I went to the Amazon!!
It was amazing and indescribable. I will try to convey my experience on here as best I can in future entries. I am just so happy that I got the opportunity to go there. It is paradise on earth. I stayed on a boat for four days on the "Rio Negro" and slept in a hammock. I only took a shower on the boat once (it was together with the toilet!) and the other two times I bathed in the river in my bikini! The water was really dark, reminding me of coca-cola. I got to see where the Rio Negro flowed into the Rio Solomon and they together create the Amazon River, (rio is portuguese for river). It was so cool to see the two colors melting into one another creating the largest river on earth! It looked more like the ocean than a river.
One night we went into canoe type boats and went alligator spotting. Our guide Allan dove into the water and submerged with a baby alligator! she was small enough for us to hold and take pictures with. She seemed so frightened of us she barely dared to move. Everyone's question was the same; where was her mother? Allan said that if her mother had been there she would have swam away the moment Allan's body made contact with the water. She would have been warned by the sound. Even so, I would not volunteer to enter the water anytime soon.
Another day we went piranha fishing. We had these simple wooden fishing rods and used cut up steak as bate. It took a really long time but the first one to catch a fish was my Austrailian friend Jet. She just didn't know what to do after the fish was dangling in the air, it was pretty funny. Allan showed us how the piranha could use its razor sharp teeth by putting a leaf in its mouth. Altogether our boat caught about three, me not being one of the lucky ones. When I boat returned to the bigger boat the guy gave me all the fish and then I just walked around for a bit holding them. People from the other boats thought I had caught them all. I assured them I wasn't that talented at fishing for piranha. Later that night we ate fish, I asked if it was piranha and they said no. Too bad.
We also had a day where we learned how to survive in the Amazon forest. We got into our canoe boat things (they have a name in portuguese) and went along the river and through all the trees that were growing out of it. Unfortunately for Clarissa (a woman working for the tourism agency) she got stung at least 6 times on the outside of her face and even on her tounge and inside lip!! It was this type of wasp thing that looked like a giant mosquito. It also bit some exchange students but their reactions were normal. With her, her bottom lip swelled to a comical size!! I know it wasn't funny but it was a real sight to see. One girl from Denmark went back to the bigger boat and she was reduced to tears because she has a dangerous allergy to wasps and that sort of thing.
We finally got to some firm land and left the canoes where a "jungle man" (for lack of better words) lead us to the start of our survival journey through the Amazon. I think about five spiders managed to fall on me along the way, after a while my friends stopped pointing them out to me and just let them be. Which was such a relief when they told me. Hehehe. He showed us how to make fire, get water, find food, and create shelter. The water part was really cool because there is this type of wood that filters the water and you can drink out of it kind of like a straw, the water stays inside. The first thing he showed us to eat was a larvae!! at first I joked and said I would eat it (not knowing they would actually try to make me) but then I refused and a boy named Michael from Germany did. When I asked him what it tasted like he said it had been sweet. Then the jungle man (or G I Joe, whatever you prefer) found some Brazilian nuts for us. They were so delicious, they were juicy!!! I wanted more but couldn't because the other people needed some too. He then showed us many different ways to weave together leaves and such to create adequate shelter. It was really cool the different kinds of materials that can be used, some of them are really strong like rope! You know the kind that you can see in movies? Well, that was pretty much it. WE had to wade through lots of water and I asked him if there were snakes, he said, "we are in the house of the snakes, the house of all the animals, we are in the amazon!" Typical jungle man response. It was inspiring. I felt like so primal getting all dirty and making my way through all the vegetation. Afterwards we ate lots of fruit and chicken, using a big leaf as a plate. I felt like some sort of jungle cat.
