Done with School!

Sorry i haven't updated in a while, the past week has been crazy busy with homework. I am sure that at least everyday i had something to worry about or study for. Monday was a bit of a small break, but i did have to study a lot. Sunday after the beach i came home and did my presentation notes and then Monday i did my presentation in Portuguese. I also went over to Matt's house to hang out with everyone and we were there for 5 or 6 hours just talking about really serious topics like War, Religion, and politics. I think that was the first real adult conversation that i have had with people my own age, it was kind of cool but also very difficult to stay with the conversation, being that it moved around so much and i didn't agree with everything. So after i went home i tried to knock out my culture class paper but i only did half. So Tuesday i finished it a little more and we had our Portuguese review as well as the culture class review. And on Wednesday we had the culture class final, where after 2 hours of continuous writing was finally done with a class that i had felt uncomfortable the entire time in. In the midst of trying to study for Portuguese that night for the next day i managed to finish my paper. So yesterday at 12pm i was done!! finally the quarter that felt like it was forever (because it actually was a semester)was over and i was done! I have never felt so good to be done with a period of school, but so sad at the same time to leave my new friends and beautiful country.

Yesterday i went to the beach after class, it was so fun, we took funny pictures, ate picole, and went swimming again. I really like the beach and it is kind of sad to think that i am not going to live so close to it ever again. I wanted to go out to celebrate, but nobody really knew what they wanted to do so we all just went out to Rio Vermelho and hung out there, but over the next hour and a half we tried to find something to do while walking back and fourth between places. Mollie and I ended up going to the bar that my mom and my maid were at and it was really cool! And my maids husband played the guitar in the band too! It was really nice to see her one last time before i leave, . She was so nice and was always helpful too. I hope i get to see my other maid Vanessa, but i don't know where she is, maybe at my grandmas house.

So my mom and maid apologized for my brother girlfriends behavior towards me during the trip last night. I never said anything to anyone expect to my friends in the program but it was still nice that they noticed i felt uncomfortable. But my mom said that she is just possessive and even though Paulo (my host brother) tells her and doesn't like me in any way more than a sister, she still doesn't believe him. And although it was weird at times being totally ignored, i still managed to have a good relationship with my brother. I hope he comes to the united states, he would love it there!

Well even though i slept about 4 hours, my eyes feel tired, but my body doesn't. So i hope my beach day is productive and i have a wonderful going away dinner today ! I hope it isn't emotional, i don't cry in public. haha

One week to go!

So after thanksgiving, i usually feel like Christmas is around the corner and at home i am so ready to bake a lot of cookies, breads, and sweets to make my family members fat and then wrap any present i can get my hands on, because i like wrapping presents a lot of some reason. It works out though, my dad hates it. But this year instead of eating turkey and stuffing left overs, i am going to the beach and going out to clubs and dancing to Brazilian music. It has been such a different feeling around this "fall/winter" because i have been experiencing a "spring/summer" here.

On Friday i went to the mall with Rebbecca and Haley to get some stuff and it was a Santa's village theme. It was cute, but i thought there were some things that where just a little off and weird. First there were 2 Santa's, but they were fake and in their robotic voices they were giving a tutorial about how to make chocolate cake. Then they had fake reindeer's that had saddlebags of chocolate, but it looked like poop. They also had lamps/ chandeliers that had fake cakes on the top of them. Then i saw the real Santa" and although he had a real beard, he was on a cell phone, while the kids were in line to see him, last time i checked, Santa didn't have a cell phone, and he had a wife name Mrs. Claus. I am not sure if Brazilians do Christmas right here. Later Mollie came over and we ate popcorn and watched inception. Which is a really good, but confusing movie.

