Bananas and Capoeira

This last week has been very busy! It started out pretty crappy.... I was sick with some sort of a cold. Even so, I managed to go to school all week and keep a smile on my face. Just as I was getting over it, the weather decided to rain for the first time since I have been here when I had to walk home from school. To be honest, it wasn't even a hard rain, but apparently any rain is a big deal here because when I got home my host family was like, "YOU WALKED?!?" They insisted in hanging up my barely damp jacket in this special drying hanger thing and they got some Brazilian pizza (which is always a plus here). Brazilian pizza can make anybody feel better. 

Thursday night, I went to Ana Luiza (my host aunt) and Marlee's (Exchange student from Australia) house to make some banana recipes from their banana trees. I took some pictures, and Marlee cut one of the massive bushels of bananas off of the tree and set them out so we could cook with them. It is so cool that someone has banana trees in their backyard! We cut the bananas up and made Banana Frita and Bolo de Banana. They were amazing! The bananas here have so much more flavor! 

Friday, I was very surprised when the test I thought we were going to have during the day was later in the afternoon and I that had to come back to take it! What a delightful surprise! I was even more surprised to learn once I got there that I didn't even have to take it (because I am an exchange student) and that I am the first exchange student to take an exam! It actually went fairly well because it was in Math, so I can't complain. 

Friday night, was probably one of the most exciting and memorable nights I have had here. It started out with getting some of my favorite food here in Brasil: Açaí. It is so amazing words cannot describe. I went with the other exchange students Marlee (Australia), Juan Pablo (Mexico), Petra (Slovakia), Kari (Norway) and Isadora (was an exchange student in New Hampshire last year). 

 After açaí, I did one of my favorite things I have done so far: Capoeira. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures, because I was actually doing stuff, but it was amazing! Capoeira is a Brazilian martial arts that includes music, dance and acrobatics. For the first hour, we practiced some basic moves and then we got to see how it all worked! We all stood in a circle and either played an instrument or clapped a beat. Then, people went in the middle and "played" capoeira, which was the most amazing thing ever! I highly suggest you look up a video of Capoeira on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H0D8VaIli0), because I cant even describe how amazing it was. These little kids were doing flips, and everyone was so incredibly strong and talented! I am definitely going back to capoeira more often! Plus, its free, which is always good for exchange students.

After capoeira, we went to centro, where I met some more really cool people. An honest description of what centro is is that it is a place in town where teens go ever Friday and Saturday to drink and meet people. It is amazing. No one gets extremely crazy dangerous drunk.... everyone is just happy and it is so fun. That's what I love about Brasil. Everyone is just happy and cheerful all of the time. Tomorrow is my one month anniversary in Brasil, and you can expect a post! I hope Wisconsin is good, and school has been going great for everybody!