Right after the Northeast trip, it took a day or so to adjust to a regular sleeping schedule again and then I was back to normal Brazilian life! Christmas Eve, Marlee and I went last-minute Christmas shopping, and we wrapped all of our gifts "the normal way." In Brasil, Santa Clause brings everyone things in a giant sack, with all of the stuff in its original store bags and nothing wrapped. Santa was very nice to me this year, and I got 3 shirts! Christmas Eve and Christmas, we all sat down at a nicely-set table and had family meals. Another different thing (that maybe was just my family): they didn't make the food, they bought it. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. It was delicious! We had chicken parmigiana and some fish thing, and it was really good! Also, Christmas day, I made my wild Wisconsin rice, and everyone seemed to like it! To finish off a great meal, we had some homemade Cheesecake! Later that night, I went out with Marlee to a Christmas party with some friends, which was really nice to see everyone again after such a long trip.
.JPG) |
| Cheesecake |
.JPG) |
| Dinner Table |
.JPG) |
| My Wild Rice |
New Years Eve was really fun! For one thing, it was my first time going out to a REAL party, and another thing, it was in Brasil. I went to another party, only this one was with a lot of people dancing and loud music. We all danced up until literally 10 seconds before midnight when we finally looked at the Brazilian equivalent of "The Ball Drop" (just fireworks) on TV. After that, we just continued partying and having a blast! I was out until 7am the next day! I loved it hahaha.
January 8th, I switched host families! My first host family was extended a little longer (a month longer) because of the trip, but I was ok with it! I had a really great experience in their house, and I am super thankful to have lived there, but changing families is an important part of exchange. I went from living in a house to people coming and going, and me not knowing who even lived there, to a small apartment with only my host mom and dad. I really am enjoying it here, though. They are both SUPER nice, and really funny! I really feel close with them already, and I look forward to the time I have with them. One thing I noticed while changing families: I have accumulated A LOT of stuff, and I don't even know how!!! I guess that's a perk (or disadvantage) of living abroad.
Just a few days later occurred one of the hardest days I have had here in Brasil: Marlee had to go back to Australia. In Australia, their exchange year is January-January, so she completed her year here. Over the 5 months that I knew her, she became one of the best friends I have ever had, and my sister. Without her, Brazil would have been a totally different experience. My first couple weeks, she introduced me to so many people, and explained everything I needed to know about Brazil, and Itabira. The day she left, it just felt like the city isn't the same anymore. I still miss her and think about her often. I know that the day she left will NOT be the last day I see her, because we will meet up (hopefully someday soon) in Australia, the States, or maybe even somewhere else in the world.
Since then, I have continued living normal everyday Brazilian life. I speak Portuguese, go out with friends, go to parties, and also spend time with my new family. I really love living in Brazil, and I am super excited to share it with my American family when we all come here again.
 |
| Regular night out! |
 |
| Out to a horse ranch with my host dad |
 |
| View from outside my new room :) |
 |
| Riding a horse for the first time at my host family's family house in the country! |
 |
| Little waterfall we went to by my host family's house in the country |
 |
| Random fruit that we picked off of a tree at a churrasco.. I dont know what it was but I liked it! |
Tomorrow morning at 4am, we leave for Arraial do Cabo; a really pretty ocean-side city in the state of Rio de Janeiro that my family will be vacationing in. I'm super excited :) Based on the pictures, the water is GORGEOUSLY crystal clear, and I am just dreaming of swimming and snorkeling every day there. It's going to be absolute paradise :)
Until after my trip, everyone! I hope you guys are all surviving the cold, and enjoying yourselves as much as I am every day :) Beijos!
