Meu Aniversário!

So yesterday was my birthday, and it was probably my most memorable moment of my exchange so far. Despite the fact that it was an early Monday morning, I was greeted by a singing classroom when I walked in the doors for school. Everyone was cheering, singing and clapping and just having an amazing time, and it made me feel really great! Throughout the morning, I got hugs and ´Parabéns!´ from random people that I don´t even know, so I must be more well known than I thought! Then, when I came home for lunch, I got two amazing presents from my host family (a box of Brazilian chocolate, and my first pair of Havaiana flip-flops). They really went out of their way to do that, and I was extremely grateful.

Later that day when I went back for afternoon classes, the day was going normally. Then, during gym class, I got taken out of the volleyball game because I was told the principal wanted to talk to me and another exchange student, Kari. When we arrived, though, I was extremely surprised when there was a group of my friends singing the Happy Birthday song in Portuguese, again! It was an amazing surprise party! We ate tortinha and drank Guaraná, and it was really special. They even got me a Brazilian flag with happy birthday messages written all over it, and a box of AMAZING Brazilian candy. Everything was just so great, and I can´t thank them enough for making me feel so special.

My surprise party!

Even at the Rotary meeting that night, we had an amazing cake and everybody sang to me again. It was just such an amazing day, and I won´t forget it. Thank you to everybody who made me feel amazing! Everyone is so wonderful in Brasil!