People, I thought I would be great at the blogging thing. Oh how wrong I was..I just end up with big chunks of turbo-information and now I've just been silent for about 4 weeks. FAIL.
SO at the start of March Brazil had carnaval! For those that don't know..or haven't seen that Simpsons episode..it's generally just a week where everybody stops work and school to relax or party. I like their style. Carnaval is one of the national icons of Brazil because they have the big samba school competitions in Rio and Sao Paulo with crazy floats that usually have a gorgeous sambista in a tiny sparkly bikini and hundreds of drummers / dancers / people in crazy cool costumes following just getting loose to samba and loving life.
My family went to an inland city to visit relatives and it was raining EVERYWHERE so we just had a quiet one, but I got to watch the parades on tv and they were seriously amazing! When I come back to Brazil being in one of these parades is on my bucket list :)
Well..what else is new...? I changed classes at school! Now I'm in 3rd year..which is more like yr 12, and I must say, they are pretty cool cats. Super welcoming and just generally awesome..I can tell we're all going to be so tight by the end of the year! But I've been so lucky to have two really cool classes, of course I miss my friends from 2nd year because they kind of like 'raised me' here (and taught me all the swear words on the first day) haha but they're just down the hall and we have recess with everyone and party together still so it's all good!
I have been able to go out a lot more with friends which has been really good, for a while there I had a moment of homesickness missing everyone in Australia, and I still miss you all alot but at least now I can go out and do things that I'm used to doing on weekends :)
It's been two months here already, and I simply can't believe it. Like SO much has happened, but it seems like in an instant. 1 month from now I will be 18 (so long waiting but now I don't want it!) , 2 months from now I will be with my 2nd family, and 10 months from now I will have to come home ! But there's no need to look so far forward, each simple routine-style day even has it's own little treasures and memories, like meeting a DJ for two of the best clubs here at the gym, wagging school to spend a glorious day sipping beverages on the beach with some aussie and kiwi exchange students, and getting the friday song stuck in everyone's heads haha!
Also, I made anzac biscuits, they kind of failed. How you might ask? Look, you're talking about the girl that came up with a fried egg, upon direction to make caramel (heh heh good times grace) so yeah. I will try again :)
Also, yes, I did it. Don't judge me. PLEASE don't judge me..I just succumbed to peer pressure and went and made a twitter..it's super popular here. Don't worry, I don't tweet all the time..maybe..twice a day..haha I maintain that it's to pick up portugese quicker. But it IS good for being in the loop..speaking of language..it's coming along pretty well :) I'm just so impatient that I want perfection and clarity right NOW but of course these things take time. I'm grateful for everybody being patient with me, they say I'm going well..but you know..my strength lies in swearing haha.
ALSO sorry just one last thing that is lame in australia (other than twitter) that is fully embraced here is CROCS. Ok not fully embraced but one of the coolest kids in my old class wears them..so yeah. Shit got real with that.
Anyway that's it for now! I feel like I deserve an update on everyone else's life now..if we haven't touched bases this year LET'S! I do love to 'stay connected' as facebook suggests :D
Big hugs and many kisses!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
February so far!
Okay wow well I've noticed that I really tend to write novels in this because there is so much to say, BUT I have decided to confine everything into a simple clean-cut no fuss dot point format this time!
So, here is a mixture of amusing/awkward/interesting things that have been happening lately;
So, here is a mixture of amusing/awkward/interesting things that have been happening lately;
- The girls at ballet are dancing in the parade of my city for Carnaval so they went to a samba school to practise, and they invited me to come! They have to sing and dance for 45 minutes (in the street I would assume) NO BREAK! Ahh they have to be so fit. So here at the samba school there were about 10 guys on drums and it was just the loudest thing you've ever heard..cups pretty much shaking on the tables etc. and then they told me for real Carnaval it's like HUNDREDS of these drummers. Ahh it will be so wild! Okay so that was a cool experience that I'll never forget!
- Erm well the bus driver that usually is on when I am going to school just randomly pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket when I got off .. unraveled to find his EMAIL ADDRESS...that was definitely an awkward moment. And then said he had 'the day off tomorrow' ..I was like okay..yep..I'm gonna go to my seat now..Why did he think it was the right choice to extend the passenger-driver relationship?! Needless to say that was quickly thrown away and I now avoid eye contact!
