Here is a list of some culture differences I have encountered here in Brasil (These are generalization and do not always apply for every city, nor every person) :
1. Houses tend to be smaller and simpler
2. If you aren't watching futebol chances are you are watching Novelas
3. Halls is consumed here like gum or candy
4. Brasil is huge and has a lot of different landscape (not just Rio, São Paulo, and then the Amazon), You can find farm land in central Brasil, to rolling mountains along the coast, and of course the Amazon is there too. One thing though is it is quite expensive to travel around the country.
5. Local buses stop all over the place, they could stop off on the highway near an exit, on the outskirts of a city
6. It is hard to find food from other parts of the world, in markets it is normally grown in the area or surrounding countries, and for restaurants (besides cities like Rio and São Paulo) the many options besides Braslian food is Japanese, Subway/Mac-donanlds, and Italian
7. Food is much less proceed, and frozen food is not as common, it is normally fresh.
8. Highways and roads are not as maintained
9. Water is not free in restaurants, nor is free refills common to find
10. Deodorant here is only spray or roll on.
11. Bureaucracy is common to find when it comes to dealing with the basically anything, from buying a house to even change cars.
12. Milk comes in a cartons that are not yet cold, and do not have to be placed in the refrigerate until it is open.
13. The set up of college is quite different. 1st the amount of time you attend college depends on your major, could be 4 years or 5. There are both public and private colleges, but for public if you past a test (that everyone studies for, for basically their whole lives) then you can go to college for free. Once in college you start course classes right away. There is not all the options we get, nor do you have to take like the basic freshman classes. With that you stay with the same classmates through your whole time in college, aka your sala. There are kind of some aspects also of that of a sorority/fraternity, each course has their own songs/chants, also you get a sort of big that helps you during your school years.
14. License plates have not only the state which the car is from, but also the city
15. Students luck out a lot by receiving half price on a lot of activities, such as futebol games, concerts, bus cards, and many more.
16. Cars a much smaller here, normally you do not see big, pick up trucks or SUVs, though they can be found occasionally.
17. Clothes and electronics are crazy expensive.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Monday, February 3, 2014
6 Meses no Brasil
To begin the beginning of January we headed to São Carlos. This time we went as my friend had to go and take a test for entrance into university. So while she was taking her test I met up with a friend of ours and went around the city with them. On the first day there we went to a fazenda, which is an old plantation that exist in the area. It was quite neat to see, even got to see old slave courters that existed. We went on a horse back ride also through the area. After finished it was time to pick my friend up so we went and got her and then went to Churrasco that another friend was having. The following day unfortunately our plan to go to the ecological park did not work out so instead we went to the federal university, UFSCAR, and went swimming. The last day in São Carlos we woke up and went back to the ecological park, as this time it was open. It was basically a zoo that they had, but only of animals in Brasil with a few animals in other parts of Latin America. For the afternoon we walked around centro. Then that night we went to a futebol game of Palmerias for the Copa São Paulo. On Wednesday when we got back to Matão some friends came over and we planned our trip out to Rio de Janeiro. On Friday we woke up and headed to Bebadouro, which is where we spent New Years Eve. We went back to spend a few days again with my friend's godmother. We spent the weekend there just relaxing, swimming, and also some time at her godmothers hair salon, which is just right next to the house.
The following Tuesday we returned back to Matão. On Wednesday we went to a dinner at a family friends. It was really fun and the host was really interested in learning about the states. On Thursday we went to my friend's best friend and had dinner and also had a sleepover for the night. Saturday we went to friend's aunts and spent time withe them. On Sunday I went to Ribeirão Preto, which is basically the larger city of the area. I went and met up with some Americans that my mom knew who were visiting the area for work. We spent the evening just going around the city and went to eat and after spent time in the mall shopping. After a while with them it was time for me to go and catch my bus back to Matão so I could get my bus for Rio de Janeiro.
For the week of 21 - 24 I spent my time in Rio de Janeiro, which I wrote all about on my previous blog. It is truly the city of Wonder. And if you ever get a chance to go, take it. The city, even though everyone thinks of it being dangerous it is quite tranquil, just have to watch out where you go, but the South is really a great place to visit.
