brazilforayear

[brazilforayear]

Brazil for a Year in Three Minutes.

Future exchange students: Keep in mind, these are the highlights of my exchange.

Not pictured: 

- Me crying from homesickness 

- Me struggling to learn Portuguese 

- Me feeling lonely

- Me studying for tests three times as hard because I don’t understand anything 

- Me being confused and lost

Etc.... 

[brazilforayear]

Meu querido Brasil,

Estou sem palavras. O dia que sempre achei que estava tão longe chego. Estou deixando este belo país. Este ano passou tão rápido, mas tudo bem porque foi um ano completo: cheio de felicidade, sorrisos, amor, amizades, boa memórias, etc...

Estou extremamente feliz com o ano que passei morando aqui nesta cidade pequenina lindinha que tanto amo. Foi neste belo Campo Novo do Parecis que conheci o povo mais feliz do mundo, o povo mais acolhedor, mais amoroso, mais sorridente, mais positivo. Nunca achei que aqui nesta cidade no interior do Mato Grosso eu ia me sentir tão em casa. Senti pouca saudade da minha familia aqui no Brasil por causa daquele povo que me fez sentir como se eu estivesse com minha familia. Todos vocês fizeram meu intercâmbio um ano cheio de felicidade. Todos que me abraçavam, que me davam "boa dia/tarde/noite", todos que sorriam para mim, que me faziam rir, etc... Todos vocês fizeram parte da minha experiência, não só as pessoas com as que eu mais saia, mas também aquelas pessoas quietas que só olhavam para mim e sorriam. Todos vocês me faziam sentir em casa.

O unico sentimento que sento agora, alem de tristeza de partir, é gratidão. Obrigada a todos vocês: minha familia hospedeira (toda minha familia: avós, avôs, tios, tias, primos, primas, etc...), o pessoal de AFS, os estudantes do IF, meus amigos e amigas, as famílias dos meus amigos e amigas, o pessoal da cidade, e todos vocês que eu conheci durante este ano.

Gratidão para o povo Brasileiro, continuem sendo aquelas pessoas felizes, que gostam de rir, de ajudar as pessoas sem querer nada de volta, aquelas pessoas zoeiras que gostam de viver o momento ao máximo, aquelas pessoas que fazem qualquer desconhecido um amigo em menos de cinco minutos, aquelas pessoas queridas e amorosas que dão os abraços mais quentinhos do mundo. Amo vocês. Obrigada pelo ano tao inesquecível que todos vocês me deram. Este ano não seria o mesmo se não fosse por vocês. Meu intercambio definitivamente excedeu minhas expectativas, foi o melhor ano da minha vida ate agora.

Muito obrigada Brasil e Brasileiros. Te amo e amo todos vocês.

Thank you. I love you Brazil.

See you later, Mari Garcés

[brazilforayear]

My Last Day Here

I am completely satisfied with my experience in Brazil. I am fulfilled with the year I have spent here and although saying good bye hurts a lot, I can happily say that it was a year well spent. So for that, I am eternally grateful. 

I love you Brazil. Thank you. 

[brazilforayear]

Woahh...

So, today my mom, whose a psychologist, did an energy test on me, in which basically you ask your subconscious mind questions and your body answers them. You have to close your eyes, stand with your feet close and connect with your body’s energy. Then she asks you questions such as,

“Is your name Mariana?” 

Yes, obviously, but you don’t answer it, your subconscious answer it by swaying to one side, in my case it was the left side that was “yes.” 

“Are you 21 years old?”

No. So my body would sway to the right.

Sometimes it was really sudden, other times it took a while and when my body didn’t know the answer it would just sway in the middle. (I was reminded of the Ouija board, I don’t know why, hahah.) 

Anyways, the two questions that stood out to me were when she asked,

“Are you Brazilian?” 

And my body pushed me to the left as in saying “Yes.”

And then she asked me, 

“Are you on exchange?”

And my body pushed me to the right as in saying, “No.” 

Anyways, I can confirm that this little energy test is real because when she asked me obvious questions such as if my name is my name and if my age is my age and all those type of questions my body would reveal the real answer, but this is just crazy. 

Like.... Whaaatttttt. Does my subconscious think I’m Brazilian now? Did I really connect with Brazil that much? To the point it doesn’t think I’m on exchange and I’m actually Brazilian? That’s wild... 

