13 Signs to show you're Brasilian

Here are  things that I've noticed most Brasilians I have met do; Gente acham que estes são verdade?

You know you are Brasilian when you:

1. own at least one pair of havaianas

2. have been to several churrascos

3. have had coraçãozinha at least once

4. have café at least twice-a-day

5. Know what I mean when I say Annita

6. Have a house thats floors are only tile

7. Eat Pão de Queijo

8. Have a favorite futebol team

9. Know how to dance either seraneja ou forró

10. Escape to the beach during summer break

11. You go to the States (or a place where clothes are cheaper) pack your suitcase completely full with all your purchases

12. Add an -e ou -i to the end of an English word to make it sound Português, etc. Facebook, Film, ou Shrek

13. Wait until the last minute to do something, or start events never on time (Being from the states where everything is very punctual it is very hard to get use to)

Brasilian Hospitality

 Every time I have gone to Latin America, or even when I met someone from Latin America I am reminded how hospitable and friendly people from Latin America are, and why I love to visit. This is true also here in Brasil. That is even a main reason why I really wanted to come and study abroad here. As the people I met abroad while in Italy that were from Brasil, were very hospitable and made the country sound amazing….and it is! Now that I am here I can say with certainty (at least in the encounters I have had) that this friendliness and openness is quite true. Everyone I have met has been so nice and included me in events, even though my Português skills are not the greatest. They have been so welcoming and inviting, it makes my time here so much greater.  Even talking with other students studying abroad with me say they have experienced the same hospitality. As here it is for the company of others, even when one does not have much to offer to someone. Here it is more they want to make the person feel at home and welcomed, as well as they enjoy learning about other cultures and want to teach one about their culture and lifestyle. And to go along with this way of life, when one goes to get together, expect loads of food and meeting loads of people.  It is hard though to truly explain this way of life to someone who has not encountered it. What I can say though for certain is if one is ever invited to a Latin get together, or to travel “south of the boarder” take the opportunity. As the people one meets in Latin America makes the experience so much better, and unforgettable. 

Pass Time of Brasilians

When Brasilians are not working you can see them living a very active lifestyle, that involves many people surrounding them, but its a little different then in the states. When the weekend comes around it is very common to see Brasilians in company of close friends and/or family. It is also common to see them relaxing and just enjoying life. It is normal to have people over on the weekends and have a Churrasco, or just even grab some blankets and lay out in the yard. Another place that they love to visit, if they are in close distance to, is the beach. The beach in of itself is a place that during summer months hundreds flock to to get away from the busy work lifestyle and enjoy a nice vacation with family or friends. At the beach one can enjoy many activities. You can obviously take in some rays, or go swimming, but it is also very common to find people kicking a futbol around, or someone playing volleyball in the sand. Also depending on the beach one goes to, surfing is another big activity to be seen. It does not just stop there. On the Island of Floripa, some even venture to take trails that lead to secluded beaches, the most famous of these being Lagoinha do Leste.  Brasilians really love to be with nature, and out in about playing a sport or just walking around. Which is why winter is the worst time for Brasilians in the south, since they are not able to go out and enjoy the beach, instead they have to be cooped up in the house. The second t is warm though you can see everyone out and out either walking around or at the beach.

A Forgotten Island

When one plans on taking a trip to Brasil there are a few places they think of going to. Normally someone will travel to Rio de Janiero, Sao Paulo, and some might take a trip to Brasilia or Salvador. But besides Brazilians and Latin Americans only a handful of people think about venturing out to other places in the country.

One of those lost wonders and beauties being Florianopolis.

