do you hear me,
I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying
Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard
Happy LATE Birthday Daddy! I tried so hard to get the longggg video I made you uploaded on the internet..
but each website says it is too long and right now, I don't know how to shorten it and all that... still figuring out my mac. but i will try to show you a major important part of the video! [=
HOLY COW!

It doesn't feel like 2 months, but strangely, it is... Being 2 months in, my English has gotten seriously dreadful, so please bare with me here... haha. My family never forgets to remind me of how awful it is now.

Anyway (yes Riley, I did it correctly this time), life here has been so wonderful and amazing yet so stressful at the same time! But I am sure that is as many would imagine! All the changes that my body and I had to go through had its toll... I lost weight... I kept loosing weight... It got very scary to me... I became very paranoid about how I looked because people asked me all the time if I ate anything... and I was, just my body wouldn't let me digest it. However, now my body is only cruel to me sometimes... It still acts ups what you would consider frequently, but to me, it is NOT frequently... It is very nice now... I am so excited for the new few months when it won't act up at all!!!

But I am adjusting, slowly but surely... I can remember when I first arrived and I had to consciously think about where I put the toilet paper after I used to (they don't flush it here, you have to throw it away). I would ALWAYS throw it in the toilet even with me consciously thinking about it and then think "shit! SHIT, SHIT!" (sorry mom and dad but its the truth). Now, I don't even have to think about it... It's natural to me now to throw it in the trash. It's so nice. No more me getting mad at myself for that! [=

Soon after I arrived, it was my host mom's birthday! In Brasil, family is extremely close. So, naturally, all of our family was here for my mom's birthday. Though that wasn't hard because like most families in Brasil, family lives very close to each other and our family is big! My mom knew that family was coming over, but she didn't know we were going to make it into a bigger party by inviting friends, having cakes (yes cakes) and other yummy goodies! The party was a lot of fun! Many of the guests had me teach them American phrases like "much love"... it was hilarious. No one could say moon right! They kept saying it like mewn! hahaha! But yeah, it was a lot of fun!

So, my second week in here, I went to Rio de Janeiro. It was so amazing! I loved it! You have no idea how sad I was to leave... I wished so much that I could have lived there, even with my extremely painful sunburn. We went to this mountain thing where there was a cable to go up to the mountain. On that cable thing was a elevator type thing.... I tried to hard to get on and go... But when it came time, I just couldn't. You have no idea how much I wanted to bottle up my fears for my host family, to show them that I am brave and I could weather the storm. But I just couldn't. I tried so hard. I started to step on, but my foot just wouldn't step. My body shook. All of the stress from my exchange just hit me right there on top of my fear from heights and I couldn't do it. My host dad told me I should because it was about adapting yourself, but I had told him previously and so had Rotary that I have a very bad fear of heights, and you just don't force someone to do that... He understood and they went on and left me there on the safe, wonderful ground. We went to ...**="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESbozyhMu3-YE_o2rGmpeS_0RjxDs-Q3RzOLkGUFSHBJK6F06nTKhUR5cI0TJ1vQ7ozDqAPNLgg6YMeIIskKvyjQI7e8EIZ92lpe-Q8FsnxjynqT-bgHYdnphI8Iwr2x2ktbiuGc00Dc/s1600-h/P8140078.JPG">

^look you can see the elevator thing ^^look you can see the cables and where it ends

^^beach in Rio (for both)

^Corcovado with my host parents ^Corcovado with my host sister (Ludimila) & some random guy

^Corcovado ^different area of Corcovado with city in background!

***to forewarn you, I don't have my personal journal guiding me in writing this entry... So I am having trouble remembering everything... I would have it with me but I have it stowed away somewhere because I don't want people reading it.... So I may have to come update this...

August 22, 2009

Lorena's surprise going away party.... it was so much fun! Almost all of my new friends were invited because they were also friends with Lorena! I tried Brigadeiro (s/p?) here... it is like a little chocolate ball with little chocolate sprinkles on the outside... it is SO good! The richest chocolate I think that I have ever tasted. I remember I bit into it and went WOW that is STRONG but SO GOOD. haha!

^everyone holding up Lorena at the going away party ^^my new friends & I!!<3

^minha nova melhor amiga (my new best friend) ^^ Romulo & I-my new best friend also!

^Isabela, me & Julia<3>

August 26,2009

I went to my first Rotary meeting in Betim Rotary. This isn't my sponsor rotary club. My sponsor rotary club is in Belo Horizonte... about a hour drive because of traffic.. I met the governor of rotary for our state (Minas Gerais). I met Logan from Belgium & ever since, we have been good friends! I love Logan & I can rely on him so much because he is going through a lot of the same stuff as me! Sadly, we are seperated by schools and are on the opposite side of the city from each other...

^my first rotary meeting in Betim & met the Rotary Governor ^^Logan & I (he's from Belgium!)