- Here they have Valentines day on the 12th of June (yeah, I'm not quite sure why either) so yeah..nothing really special happened there..just a regular joe Monday...BUT if I had to choose the closest thing to a special act of kindess that day it would definitely be my yoga teacher who taught me the proper way to do the splits whilst standing on my head! So that was fun. Sometimes I think he is a weightless ninja guru man, he can balance his bod on his hands in about 47 different ways..I plan to learn many!
- But nonetheless I have found a lover here, and we are quickly becoming inseparable. Hershey's chocolate and I met on the 16/2/11 at school, friends introduced me. It's cookies and cream flavour and just simply the best. I'm hoping that we can have a long-term relationship together and hopefully do the distance thing when I return to Aus! If not I will bring packets with me!
- Last week my host mum booked a manicure and pedicure appointment for me because I was going to a party (which was so nice!) and got them all done in maybe an hour and yeah it was just your flat $12...good...I think I will be getting a few more of those this year..just for the sheer price absurdity!
- Gym life is going good, got my finger print entry happening (so suave! I like to pretend I'm a spy?!) and I'm going start hip hop classes and a flexibility class! As well as crazy ninja yoga that I love! I meditated for the first time at the end of yoga this week..it was one of the coolest things..it's exactly how people describe it..it's like you're not asleep but you're not there either and somehow time passes without you knowing that it has...
- Ballet + school life just keep getting better and better! Everyone at Escola Municipal and Carmo are just the warmest, funniest and most helpful people ever, everyday there are laughs about weird/normal/silly things :D There couldn't be better people to spend a year with, I can tell we are going to have tooo much fun this year together!
- A few days ago at the 1 month mark I promised everyone I knew that I would stop speaking english and only speak portugese and so far it's going really well! You don't realise how much you actually know until you are forced to say it, and just in 3 days of doing this I have learnt heaps. But in saying that it definitely doesn't always work out...eg. I tried to conjugate the verb for colour and say I like to colour (because I haven't used coloured pencils in ages..I was excited okay!) and then little did I realise that 'I colour' is the same word used for cock...so...yeah that ended really well...
Anyway I have failed to make this short and snappy but if you skipped over everything I can sum up by saying; I can't believe I have been lucky enough to come here and be apart of this city and country, the days are flying, the people are smiling and there are lots of exciting things round the corner!
Beijos a tudos x
Sunday, February 6, 2011
New kid! School and lots of exercise :D
Well this week has been crazily busy and fantastic. On Tuesday, my host sister got on a plane to Australia and I went for my first day of school. Here in Brasil you don't move around the school, you have the one class and the one room and the teachers come to you! It's really good because a) we can just relax between classes and b) I have a sense of...dare I say it NSW Senior English students...of...BELONGING! Haha no but really, it's comforting to come to the same people each day instead of having 6 different classes/subjects..so much more to learn about the group dynamic/who is who etc. SO everyone at my school is really, truly, awesome. It's really welcoming and in the breaks everybody talks to everybody, it's not like 'groups' where there is a full-on hierarchy.
I got put in 2nd year which is like the equivalent of year 11, but most of the people in my class are like 16. With the boys, you can tell that's how old they are, because they are so crazy and silly but I love it this way because they are so much fun! And the girls are so gorgeous, I get along with them really well. They are so nice and I felt welcome there as soon as I walked in the door. Plus they speak really good english!
During class time I can't really understand that much because it's SO fast so I kind of just amuse myself with writing in my journal, reading my phrase book/magazines and when it really gets desperate iPod solitaire or sleep! But in 2 months I think I will be able to understand more and will actually learn something because they take things like philosophy, current global affairs and portugese grammar. If there's one thing the Australian school system needs it's a grammar class...also english class is pretty fun! Here school begins at '7.20' but by that they mean you can rock up at 7.30 and we might start class at 7.40, but it's not so bad because we finish at 1pm. Brazilian time is something to get used to...they never mean the time they say...like the host of a birthday party said 7pm and so we leave home at 8.45, it's just the way it is! Verrry relaxed. My school friends have taught me various swear words and also the equivalent of 'go shit on the grass' which I'm sure will be very useful and practical in my first few weeks haha
So Tuesday, I went to a shopping centre with the other Australian here and he bought a longboard from some skate shop, and while it was getting assembled, the only lady that could speak english got chatting to us (also it was hilarious to see this big 60 year old mumma talk knowledgeably about bearings, deck types and trucks!!) ANYWAY we were just talking about how welcoming everybody was at school and she said that here in Brasil people are very accepting and warm, whether you're rich or poor, black or white. She and her husband had a group of 11 couples that were their best friends and three of those couples who got along really well were 1) German 2) Jew and 3) Arab. They had no idea and when they found out of course it didn't change anything because they were best friends..but it was just a touching little story I thought of how positive the Brazilian way is. Despite the deap-seated conflict and hostility between these groups they got along fine because they didn't care about that stuff.