Once we got back from Rio on Sunday we went and swim at a friends. This past week has been quite laid back. This Saturday we went to my friend's aunt to help set up for a birthday party for her cousin. Then we spent the evening at her aunt's house for the birthday party. On Sunday we had a churrasco at our house and then a friend of my friend came over and we hung out with her.
For the next few weeks here in São Paulo nothing much is planned, but I know on the 15th I will head to Maringa to visit an exchange student that lived at my house last year. Also I might be going to visit the Foz do Iguaçu.
Until Next Time
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Rio De Janeiro
This past week I was given the opportunity to go and visit the beautiful city of Rio De Janeiro, and it really is worth a trip there.
To start our trip off with we took a bus from Araraquara that left at 21.30 at night and arrived the next morning into Rio at 8.30. Once we got all of our stuff we went to our hostel, unfortunately we could not check in yet so we dropped our stuff off and went and walked around the barrio that we were staying in, which is Botafogo. We visited the Praia Botafogo, which has a nice view of Pão de Açúcar, as well as Praia Shopping, which has a overview of the bay. After which we went to Casa do Rui Barbosa, unfortunately since it was a holiday in Rio, so the museum was closed but we did walk through the garden. Once we did check in we went and caught a metro and headed to Copacabana. After spending some time at the beach we decided to head back to Botafogo, where we passed the rest of the night.
The next morning we woke up bright and early to head to Cristo Redentor. We decided to take the tremzinho, which takes you from the bottom of the mountain up through Corcovado park and arrive at the base of Cristo. Once at the base we walked up the stairs and arrived to one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It was quite breathe taking, especially the overview of the entire city. After taking our pictures we take the trem back down and headed to Jardim Botanico. It was created Dam João during the imperial period of Brasil. It was such a beautiful place, and actually quite a huge place! After walking for a few hours through the beautiful varied parks we decided it was time to head to the hostel. We spent the evening in Botafogo just walking around and hung out at the praia in Botafogo.
On Wednesday was probably one of our favorite days. We woke up and went to Pão de Açúcar, which can only be reached by a bondinho (cable car) and it shows the overview of the city. We took our first cable car to Morro da Urca, which is the first hill. Then we took the second bondinho, which got us to the higher of the two hills, also known as Pão de Açúcar. The view there was absolutely breathe taking. Also up there is a trail that we took which took us around the hill, it was incredible to see all different sides of the city as well as the bay. Once we had finished taking pictures and were ready to head down we descended on the bondinhos and went back to Botafogo. Since some of the group was really tired, me and another friend decided that we were going to go to Ipanema. So we hoped on a bus and headed to the beach. It was definitely worth the trip, and we both enjoyed it actually more then Copacabana. We walked on the sidewalk that stretches the whole length of the beach, and then we found a perfect spot to enjoy the beach. Once it started to get late we decided to head back and we met back up with our group and went to the beach in Botafogo for the evening.
On our last full day in Rio we ended up taking an adventure. We decided to go to the Centro of the city. So we hopped on a metro and after asking several people finally figured out which stop we should get off. Then we walked to the Saara, which is basically a street in the city that is a lot of shops with knock off goods for very cheap prices. It was a very fun experience. Once done there we walked onto the main street and passed a Cathedral in the center, that actually never belonged to the city of Rio de Janeiro (though I kind of do not remember the whole story behind it). Once we passed there we went into the Banco do Brasil where they had a museum of money and also the history of the bank. After we went to a famous street called Ouvidor, which is a street full of different restaurants. After my group figured out where they were going to eat and they had finished we headed off on our next adventure. We went to the Confeitaria Colombo, which is an old cafe shop in centro. Then we walked to Lapa, which is a barrio right next to Centro. There we saw the Arcos da Lapa and the Escardaria Selaron, also known as the colored stairs. Then we went back to Ipanema, where we went to watch the sunset. It was as quite a beautiful sunset, its no wonder people from all the world go there to watch the sunset. Once it started to get dark we went back to Botafogo and spent our last night in the area. On our last day we just stayed in the area for lack of time before our bus left.
