Life in Brazil

I would have to sit here for about 2 hours to explain in detail all the things that have happened since I boarded my flight in Alaska. Because of this, I will summarize. (expect typos and mispellings because the spell check is set to Portuguese)

Flights and Orientation: My flight to Miami was the first time I have flown alone. It was really exciting, but incredibly boring and extremely hard to sleep. When I got to Miami after transfering flights in Chicago I claimed my bags and made it outside and hailed the shuttle to the hotel. When I got there I was welcomed by an AFS volunteer and told about what would happen later of that day and the next morning. I then met Erin, Anna, Kate, and Marley (Paraguay). And Nevo, Sylvia, Corri, and Nikita (Brazil). We hung around the hotel before orientation and got to know one another. I also had the worst dinner ever at Bennigans, where the sandwich I ordered was deep fried. It was disgusting and my stomach couldnt handle it, but I took a picture and it will make a good story. After dinner we talked with a returnee and then tried to catch up on our sleep. In the morning we had orientation again and then it was off to the airport! We were all so excited and although we were 4 hours early for our flight the Brazil kids passed the time by studying our Portuguese! Our flight to Sao Paulo was extremely different than any flight I have been on before, this is my first time out of the country! Although we were fed and were able to watch movies, the flight was way too long and very uncomfortable. I slept about 30 minutes and missed breakfast, but I was just happy we were almost there.
When we arrived we got our bags, went through customs, and Nevo and I prepared for our 9 and a half hour wait until our flight at 2 oclock. We were tired, hungry, and just ready to get to our new homes. Due to the language barrier we almost missed our flight to Salvador, but we barely made it. I slept a little and woke up with a headache and feeling like my ears were going to burst. Eventually we arrived in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. (I should have summarized more)

Arrival: As I waked through the doors from the baggage claim into the other part of the airport I heard cheering and saw my family holding signs welcoming to Brazil. I was first greeted by my father and handed gifts. I was the ushered into the crowd where and overwhelming amount of people were introducing themselves and asking me about my flight. It was so hot and I felt a bit lost. After about 15 minutes I left with my family. I live in a gated community and all the houses are behind walls. The front door to by house is glass which was a bit surprising for me. I then went to this public place by my house where there is a pool and a court to play soccer where kids from my neighborhood hang out. I played soccer, swam, and played soccer again, it was a lot of fun.
Since then Ive played a lot more soccer, gone to the beach twice, swum in the ocean once, ridden on the back of a moped, eaten a lot of rice and beans, and many other things! The language is really hard and I dont understand what people are saying a lot of the time, but I definitely understand a lot more than I did on day one and speaking comes to me more easily. My little brother is adorable and is my Portuguese Professor. He doesnt speak English so sometimes he has to explain something many different ways, but it is very helpful!

School: Yeserday was my first day of school and was a huge culture shock. When I arrived in my classroom everyone was screaming and running around. The teacher was standing upfront and speaking into a microphone but no one was listening. When I walked in and everyone found out the I was an exchange student from the US. They all started screaming and trying to talk over one another when asking me questions. And when they found out I was from ALASKA... They started screaming even louder. I couldnt understand what people were asking me becauase there where too many people talking at once, the room was very loud, and everyone who was talking to me was yelling. I thought that the entire day would be like that and I didnt understand how they were able to learn, but soon people got into their seats and the next teacher came in. School continued and it was very hard to understand what was going on. Later I found out that the first class I came to was Art, which makes more sense. I had English for 4 hours in the afternoon but I dont have to go because, well, I speak English. Today I had Spanish for an extra 2 hours, and we didnt speak any Spanish and I didnt learn anything. Hopefully it is just because it is the beginning of the year. The rest of the week I only have school until 12:30.

Well, this took way longer than I expected, but I am glad I am finally done with my first post in Brazil! I will try to update more often, but it seems like there is always something to do here. Its never boring and each day I love it more. Tchau

My new host family!

Yesterday I woke up to fabulous news; I had received my permanent host family. I was absolutely ecstatic. My father's name is Jailton and my mother's name is Rosina. They have 3 children: Raissa, Fernanda, and Rodrigo. Raissa is the same age as me, 18, Fernanda is 13, and Rodgrigo is 11. We also have 2 dogs, Drake and Luna.

This is a photo of my host family dressed in traditional wear from their trip to South Brazil! (And no his mustache is not real haha).