Wednesday arvo after school my host brother went to this big gym/pool complex and in the middle there was this place for a Capoeira school. This is like a traditional Brazilian art form that combines martial arts/dance/music all in one. It started with the slaves in the 16th century who needed to fight for their lives but only had their bodies to do so..and so police etc. didn't know what they were doing they made the movements all smooth and fluid so it just looked like a dance. ANYWAY it was just to promote the school and somehow I ended up there with them doing it..! The kicks and stuff were easy because of ballet and yeah it was really fun and random! They had these cool instruments too that they taught me how to play. Okay so this is a short clip of capoeira:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMX9KKzG4-0
Thursday arvo my host cousins friend (yes vague I know..it's all about the contacts here) took me to her ballet school! I was so excited, but erm little did I realise that it is like the best one in the city/possibly state and everyone is SO EXTREME. For instance, their group won a national competition and the older group one a competition in New York so...yeah...they aint foolin around. Again I was put with girls who were like 15/16 but they honestly looked like they were full time dancers. The school is paid for by the government so the girls don't pay, but in order to go there you have to pass a test and be fabulously amazing at all times..if you start to drop your technique or get a little fat they will ask you to leave!! So yeah shit gets pretty real here! The teacher said I can come 3 times a week if I want to on one condition; that I stay in Brasil forever haha! I like her thinking...Classes started at 5-6 and finished at 11pm! So dancing girls next time you get kept back late don't complain! And tell Mrs Lewis that I'm going to go all year :D
Thennnn Friday arvo I went to this gym which is free for exchange students but really expensive for everybody else because the owner was once an exchange student! So this gym, is pretty fabulous, we're talking individual tv screens on every treadmill, swimming pool, sooo many crazy machines that train muscles I've never seen before and a cute little cafe. They even gave me a program and everything! These two activites will keep me quite busy and most importantly burn off all the barbeques and brigadeiros and bread cheese ball things! So I have done it. I have found the solution to avoid becoming obese yet continuing my over-zealous eating habits!
Oh and may I add that all the people at these 3 activities spoke no english! Sooo I was really forced to just come up with stuff in portugese, which was good! Hand motions have never been so useful..
Saturday went for a good shop and got about 12 good things for $70! Also went to the beach for a lonnng time and I believe I have become accustomed to seeing dark, toned, beautiful men parading around. It's not such a novelty any more, but it doesn't do any harm...
Now it;s Sunday and I just came back from a day around town that ended at the beach where they have a band set up and old couples come to dance at the square. The council organises it all and it happens every Sunday night. So here we were watching these couples, some like 70 years old, just totally getting loose to this music..all dressed up..looking into each others eyes..just totally being there in the moment and loving life. There was this woman who was dancing by herself to I will survive and she was just so happy...there was no shame with these people, like they didn't care about being daggy or anything, they just wanted to have fun!
These people wade through the same shit that all adults do but they don't sit around and mope about it and worry what the next person is going to think of them..it's Sunday night..they go out with their lover..have a dance, laugh and then look forward to it the next week. I reckon if everybody lived like Brazilians, people would be alot happier. So, for this week, in your own lives, if something is getting you down just I dunno give yourself a break, indulge in something, crank up your music and have a stupid dance like that lady and all of a sudden life won't seem so serious! Anyone can be Brazilian at heart :D
X
I got put in 2nd year which is like the equivalent of year 11, but most of the people in my class are like 16. With the boys, you can tell that's how old they are, because they are so crazy and silly but I love it this way because they are so much fun! And the girls are so gorgeous, I get along with them really well. They are so nice and I felt welcome there as soon as I walked in the door. Plus they speak really good english!
