March

This month has been great. Being in a new town, family and school meant that I could start of fresh. I really get on with my family great and at school I am now in class 3 which means im with older kids now (16-18 years). The other exchange students in my town are also very nice and have accepted me so well.

This month was the month of carnaval, which was so much fun. I stayed in my town, went to a small gated of community for 5 days and also saw my towns parade. It wasn’t big like the Sao Paulo or Rio de Janerio but was still good to go and see. The costumes and music are amazing and how they all kept together dancing with huge smiles on their faces.

I have been to 3 of my Rotary meetings since being here and they are very different to Mooloolaba Rotary meetings. Also in Brazil they seem to advertise Rotary a lot more as they have large statues, plaques or other signs to show Rotary and the clubs in the town.

This month’s highlight for me was defiantly the trip to Falls Iguassu and Paraguay. I first of all caught a bus to Aracatuba and then stayed the night there at an American girls house. Waking up the next morning to catch the bus at 6am, that day (Sunday) was mostly spent in the bus travelling to Falls Iguassu city and the typical Macdonalds dinner.

The next day we headed of to the Argentina side of Falls Iguassu. I was very happy because I received yet another stamp in my passport. We spent the day at the falls in Argentina and saw the sights and took a lot of photos. There was one other Australain girl on that part of the trip with me so we took a lot of photos together. That night we also went to a Latin show that showed different dancing and cultures from Mexico, Brazil, Uraguay, Paraguay and others. There was a buffet and it had every kind of food that you could think (pasta, brazilain food, fruits, vegetable, bread) and the desserts were even better.

The next day was a lot of fun as we went to Paraguay. The Australain girl and I had a lot of fun in the markets bardering for prices and fighting over around $2. I bought a lot of cloths and little brick and bracks from there and had a great day. This day in Paraguay makes me want to go back and wonder on the streets looking at the markets all over again, and having people follow you trying to sell you socks.

That night we went to a pizza restaurant. This was such an experience as you would sit down and they would just keep on bringing you more and more pizza. Then in the end they would bring you sweet pizza (chocolate, strawberry, ice cream) this was very different to Australian pizza.

The next day was back to the Falls, but to

the Brazilain side. Which was my favourite side of the trip, we saw the falls and went on a boat ride under the falls. It was so much fun and I got so many great pictures. We also went to ‘Itapu’ a large powerplant made by water from the Falls, thay supplies power to most of Paraguay and Brazil. That night we had a talent show and the Australian girl and I sung “we are happy little vegemites” and then gave out vegemite for everyone to try. Surprisingly not many people hated it.

I then took a plane back to Aracatuba and spent the weekend there with my old friends and saw my old family.

I also went to a class of Capoeta (traditional African Brazilian fighting/dancing). Then on the Sunday night went to a party and dinner for Orphans, who have learnt Capoeta and helped out and watched them perform and have fun doing Capoeta. I am know back in my town Tres Lagoas ready to have another great month and Im already thinking “I have to live this because I only have 10 months left”