Another day we went to hike through the forest and had another guide telling us different facts about it. I had to be careful not to grab a tree to steady myself well I walked through all the mud and leaves because there were spikes on them! Huge ones! It's not like walking through a forest in Canada. We came to some waterfalls and also some caves that had bats in them. There was water on the ground, again I was afraid of some sort of snake grabbing me from below. Nothing happened of course. I was also one of the only two people who wore open toed shoes after they had specifically told us not to. At least I am learning how to deal with my irresponsible choices. Lol. I was so scared that I was going to step on something venomous and die. Me and my over-active Canadian imagination. My friend from Austria had worn sandals too and in the end we decided that we weren't completely stupid because at least we didn't get our runners wet by wading through all the muddy water. I should mention that I saw a huge spider in a hole in the trunk of a tree, I am sure that my Dad in Canada would be delighted to hear that. I will show him the photo I took.
After words we went to a river with really dark water and lots of algae (which made it darker). There were strong rapids that would pull people along like a water slide. Except the rocks underneath acted like a cheese grate against my bottom. Not the most pleasant feeling but it was fun nonetheless.
Another day we swam in a type of hydro-electric lake that had pink amazon river dolphins!! I did my dolphin noises and they actually came closer, but then they left. They came back later though. They were so beautiful! ANd it was so breathtaking to see them with their rosy color. On another day we went to a sort of rehabilitation center and saw some manitee. They look really strange with their tiny eyes that close when they are above the water. It makes them look like they don't have any! There was a baby one who was drinking milk out of a bottle. Later I will put pictures of them up.
Anyway, that is all for today!!
Até mais! Beijos
Emily <3
Monday, May 18, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Metamorphosis
AAAAAAAAAAHHH! I am just thinking of how it is going to be like to return to "reality". It's going to be so weird. I think it is safe to say that returning is going to be more of a shock than coming here. I'm trying just to focus on the "moment" now but the thought that in nearly two and a half months I will be on a plane flying back keeps finding a way to creep up on me. And airports to me are pretty much the same everywhere, so when I get to Canada is it really going to feel like it or is it just going to feel oddly like I am still in Brasil? Will the transition not be drastic enough? Will I wake up in my bed at night expecting to hear the comforting sound of the wolf hound sleeping outside my window? Or expect to see a ghekko on the wall spying on me while I watch T.V? Or the familiar sound of the bedroom door creaking open as my host mom wakes me to eat breakfast? I don't know. It seems that everything that used to be strange and foreign has now transformed to become familiar, secure. Maybe it's going to be like waking up from a very long, very intense dream. A dream that I will try to make last for as long as I can, but never quite be able to venture back to in the same way again. But life changes and I (you as well) just have to learn to live with the uncertainty of it, embracing that each moment is a new one. Remembering that with change there are most likely growing pains and everything may not be perfectly beautiful, not all butterflies are, but the important thing is what you learned in the end; how to fly.
Photo: A picture I took of a butterfly on a stranger's arm at the Foz do Iguaçu.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Canadian Goose Went South!
Wow, it has been a while, first I need to start by saying:
HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got back from a trip to the South of Brasil! I visited many different cities, even some other countries, not to mention met a lot of other exchange students. The photo above is of me and my friends from Mexico, France, Germany, and the United States! Down in the south, Easter is a really big deal because there is a large European influence so that is why we are "bunnified". They also make chocolate in the south which I had the pleasure of going to one of the factories. Where I got free chocolate and got to see the largest chocolate bunny in the world.
I got to visit the "Foz do Iguaçu" which are HUGE waterfalls that connect Brasil, Argentina, and Paraguay. Because of this I got to go to both Paraguay and Argentina!
There are five million people in Paraguay, the majority of which have a standard of living below the middle class. As soon as we crossed the bridge over the large river that seperates it from Brasil, I could definately see how Paraguay was uniquely different from Brasil. It had a dusty street-vender feel with markets lining the roads. Paraguay is known for its low prices and actually its "fakes" (for example a puma purse that isn't a real puma purse). Walking down the street many people approached me trying to convince me to buy socks. That's right, socks. Everywhere I went. They weren't even the hardcore kind of socks, they were ankle socks. My question was, why would a tourist's first need be to buy a pair of nike socks, especially in the blistering heat? And when they were wearing flipflops. Well apparentally there had to be some reason because it won some other exchange students over. The funny thing is, I had thought that I had wanted to buy "a cultural item" of Paraguay. Looking back now I realize that "the cultural item" would have to be a pair of socks. I just thought it was funny, but it's okay, I like socks. I am a sock person. I even have some fuzzy ones. Anyway...lol. Maybe I should have bought some...hmmm.