During class time I can't really understand that much because it's SO fast so I kind of just amuse myself with writing in my journal, reading my phrase book/magazines and when it really gets desperate iPod solitaire or sleep! But in 2 months I think I will be able to understand more and will actually learn something because they take things like philosophy, current global affairs and portugese grammar. If there's one thing the Australian school system needs it's a grammar class...also english class is pretty fun! Here school begins at '7.20' but by that they mean you can rock up at 7.30 and we might start class at 7.40, but it's not so bad because we finish at 1pm. Brazilian time is something to get used to...they never mean the time they say...like the host of a birthday party said 7pm and so we leave home at 8.45, it's just the way it is! Verrry relaxed. My school friends have taught me various swear words and also the equivalent of 'go shit on the grass' which I'm sure will be very useful and practical in my first few weeks haha
So Tuesday, I went to a shopping centre with the other Australian here and he bought a longboard from some skate shop, and while it was getting assembled, the only lady that could speak english got chatting to us (also it was hilarious to see this big 60 year old mumma talk knowledgeably about bearings, deck types and trucks!!) ANYWAY we were just talking about how welcoming everybody was at school and she said that here in Brasil people are very accepting and warm, whether you're rich or poor, black or white. She and her husband had a group of 11 couples that were their best friends and three of those couples who got along really well were 1) German 2) Jew and 3) Arab. They had no idea and when they found out of course it didn't change anything because they were best friends..but it was just a touching little story I thought of how positive the Brazilian way is. Despite the deap-seated conflict and hostility between these groups they got along fine because they didn't care about that stuff.
Wednesday arvo after school my host brother went to this big gym/pool complex and in the middle there was this place for a Capoeira school. This is like a traditional Brazilian art form that combines martial arts/dance/music all in one. It started with the slaves in the 16th century who needed to fight for their lives but only had their bodies to do so..and so police etc. didn't know what they were doing they made the movements all smooth and fluid so it just looked like a dance. ANYWAY it was just to promote the school and somehow I ended up there with them doing it..! The kicks and stuff were easy because of ballet and yeah it was really fun and random! They had these cool instruments too that they taught me how to play. Okay so this is a short clip of capoeira:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMX9KKzG4-0
Thursday arvo my host cousins friend (yes vague I know..it's all about the contacts here) took me to her ballet school! I was so excited, but erm little did I realise that it is like the best one in the city/possibly state and everyone is SO EXTREME. For instance, their group won a national competition and the older group one a competition in New York so...yeah...they aint foolin around. Again I was put with girls who were like 15/16 but they honestly looked like they were full time dancers. The school is paid for by the government so the girls don't pay, but in order to go there you have to pass a test and be fabulously amazing at all times..if you start to drop your technique or get a little fat they will ask you to leave!! So yeah shit gets pretty real here! The teacher said I can come 3 times a week if I want to on one condition; that I stay in Brasil forever haha! I like her thinking...Classes started at 5-6 and finished at 11pm! So dancing girls next time you get kept back late don't complain! And tell Mrs Lewis that I'm going to go all year :D
Thennnn Friday arvo I went to this gym which is free for exchange students but really expensive for everybody else because the owner was once an exchange student! So this gym, is pretty fabulous, we're talking individual tv screens on every treadmill, swimming pool, sooo many crazy machines that train muscles I've never seen before and a cute little cafe. They even gave me a program and everything! These two activites will keep me quite busy and most importantly burn off all the barbeques and brigadeiros and bread cheese ball things! So I have done it. I have found the solution to avoid becoming obese yet continuing my over-zealous eating habits!
Oh and may I add that all the people at these 3 activities spoke no english! Sooo I was really forced to just come up with stuff in portugese, which was good! Hand motions have never been so useful..
Saturday went for a good shop and got about 12 good things for $70! Also went to the beach for a lonnng time and I believe I have become accustomed to seeing dark, toned, beautiful men parading around. It's not such a novelty any more, but it doesn't do any harm...
Now it;s Sunday and I just came back from a day around town that ended at the beach where they have a band set up and old couples come to dance at the square. The council organises it all and it happens every Sunday night. So here we were watching these couples, some like 70 years old, just totally getting loose to this music..all dressed up..looking into each others eyes..just totally being there in the moment and loving life. There was this woman who was dancing by herself to I will survive and she was just so happy...there was no shame with these people, like they didn't care about being daggy or anything, they just wanted to have fun!
These people wade through the same shit that all adults do but they don't sit around and mope about it and worry what the next person is going to think of them..it's Sunday night..they go out with their lover..have a dance, laugh and then look forward to it the next week. I reckon if everybody lived like Brazilians, people would be alot happier. So, for this week, in your own lives, if something is getting you down just I dunno give yourself a break, indulge in something, crank up your music and have a stupid dance like that lady and all of a sudden life won't seem so serious! Anyone can be Brazilian at heart :D
X
Monday, January 31, 2011
Settling in
Okay well I just read over my last post..and do not even remember writing that haha! The day I posted it seems like it didn`t even happen because I was sleeping most of the time as I got super sick! So I was firmly out of action for a good 3 days, just resting..I think it was my body telling me slowww the flip down Sarah! Because the first 3 days were really full on, out all day, then going out again at night, not really sleeping properly, then when I was finally going to catch up on missed sleep/jetlag/new time zone (as in comPLETE opposite..13 hours difference with daylight savings) we didn`t get back til 4am and woke up at 7am for the trip to the city!