On Saturday i did some work in the morning and then Mollie and i went to the beach, it was kind of a cloudy day, so we didn't get to see a sunset.I took a run in campo grande, for the first time at night, and it wasn't that bad, although i am still scared of the dark. Later about 12 of us went out to a club called Garotas Cariocas, which means in English, sexy people from Rio de Janiero. We took the bus there, which was fun because with 12 Americans and a girl playing lady GAGa, we sang and everyone looked at us, but it was all good. It was a really fun place! It was 15 rieas to get in and we stayed till 4am. The Band that we saw, was our 4th time seeing them, named Os reis da Festa, kings of the party. They know who we are by now, but its awesome because i really love there songs and when they left i stole their play list. Muhahaha. I got a ride home with Marisol's brother, and he didn't stop anywhere like he usually does, so it was great. It would have been an expensive taxi ride too, so i got home at 5am and i only spent R$20, it was a success.

Today i had plans to go to Itaparica or a different beach, but it didn't work because we got home so late, we all woke up late. So Haley Mollie and i went to Mercado Modelo, but it was closing so we just went up to buy ice cream and then went to the beach in Barra. It was sunny and nice today, we got there kind of late so it didn't last long, but i got some cool pictures of the sun today. Anyways now i have a Portuguese presentation, Culture class paper, Portuguese Final, and a Culture class final in the next 4 days. Sucks i have to study a lot in my last week here in Salvador.

Americazilan Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Its thanksgiving here in Brazil as well but just 5 hours earlier! Its okay when i was done with dinner and dessert, my family in the states was just getting ready. The first thanksgiving without my family, but with all my new and wonderful friends in my program. So we decided that we really wanted to have the holiday for us still, because it is a American holiday (even though it has many flaws pertaining to the indigenous tribes of north American) we Americans wanted to celebrate it as we do at home. So even thought we lacked many ingredients that we have access to in the states, we did what we could and made it work.

I made stuffing from scratch, my first time, and it was amazing. The worker at the store thought i was a little weird because i wanted to buy stale bread to use as breadcrumbs, and tried to get me to buy the soft kind, but it was all good and i got it. Then sauteed carrots and onions and with some chicken broth, oregano, and seasonings, it was perfect! I also tried to make yams (or a yam-like dish), Yams don't really exist here, so i used carrots and boiled them and put brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter on them. They were yummy too. Matt's dad got us a turkey and made the party so fancy and legit. He got out his good silver, and even insisted that we transfer some of the food into prettier bowls than the pots that we made them in. We even found sparkling cider. Overall it was a wonderful collection of food, everyone brought something and everyone was full and happy. For dessert, Haley even made homemade cookies. Even though when we were cooking in her kitchen, her maid was a little confused on what you do with it, and thought it was some sort of pancake and flipped it over and was going to put it back in the oven.

We even listened to Christmas music on my ipod, it was almost like i was home, besides the fact that it was hot and i was wearing a summer-like dress with flip flops on. Although this holiday gives us a reason to think about the things that we should be thankful for everyday, I am really so grateful for this opportunity, every time i go abroad i feel better about myself because i feel like i learn so much every time and that i should be truly grateful for the things i have in my life, and i am. Happy thanksgiving.

90th day in Brazil

Just a few moments ago Mollie reminded me that today is our 90th day in Brazil. I cant believe that i just spent the last 3 full months here, it has been amazing. I always under estimate the experience of living abroad. I think this is the last program i will do during college unless i do a summer abroad, but i want to travel soon after. I always get the travel bug after being away from home, even if it is always nice to come home after being away.

I know my sister is excited for me to come home because she wants her presents and wants me to make her food, because she is sort of incapable of making her on food, and that is why she eats chevy's a lot or making Joe's Crab shack has changed her and she now eats seafood, who knows. No, wait it is Stephannie, she isn't eating seafood. Although i do miss a lot of the food from the United States and am not that excited about that as i am to have to availability to work out and get back in shape. I have been wearing shorts and dresses for the last 3 months and now i need to go back to my jeans.