We just shopped in Paraguay and I guess I must have been a little overwhelmed by all the stuff because all I ended up buying was lipgloss. Even though it came in a bag that said "keychain, made in Korea". Kids at school were dumbfounded that I didn't buy more, they must think I am crazy or something for not giving into the deals down there. What can I say, I guess I am just not the biggest shopper.
So that was Paraguay. In Argentina we went and saw the waterfalls of course. Then we did some more shopping. It was duty free. Again I just bought some make-up (eyeliner) and some skiddles. There was a store that had American candy that you can't get here. So that was nice to have a familiar taste in my mouth. You know, taste the rainbow. Oh that reminds me, at all the waterfalls we went to there were beautiful rainbows where the water crashed, along with many butterflies. Oh and there were also these vultures that circle the top of the waterfalls to watch for when an animal falls over so they can dive down and get the dead meat. There were also these rodent things that were common in the area. They remind me a little of raccoons. they are not afriad of people and know how to work the tourists. They will steal the food out of your hands, that is all I have to say. :)
We also went on a Safari where at the end we got into boats until we came to the meeting of all the falls and then went underneath them! At one moment I was on the side of Argentina and the next I was back in Brasil. The water was colder than you'd think, but I dried quickly. It was an amazing experience, so refreshing, and so breathtakingly beautiful. When we were going back and the wind was blowing in my face and I couldn't hear anything, it was just such a great moment where I was just so thankful to be there. Trying to soak it all in. On the safari there were these HUGE blue butterflies. I always saw them in movies but to see them flying in their natural surroundings was just awesome.
I also went to the beach one time in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina. It's nickname is "Floripa". One time I body surfed and caught a wave perfectly. I just floated with it like I was part of it and it took me really far! You have to get it just right or else you will be too fast or too slow and miss it. The water was a little colder (as was the later part of the trip, mainly in Porto Alegre) the Canadian in me adapted pretty quick. All of us also went sandboarding on the sand dunes! when I stood on the top of them I could see the ocean and then more dunes and some foliage off in the distance. It was very beautiful as well. Well pretty much, the south was just very beautiful in general. Sandboarding can be compared to snowboarding, but with the exception that it is done on sand (obvious. I have never been snowboarding in my life which is kind of funny considering where I come from. I have been sandboarding but not snowboarding! It was really fun and also really scary all at the same time. I even went off a sand jump....but a really small one.
Another time we stayed at a hotel that backed onto a lake (I think translated it was called the "black lake") and we went on a boat to the other side where we walked to see another waterfall (and I swam in the water!). We then ate FRESH shrimp and fish at the restaurant. It was very delicious. They think that some people got sick from the shrimp, but I ate a lot and was perfectly okay so that was lucky. We also went to this place where they used to grind grain (or something of the sort). As a tradition they still do it every year!
Before I started on my Rotary trip I stayed in Belo Horizonte with the Exchange student Coordinator for about four days. He gave like a tour of the city and I also went to Ouro Preto (which is an antique mining city) and into a mine! I found out that the state I live in, "Minas Gerais" actually translates to "General Mines". Referring to all the mines that are present. It is rich in gold and diamonds for example. That is also why it is more populated because people came here many years ago to make a profit. Slaves were also used a lot. I can't believe that I didn't make that connection before about the translation! I knew that there was lots of mining, I should have looked at the name more closely! Anyway, I thought it was neat.
Here are some places that we visited:
Curitiba, Iguazu Falls, Gramado, Canela, Paraguay, Argentina, Florianopolis, Porto Alegre, I am pretty sure the list goes on but these were the main destinations. Here is a link to Ouro Preto if you would like to check it out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouro_Preto
I am sorry for how "stream of consciousness" style this entry is and I hope that you could follow it! I just did and saw so many things! I don't know where to start. I have many stories as well. I will write more in another blog about my trip.Brasil is a big, diverse, beautiful country!