SO! It was good to have the time to just chill and recharge! I`ve been watching alot of Nickelodeon with my brother in this down time and will absolutely admit it right here loud and proud on the internet that I love that iCarly show. Yes, I know it is aimed at 10-14 year olds, but it`s pretty funny! Especially in Portugese...most American shows here are dubbed in Portugese with completely different character voices/tones everything. From the Simpsons to Spongebob (bob esponge) it`s all in Portugese!
Despite being sick I`ve still done some cool things..we went to this monument in the twin city to Santos called Sao Vicente and it overlooks the coast line of both cities..it has the most fantastic view but I forgot my camera so next time I will show you!
The next night we went to a little birthday party for the other Australian in my city. His name is Beau and he`s from South Australia..he only just turned 16 so he is the baby of the group ...yet still the tallest haha. Here I met some of the other exchange students in my city, a frenchie, one from Denmark, a couple from Ecuador and 4 Americans. They are so nice!! And really welcoming. Beau and I are really lucky because there is a whole group of them to show us the ropes because they have been here since the start of their school year..so July/August. In the apartment buildings they have all the individual places upstairs and then down the bottom they have this big room which is there purely for parties =D they really love their parties!
The next day I went to my rotary club for the first time..and wowowowow is it a fancy rotary club! Mainly because it is in a high rise building right on the beach! It was such a beautiful view..next time I will put photos up. But because this is a new club, it is very small. My host sister Layse, is the first exchange student they will sponsor, and I am the first one they have hosted. So, we have no shoes to fill which is good!
The next night it was my host uncle's birthday, so we went to their house and had lots of food and brigadeiros. I feel this will be one of the top 5 reasons of not wanting to go home to Australia...THERE ARE NO BRIGADEIROS! Okay so it's like a kind of chocolate truffle..a tiny little ball of smooth, sticky condensed milky delight!! Oh just the best! Don't worry, I will still come back to Australia, because I will obviously learn how to make these magical treats.
On another food note, I had my first Churrasco today! Which is a Brazilian barbeque. MAN do these people know how to cook MEAT! Ohhh wowow it was really something. I would be lying if I said I didn't eat 13 chicken drumsticks. This irrational behaviour is not uncommon for me here so this week I am going to buy some joggers and get running again! Otherwise I will come back and my parents will not recognise me/I will not fit through standard doors!
My host sister leaves in a couple of days for her year-long exchange to Australia...she's off to Cambelltown which should be...interesting! I told her to take lots of cosmetics because they are SO much cheaper here! It's unbelievable! Everything is pretty much half the price or less! Also the ALCOHOL is sosoos cheap....1L bottles of vodka for about $12! Just casually sitting there in the supermarket. Good quality beer is like $6 for a 6-pack and when you order it at a restaurant it's like $2-$3. I plan to bring some home just because it feels wrong not to take advantage of this outrageous deal that is their constant lives! One could build some kind of enterprise from it if it weren't so (probably) illegal...
There were lots of little funny things like that which I wanted to share but I can't think of them now so they can wait. As we are all saying here " I do have a WHOLE year" ! But bottom line- I`m incredibly happy and smiling each day. Language is getting better...accent is getting worse...the other Aussie just looked at me, totally betrayed, as he heard me speak english..at the moment I've got this warped west coast US thing going on. Who knows what it will be like after a year! My family, extended family and everyone in and between and gorgeous. My host brother and I get along SO well! We are constantly in fits about something random and stupid...but when the look of confusion comes up, one word will solve all things- traductor? Which is for google translate =D
Brazilians are such beautiful, welcoming people. They love to socialise and eat. So we do. And that suits me juuuuust fine!
Hope you all are soaking up the last remnants of summer before reality kicks in, whether it be for school, uni, work. Whatever it is, have fun, chew gum and enjoy it!
X
SO! It was good to have the time to just chill and recharge! I`ve been watching alot of Nickelodeon with my brother in this down time and will absolutely admit it right here loud and proud on the internet that I love that iCarly show. Yes, I know it is aimed at 10-14 year olds, but it`s pretty funny! Especially in Portugese...most American shows here are dubbed in Portugese with completely different character voices/tones everything. From the Simpsons to Spongebob (bob esponge) it`s all in Portugese!