August 29,2009

The day after my first meeting in Betim Rotary, Logan and his mom called to invite us to Logan's birthday party! Logan was only here for a little less than a week when his birthday came... so they were calling exchangers & friends he would make at school to come to the party! It was fun though! I know Logan had a blast even with the short time of being in Brasil! After Logan's 18th birthday party, Aloisio invited us to a churrasco (Brasilian barbq) at his house. We went to that and had a lot of fun! Everyone kept asking Logan and I about our cultures and we had fun getting to know everyone else as well as each other's cultures...

^At Logan's birthday party! ^^Ludimila (my host sister) & I

^Flavia, me & Natalia ^^Everyone again + Aloisio's mom (Katia)

^Logan & I at his b~day party! ^^blowing out the candles!!

September 1,2009

Number 1 is a very popular school for languages in Betim, but there are many others. When people in Brasil want to learn another language, they typically learn it at a language school like this one... I have made many friends in Number One, but this is my favorite class & I love everyone in it! They are hilarious and so nice!

^At Number One (a popular language school in my city) in a my *favorite* english class!<3>

September 3,2009

Just a random day at school... decided to take pictures for you... like our really HORRIBLE

uniforms??? ugh! military schools!!!!

^Julia & I before school ^^Isabela, me, Lorena & Julia in English class

^my boys & I ^^my class - (minus) Karen + English teacher

September 5,2009

^MY ROOM!!!!

September 6,2009

A Day in Belo Horizonte with my Favorite People:<3

I went to Belo Horizonte, and Babi's cousin Pedro drove us! He brought his girlfriend & I am glad they came because they were hilarious!! We had so much fun! They tried to teach me a song in Portuguese! yeah that didn't go over too well... We went shopping & I finally got some much needed clothes! We also went to Walmart in search of American food... but sadly, there was only American candy, but I'll survive with that! They didn't have much American candy, but the point was that they had some!!!! I can not describe to you how happy I was when I found that candy... I had been so sick... I couldn't eat anything without running to the bathroom afterwards, and then I found this, I felt like heaven opened up... I wanted to cry I was so happy! Something I knew! Something from HOME! Oh, THANK YOU GOD. He was with me in Walmart, I am sure of it... haha. After the mall & Walmart, we drove back to Betim, where we went to Laranja Atomica. A popular restaurant here in Betim. OMG IT WAS AMAZING! I was like OMG this, & OMG that... Nutella milkshakes (by the way) are the best!!! Then, the amazing day had to end... boo. I had too much fun this day!!

^Queen Babi, Romulo & I ^^Brasilian Walmart!!! B, her cousin & his girlfriend

^me and all my fattening American candies! ^^all of us in the car

^Bem vida a Laranja Atomica! (welcome to.. yeah you know) ^^mmmm! milkshakes!

^nutella milkshake & weird frango queijo thing.. SO GOOD THOUGH ^^retards!!! haha love them

^all of us at Laranja Atomica ^^acai!!!! SO GOOD!

^me & my acai! haha diggin' in!

September 11, 2009

This day started out crappy but got better fortunately.. I woke up thinking of Mike & wondering how he was doing... wishing I could be there with him in the USA. On the bus ride to school, "Where is the Love" came on the radio & I knew why (because it was September 11th that's why!). I started crying... I couldn't help it. I wanted to be home, so desperately. I want to hug Michael & tell him that I'm not leaving him, that I'm fine- cheer up- life goes on. But I couldn't. I kept thinking about September 11th, 2001... and what I was doing... and how it was completely different from then... I am in a whole different country! Then, I found out that many kids here wondered how people in America thought of September 11th... Well, they found out by just looking at me. They all apologized and said they understood. All of them hugged me & told me I'd be home soon enough, but they love me and want to see me happy. So I cheered up soon enough. Later that day, I got home and (that means) I got out of my school uniform and put on my USA shirt, my USA colored earrings.... I was decked out. I went out to dinner with my friends & they cheered me up even more! We went to my favorite place, Laranja Atomica! I was so happy, even more happy that I was with my friends. I love them so much...

^all of us at Laranja Atomica ^^Romulo & I

September 12-13, 2009

We had our first Rotary Youth Exchange Inbound Orientation!!! We went to this city... yeah I don't know the name... haha... and then this museum called Inhotim the following day... The first day, they went over the rules with us.... Then we ate, settled in our rooms, went swimming, had another meeting (which then let us see some of Brasil culture including this dance called: capoeira... We danced that night...& there were some birthdays... I learned how to forro because a boy taught me how to do that dance, hehe. The next day, we went to that museum, which was REALLY weird. Me and this kid made jokes that it was owned by the mafia because it was so weird. haha There was one "artwork" full of "blood" and it was just freaky! Another artwork was "blood" and body parts.... SOOOOOO messed up...

^Josh (from Canada & I) at our first rotary orientation ^^Logan & I!

^my roomies in front of our little cottage ^^The German & I [=

^I love this girl!!!!!<3>

^weird art

September 18-19,2009

Babi's old English teacher, Kinko is in a band & invited us to his show... We went and it was so much fun! They sang english songs! I understood!!! hahaha! It was so much fun! Afterwards, I slept over at B's & we watched Gossip Girl (OH I was sooooo happy) & we ate yummy food... Oh i love her!!!