<3 Emily
P.S - here is a picture of me at the Foz do Iguaçu (this is a smaller waterfall! Look up "La Garganta del Diablo" That was huge!!)
HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got back from a trip to the South of Brasil! I visited many different cities, even some other countries, not to mention met a lot of other exchange students. The photo above is of me and my friends from Mexico, France, Germany, and the United States! Down in the south, Easter is a really big deal because there is a large European influence so that is why we are "bunnified". They also make chocolate in the south which I had the pleasure of going to one of the factories. Where I got free chocolate and got to see the largest chocolate bunny in the world.
I got to visit the "Foz do Iguaçu" which are HUGE waterfalls that connect Brasil, Argentina, and Paraguay. Because of this I got to go to both Paraguay and Argentina!
There are five million people in Paraguay, the majority of which have a standard of living below the middle class. As soon as we crossed the bridge over the large river that seperates it from Brasil, I could definately see how Paraguay was uniquely different from Brasil. It had a dusty street-vender feel with markets lining the roads. Paraguay is known for its low prices and actually its "fakes" (for example a puma purse that isn't a real puma purse). Walking down the street many people approached me trying to convince me to buy socks. That's right, socks. Everywhere I went. They weren't even the hardcore kind of socks, they were ankle socks. My question was, why would a tourist's first need be to buy a pair of nike socks, especially in the blistering heat? And when they were wearing flipflops. Well apparentally there had to be some reason because it won some other exchange students over. The funny thing is, I had thought that I had wanted to buy "a cultural item" of Paraguay. Looking back now I realize that "the cultural item" would have to be a pair of socks. I just thought it was funny, but it's okay, I like socks. I am a sock person. I even have some fuzzy ones. Anyway...lol. Maybe I should have bought some...hmmm.
We just shopped in Paraguay and I guess I must have been a little overwhelmed by all the stuff because all I ended up buying was lipgloss. Even though it came in a bag that said "keychain, made in Korea". Kids at school were dumbfounded that I didn't buy more, they must think I am crazy or something for not giving into the deals down there. What can I say, I guess I am just not the biggest shopper.
So that was Paraguay. In Argentina we went and saw the waterfalls of course. Then we did some more shopping. It was duty free. Again I just bought some make-up (eyeliner) and some skiddles. There was a store that had American candy that you can't get here. So that was nice to have a familiar taste in my mouth. You know, taste the rainbow. Oh that reminds me, at all the waterfalls we went to there were beautiful rainbows where the water crashed, along with many butterflies. Oh and there were also these vultures that circle the top of the waterfalls to watch for when an animal falls over so they can dive down and get the dead meat. There were also these rodent things that were common in the area. They remind me a little of raccoons. they are not afriad of people and know how to work the tourists. They will steal the food out of your hands, that is all I have to say. :)
We also went on a Safari where at the end we got into boats until we came to the meeting of all the falls and then went underneath them! At one moment I was on the side of Argentina and the next I was back in Brasil. The water was colder than you'd think, but I dried quickly. It was an amazing experience, so refreshing, and so breathtakingly beautiful. When we were going back and the wind was blowing in my face and I couldn't hear anything, it was just such a great moment where I was just so thankful to be there. Trying to soak it all in. On the safari there were these HUGE blue butterflies. I always saw them in movies but to see them flying in their natural surroundings was just awesome.
I also went to the beach one time in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina. It's nickname is "Floripa". One time I body surfed and caught a wave perfectly. I just floated with it like I was part of it and it took me really far! You have to get it just right or else you will be too fast or too slow and miss it. The water was a little colder (as was the later part of the trip, mainly in Porto Alegre) the Canadian in me adapted pretty quick. All of us also went sandboarding on the sand dunes! when I stood on the top of them I could see the ocean and then more dunes and some foliage off in the distance. It was very beautiful as well. Well pretty much, the south was just very beautiful in general. Sandboarding can be compared to snowboarding, but with the exception that it is done on sand (obvious. I have never been snowboarding in my life which is kind of funny considering where I come from. I have been sandboarding but not snowboarding! It was really fun and also really scary all at the same time. I even went off a sand jump....but a really small one.