Despite being sick I`ve still done some cool things..we went to this monument in the twin city to Santos called Sao Vicente and it overlooks the coast line of both cities..it has the most fantastic view but I forgot my camera so next time I will show you!
The next night we went to a little birthday party for the other Australian in my city. His name is Beau and he`s from South Australia..he only just turned 16 so he is the baby of the group ...yet still the tallest haha. Here I met some of the other exchange students in my city, a frenchie, one from Denmark, a couple from Ecuador and 4 Americans. They are so nice!! And really welcoming. Beau and I are really lucky because there is a whole group of them to show us the ropes because they have been here since the start of their school year..so July/August. In the apartment buildings they have all the individual places upstairs and then down the bottom they have this big room which is there purely for parties =D they really love their parties!
The next day I went to my rotary club for the first time..and wowowowow is it a fancy rotary club! Mainly because it is in a high rise building right on the beach! It was such a beautiful view..next time I will put photos up. But because this is a new club, it is very small. My host sister Layse, is the first exchange student they will sponsor, and I am the first one they have hosted. So, we have no shoes to fill which is good!
The next night it was my host uncle's birthday, so we went to their house and had lots of food and brigadeiros. I feel this will be one of the top 5 reasons of not wanting to go home to Australia...THERE ARE NO BRIGADEIROS! Okay so it's like a kind of chocolate truffle..a tiny little ball of smooth, sticky condensed milky delight!! Oh just the best! Don't worry, I will still come back to Australia, because I will obviously learn how to make these magical treats.
On another food note, I had my first Churrasco today! Which is a Brazilian barbeque. MAN do these people know how to cook MEAT! Ohhh wowow it was really something. I would be lying if I said I didn't eat 13 chicken drumsticks. This irrational behaviour is not uncommon for me here so this week I am going to buy some joggers and get running again! Otherwise I will come back and my parents will not recognise me/I will not fit through standard doors!
My host sister leaves in a couple of days for her year-long exchange to Australia...she's off to Cambelltown which should be...interesting! I told her to take lots of cosmetics because they are SO much cheaper here! It's unbelievable! Everything is pretty much half the price or less! Also the ALCOHOL is sosoos cheap....1L bottles of vodka for about $12! Just casually sitting there in the supermarket. Good quality beer is like $6 for a 6-pack and when you order it at a restaurant it's like $2-$3. I plan to bring some home just because it feels wrong not to take advantage of this outrageous deal that is their constant lives! One could build some kind of enterprise from it if it weren't so (probably) illegal...
There were lots of little funny things like that which I wanted to share but I can't think of them now so they can wait. As we are all saying here " I do have a WHOLE year" ! But bottom line- I`m incredibly happy and smiling each day. Language is getting better...accent is getting worse...the other Aussie just looked at me, totally betrayed, as he heard me speak english..at the moment I've got this warped west coast US thing going on. Who knows what it will be like after a year! My family, extended family and everyone in and between and gorgeous. My host brother and I get along SO well! We are constantly in fits about something random and stupid...but when the look of confusion comes up, one word will solve all things- traductor? Which is for google translate =D
Brazilians are such beautiful, welcoming people. They love to socialise and eat. So we do. And that suits me juuuuust fine!
Hope you all are soaking up the last remnants of summer before reality kicks in, whether it be for school, uni, work. Whatever it is, have fun, chew gum and enjoy it!
X
Monday, January 24, 2011
First 48 hours
Well well well
Here I am, sitting in my new home in Brazil, wondering where to ever start. I don't reallllly know how to blog..like what the protocol is....but I guess I will just say what I would be telling you all individually if you asked how is it so far..
So the day I flew out, the 20th, was quite literally the longest day of my life..I left the gold coast at 2am..and then after driving and waiting and flying we left Sydney at 1.30 pm and after a ten hour flight to Argentina the local time was only 3.30 pm..the other exchange students from Australia to Brazil were quite awesome and we all agreed that we chose the best place :D
Finally we got to Sao Paulo airport at 9.30 pm, and we were greeted with all our host families. As all these young Australians anxiously looked out to the sea of strangers, they yelled out to me "Sarah, I think we know who your host family is!" I emerged from customs to find a big screen printed sign held up by my host parents that said "Welcome to Brazil Sarah King" in this bright yellow and green. It was such a beautiful gesture!
The drive from Sao Paulo to Santos, my city, was full of questions to my host parents about anything..everything...! I was just so excited and happy that after all the time spent looking forward to this year...it was actually HAPPENING!