Yesterday we tried to have a little flashback reunion and go to Pelourinho and dance like we did the first week we were here. The first time was fun we all danced and got to know each other, and this time i wanted everyone to be like that again and just have fun. But because we have been here for 3 months, groups have formed and people that are closer to each other hang out with each other. And there is more of a division among the group. It sucks but it always happens, but i think it was a good effort, a lot of people went to Pelourinho, but not everyone went into the bar like we all did in the beginning. It is kinda suiting because i wanted it to feel like the beginning all over again, because i don't want it to be over. But the reality is, is that it is ending, and it will be over and it couldn't have been like the beginning because its the end.

The tourist season is coming in the Brazil and many Brazilians think that we have just arrived, but we have been here for what seems like forever, and we have grow comfortable and familiar with the city. There is a huge difference from visiting a place than living in it. You actually feel like you live here, and not totally out of place.

Tomorrow is thanksgiving, and it is going to be the first thanksgiving that i haven't been with my family, it will feel awkward but i don't think it will be that bad. I will miss some of the food that we cant get here in Brazil. But we are going to have a thanksgiving at our friend Matt's house and we will be all together so that it will be fun and we'll give thanks for having this wonderful experience all together, happiness and health. :)

Free stuff in Brazil... a miracle.

So i woke up today at 8:30, so the plans that i had to go running in the morning failed, so i decided to wear my running clothes to school so that i would have some kind of motivation to exercise. It worked but i always feel lazy during the middle of the day, and i only did a mile and a half, but my legs are sore, so that's a good sign i believe. I had i good lunch i think, my mom wasn't home so i didn't eat rice and beans but just the chicken and a bunch of veggies. YAY!

Yesterday i stayed up late because i was studying, but i had a fun night a bunch of us went to pelourinho to see a new museum open and there was drumming and bahianas dancing. I got some good pictures. Also there was free food and drinks, which is almost a miracle because i have come to the realization that nothing is free in Brazil. But we didn't even pay to get it, crazy to me. Most of us got ice cream before, i tried not to, but Bryant insisted that we share, and the brownie flavor was just to tempting. Good thing i wasn't holding it, because i could have eaten it all. We got Acai afterwords around 8pm, which is something that i am going to miss here in Brazil, its amazing how good it is, and i hope it is as good for you as they say it is because i think something that tastes that good cant be that good for you, it just isn't logical. It fills you up though, i didn't even eat dinner. The only bad thing about that place (where we got the acai) is that it smells awful, the location is horrible, it is near trash or something, im not totally sure.

I had a composition in Portuguese yesterday, i think it went okay, i did better than i thought i was going to do, meaning that i finished within the time limit and didn't stare at the paper for the first 30 minutes thinking about what to write. The book i am writing on is less than interesting though. Or i guess i could say that it just isn't a story that i would want to read. It is about a young poor girl living in the favelas of rio who only eats hot dogs and she is dirty, skinny, and unloved. And in the end she goes to a fortune teller (because she realizes that her life sucks) and then after the teller tells her that she is going to have good luck in the future, she gets hit by a yellow mercedes benz and dies! Awful story right!?

Tonight we are going out to Pelourinho again to go to the salsa club one last time all together, i hope everyone goes. It will be so fun to hang out with everyone one last time before we all go back to our real lives and next week we have to study because it is finals in both classes. I also have a paper due in Portuguese, where i dont know my topic yet, also a presentation due in Portuguese about that awful book.

Reggae and Birthdays

So yesterday i didn't go to the beach as planned because we were suppose to leave early to this reggae concert, around 3 or so, because the doors open at 5. Anyways before that i studied a little and went on a run and discovered that it was Black awareness day here in Brazil, it was nice to everyone in the streets dancing. So although there was a party going on in the day in Campo Grande, where i run, the real party was where i went. The reggae concert, which is the biggest reggae concert in all of Latin America, impressive huh? After i was on the bus for an hour and a half, we left at 5 because Brazilian time is always later than they say, and got there around 630 and it still hadn't started yet. So we chilled outside and ate some street food and took some pictures, it was fun about 20 of us went to the concert it was fun to have a lot of the group there. So we entered around 730 and they started at 8, 3 hours after the scheduled time said on the ticket!