^going to Kinko's show...(B's cousin, B, Kinko,me) ^^B & I<3>

^me, B & her cousin (Camilla) ^^dancing

September 20, 2009

I spent all day with Romulo, Aloisio, Babita & her friend Fernanda! I love them! We went to Betim mall! We shopped and then watched the movie UP! & then did bumper cars! haha! I was the best because I am the only one that has ever driven before... The driving age here is 18.... [=

^"crash crash cars" (Portuguese translation of bumper cars!!!-hahaha)

September 24, 2009

The drawing below was drawn by Igor and is of me sleeping in class... hahaha. I was so tired! He has 2 other copies that he won't show anyone.... [= Later that day, I went to number 1 and there were 2 birthdays so we threw them a surprise party!! It was fun! [=

^picture of me by Igor ^me, B & Babita

^everyone!!

^the invitation (with my name hehehe) ^^the inside of the invitation! look how pretty Sarah is!

^what you needed to get inside...give the doorman ^^my alien hair before the party...

^READY. set. GO! ^^Aloisio, me & Romulo

^everyone! ^^[=

^my girls ^^aww, i love them!

^about to do the Valsa with 15 boys (they are lining up) ^^Sarah's cake & people waiting

^candy bar! haha (MY DREAM) ^Romulo, me & Babita in front of the candy bar

^Iccaro, Sarah (bday girl), Babita, (i dont know who the next girl is) & Gustavo..

((Romulo kind of kept my camera and took pictures of people i didnt know the whole night...))

Okay guys:

I cannot describe to you how much I am in need of my home-y, yummy, delicious, wonderful AMERICAN goodies! I miss them sooooooo much and the food here still makes me sick sometimes... Not to mention, whenever I do a presentation on the USA, I have to bring something American, and the only things I have that is American is the candy you send. PLUS, I move to my second host family today and have no gifts for them! Sooo American candy is much needed now and in big quantities! If you could send some flags and some other wonderful American things with the candy, that would be amazing because because THEN I could keep the wonderful candy to myself and my host family!!! [=

Oh and send some postcards with American things on them please! I am running out, and they are good thank you gifts to people!

I would say that all of you should ship or give this to my parents to ship, but that would be bad because then it would surely get stopped my customs... having so much candy in it. haha.

My new address as of today is:

Rua Sebantisao Melquiades, 236,

Filadelfia, Betim, Minas Gerais

BRASIL

As for the candy, my favorites areeee:

-Bottle Caps

-Peanut M&Ms

-Sour Jacks

-Sour Patch Kids

-Reeses

-HUGS [= mmmmmm!

-poptarts-s'mores flavor

-chex cereal - the plain one with the recipe to Muddy Buddies on the back

-PEANUT BUTTER

-(if you can) toaster strudel!!! (strawberry or blueberry please)

-Skor

-Butterfinger

-sixlets

-jelly belly

-mr good bar

-chocolate turtles

-sour straws!

-crunchy gummy bears

November 20, 2009

I must say, I love my first host family. We had a lot of problems, especially with them being my first host family and being new to the culture (and they have never had an exchange student before), but I love them now. They are very different from me and my family back home, but I adjusted to those differences and learned to love them in a way, which is what this exchange is about. We are supposed to learn about the differences and see how some of them are or can be good and better than some of our characteristics. I am starting to see faults with my own culture and faults of Brazil as well. I see each cultures strengths and each cultures weaknesses. There are things I like about both cultures, but still being American, I tend to have my American bias still. I have had more challenges here, than I could have ever imagined. I really didn't know what I was in for, and as hard as it has been, it has paid off in the end. There are still many, many problems, but I have learned to take them. It reminds me of when my mom used to give me that gross penicillin medicine. I used to HATE taking the medicine and gag all the time, but with time, I grew a routine and the medicine didn't affect me. Now, these problems aren't having much effects on me. I take them and try to make them better. If I can't, which is most of the time, then I tried. As long as I tried, I feel good because I know I did all I could. I can't even name to you all of the problems I have had here, because I have forgotten most of them because there have been so many. This experience truly is learning how to live on your own. Because being here, I have had to rely on only myself to get through the bad. My friends try to help, but again, there is only so much they can do, especially since you are still a stranger to them from another world. I have had to learn many things, but as difficult as it is, it makes me happy to know I have overcome ALL of that.

I go to this next family with open arms and an open mind. I know they will be different, not just because I have already met them, but also because they are different people with different values and characteristics. I am excited to live with them and learn about them and their way of life. I leave this family, sad to leave, but know I will always have them here. We made it through some difficult things and we still love each other. That is all you can ask...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!! I LOVE & MISS YOU.

I'm lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

As you can see, I started this post on September 30th and just finished. I know I am 2 months behind, so I PROMISE to do a new post on Thanksgiving with the last 2 months. As you can see, I have been very busy, and yet have become more lazy. haha-(adjusting to the Brazilian way, haha).

Beijinhos e abracos,

-Hollie