Our trip to Rio was definitely an incredible one, and I can not wait until I am given a chance to go and visit the city again!
Until Next Time
To start our trip off with we took a bus from Araraquara that left at 21.30 at night and arrived the next morning into Rio at 8.30. Once we got all of our stuff we went to our hostel, unfortunately we could not check in yet so we dropped our stuff off and went and walked around the barrio that we were staying in, which is Botafogo. We visited the Praia Botafogo, which has a nice view of Pão de Açúcar, as well as Praia Shopping, which has a overview of the bay. After which we went to Casa do Rui Barbosa, unfortunately since it was a holiday in Rio, so the museum was closed but we did walk through the garden. Once we did check in we went and caught a metro and headed to Copacabana. After spending some time at the beach we decided to head back to Botafogo, where we passed the rest of the night.
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| View of Pão de Açúcar from Botafogo |
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| Casa do Rui Barbosa |
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| Copacabana |
The next morning we woke up bright and early to head to Cristo Redentor. We decided to take the tremzinho, which takes you from the bottom of the mountain up through Corcovado park and arrive at the base of Cristo. Once at the base we walked up the stairs and arrived to one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It was quite breathe taking, especially the overview of the entire city. After taking our pictures we take the trem back down and headed to Jardim Botanico. It was created Dam João during the imperial period of Brasil. It was such a beautiful place, and actually quite a huge place! After walking for a few hours through the beautiful varied parks we decided it was time to head to the hostel. We spent the evening in Botafogo just walking around and hung out at the praia in Botafogo.
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| Cristo Redentor |
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| Trem do Corcovado |
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| Jardim Botanico |
On Wednesday was probably one of our favorite days. We woke up and went to Pão de Açúcar, which can only be reached by a bondinho (cable car) and it shows the overview of the city. We took our first cable car to Morro da Urca, which is the first hill. Then we took the second bondinho, which got us to the higher of the two hills, also known as Pão de Açúcar. The view there was absolutely breathe taking. Also up there is a trail that we took which took us around the hill, it was incredible to see all different sides of the city as well as the bay. Once we had finished taking pictures and were ready to head down we descended on the bondinhos and went back to Botafogo. Since some of the group was really tired, me and another friend decided that we were going to go to Ipanema. So we hoped on a bus and headed to the beach. It was definitely worth the trip, and we both enjoyed it actually more then Copacabana. We walked on the sidewalk that stretches the whole length of the beach, and then we found a perfect spot to enjoy the beach. Once it started to get late we decided to head back and we met back up with our group and went to the beach in Botafogo for the evening.
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| View from Morro da Urca |
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| Onto the Cable Car to Pão de Açúcar |
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| Infront of the Bondinho to Pão de Açúcar |
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| Praia Ipanema |
On our last full day in Rio we ended up taking an adventure. We decided to go to the Centro of the city. So we hopped on a metro and after asking several people finally figured out which stop we should get off. Then we walked to the Saara, which is basically a street in the city that is a lot of shops with knock off goods for very cheap prices. It was a very fun experience. Once done there we walked onto the main street and passed a Cathedral in the center, that actually never belonged to the city of Rio de Janeiro (though I kind of do not remember the whole story behind it). Once we passed there we went into the Banco do Brasil where they had a museum of money and also the history of the bank. After we went to a famous street called Ouvidor, which is a street full of different restaurants. After my group figured out where they were going to eat and they had finished we headed off on our next adventure. We went to the Confeitaria Colombo, which is an old cafe shop in centro. Then we walked to Lapa, which is a barrio right next to Centro. There we saw the Arcos da Lapa and the Escardaria Selaron, also known as the colored stairs. Then we went back to Ipanema, where we went to watch the sunset. It was as quite a beautiful sunset, its no wonder people from all the world go there to watch the sunset. Once it started to get dark we went back to Botafogo and spent our last night in the area. On our last day we just stayed in the area for lack of time before our bus left.