So anyways, inside, there were so many people, i don't think i have ever seen that many people in one place at one time, it was crazy! and everyone was so happy and excited to be there. We made our way up to the front of the stage so that we could see the performers and surprising it was easy to get there! But as the night went on it was hard to walk in and out because more people would try and push there way though and it was very hot, and sweaty. I took a shower as soon as i got home. But my back started to hurt so i sat down for a while and went back in and then i couldn't handle it anymore, i needed to go home because i felt like i couldn't stand or walk anymore. Even though i left around 240am the main band hadn't even come on yet and there were 4 more to go by the time i left. Brazilians know how to party HARD!

So this morning i woke up and i had no idea what time it was, my window was closed so i couldn't tell from the brightness of the sun, but it was 12:20pm! So even though my day was cut short i decided that 1 week without going to the beach in Brazil was unacceptable, so i went with Haley and we eventually met up with Chuy and Alfonso. It was a chill day and my mom made really good steak for me. So now i have to figure out how i am going to write a composition in Portuguese class tomorrow on a book that is in Portuguese that i don't quite fully understand. wish me luck!

Harry Potter !

written on 19 November.

So I really should be studying this weekend because I have a final in culture coming up soon, and am Portuguese final, composition, and project due in the next 2 weeks, but I can’t bring myself to stay in my room when it is sunny and nice outside. This week of school went very fast to me, because we had another holiday on Monday and then a walk out on Tuesday to protest fee increase, which they passed for the upcoming school year, so when I get back to Davis, and I going to find a way to get out of there as fast as I can to avoid any more increases to come. So Thursday came fast, which means the weekend has started. After school about 5 of my friends and I went to Mercado modelo to go shopping, and I can say that I am totally done! Yay. Too bad I am going to have to pack accordingly to make everything fit, and not to mention I am going to have to where my winter clothes to the airport in Brazil, where I am sure I will get looks while wearing a fur coat and pants in the middle of the Brazilian summer. Oh well, I know that San Francisco will be cold when I arrive at 7am on December 6.

That night, about 12 of us went out to the club called “whats up”, it was fun and I am really learning how to dance like a Brazilian. Although if I dance like this in the United States I think I might get some weird looks. But oh well, Bahia Brazil is such a dance culture, that if someone starts to make a beat, someone close will start moving their body. I am learning to words to the songs to, so I can sing along and pretend to be Brazilian, until they realize that I have a Spanish/English accent in Portuguese and with that I am not really Brazilian. Well the night ended odd. We got a taxi and he stopped to get gas (which was my first time in Brazil, getting gas at the gas station) and then the driver went the wrong way on a one way street and go pulled over by a cop and got a ticket. It was certainly an experience; the cop was even trying to hit on us…awkward.

Friday morning I woke up and got ready to see my favorite series of movies. I think I was showing my inner nerd (although it is outer as well) to my friends by recapping the harry potter movies. I don’t remember when I read the last book, the 7th, but I know that I read it twice, and it was very good. And this movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, parte 1, was one of the best ones out of the series. I rode on a bus sweating and afraid to touch the seats because of germs for one hour there and one hour back to see this movie, for R$8, 5 US dollars. It was interesting seeing Portuguese subtitles and I think my friends and I were the only ones in the theater who didn’t need to read them. Either way it was very exciting, and I am sure I will go and see it again in the States.

Afterwards we had a little festa (party) at Haley’s house. It was so cute; her mom put out snacks and set the table for us. We had about 7 people over and ate pizza, acai, ice cream, and chocolate cake. Her mom made and bought us all food, they are such a god host family, and it was so cute. There were small spoons, plates, and knifes too. Then we just hung out and talked about school, and our lives back in the States and waiting to see how the transition from our Brazilian life here, and back to our real life at home.