Another time we stayed at a hotel that backed onto a lake (I think translated it was called the "black lake") and we went on a boat to the other side where we walked to see another waterfall (and I swam in the water!). We then ate FRESH shrimp and fish at the restaurant. It was very delicious. They think that some people got sick from the shrimp, but I ate a lot and was perfectly okay so that was lucky. We also went to this place where they used to grind grain (or something of the sort). As a tradition they still do it every year!
Before I started on my Rotary trip I stayed in Belo Horizonte with the Exchange student Coordinator for about four days. He gave like a tour of the city and I also went to Ouro Preto (which is an antique mining city) and into a mine! I found out that the state I live in, "Minas Gerais" actually translates to "General Mines". Referring to all the mines that are present. It is rich in gold and diamonds for example. That is also why it is more populated because people came here many years ago to make a profit. Slaves were also used a lot. I can't believe that I didn't make that connection before about the translation! I knew that there was lots of mining, I should have looked at the name more closely! Anyway, I thought it was neat.
Here are some places that we visited:
Curitiba, Iguazu Falls, Gramado, Canela, Paraguay, Argentina, Florianopolis, Porto Alegre, I am pretty sure the list goes on but these were the main destinations. Here is a link to Ouro Preto if you would like to check it out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouro_Preto
I am sorry for how "stream of consciousness" style this entry is and I hope that you could follow it! I just did and saw so many things! I don't know where to start. I have many stories as well. I will write more in another blog about my trip.Brasil is a big, diverse, beautiful country!
<3 Emily
P.S - here is a picture of me at the Foz do Iguaçu (this is a smaller waterfall! Look up "La Garganta del Diablo" That was huge!!)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Math, +25 degrees feels like 10
A rose in the front of my house
At my city's gold mine with the wife of the governador of Rotary and Lydia (rotarian) Withthese glasses I look like my mother in the eighties and nineties!! LOL
Hugging the Rotary sign in my city
A little piece of Brazilian sky
My little ballerinas :)
So I haven't really written in here for a really long time. I guess it is just because I have been procrastinating. I have been doing so much and don't really know where to start with what to tell you. So I guess I will just start with today. That is always the best way to start anyway, right? I'll fill you in on the other stuff later.
Today in school I was completely surprised by myself. A few weeks ago in Math class my teacher asked a question and asked this boy named Willian to answer it. He didn't know the answer and the teacher just waited there expectantly. So my friend Felipe told me the answer, which was really simple, and I put up my hand and answered it. Just for fun. And so of course everyone was all like, "oooohh, Willian, the exchange student knew it and you didn't". So then he kinda stuck his tounge out at me, so in playful response I told him that on the math test I would get a higher mark than him. This was said as a pure joke. I didn't actually think there was any way for it to happen.
First of all because I didn't even finish grade 10 math in Canada. Because I was doing so bad I didn't want to have a terrible mark so I decided to stop while there was still hope. So I can repeat it in summer with a tutor and actually learn and understand it while getting a better mark. Instead of uselessly scratching through, and then not really understanding anything so doing even worse in grade 11 math.
so that was the first thing. The second thing is, I am not even in grade eleven here. I am in grade twelve. So I am doing grade twelve math, with having pretty much skipped grade 10 and 11. And not only that but right now, I have difficulties in math, especially trigonometry. On top of all this, I am learning it in Portuguese.
Anyways, I did the test, actually amazed that I was almost sure I got a question completely right. Today when I got it back my teacher said, "You scored higher than Willian". I didn't believe it. And I felt kinda bad for it, like I didn't mean to actually get a higher mark, I thought that it was impossible.
Now before you go thinking that I got 60% or something, politely just throw that number out of your mind and take all the above factors into consideration. So with everything I managed to get 26%. I know, I have never been so happy at failing in my life!!!