Floripa, also known as the Island of Magic is truly a place of wonder. This island as so much to offer visitors, and is even one of the safest places in Brasil. It has even been names the friendliest city in 2013 by CNtraveler. Roughly there are 42 beaches here on the island, some being easy to get to, and other that can only be reached by hiking to them. Those ones though are more then worth the adventure, as they hold beauty that only seems to exist in dreams. Besides the beaches, there are several trails that exist for those wanting to be with nature. Some lead to secluded beaches and others even lead to fisherman villages that can only be accessed by the trails or by boat. Right next to all these quaint beach towns and trails there is city life for those that enjoy that. Of course because of abundance of city life, things such as shopping and nightlife are super easy to locate. For the nightlife one can find many clubs and bars located around the island, mainly located in the north and east part of island. To access the island it is quite simple as there exists and airport about 30 minutes bus from the center of the city, and it is only an hour plane ride from Sao Paulo. Although not many people come here outside of Latin America, there are still many tourists that come and visit the island during Brasilian summertime, so if one wants to come see this island and all its beauty the best time is during the spring months of September until November. That way there is still warmth and one can enjoy the beach with out hundreds of people surrounding them. So if one ever finds there way to Brasil, think about taking a brief trip to Floripa. It is a place that is unforgettable and (in my belief) a place that needs to be a destination for beach/nature lovers. 

Um Mês no Brasil

Officially today I have been in Brasil for 1 month.

Just a quick recap of what has happened and what all I have done since my arrival.

This first month has been a lot of adjusting to the culture, learning Português (which is coming along, though I still have a lot more to learn), and exploring my island.

First week I took a trip around the island and saw different parts from the north to the south part. Also was able to see how diverse the island truly is.

The following week some of the other students studying here and I hoped on a bus and went to Morro das Pedras. That weekend I attended a game of futebol of Avaí with my host dad. And on Saturday I went to Balneario Camboriu with some fellow Rotary students for a night out.

The week after that some other students and me decided to take a trail called Poçáo, which was really neat as there was a waterfall and some of the students even went swimming. The day following three other students and me attempted to find another trail, but instead just walking around Monte Verde. Then in the weekend I went to UFSC to met with some of my friends there. Then that Sunday I went with my family to Biguaçu for a party for my host dad’s work.

In the past week I did some more traveling around the island. It started off with some of us students going to Pantano do Sul, which is a beach city in the south of the island. The next day some of us students had no classes so we decided to tackle another trail in the south of the island to a private beach called Naufragados. It was about an hour hike, and we had a dog being our tour guide, which was an interesting experience. To top off the week I went again to UFSC where I met up with my friends and hung out as well as I attended a Rotaract meeting here in Floripa.

So far my month has been a great experience. I am really looking forward to what will come. I know that in the coming weeks I am attending a formal with my host family and my program has a few more excursions for us planned, other than that I am just seeing what happens every day. 

Futebol game of Avaí

Balneario Camoriu

Poçáo

Monte Verde

Pantano do Sul

Naufragados

Rotary Around the World

In this post I want to discuss the connections that I have encountered because I was a Rotary Exchange Student.

Because Brazil was the first country to participate in exchanges with the United States, I was expecting there to be a few students that participated in Rotary, but the amount I have met, and the people who are connected with Rotary in some way is much more then I imagined.

For starts my exchange sister who stayed in my house in the states, knew the past president of her Rotract club, who ironically went to school in Florianopolis, at the public university called UFSC (Universidade Federal Da Santa Catarina). Beside that connection I had I meet 3 other past youth exchange students who also go to UFSC. Then one of the girls who work for the program I am with was a past exchange student to both Mexico and South Africa, and she actually knew one of the girls that was in Italy with me. Then the person who is in charge of my program down here in Brasil studied in Texas for a year, and his host sister was a past Rotary student to Spain. I was also given the opportunity through my connections to attend a local Rotract club meeting, which was a nice experience as I was able to met more students who had an interest in helping as well as we shared a common connection with Rotary. Another observation I have encountered while here in regards to Rotary is that Rotary has a good name among Brasilians. When I tell people that I was a past Rotary student I earn much respect, and I am taken more seriously I feel then if I was just a regular college student studying abroad. It is truly incredible how even though we speak different languages and have different cultures, one thing, such as Rotary can given us a common interest and help to create many personal connections that I hope to continue to have. I am very fortunate to have been able to be apart of the Rotary youth program and continue to experience all the possibilities that I can take part in because of my experience.