Amazonia

I really do not know where to start, except that the 10 days in Amazon were amazing !!! Words cannot describe the fun i had and the experiences i had were defiantly once in a life time. 
I first of all flew from Campo Grande(with Rodolfo, Kate & Hakon) (carla went to Sao Paulo) to Brasilia and then had a very long wait in the airport with 40 other exchange students until we flew to Manaus at 9pm at night. Arriving in Manaus at 12 and meeting up with 40 other exchange students .. making the group 87 exchange students, 1 rotarian supervisor and 3 people from Terra Brasil. It was so great meeting up with all the Aussies as most of them i hadnt seen since the flight over in January.  That night we then had a 2 hour bus ride to our first hotel that we stayed at for 2 nights ... which was pretty dodgy and i shared a room with a girl called Amy from New York. 
Whilst we were at this hotel we visited many waterfalls(one including a cave), zoo's and had alot of fun in the pool, playing truth or dare or cards. 

We then drove into the main town of Manaus and stayed in a nice hotel (bit of a change from the other) where we stayed for one night. By then around 30 people were vomiting or had of vomited from what we think food poisoning !!! and i added to the vomiting list this night. Also this night we visited a shopping centre in Manaus which was alot of fun. Trying to get vomit pills, panadol etc in a brazil pharmacy with 2 other australaians (carla & emily)
The next day everyone was still feeling really bad and people were still dropping (around 5 had to go to hospital and have very crazy stories), but we still went on and went to the Manaus Theatre (a historical building full of art and interesting things), but i just sat outside as i felt very sick. We then travelled to local markets full of traditional amazonian art, instruments, jewerelly, souvieners and things that the amazonains used such as bow and arrows made from wood (i bought a bow and arrive a spit tube .. but know im wondering whether australia will let me take it back in) 

That night we went to a Amazonain party/show that showed us traditional dancing, at the show we bought nice earrings and head pieces just to feel a little bit more amazonian. 
The next morning we checked out of our glamorous hotel and headed for the house boats where we spent our next 4 nights. Before going tot eh boats Tiare (an australain ) headed to the hotel zoo (yes our hotel had a zoo) where we had an awesome time and took alot of amazing photos ... holding monkeys hands and feeding them and also Tiare playing with a Jaguar (there was a fence in the way). 
We then headed of to our boats and had a 3 hour boat ride to where we started of our adventure on the amazon river. Whilst traveling we saw where the two rivers mixed and this was amazing to see as there is such a difference and the water does not mix as it is different temperatures. 
That day after lunch we went and saw these amazing giant lilly pads and wild monkeys and had a 'tour' around the river that we would be travelling on learning about the different trees, people and way of life on the amazonian river. That night we came back to hammocks lined up in our boats :) i was next to emily (an australain) and gerda (a german) ... me finding out later that emily and i's hammocks became our best friend on the trip. That night we ate dinner and then relaxed on the boat for a big day ahead of us!! 

The next day we woke up and tested out the showers (i must say they were my favorite part of the trip .. not). IN our boat the showers were in the toilets ... therefore i never felt clean after having a shower.  This day we did a survival course where we learnt about making shelters, making traps and setting fires (if you had a battery and steel wool). We then headed to a clearing after walking around the forest for 2 hours and tried different fruits from the amazon and then ate fish cooked on the camp fire served on leaves and yummy sausages. After finishing and getting drenched the afternoon downpour of rain (standing in a shelter made of palm leaves) we then headed to a village were we learnt about Acai and ate Tapioca ... a savoury food that is made of potato kind of vegetable (dryed). This night was alot of fun as we went Jacare (small aligator) looking and got to hold a Jacare. It was funny seeing our leader catch one steve irwin style leaping into the water of unknown and emerging with an Jacare. And then passing it to all of us for a photo opportunity. 

The next day was defiantly the best experience, waking up for the sunrise (want to put in it was Tom Lilleys Birthday) experiencing the sunrise at 5.30 and then going and collecting a sloth. again our leader (fearless) climbes up shrubs and trees to get a sloth from the top branch .. having the cut half the tree to pull the sloth of and them swimming with it back to our boat ... emerging with a Female sloth. I must say this has always been my dream to see and hold a sloth and it was veryyyyy cool. It was very docile and just sat there in an awkward position as we all held her in awe. We then came back to Breakfast all very happy (as only 2 boats got to find and hold a sloth) and then headed off to feed fresh water pink dolphins. Were we went out and fed the dolphins as they swam around us ... this was scary as they were very aggressive and you did not know when they would come and take the fish out of your hand. A few boys getting there fingers bitten. That afternoon we visited a local village were some played football, whilst emily and i got a stash of biscuits and peanuts and went to our hammock and read, relaxed and talked whilst looking over the gorgeous amazon river. That night we relaxed in our boats mixing between everyone and ate some dinner. 