The next day we went to the local shopping centre and I got some yellow and green havaianas with the Brazilian flag..yes I know..the ULTIMATE tourist (for those that don't know, Havi's are from Brazil!) They were about $10..a price to be enjoyed. Then they took me to the beach of Santos, a place that I will be going to frequently this year. Then we went to meet the extended family, like aunties, uncles, grandparents, cousins etc.
It's funny because some speak english, some speak a little and many speak none at all. So, I have been using lots of Portanolish...limited portugese, a little bit of english and the rest in spanish. Usually I just try to say it in Spanish and see if they understand..many words are the same so that's good. But sometimes that just doesn't work out and there is just this silence coupled with raised eyebrows..quickly followed by a look to my sister or mother who both speak both languages. So, it is a bit of a trial and error system. But it is only day 3 or 4 and already I am not using much english in the house...I just want to throw myself into it because the quicker you can communicate the better the times will be! But yesterday I met some Exchange students from the US and I just spoke in Portugese and they were like errrrm we do speak english...! But I have become so quickly influenced..gone is the Australian accent...now I speak english in the way that my host mum and sister do...a little bit jolted and with this weird italian/american accent. So, I AM ALREADY FORGETTING ENGLISH
Which is weird...
Anyway, the next day the family went to the next city called Guaruja which is the only beach in Brazil to be awarded with the blue flag, which is certified by the Foundation for environmental education. To get one, the beach has to have super super high standards for water quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and generalenvironmental management. On the weekend, everyoneeee from the hustle and bustle of Sao Paulo city come to Santos or Guaruja to have a day at the beach. And man do they enjoy the beach. If you look at the photos on facey you will see how crowded the beaches are...and here they don't just go to the beach to swim and then leave. They spend the whole day here...sitting, sleeping, eating, drinking, swimming, walking, playing and just generally relaxing. There are hundreds and hundreds of umbrellas and chairs for everyone to use and they all stay til the sun goes down...about 8pm.
Now, if you thought that the Brazilian bikini was just a stereotype, you are SO WRONG. Here, allllllllll the girls wear skimpy, cheeky cut bikinis. Often just straight up g-strings...No matter how young, old or fat you are, you still wear them. The sights aren't always pleasant but here they are just so comfortable with their bodies so it's just kind of like; good for them ! Also, the guys only wear speedos...well..they are more like boyleg cut undies but yeah there are certainly no boardshorts in sight. I felt like the absolutely crazy one in my regular joe swimmers!
I get along reallllly well with my family, and their extended family, even with the language barrier we are always joking and laughing. My host brother is so cute, at first he was shy, but now we are like sister and brother. I showed him you forgot the blueberries on youtube (thanks joanna!) (if you haven't seen it look it up and then fastforward to the end..it's the goods) so that won me a few kudos. We generally just bond over random things like American music and playing football together. Sometimes our conversations have a 2 minute delay because we type what we want to say into google translate and then pass the computer over..then we repeat..it's a great little system. The first thing he said to me was 'you eat ALOT' haha
That night we left at midnight to go out to a club that was playing samba music, my cousins friend taught me how to do it and we just went wild! It was so much fun. Here, the people don't go out to get drunk, they go out to dance! I loveeeed it! We didn't get home until 4am,,
It's like everything you could ever hope for when you go to Brazil i have already experienced...like the beaches, the samba, the food (ahhhhh soo good!!!) the welcoming people..everything! Quick note on the food, when you visit people they always offer food and get offended if you don't eat it, so my host mum said that I will be loved because I am always hungry haha
But on a sour note I think I went a bit too hard too fast because today I had a lil vom..and by little I mean ten times...awks..because it's such different food and it's so hot and I was overrrtired. After all the years of bragging about not vomiting since I was 7 ..I think I have made up for it all..hahah
oh sweet jesus
this has been TOO LONG
if you made it this far
congratulations..I am sorry...next time it will not be this much..it's just because everything is new and exciting that I want to share it :D
I hope you are all doing well in Australia!! Lots of Brazilian love xxxx
Here I am, sitting in my new home in Brazil, wondering where to ever start. I don't reallllly know how to blog..like what the protocol is....but I guess I will just say what I would be telling you all individually if you asked how is it so far..
So the day I flew out, the 20th, was quite literally the longest day of my life..I left the gold coast at 2am..and then after driving and waiting and flying we left Sydney at 1.30 pm and after a ten hour flight to Argentina the local time was only 3.30 pm..the other exchange students from Australia to Brazil were quite awesome and we all agreed that we chose the best place :D
Finally we got to Sao Paulo airport at 9.30 pm, and we were greeted with all our host families. As all these young Australians anxiously looked out to the sea of strangers, they yelled out to me "Sarah, I think we know who your host family is!" I emerged from customs to find a big screen printed sign held up by my host parents that said "Welcome to Brazil Sarah King" in this bright yellow and green. It was such a beautiful gesture!
