Brasil!

It was yet another day filled with airport hopping, and we were collecting our luggage at last, tired and griping, after arriving VERY late in Brazil, via Sao Paolo to Florianopolis. We got our stuff, headed through the gates-

To cheers and applauding! And about 30 people waving signs that said everything from our names to "WELCOME CANADIAN STUDENTS!" 

Within 30 seconds there were smiling families swooping around us, dropping kisses on our cheeks, and asking us in rapid Portuguese and  English what our names were in order to sort us out and get us home. Amanda and I were assigned to the same family, Nesi. The daughter, Natani, has been learning English for only one year, and her parents speak none at all. Challenge accepted. We had a roughly 30 minute drive from the airport to their home, which was behind a locked gate on a walled street.

...

I'm sorry, I've tried for the last twenty five minutes to draw an appealingly worded descriptive paragraph about our arrival, but I'm failing. Long story short: We are in a three story house, in a loft double bedroom with ensuite bathroom. The house itself has a stone staircase, a koi pond, and a courtyard outside the kitchen (which is where the barbeque lives).

Did I mention the koi pond? Complete with about 15 fish of varying colour and size, and a turtle. And a stone front faux waterfall that keeps aforementioned koi pond properly ventilated. Koi pond is also in the living room/foyer, to draw the eye of guests.

There is also a cat and two dogs, one of whom belongs in Paris Hilton's purse and is called, or at least sounds as if she is called, Moggie. Moggie is currently on my chest as I attempt to type, turning around in awkward circles in her fleecy pink sweater dress. Her head is approximately the length of my index finger.

Brazil is going to be considerably more hardcore than Chile. Chile is now considered a cakewalk. Santiago has an insanely simple mass transportation system, and we were only a 10 minute subway ride from school- which was only 3 hours a day, four days a week.

Florianopolis is a crowded, but sprawling city, and no subway, and an inefficient, cranky sort of bus system. Our school is anywhere from 4-7 hours a day, including lunches, trips, and practical application lessons (Such as visiting supermarkets). It sometimes starts as early as 8, and sometimes as late as 2. Our schedule is varied, interesting, and PACKED. I have been humming with adrenaline for the past 48 hours, and my head is reeling with Portuguese, which, as I have heard described, DOES sound exactly like a German trying to speak Spanish with a French accent.

Th daughter of the house was enthusiastically telling us about how Brazil is a wonderful country for parties, and that tomorrow night we are going out to a club with her. I have a feeling I will be spending the remainder of the month exhausted and over-stimulated, yet again.

That being said- That's exactly what I came for. For the first time since I can recall, I feel up to my eyeballs in constant awareness, intake, and processing. The absolute opposite of stagnancy.  I've just returned from a brief writing break where I ate pizza and drank wine with Natani, Mother, and Amanda, and had a heavily gestured, occasionally Spanish, constantly translated, but perfectly functional conversation around a dinner table (which I've missed).

I'm also constantly amused and a little touched by our professor and co-ordinators referring to our host families as our Brazilian parents. ("Hjoo eez jor Mommy in Brajil? Dats how joo say, yeh? Mommy?" "Jor Daddy will pick joo up at sicks terty.") Also, hearing ANYONE say "beaches" with a Portuguese accent is hysterical. ("Joo like bitches, yeh?" "Byotiful bitches! Byotiful!")

Ok, that is all for now. I will write more when I am less overtired, overwhelmed, and overemotional from a beautiful, hilarious, and weep-fest inducing e-mail from my wonderful, loving, and talented sister Hayley. I will only tell you that it was a hand drawn series of images which involved the phrase "Shakespearean Anatidae". *love*