Anyways, my tonsillitis is getting better. My immune system is getting weak due to the fact that I’m going home and my emotions are all over the place. My friend organized a good-bye party for me on June 30 and I’m organizing a good-bye churrasco on July 2. 

18 days left in Campo Novo do Parecis. :( 

Who would’ve thought that this little, little city would take such a big, big part of my heart? 

[brazilforayear]

To Anyone Looking To Study Abroad:

I’m going to share with you some pages I have book marked about sites that promote studying abroad (because I really hope Brazil isn’t my last experience living/studying abroad): 

GoCambio

You make a profile, show what skills you have and match with someone in another country to share your skills with. (No age restrictions.)

AuPair

You go to a host family and work as a baby sitter in exchange to be able to live with them for free.

You get a small salary.

No age restrictions. (I think you have to be over 15, though.) 

PrancingPonies

You must be female.

Females studying abroad in order to be empowered. 

Must be in high school.

TEFL

Teach English abroad.

PeaceCorps

Volunteer abroad.

Leo’s Club

Be sponsored by Lions Club to study abroad.

Rotary Club

Be sponsored by Rotary to study broad.

APSA 

Must be in a public American high school.

Age 15 - 17. 

Scholarships to study abroad.

UWC 

Study abroad at a school. 

International Youth Exchange

Match with another teenager abroad.

You visit their home for two weeks.

They visit your home for two weeks.

And of course:

AFS

The organization my family and I study abroad with. 

They offer scholarships.

You must be in high school to study abroad and if you’re not in high school you can volunteer abroad. 

[brazilforayear]

three weeks left

so my experience here is coming to an ending and my emotions are all over the place. 

and guess what, so is my health. my immune system, which is usually extremely strong meaning i rarely get sick, has been insanely low lately. i got sick one week and then after one week of healing and getting better i got sick again. 

i got chills. constant high fevers. sore throats. ear pains. abdominal pains. and i even fainted. 

turns out i have tonsillitis. 

my host mom, whose a psychologist, thinks that my emotions have a big impact on my immune system and the fact that i am sick. 

let me just tell you, i would not wish tonsillitis on my worst enemy, this is the most pain i’ve felt in a whileeeee. i cannot eat because of the pain. i cried so much due to the sharp pain i feel on my neck. it’s crazy.

i went to the doctor and got antibiotics, but it’s been a week of being sick, hopefully i can get better soon so i can enjoy my last three weeks healthily. 

[brazilforayear]

One month left in Brazil

One thing to say about that: Time flies. 

[brazilforayear]

I love you,

Wow, this is the cutest message ever. I love you too whoever sent me this! 

[brazilforayear]

I loved reading your entries! You are processing everything and really reflecting and using this experience for personal growth-- exactly what you hoped for! Nothing is ever perfect, but even the difficult parts have been eye-opening. What a gift, to be able to look critically at your own life and culture by living in another one for a year. I think you will find lots of changes at school when you return. I so look forward to talking with you! I, too, have had similar experiences in other world.

Hi Ms. Richards! (I believe this is you again, if it isn’t... oops!) 

But, thanks again for reading my blog! This blog is not even 10% of a representation of what I’ve grown here and all I’ve done, all the 90% is written in my journal. I lack the time to write on my blog properly, but don’t worry because I’ll be telling you everything back in Marin! 

And really?! I want to hear about all your experiences outside of the USA too!

[brazilforayear]

Mari, it will be a little hard to adjust to America's isolation when you return. You will need to actively seek out cultural experiences in the Bay Area. There are probably many Brazilian places, events, and groups you can go to around the city and Bay! Ms R

Ms. Richardssssss!

Thank you so much for reading my blog and messaging me! I miss you so much. And it will be a bit of a struggle to adjust to the culture of the US again, but it’s okay! And yesss, I’m definitely going to go to many Brazilian spots in back in the Bay! 

Love you and miss you!

[brazilforayear]

there’s a minor problem

i fell in love with brazil. the culture. the people. everything. 

everyone here is so happy. everyone is so kind. life is so easy going here. 

i never want to back to my real reality. i feel like i’m in an utopia here. 

i love it here. 

i’m sad that i only have one more month left here. 

i’m devastated. i fell in love with brazil. 

but you know the saying, “if you love something set it free....” 