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| Saara in Centro |
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| Ceiling in Banco do Brasil |
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| Museum of Money |
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| Café Colombo |
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| Arcos da Lapa |
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| Escadaria Selaron |
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| Sunset in Ipanema |
Our trip to Rio was definitely an incredible one, and I can not wait until I am given a chance to go and visit the city again!
Until Next Time
Friday, January 3, 2014
5 Meses no Brasil
Wow it is hard to believe that I have already been here in Brasil for 5 months! In honor of being my 5 months here is an update of what I have been up to since I arrived in Matão, São Paulo.
For my first weekend here it was learning about the city, and meeting all of my friend's friends. On the Saturday we went into the centro and went and taught some English at an school my friend teaches at. For the evening we went to a restaurant with some of her friends and just hung out with them for the evening. On Sunday we decided to go and visit a city nearby, São Carlos, where we met with a friend of hers to spend the evening visiting the city. It was a very laid back trip, we just went and played soccer for sometime and went to centro to see the christmas decorations. The next day we went and got some Açaí and relaxing. On Wednesday we ended up going to the gym, we originally went to try out a class called She'ba, but since we arrived so early we also went to a pump class. On Thursday we went to Quintaneja, which is Sertaneja on Thursdays. Friday we went to a birthday party that was at a chacra, which is where they normally have a pool and churrascara. Saturday I was able to go a play soccer again as well as go to a Catholic mass. Sunday, since my friend went to take her vestibular, I went with my friends sister to met up with some friends of theirs for the evening.
On the following Monday we spent time at my friend's grandparents as well as her aunts. Friday I met one of my friend's best friend and we did a sleepover at her house, me, her friend, her sister, and another friend of theirs. Saturday we went to Araraquara, which is another city nearby. There we just did some Christmas shopping as well as went and got some chinese food. That Sunday we went to a class reunion, basically, for my friend and her classmates.
The following week was Christmas week. For Brasilian tradition it is normal to have a family dinner on the Eve and spend Christmas just relaxing. Which of course is what we did, we had a massive dinner at the house and at Midnight we opened up our Christmas gifts and wished everyone a merry Christmas. For Christmas day we went to another chacra and spend the day relaxing, swimming, and eating. On Friday we went again to Quintaneja. Saturday we went and made Brigadeiro. Sunday we went again to Araraquara, this time to go see a Beatles tribune, then went and traveled around the city some.
To get to NYE. We went to my friend's godmother's house to bring in the New Year. It was quite a nice time, we just hung around and enjoyed each others company. After we brought the new year in we decided to take a swim. The following day we spent at her house and swam and relaxed for the day.
For the upcoming weeks not much is planned, though we are looking at going to Rio de Janeiro.
Until Next Time
For my first weekend here it was learning about the city, and meeting all of my friend's friends. On the Saturday we went into the centro and went and taught some English at an school my friend teaches at. For the evening we went to a restaurant with some of her friends and just hung out with them for the evening. On Sunday we decided to go and visit a city nearby, São Carlos, where we met with a friend of hers to spend the evening visiting the city. It was a very laid back trip, we just went and played soccer for sometime and went to centro to see the christmas decorations. The next day we went and got some Açaí and relaxing. On Wednesday we ended up going to the gym, we originally went to try out a class called She'ba, but since we arrived so early we also went to a pump class. On Thursday we went to Quintaneja, which is Sertaneja on Thursdays. Friday we went to a birthday party that was at a chacra, which is where they normally have a pool and churrascara. Saturday I was able to go a play soccer again as well as go to a Catholic mass. Sunday, since my friend went to take her vestibular, I went with my friends sister to met up with some friends of theirs for the evening.
On the following Monday we spent time at my friend's grandparents as well as her aunts. Friday I met one of my friend's best friend and we did a sleepover at her house, me, her friend, her sister, and another friend of theirs. Saturday we went to Araraquara, which is another city nearby. There we just did some Christmas shopping as well as went and got some chinese food. That Sunday we went to a class reunion, basically, for my friend and her classmates.
