January

Its been a while, and I was talking with someone the other day and they mentioned that they would like to know some of the differences between Brazil and the US.  I know I spoke a little about this before, but as I’ve been here longer, more differences are evident.  The more time that I spend here, the more cultural differences are apparent. 

In Brazil, its understood that everyone eats rice and beans for lunch.  Its believed that if you don’t, you will get sick and that you are crazy.

In the US lunch food can be anything, its not one set thing.

During school in Brazil, its common for students to sleep and talk and be rowdy.

In the US school is a lot stricter and there are more rules that are enforced.

Driving in Brazil is crazy.  Its almost as though all the drivers drive like I do, which is very scary.  They don’t stop at stop signs, but I’ve never seen a wreck in the time that I’ve been here.

In the US drivers are aggressive and always wanting to get places.  I’ve seen wrecks often in the US, and I’ve had my fair share of driving scares.

My school in Brazil, in particular, has a uniform and other dress code rules.  We have to wear jeans with our school shirts, boys can wear shorts.  We aren’t allowed to wear flip-flops.  We can wear hats, and any kind of sweater, but girls aren’t allowed to wear shorts. 

In my high school in the US we didn’t have a uniform, but we still had a dress code.  It was easy to follow.  There were things like no hats, and no sleepwear.

In Brazil it’s incredibly hot.  Right now it’s in the rainy season, so it rain everyday in the afternoon. 

In Shelby we have different seasons, and it’s obvious that we have different types weather.

Clearly there are more differences than the ones that I have listed above.  Some of the differences I don’t notice anymore.  When anyone greets anyone, they say hello, give hugs and kisses, and ask how you are doing.  In the US we only really do that for friends and family, here we do that for everyone. 

Some things that are coming up include CARNAVAL , which starts on my birthday.  Its also the birthday of my Brazilian friend Marcos, he will be 16 and my American friend Chris Ku who will be 18.  I also will be getting my first haircut in Brazil.  I’m pretty excited about it.  I’ll post pictures of before, after, and during.  It should be an adventure. 

One of my close friends and I are going to all of the eateries here in Paracatu.  We have only been at it for about a week, and we’ve hit one of the most popular açai places, although all we got there was açai.  I’ve had their sandwiches and crepes and juices and other stuff before.  We also went to this place called Tribo do Guaraná.  This is the place with the famous pizza cones, picture is on facebook, they were delicious.  I had mine with a strawberry milkshake, which was also yummy.  





I love this song.  I think its a good representation of how exchange students start out.  We all start out in places that we are lost and don't know anything.  And its about how people change and, after being an exchange student, no one is the same.  Between stepping onto the first plane, and taking the last step off, our lives are thrown into full blown crazy.  Expectations are pointless and we change more than we will ever realize.  Going someplace without your parents, truly being alone, and growing up changes people.  Also, I just really like this song.  

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