[brazilforayear]

Some Relatable Exchange Student Things:

WhatsApp

Being in 4627376 groups. One of the other AFS’ers from your host country. One for the people in your school. One for your family. Another for your host family. Etc...

Some of the gestures you do when you don’t understand include:

Nodding your head too much

Repeating the last word people say to you and adding a question mark to let them know you did understand. 

Example: Them: “So, they told me your enjoyed going out to eat at that restaurant yesterday morning.” You: “Yesterday morning?” And then they go on to repeat what they said. 

Having a translator app 

And pulling it out when you give up on trying to understand something someone said or just when you don’t understand something written, etc... 

Doing things you wouldn’t do back home you do in your host home, such as: 

Taking short showers out of respect 

Not staying inside your room 24/7 on Netflix like an anti-social creep

Cleaning your room weekly

Having your room extremely organized 

Being constantly happy 

There’s this weird unspoken requirement where it feels like an exchange students can’t be sad, they just have to always be happy because how can you possibly be sad when you have this unbelievable experience to be studying abroad? 

[brazilforayear]

One Of My Personality Changes Due To Exchange

I became more responsible and independent: 

I do my bed every morning

I clean my bathroom and bedroom weekly 

I make my own breakfast 

I wake up at 5AM 

I walk to the bus by myself 

I am okay with being by myself, whether it be in the bus, in meetings, in class, etc... 

[brazilforayear]

Pre-Exchange Fears VS. Now

For the anxious, future exchange students, this is going to be a helpful post for all of you. I’m comparing my fears pre-exchange vs. how they played out.

1. I was scared that I would not be able to click with my host family

Honestly, this depends on how well your host family was matched to you and your personality. It’s kind of like a blind date. Some exchange students get lucky, others not so much. Thankfully, I got lucky and my host family and I clicked so much. Especially my host mom and me, and of course, my little sisters and me. My host dad is an extreme introvert, but we still talk occasionally. Now, as for the other exchange students, some did not get so lucky, but if you end up being one of those unlucky ones, don’t worry, there’s a solution. These exchange students who did not get along well with their host families simply changed and at some point ended up finding the right-fit family for them.

2. I was scared that I’d forget to pack something

I did not forget anything, in fact, I overpacked. Was it really necessary to take all those books? No.

3. You’re scared you won’t learn the language. 

Hahhahahahhahhahhaha. This is everyone’s biggest fear, but like, you just have to laugh. C’mon, how are you not going to learn how to hold a short, simple conversation, if you’re surrounded by a single language every second of every day for ten months. Impossible. You are going to learn the language. Don’t worry. 

4. Fear of being judged about looks or being judged in general. 

Of course you’ll be judged. You’re foreign. You’re fresh new meat. But the majority of humans are decent and you won’t even be able to tell that they’re judging you. Either way, who cares? 

5. Fear of being alone. 

I won’t lie. You’ll be alone. A lot. Family events. At times during school. At home. In the school bus. At the market. Downtown. In shops. Etc... But it’s nice to enjoy your own company at times. Other times it can be a little sad to be alone, so I coped with that by always having a book handy (...okay, so maybe overpacking books was a good idea), having headphones handy so I can listen to music, taking naps, studying or the go-to: the cellphone. If you don’t have your phone a book will always do. 

6. Scared in general. 

Self-explanatory, but trust me, it’ll be worth it. Every single second of it. 

Good luck!

[brazilforayear]

Sometimes I’m overwhelmed with the insatiable desire to learn. To know astronomy and geography and language and architecture; to recognize each constellation, planet, and star; to speak and understand all languages, be able to decipher ancient Greek and Latin text; to grow my understanding of how the human body works; study the differences and similarities of each religion; recognize the use for each herb and seed and sapling.

I want to better myself, not for fame or recognition or power. I just want to understand. 

[brazilforayear]

100 Days Left In Brazil & Some Thoughts

Time flies. Time truly flies. I cannot believe I only have a hundred days left in Brazil. Such little time... I am just so grateful to have had this experience. This experience changed me so much.

I always tell everyone that I’ve done more growing up in Brazil in one year than I have all three years I spent in high school. And I’m not kidding, it’s true. I experienced more things here in a year than I did in Marin County.