The drive from Sao Paulo to Santos, my city, was full of questions to my host parents about anything..everything...! I was just so excited and happy that after all the time spent looking forward to this year...it was actually HAPPENING!
The next day we went to the local shopping centre and I got some yellow and green havaianas with the Brazilian flag..yes I know..the ULTIMATE tourist (for those that don't know, Havi's are from Brazil!) They were about $10..a price to be enjoyed. Then they took me to the beach of Santos, a place that I will be going to frequently this year. Then we went to meet the extended family, like aunties, uncles, grandparents, cousins etc.
It's funny because some speak english, some speak a little and many speak none at all. So, I have been using lots of Portanolish...limited portugese, a little bit of english and the rest in spanish. Usually I just try to say it in Spanish and see if they understand..many words are the same so that's good. But sometimes that just doesn't work out and there is just this silence coupled with raised eyebrows..quickly followed by a look to my sister or mother who both speak both languages. So, it is a bit of a trial and error system. But it is only day 3 or 4 and already I am not using much english in the house...I just want to throw myself into it because the quicker you can communicate the better the times will be! But yesterday I met some Exchange students from the US and I just spoke in Portugese and they were like errrrm we do speak english...! But I have become so quickly influenced..gone is the Australian accent...now I speak english in the way that my host mum and sister do...a little bit jolted and with this weird italian/american accent. So, I AM ALREADY FORGETTING ENGLISH
Which is weird...
Anyway, the next day the family went to the next city called Guaruja which is the only beach in Brazil to be awarded with the blue flag, which is certified by the Foundation for environmental education. To get one, the beach has to have super super high standards for water quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and generalenvironmental management. On the weekend, everyoneeee from the hustle and bustle of Sao Paulo city come to Santos or Guaruja to have a day at the beach. And man do they enjoy the beach. If you look at the photos on facey you will see how crowded the beaches are...and here they don't just go to the beach to swim and then leave. They spend the whole day here...sitting, sleeping, eating, drinking, swimming, walking, playing and just generally relaxing. There are hundreds and hundreds of umbrellas and chairs for everyone to use and they all stay til the sun goes down...about 8pm.
Now, if you thought that the Brazilian bikini was just a stereotype, you are SO WRONG. Here, allllllllll the girls wear skimpy, cheeky cut bikinis. Often just straight up g-strings...No matter how young, old or fat you are, you still wear them. The sights aren't always pleasant but here they are just so comfortable with their bodies so it's just kind of like; good for them ! Also, the guys only wear speedos...well..they are more like boyleg cut undies but yeah there are certainly no boardshorts in sight. I felt like the absolutely crazy one in my regular joe swimmers!
I get along reallllly well with my family, and their extended family, even with the language barrier we are always joking and laughing. My host brother is so cute, at first he was shy, but now we are like sister and brother. I showed him you forgot the blueberries on youtube (thanks joanna!) (if you haven't seen it look it up and then fastforward to the end..it's the goods) so that won me a few kudos. We generally just bond over random things like American music and playing football together. Sometimes our conversations have a 2 minute delay because we type what we want to say into google translate and then pass the computer over..then we repeat..it's a great little system. The first thing he said to me was 'you eat ALOT' haha
That night we left at midnight to go out to a club that was playing samba music, my cousins friend taught me how to do it and we just went wild! It was so much fun. Here, the people don't go out to get drunk, they go out to dance! I loveeeed it! We didn't get home until 4am,,
It's like everything you could ever hope for when you go to Brazil i have already experienced...like the beaches, the samba, the food (ahhhhh soo good!!!) the welcoming people..everything! Quick note on the food, when you visit people they always offer food and get offended if you don't eat it, so my host mum said that I will be loved because I am always hungry haha
But on a sour note I think I went a bit too hard too fast because today I had a lil vom..and by little I mean ten times...awks..because it's such different food and it's so hot and I was overrrtired. After all the years of bragging about not vomiting since I was 7 ..I think I have made up for it all..hahah
oh sweet jesus
this has been TOO LONG
if you made it this far
congratulations..I am sorry...next time it will not be this much..it's just because everything is new and exciting that I want to share it :D
I hope you are all doing well in Australia!! Lots of Brazilian love xxxx
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