Goodbyes

Goodbyes have always been really hard.  I’ve had to say loads of goodbyes in my life.  Some have been long term, where I wouldn’t be seeing the person for a very long time; some have been short term, where I’ll just be seeing the person later.  I’ve said more long-term goodbyes than I can count in my preparation to come to Brazil.  There are too many short-term goodbyes to count; I say them everyday to nearly everyone that I see.  The last person that I said goodbye to in the USA was my mom.  She came back with me, and waited for about an hour with me.  She, at first, was not going to be allowed to, but she ended up getting to anyway.  We shared a cinnabon and more goodbyes.  It was really hard to watch her walk away from me that day.  I knew that I would be seeing her again.  In 11 months.  That’s a really long time.  I know that when I leave Brazil and come home, it’ll mean even more goodbyes.  And no one will be able to walk back with me and wait with me until I get on the plane.  This goodbye will be more permanent.  Saying goodbye to people in the USA was difficult, but we all knew that I would be back in a year.  Last Saturday night I said my first long term goodbye in a really long time.  It was bad.  It was rushed, the goodbye only lasted about 15-20 seconds.  My friend had left to go and get some water, and my mom showed up to get my friend, and me so I called him and told him to run back.  Which he did, and I hugged him and said everything that I wanted to really fast and said goodbye.  He told me that with technology these days that he would always be there for me, no matter what.  And then I had to go.  I actually teared up on the car ride home.  And I won’t be seeing my friend for at least 11 months.  Goodbyes are different for everyone.  Some people prepare for goodbyes, others just let them happen.  In my time here, I’ve learned that not all goodbyes are permanent, some of them really just mean, “I’ll see you later, we aren’t over, and me not being here isn’t going to change our friendship.”  Saying goodbye is hard, but it’s not the end; it’s really just a new beginning.  Saying goodbye to one person is just opening your heart up for more people.  And I’ve spoken to my dear friend since then, and I’ve spoken to people in the USA, and I have this blog.  Goodbyes aren’t really goodbyes.  All of my goodbyes have turned into “I’ll talk to you later!”  

Thanksgiving and Moving

I now know when I will be moving to my second family.  December 1^st is the date that I will be packing up everything that I own and shoving it all into my suitcases and hope everything fits.  In my three months of living in Brazil I have come to own numerous shirts from my sister, cups, concert shirts, and shoes.  When the time comes, and I start packing, I’m hoping that everything will fit.  December 7^th is the last day of school, and the beginning of my first summer in Brazil.  Since my last update, I attended my school’s Formatura.  This is the graduation ceremony/ formal dance for their graduating class, the Class of 2012.  Since I am in the 2^nd grade right now, I will miss my class’s Formatura next year. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US.  I, obviously, won’t be there.  I’m going to be missing out on seeing all of my family and friends.  For as long as I can remember, I always saw more family members on Thanksgiving than I did on Christmas.  I’m really going to miss seeing everyone tomorrow.  I have so much to be thankful for right now.  I won’t bore anyone with listing, because that would take too long and who really wants to read a list? 

Last Sunday in Paracatu there was an all day Rotary event.  It involved a horse parade in the morning around town, then a buffet style lunch with a band and bingo, and it ended with a young girl winning a microwave.  It was really strange to see about 100 horses on the streets in the morning.  The food was great, and I ended up with a long sleeve button up shirt from the event. 

  On a sadder not, my dearest friend will be returning to his mother country soon.  And as of Saturday I will not be seeing him until either he visits me or I go and visit him.  And, soon after that another friend will be returning to his country as well.  Paracatu will be left with only female exchange students.  As sad as this is for all of the people involved in this viagem, we all knew that this time would come.  And “all good things must come to an end.”  And this is the Brazilian song of the week, it also happens to be my favorite song right now.  Its about how great Chocolate is and the chocolate is TERRIFIC. 

Orientation

Hello everyone for this week!  This past weekend was Orientation for the Inbounds 2012 and 2013.  We started with a tour of Ouro Preto, which is a very old and historic town of Brazil.  We got to go on tours of numerous churches, and museums.  While we were there, a pottery festival of sorts nearby that we went exploring in.  We got to go into a gold mine and eat some good food (like most Brazilian food.)  The place we were staying was like the typical Brazilian clube, a place for families to go and eat, do sports, and relax.  It was very similar to a country club type place.  We traded pins and took loads of photos in our blazers and with our flags.  My blazer is now mostly full on the front.  On the last day when we traveled around Belo, it started pouring rain while we were at a monument.  Yesterday I had my first strawberry juice, and to go along with it I had some strawberry tic tacs.  Neither of them were as good as I was expecting them to be.  I hope to try watermelon juice this week as well.  Today I went to the gym, and I ran/jogged for about an hour and a half.  Since the end of the school year is coming we have tests on Friday, next Wednesday, and the whole week after that.  I still haven’t gotten my grades back from the first tests I took about a week ago.  Hopefully by next time I’ll know some or all of them.