The following week was Christmas week. For Brasilian tradition it is normal to have a family dinner on the Eve and spend Christmas just relaxing. Which of course is what we did, we had a massive dinner at the house and at Midnight we opened up our Christmas gifts and wished everyone a merry Christmas. For Christmas day we went to another chacra and spend the day relaxing, swimming, and eating. On Friday we went again to Quintaneja. Saturday we went and made Brigadeiro. Sunday we went again to Araraquara, this time to go see a Beatles tribune, then went and traveled around the city some.
To get to NYE. We went to my friend's godmother's house to bring in the New Year. It was quite a nice time, we just hung around and enjoyed each others company. After we brought the new year in we decided to take a swim. The following day we spent at her house and swam and relaxed for the day.
For the upcoming weeks not much is planned, though we are looking at going to Rio de Janeiro.
Until Next Time
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Brasilian Food
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| Probably my favorite thing to eat here is Açaí. It is quite hard to really describe what it taste like, but if you are ever given a chance to try it it is something that you can not pass up! |
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| Coxinha: It is basically chicken in a cone shape of fried bread. |
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| Churrasco is something very popular here. It is a BBQ, but with many different types of meats, and many different cuts of meat, its is much more than steaks, hamburgers, and hot dogs. |
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| Brigadeiro: this sweet is made with condensed milk and chocolate powder. |
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| Farofa is cooked flour, and sometimes has other ingredients with it that is normally consumed with rice . |
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| Pastels: these are made of some form of meat or seafood, with some sauce and then is fried. |
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| Pão de Queijo : or Cheesy Bread, it is bread that is has cheese baked into it. |
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| Suco: Although not a food, it is still a very popular thing to consume. It is not though like the juices in the states, as it comes in many different fruits. |
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| Arroz e Feijões aka Rice and Beans is a very typical thing to find here, and a good majority of all meals will be serviced with rice. If you mix some meats into the beans then you get feijoada
These are just some of the popular foods here in Brasil, and there are many more out there, as well as others that depend on where you live.
Until Next Time
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Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Brasilian Gesture of Greeting
Much like every culture how people greet each other and interact is something distinct. Here in Brasil that interaction is visible with in a few hours of arriving from a country such as the United States, where things are conducted at farther distances and very "formal". Such as meeting someone for the first time you shake hands, or just wave.
In Brasil the first time you meet someone, whether the first time or they have seen several times you greet them with a kiss on the cheek and probably (depending on the person) give them a hug, which for me I enjoy. Then when it comes to just talking with someone they will have conversations at a much closer distant than that in the states. Another thing that is very noticeable is that people here are much more touchy-feely. In a sense that they give hugs, the kisses on the cheeks and just all around hold closer contact. This closeness also contacts greatly with the Brasilian hospitality, where they are very open to letting someone come to their house and not wanting the person to feel left out.
As a foreigner coming here I have greatly enjoyed this close contact. I feel like it gives more life to the culture and that is really fits the Brasilian way quite well, as they are also very open and super friendly. It will definitely be an interesting experience when I return back to the states and I have to go back to the distant contact and the shaking of hands with people I met.
Until Next Time
Sunday, December 8, 2013
4 Meses No Brasil
Although a few days late here is an update of how my past month has been in Brasil.
The first week ended up being an adventure. One of the days after class had finished I went with some other students to Carnivereses, which is a beach in the north part of the island. The next day me and some of the students went out to a club called Fields, which is where they play Sertanejo. We went to go and celebrate one the girls birthdays, it was a really fun time and I really enjoyed dancing the music. The day after we went to Parma, which is an all you can eat pizza place, and there are like 40 different options of pizza and pizza doce (sweet pizza). For the weekend I went to Jaragua do Sul. The weekend was quite nice, I got to go to some Brasilian birthday parties and even got to experience a funeral. Although it was not something that was happy it was quite an experience. I also got to see some of the city, such as Malwee, which is a park in the city.