Looking back to my life back in California, I was a very privileged, spoiled and sheltered child. I lived in the “Marin County Bubble.” Marin County is the second richest county in California and the 17th richest in the U.S. A private school here could cost $18,750 - $56,100 a year. 

If it wasn’t for the fact that I went to such a diverse high school, I feel like I would be extremely close-minded. The majority of the county is filled with Caucasians (72.8%), the second largest ethnicity in the county is Hispanics (15.5%). Marin only has 2.6% African-Americans.

Living in Marin, I was constantly surrounded by rich, privileged people. People with iPhones, with the latest brand items. Brand shoes. Brand sweaters. Expensive things. People who only cared about money, material objects, getting straight A’s, going to the best Ivy League. They were all the same. The same thought processes. Everyone seemed perfect. Teenagers had BMW’s, Tesla’s, Jeep’s, Mercedes Benz. Everyone had mansions, houses with pools, houses with two or three floors. This was the reality I was living in. 

It was hard to not feel self-conscious in Marin. I felt like I had to try really hard to fit in. My family is nowhere as rich compared to all the people I was surrounded with. I felt like the money you had and your material possessions were the main things that defined you. So I always asked my dad for things, the things that my classmates had. In my family of 5, I was the only one who had an iPhone. My mom, dad, sister and brother all had Androids. My mom and I were also the only ones who had Apple computers. Granted my mom has a 2010 MacBook. (Everyone in my school had the latest Apple computers and iPhones. It was rare for someone to have a computer that was not Apple or a phone that was not an iPhone.)

It was hard not to develop a materialistic mindset. Instead of being grateful for what I had, I always asked for more. To the point that I got a job because I felt bad for always asking for so much for my parents who had a budget. 

Therefore, when I got to Brazil, it was an extremely eye-opening experience for me. Everyone was extremely shocked when they saw that I had a car. A car that in the U.S was a middle-class car, but here everyone saw it as such an elite car. Everyone obsessed over the fact that I had the rose gold iPhone 6S. They thought that I was rich. 

And here in Brazil, I learned that I am extremely privileged; I am “rich.” 

I went to other people’s house here in Brazil. Some houses had roofs made of tin. Roofs that leaked way too much water when it rained. Houses that did not have proper flooring, instead it was mud and dirt. 

Teenagers here do not have cars. Some do, of course, but the majority don’t. The most common phone here is not an iPhone. The latest iPhone here is R$4,099 (USD$1,366). 

One of the major things I learned here is to be grateful. I am so lucky. I am so lucky to have a car, a phone. But not only am I lucky for having material things. I am so lucky for being healthy as well. I’ve met many people here who are sick. The first one that comes to mind is my little sister. Just at the age of 6, she frequently visits doctor after doctor and she has been diagnosed with so many diseases. Some of them being an over-active bladder and gastritis. She has a little watch that beeps every hour to remind her to drink a glass of water and go to the bathroom. If she doesn’t do this, she risks hurting her bladder and painfully having to pee blood. 

This experience has also made me see that everything is possible. Everything is so within my reach. I thought that going to Brazil was such an impossible thing. That stopping my high school experience to live in another country was unthinkable. But here I am. This experience made me imagine the impossible and work hard to make it possible.

Every day I become a more humble and more grateful person. To show my gratefulness to my host family for hosting me in their home and making me be a part of their family, I have made it a tradition to give them a card every month of things we did as a family that month and every single month I write them a paragraph within the card to thank them. I’ve made these cards for so many people as well. My housekeeper. The AFS President in my town. My friends. Etc...

I can’t believe my experience here is coming to an end. I am going to take advantage of every last day and enjoy everything to the fullest. I am genuinely so thankful to everyone I have met here in Brazil and everyone back in the United States who helped me get here.

I love you all. I’ll see you all in 100 days. 

[brazilforayear]

My 5 Favorite Portuguese Songs

I’m currently taking advantage of my friend’s computer and posting as much as I can. Hahaha. 

“Te Assumi Pro Brasil” - Mateus e Kauan 

“Abre o Portão Que Eu Cheguei” - Gusttavo Lima 

“Seu Policia” Zé Nato e Cristiano

“Homem de Familia” - Gusttavo Lima

“Mexidinho” - Maiaria e Maraisa