Also on my Brazilian Literature test I got 31%, which was really surprising. Again this was a higher mark than some people. But that is not the point of course. The point is this; now all the kids who scored lower than me are saying to themselves, "the exchange student who doesn't even have to write the tests managed to get a higher mark than me? And she wrote them in her second language?". So maybe now they have a little motivation. I hope. Or maybe they just hate me. But they are not those kind of people. I just think that maybe next time they will study a little harder. Which will only do them good.
I should also mention that last week or so I was freezing in class. Shivering, the works. I commented that it must have been at least 10 degrees outside. After school when Mamãe picked me up, I asked her how many degrees it was. Turns out it was +25....and I was cold. I couldn't believe it, my body has really adapted to the climate here. When I return to Canada it is gonna be like shell shock.
Wednesday I am going to go to Belo Horizonte by bus. Then I will stay in the house of the coordinator of all the exchange students. then on Friday I am gonna catch a plane with all the other kids to go to the South of Brasil. There I will see Foz do Iguaçu, Santa Catarina etc. It is colder there so I better pack a hoody. My god, it could actually be like 20 degrees. LOL.
I won't get back until like the 10th of April I think, so, good-bye until then!!!
Emily <3
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
FIVE MONTHS!!!!!!!!!
I have been here for five months today! Whoo hoo! I have five months more. I have come to the halfway mark. You can expect some blogs really soon, with photos too. I have been working on them but not finishing them so saving them to "drafts" lol. But anyway, WHOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!
<3 Emily
<3 Emily
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Dancing to Laughter
Yesterday I taught my first ballet class here. It wasn't anything fancy it was just in my house. I had three studants, Andressa, Vanessa, and Elaine. They are twelve, nine, and ten. I had them laughing alot because of the analogies I used for them to understand and remember the movements. For example that when they point their feet they have an orange under there foot and they need to point completely or else they won't make enough juice. It went really well.
Then today I learned that three more girls were coming who wanted to learn ballet. So in all there were six. Two six year old twins and an eight year old. I moved the class to the garage so we would have more space. But all through the class more kids showed up, watching from the street. So I invited the ones who wanted to join to come in. Later others came in who just wanted to watch along with the girls' mothers. There were some boys there, I think they wanted to learn too but were too shy. Maybe next time I can bribe them with some "bubbaloo" (gum).
I didn't use any music this time because I needed to teach them all the basics first. Tomorrow I will get music to dance to. So instead of music, we danced to laughter. All of them just seemed so happy. When somebody went to try a new exercise and the others watched, everybody clapped after they had finished. Everybody had big smiles. So we were dancing to laughter.
I was so amazed that so many people are interested in this. I guess to be a ballerina is the dream of many little girls. Even for some who don't have the conditions to make it happen. So I am helping them make it happen. I touched all of there barefeet to show them how to point, their barefeet with the dust of the street. Afterwards they asked me if they could bring socks tomorrow. I told them if they wanted to they could.
When it was over they asked me what they could call me. I told them they could call me whatever they wanted. One little girl named Rafaela came up to me after (she has a twitch where she cricks her neck back every thirty seconds or so) and she said to me in a soft voice that I had to bend down to hear, "Can I call you 'Rosinha'?" I told her that of course she could. It means "little rose" it is an endearment of the name Rose. If these many kids stay wanting to learn ballet I think I will have to use a space at the church across the street to teach them. I also want them eventually to have ballet shoes.
Yesterday I went to meet another Rotary Club. The club called "The Rotary Club of Paracatu 200". I think (logically) that it was created when Paracatu turned 200 years. Which was ten years ago.
The meeting went well and they talked about how people from India will be coming here and how to accomodate them. This is because the only meat that most of them eat is chicken and fish. The girl that will be staying in my host mom's house only eats fish. It is probably difficult for the ROtarian's to comprehend completely because this is Brazil, people eat alot of meat!
On the table during the meeting there were bowls of fried pork. I was eating them when I met the man beside me. He was the son of a rotarian called Mauria who was sitting on my other side. He asked what country I was from. I said India. He told me that I wasn't from India so I told him Canada. I then asked him how he knew that I was not from India. He said it was because I was eating pork....like duh. Heheheh. Before trying to trick somebody about your origin you should probably not overlook a fact like that. Especially since people just talked about how they don't eat meat. Oh well, he probably believed for like a millisecond.