The following monday was laid back. I ended up meeting with a friend and we hung out for sometime, then I had to head home and relaxed for the day. The next day I went to Costa de Lagoa, which is a fisherman village in Lagoa, that can only be reached by walking or by taking a boat to. It was such a beautiful place, and it was really nice to visit. The next day my business class took a field trip to basically a Brasilian version of Silicon valley. The next day was a feriado, it was a holiday on the formation of the republic. I ended up going with a friend and we did a trail to Lagoinha do Leste, with some of her friends. It was a really nice time, and although the trail was long it was worth the walk. When we finally arrived to the beach we laid our towels out and relaxed. Then we met her parents at the beach and headed back home with them, as me and her had to get ready to leave to Dream Valley, which was a music festival in Beto Carrero (which is the largest amusement park in Latin America). The festival was a really fun time, but after about 3 hours of the same type of music our whole group was exhausted and ready to go, but as we took a van we had to wait. So we ended up just chilling at the festival until our van showed up. The following day was not the prettiest outside so we just sleep in and chilled at my friends house. Then I went to met up with some other exchange students and we went and saw the 2nd movie of the Hunger Games (a week before it even came out in the U.S.A. may I add). After that we went to Guacamole, which is a "Mexican" restaurant. The next day I went to Campeche, which is a beach near my house. I ended up just relaxing there for the day, then returned home for the evening.
On the monday my class took a field trip to the south of the island, where we got to visit a project about otters. We also got to see monkeys that were chilling by the late the project was at. On Wednesday me and the girls went to the favela one last time. This time we showed the kids the movie UP. It was a really nice time and I was happy that I was able to do some volunteering while here. For that night I went with one of the other exchange students to go play futebol (soccer) with a team of girls here in Brasil. It was such a fun time, even though I am not the best at it, I really enjoyed being able to play and to get a little work out in. On the weekend I went to a friends house in Ingleses and spent some time there. We ended up making dinner, which was pasta. After dinner we got dressed and headed to a Rockin' roll party that was hosted by UFSC. The next day was just a day of resting as it was not that nice outside.
On monday I took a small class field trip, well me and 3 other classmates, went to an other university in Floripa to talk with some tourism students about our experiences in Brasil, and of course it was all in Português. It was a really great time, and a great experience. I also had a surprise, when one of the girls there told me how she did an exchange to this city that is 10 minutes from my house in Indiana, the same year that I went to Italia. The world is really incredible small. On Wednesday I spent the day with my family as they were leaving to go spend time in Argentina, and I wanted to hang out with them some because when they came back I was going to leave to go to São Paulo. In the night time I went and played soccer again with the girls team that we played with the week before. It is such a good time, and I really enjoy learning to play better. On Thanksgiving day I really did not do much during the day. At night though I had a movie night with my host sister (as it was just us two in the house for the week). We ended up watching 50 first dates, but all in Português, so I could learn some more. On Friday I went with some of the exchange students to Fields, for one last time together. It was a nice time just dancing and enjoying each others company. On Saturday I went and met up with a friend and we ended up going out with some of her friends to a club called 1007. It was a really great time, as before we even went, we went to a one of her friends house and chilled and even played some video games. Then we all packed into a taxi and went to centro to go out. Since the next day was a rainy one, me and my friend just went to a shopping mall near her house and went and watched a Brasilian movie called "Meu Passado Me Condena." It was a comedy about this couple who gets married after knowing each other for a month and then proceed to go on a cruise, where they met the girls ex-boyfriend, and the boys childhood crush. Then a bunch of different things happen, but the movie was truly hysterical. On the monday following I hung out with my host sister and we made Brasilian hot dogs.
Now I am starting my vacation. I will be spending it in Matão, which is a city in the interior part of São Paulo with one of my friends that studied abroad to Indiana. Not much has been planned out yet as to what we will be doing, but I will keep update when things occur.
Until next time.
The first week ended up being an adventure. One of the days after class had finished I went with some other students to Carnivereses, which is a beach in the north part of the island. The next day me and some of the students went out to a club called Fields, which is where they play Sertanejo. We went to go and celebrate one the girls birthdays, it was a really fun time and I really enjoyed dancing the music. The day after we went to Parma, which is an all you can eat pizza place, and there are like 40 different options of pizza and pizza doce (sweet pizza). For the weekend I went to Jaragua do Sul. The weekend was quite nice, I got to go to some Brasilian birthday parties and even got to experience a funeral. Although it was not something that was happy it was quite an experience. I also got to see some of the city, such as Malwee, which is a park in the city.