The next day was yet again another bush walk ... which everyone was so enthralled for (not) .... we were walking through a track that we were making marking how to get back by putting things on trees. Me freaking out about snakes the whole time. That afternoon we again stoppped at the village and they had icecream, so emily and i ran to grab icecream and sat in our hammocks (again) and ate our icecream whilst chatting.  This afternoon was slow but funny, we went piranha fishing. I think we all lost around 3 pieces of bait but did not catch 1 piranha ... only 2 people from other groups out of 60 people caught a piranha. So we sat there for 2 - 3 hours chatting and chilling on the amazon river trying to fish for piranha with bamboo polls which would not catch one anyway. Coming back from piranha fishing we got to see the best sunset i have seen for a while and it was soo pretty. We then all jumped in the river and washed our hair, becuase we were washing in that water anyway and got ready for our lasts night dinner on the beach. Fresh fruits, meat, sausages, salads and pasta's. Everyone defiantly enjoyed the last night and then we split up onto 3 boats and talked, danced and relaxed just spending our last night having fun. 

The next day it was time to pack up, packing my bag and getting ready. we then went to a traditional tribe which was such a great experience seeing traditional dancing and dancing with the amazonains and then getting paint on our faces from a berry that they grow in there village. 

We then went back to Manaus and shopped in a shopping centre for 4 hours. Carla, Emily and i had such a great time. Eating subway for dinner .... the cookies arent as good here. we then went to the airport at 10pm ... but i then had to wait until 4am for my flight to leave to Brasilia ... most of the kids leaving for Sao Paulo at 12. so 40 of us waited in the airport until 4am .. slowly getting a smaller and smaller group as small groups flew out to there destinations. I then arrived in Campo Grande at 12 and had a great wait until 6pm at the Campo Grande bus station until 6pm arriving home at 11.30. Very exhausted but so happy about the great trip i had
I already miss all of the people and would happily go back to the amazon now. I recommend to anyone who has an opportunity to go to the amazon to take it as it is such an experience. 
T xo

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”

carnaval

hey guys, 
so i survived carnaval and partied 5 nights in a small gated of community around 20 minutes from my town. I have so many good memories from there and wont forget carnaval. I met so many amazing people and have gotten closer with all my friends. 
I think it is going to be very hard to get back to the Australain way of life in 10 months time. Becuase i am loving brazilain life !!!!


T xx

late febuary - early march = crazy times

Hey guys, 
So sadly i had to move towns and this meant new everything !!! family, school and life. 
I am know in a small town called Tres Lagoas that is around 1.5 hour drive from my old town. 
There is not much to do here but I find things and love to just go and explore. Of coarse i turn heads because i stand out so much.
I am the only girl here out of 4 exchange boys from Mexico, Germany and France, but I love them so much and they are like my brothers and have accepted me sooo well.
My new school is different to my school in Aracatuba, I am with older people (class 3) and they are all soo nice and funny. I really enjoy school, but it can be soo boring. But i have bought myself find a word books and portuguese for dummies and im slowly working through them. 
At the moment it is Carnaval and I have gotten my name onto a list to go to a small gated of community around 40 minutes drive away that has parties for 5 days for carnaval. It is alot of fun there and im meeting so many new people and being invited to so many things each day. I am loving carnaval becuase we have a 5 days long weekend :D
As I said last time, Brazil defiantly gets better everyday. Even with its ups and downs I can feel it is making me a better person and much stronger. 
My portuguese gets better everyday and I can understand more and more everyday. This is defiantly a life changing experience and it is soo unpredictable what your day will end up like. 


T xx

schooling and getting to know Aracatuba

Hey guys,


So Exchange is getting greattt !!!! I am now attending school at Toledo and it is defiantly a new experience and completely different to Australian school. Im in class 1 which is younger kids but they are all still very nice and have accepted me into there class soo well. I have made new friends and have a good time at school (even if i cant understand what the teacher is saying in class). A lot of the time in class i sit there or sometimes translate things into portuguese, and ofcoarse talk alot hahaha. 
I have also been meeting the exchange students and going out with them. 
My days in brazil are getting better and better everyday and i am enjoying it soo much and also enjoying having internet all the time. The Brazilians seem to want to know me and speak to me and my portuguese gets better everyday :D 
Im sorry for not blogging to much. 
T xx

new home n vitoria !!!

heyy guys
So i have now moved to new town Aracatuba, it is soo great and i love my new family. it is a bit hard coversing with them but they are still soo nice and i get along with them really well.

I only spent 2 days in Aracatuba and then went to Espirito Santos, Vitoria. It is sooo pretty here and just like the brazil you see in photos of the rolling hills and the white sandy beachs with umbrellas. I am staying here with 2 girls that are 14 n 16 and they are super cool !!!! we also went to a family weddings, i got my hair and make up done and had such a great time. I learnt how to samba and do funk ....
The exchange is defiently getting more and more interesting and im meeting so many new friends and getting invited to more and more things. tomorrow I am back to Aracatuba to start school and meet up with the exchange students in my area.
T xx

31st January

Hey guys, 
Im sorry I havent been posting alot but I didnt really have anything to post in my blogg as I have been mostly chlling out and not sightseeing. 
Probably the highlight of my last 4 days was going out to a bar with a guy I randomly met at the pool that had travelled to Australia for 8 months in 2005 and lived at Bondi Beach for 6 of the 8 months.
I will be moving to my town in the next few days, so that is something to look forward too :) as i will meet new people and see a different town and get to unpack my bag and settle down in a home. 
Oh and im super jealous of your Australia Day celebrations ... it just isnt the same in a different country, but i wore my I love aus singlet with pride that day :D
Not much else to say !!!!

T xx