I talked to the President of the Rotary Club. He said he lived in Vancouver for a bit and also took a bus tour through the rocky mountains. Pretty cool. I think he also visited Calgary. He said, "Good city, lots of oil...lots of money." lol. Well at least people see Calgary as a prosperous city.
Yesterday I also went to get my clothes from my first host family's house. I have been living for two weeks with one pair of jeans...and that is the only kind of pants we are allowed to wear in school. Gustavo showed me where my clothes were because Matteus didn't know and was making chocolate/banana pancakes with his two friends Denise and Natalia. He better not forget that I was the one who taught him that. lol. Or I just might have to remind him and steal all the pancake ingredients in Brazil to get the message across that they are a Canadian delicacy. I wouldn't have to steal the maple trees considering that they don't have any...but I guess I could plant some then dig them up after. Well I don't know where I would get the seeds too....ok wow, I am rambling.
SO while I was there I talked to my first mom about Carnaval and she said that we won't be going to another city but staying here because everywhere was too full. I will go to their friends farm again so that will be fun. And also go to see the music and stuff in the street. Lots of people who live in Brazil say that Carnaval is really crazy, and I have been finding that a few people don't even like it! So I am ok with not going to a huge city for Carnaval. I am sure it will be fun and new though.
Today I went to my club's Rotary metting in the morning. I spoke about everything that I have been up to. They talked about the people coming from India as well today.
When I arrived at school I had to wait for the next class before going in. So I sat in a chair near the front office. People passed me by (people in my class) and asked me why I was there. I told them. Then they were off to go back to class. I thought that it didn't really make sense that I wasn't allowed to re-enter the classroom with them, but whatever.
I was really happy in chemistry because I solved a problem all by myself and then got it checked and it was right! My professor seemed really happy too.
After school I went home and ate lunch and then went to a Jazz class. It went well and I am only about two inches away from doing the side splits. The closest I have ever been in my life. I think it is because the heat makes my muscles more malleable. Anyway, it was exciting. And the other people in the dance class freaked out a little.
After I went to school to play basketball and got three baskets! Then did like this gymnastic swimming class thing where we did exercises in the water. My toes started to cramp and would not move. the toe beside my big toe was pressed up against it and wouldn't return back to normal (well as normal as my gnarled ballerina feet can be lol). It hurt so much, I told the teacher and she helped and told me to eat bananas to help it. After the class it happened again and I accidentally let slip some swears in English, but at least that means that people couldn't understand me. Hehe hehe hehe hehe....oops. But the pain was excruciating.
Then I walked home, met Andressa in the park and talked with her, went inside had a shower and when I came outside all the little girls were waiting for me to let them in. I am just happy that I have something to give them. Something I hope they will never forget.
Then today I learned that three more girls were coming who wanted to learn ballet. So in all there were six. Two six year old twins and an eight year old. I moved the class to the garage so we would have more space. But all through the class more kids showed up, watching from the street. So I invited the ones who wanted to join to come in. Later others came in who just wanted to watch along with the girls' mothers. There were some boys there, I think they wanted to learn too but were too shy. Maybe next time I can bribe them with some "bubbaloo" (gum).
I didn't use any music this time because I needed to teach them all the basics first. Tomorrow I will get music to dance to. So instead of music, we danced to laughter. All of them just seemed so happy. When somebody went to try a new exercise and the others watched, everybody clapped after they had finished. Everybody had big smiles. So we were dancing to laughter.
I was so amazed that so many people are interested in this. I guess to be a ballerina is the dream of many little girls. Even for some who don't have the conditions to make it happen. So I am helping them make it happen. I touched all of there barefeet to show them how to point, their barefeet with the dust of the street. Afterwards they asked me if they could bring socks tomorrow. I told them if they wanted to they could.