The following monday was laid back. I ended up meeting with a friend and we hung out for sometime, then I had to head home and relaxed for the day. The next day I went to Costa de Lagoa, which is a fisherman village in Lagoa, that can only be reached by walking or by taking a boat to. It was such a beautiful place, and it was really nice to visit. The next day my business class took a field trip to basically a Brasilian version of Silicon valley. The next day was a feriado, it was a holiday on the formation of the republic. I ended up going with a friend and we did a trail to Lagoinha do Leste, with some of her friends. It was a really nice time, and although the trail was long it was worth the walk. When we finally arrived to the beach we laid our towels out and relaxed. Then we met her parents at the beach and headed back home with them, as me and her had to get ready to leave to Dream Valley, which was a music festival in Beto Carrero (which is the largest amusement park in Latin America). The festival was a really fun time, but after about 3 hours of the same type of music our whole group was exhausted and ready to go, but as we took a van we had to wait. So we ended up just chilling at the festival until our van showed up. The following day was not the prettiest outside so we just sleep in and chilled at my friends house. Then I went to met up with some other exchange students and we went and saw the 2nd movie of the Hunger Games (a week before it even came out in the U.S.A. may I add). After that we went to Guacamole, which is a "Mexican" restaurant. The next day I went to Campeche, which is a beach near my house. I ended up just relaxing there for the day, then returned home for the evening.
On the monday my class took a field trip to the south of the island, where we got to visit a project about otters. We also got to see monkeys that were chilling by the late the project was at. On Wednesday me and the girls went to the favela one last time. This time we showed the kids the movie UP. It was a really nice time and I was happy that I was able to do some volunteering while here. For that night I went with one of the other exchange students to go play futebol (soccer) with a team of girls here in Brasil. It was such a fun time, even though I am not the best at it, I really enjoyed being able to play and to get a little work out in. On the weekend I went to a friends house in Ingleses and spent some time there. We ended up making dinner, which was pasta. After dinner we got dressed and headed to a Rockin' roll party that was hosted by UFSC. The next day was just a day of resting as it was not that nice outside.
On monday I took a small class field trip, well me and 3 other classmates, went to an other university in Floripa to talk with some tourism students about our experiences in Brasil, and of course it was all in Português. It was a really great time, and a great experience. I also had a surprise, when one of the girls there told me how she did an exchange to this city that is 10 minutes from my house in Indiana, the same year that I went to Italia. The world is really incredible small. On Wednesday I spent the day with my family as they were leaving to go spend time in Argentina, and I wanted to hang out with them some because when they came back I was going to leave to go to São Paulo. In the night time I went and played soccer again with the girls team that we played with the week before. It is such a good time, and I really enjoy learning to play better. On Thanksgiving day I really did not do much during the day. At night though I had a movie night with my host sister (as it was just us two in the house for the week). We ended up watching 50 first dates, but all in Português, so I could learn some more. On Friday I went with some of the exchange students to Fields, for one last time together. It was a nice time just dancing and enjoying each others company. On Saturday I went and met up with a friend and we ended up going out with some of her friends to a club called 1007. It was a really great time, as before we even went, we went to a one of her friends house and chilled and even played some video games. Then we all packed into a taxi and went to centro to go out. Since the next day was a rainy one, me and my friend just went to a shopping mall near her house and went and watched a Brasilian movie called "Meu Passado Me Condena." It was a comedy about this couple who gets married after knowing each other for a month and then proceed to go on a cruise, where they met the girls ex-boyfriend, and the boys childhood crush. Then a bunch of different things happen, but the movie was truly hysterical. On the monday following I hung out with my host sister and we made Brasilian hot dogs.
Now I am starting my vacation. I will be spending it in Matão, which is a city in the interior part of São Paulo with one of my friends that studied abroad to Indiana. Not much has been planned out yet as to what we will be doing, but I will keep update when things occur.
Until next time.
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