Well, they all seem really great and I can't wait to meet them in person! I'm officially ready to start my exchange!! Only 4 more days!

Itinerary:
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
Depart: 11:25PM Anchorage, AK

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
Arrive: 8:25AM Chicago, IL
Depart: 9:35AM Chicago, IL
Arrive: 1:40PM Miami, FL

Orientation at 4:00PM

Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Depart: 6:15PM Miami, FL

Friday, February 10th, 2012
Arrive: 5:30AM São Paulo, Brazil!

I was told that I will not receive my flight information to Salvador until I get to São Paulo.
It's crazy to think that my next update will be from the other side of the world! Eu não posso esperar! Até breve!

An unfortunate change

I have just received not so good news... I am switching host families. The host family that had originally signed up to host me is no longer available to host me because they are moving. Upon my arrival in Brazil I will be staying with a welcome family and they are currently looking for a permanent host family. If a permanent host family is found before my arrival then I might go directly to their house, but otherwise I will stay with the welcome family until I get another family. It's sad knowing that I won't be able to settle in immediately which will make the transition from home to Brazil even harder. In addition, I once again don't know the people I will be spending my year with. I don't know what will happen if AFS can't find a permanent host family in Lauro de Freitas. I'm leaving Alaska in 14 days, so hopefully AFS will be able to find me a new family asap. Cross your fingers.

Less than a month!

Oi! I am leaving Alaska in 25 days! I'm so excited to get on that plane. I've always loved airports and plane rides, it means you're going somewhere! I feel as though I'm ready to leave already, but it's a good thing I still have a bit of time because I still have so much to do.
I've had my predeparture orientation. It was only me so I helped cook a Brazilian meal with my local volunteer and a girl who is currently in Alaska from Brazil with AFS. It was really good! I'm really excited for all of the new, interesting, and delicious food I'm going to eat during my year abroad!
I've been out of school for a month now and it definitely makes time go by faster, but I still feel like it doesn't go fast enough because I'm still here! I know what I am bringing for luggage and have all of my host family's gifts in my carryon (don't want the breakable things to break) but other than that, I haven't thought much about packing yet. I think I will officially start about 2 weeks before I depart.. or in 11 days.. weird.
My language skills are not improving at all, I feel very unmotivated to practice, or do anything really. Now I sleep a lot and work. I know I'll regret it once I get to Brazil!
That's it.

Host family!

About a month ago I received my host family! I live with my mother, my 15 year old sister, and my soon to be 13 year old brother in a small town called Lauro de Freitas which is 10 minutes by car from Salvador, the capital of Bahia. My home is located on the sea front, how exciting! I will attend a private school not far from my house. It is so exciting to finally know the people I will be spending my year with, it makes it so much more real! In addition to receiving my host family information, I have also received my official travel itinerary. I need to be in Miami by 4:00PM on February 8th, so it looks like I will be departing from Alaska on the 7th of February... 66 days! In other news, I graduate from high school in just 12 days, or 9 school days! Finally I will be able to study Portuguese more, and pick up a few extra shifts at work! My Portuguese definitely needs a lot of work, but considering that I only knew how to say hi not that long ago, I've come a long way! I'm very excited for that day when I can speak well and confidentially!

This is Lauro de Freitas!

These are photos of my house!

Tchau!

Interview!

FINALLY I have submitted my full application and have set up an in-home interview! It has been a year since I decided to go on an exchange and now I can't believe 6 months from now I will be leaving! After my interview it will be about a month before I hear back from AFS. I am so excited to hear that I have been accepted and will be spending a year in Brazil. Reality is setting in and I have a million emotions running though my head. As much as I can't wait I am glad that I will be spending one last semester at my high school before I graduate and go abroad.

Tchau

The Beginning

Hello! My name is Jennifer Allmaras, I am seventeen years old, and I attend West Anchorage High School in Anchorage, Alaska. Beginning in the spring of 2012 I will be spending an entire year studying abroad in the wonderful country of Brazil with AFS, (American Field Service). This will be a gap year between high school and college because I am graduating at semester my senior year (December 2011). I am so excited to experience something completely new, and create a new home for myself across the globe! I'm ready to meet amazing people and communicate in another language. I'm ready to face great challenges and be lost 98% of the time upon arrival. I'm ready for Brazil!