When it was over they asked me what they could call me. I told them they could call me whatever they wanted. One little girl named Rafaela came up to me after (she has a twitch where she cricks her neck back every thirty seconds or so) and she said to me in a soft voice that I had to bend down to hear, "Can I call you 'Rosinha'?" I told her that of course she could. It means "little rose" it is an endearment of the name Rose. If these many kids stay wanting to learn ballet I think I will have to use a space at the church across the street to teach them. I also want them eventually to have ballet shoes.
Yesterday I went to meet another Rotary Club. The club called "The Rotary Club of Paracatu 200". I think (logically) that it was created when Paracatu turned 200 years. Which was ten years ago.
The meeting went well and they talked about how people from India will be coming here and how to accomodate them. This is because the only meat that most of them eat is chicken and fish. The girl that will be staying in my host mom's house only eats fish. It is probably difficult for the ROtarian's to comprehend completely because this is Brazil, people eat alot of meat!
On the table during the meeting there were bowls of fried pork. I was eating them when I met the man beside me. He was the son of a rotarian called Mauria who was sitting on my other side. He asked what country I was from. I said India. He told me that I wasn't from India so I told him Canada. I then asked him how he knew that I was not from India. He said it was because I was eating pork....like duh. Heheheh. Before trying to trick somebody about your origin you should probably not overlook a fact like that. Especially since people just talked about how they don't eat meat. Oh well, he probably believed for like a millisecond.
I talked to the President of the Rotary Club. He said he lived in Vancouver for a bit and also took a bus tour through the rocky mountains. Pretty cool. I think he also visited Calgary. He said, "Good city, lots of oil...lots of money." lol. Well at least people see Calgary as a prosperous city.
Yesterday I also went to get my clothes from my first host family's house. I have been living for two weeks with one pair of jeans...and that is the only kind of pants we are allowed to wear in school. Gustavo showed me where my clothes were because Matteus didn't know and was making chocolate/banana pancakes with his two friends Denise and Natalia. He better not forget that I was the one who taught him that. lol. Or I just might have to remind him and steal all the pancake ingredients in Brazil to get the message across that they are a Canadian delicacy. I wouldn't have to steal the maple trees considering that they don't have any...but I guess I could plant some then dig them up after. Well I don't know where I would get the seeds too....ok wow, I am rambling.
SO while I was there I talked to my first mom about Carnaval and she said that we won't be going to another city but staying here because everywhere was too full. I will go to their friends farm again so that will be fun. And also go to see the music and stuff in the street. Lots of people who live in Brazil say that Carnaval is really crazy, and I have been finding that a few people don't even like it! So I am ok with not going to a huge city for Carnaval. I am sure it will be fun and new though.
Today I went to my club's Rotary metting in the morning. I spoke about everything that I have been up to. They talked about the people coming from India as well today.
When I arrived at school I had to wait for the next class before going in. So I sat in a chair near the front office. People passed me by (people in my class) and asked me why I was there. I told them. Then they were off to go back to class. I thought that it didn't really make sense that I wasn't allowed to re-enter the classroom with them, but whatever.
I was really happy in chemistry because I solved a problem all by myself and then got it checked and it was right! My professor seemed really happy too.
After school I went home and ate lunch and then went to a Jazz class. It went well and I am only about two inches away from doing the side splits. The closest I have ever been in my life. I think it is because the heat makes my muscles more malleable. Anyway, it was exciting. And the other people in the dance class freaked out a little.
After I went to school to play basketball and got three baskets! Then did like this gymnastic swimming class thing where we did exercises in the water. My toes started to cramp and would not move. the toe beside my big toe was pressed up against it and wouldn't return back to normal (well as normal as my gnarled ballerina feet can be lol). It hurt so much, I told the teacher and she helped and told me to eat bananas to help it. After the class it happened again and I accidentally let slip some swears in English, but at least that means that people couldn't understand me. Hehe hehe hehe hehe....oops. But the pain was excruciating.
Then I walked home, met Andressa in the park and talked with her, went inside had a shower and when I came outside all the little girls were waiting for me to let them in. I am just happy that I have something to give them. Something I hope they will never forget.
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