I started writing this the Monday after my last post so keep that in mind when I say how long ago each of these things happened. Everything except the answers to your questions has been written as though it is that Monday.
Let me start off by saying that none of these are related except for the evil parade and the fireworks.
Next, I would like to say that I was going to use this post to define some differences between Brazil and the United States but I'll do that next time. I will answer some questions after I finish telling you about my last two weeks.
So, the first thing that happened was the car crash. Three Fridays ago, Phillipe (my host brother) and I were driving back from the gym and, as we were passing a pickup truck, it turned to park on the side of the street and we ran into it. It was not a serious accident. No one was hurt. It was just a bit frightening as it happened.
The Deportation Scare was more of a week long thing lasting from the Friday of the Accident until the following Thursday. On that Friday, the Federal Police called about a document they needed to finish registering me so I could stay in Brazil. I thought I knew where that document was. I was wrong. I stressed out for a week searching everywhere in my room or anywhere else I could think of trying to find the document (keep in mind that the document is about the size of a passport). Two Thursdays ago, I finally found the document. I was very happy. Now I get to stay!!!
The "Party" is what my host Aunts and Uncles and Cousins called it. I call it a fair. There were cows and sheep and a mini concert thingy, but what I did for basically the entire night we went was ride the rides with my host cousin Sophie. The rides weren't that spectacular but it was still fun. They had this Scrambler-like ride and a fun Ferris Wheel one that went fast. This was on the Thursday when I found the document.
That Sunday (so 8 days ago) was Corumba's birthday and to celebrate, they had the biggest parade I've ever seen. It was three hours long and it would not end. Overall it was fun but there were a ton of percussion bands in the parade that became very annoying towards the end, especially because every single one of them was playing "Happy Birthday". After the parade, we went down near the docks to get some food. After food came the fireworks. The thing is, I'm used to the giant fireworks being off in the distance, but these were shot off very close, close enough that some of the ash fell right next to us. It was a lot of fun.
Finally, this last Saturday, I went fishing with my host aunt and uncle. We were on this dock tied to this house-boat thing that is only floating during the summer when it rains. Only two fish were caught and I was the first one to catch one. I caught a 5ish inch piranha. Here are some pictures of us swimming in the river (the Paraguay River) and of the fish and rickety bridges to get to the boat and dock.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60184&l=dd8a5&id=604883979
AND NOW IT'S TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS!!!!!!!
-It's HOT here, but I can tell I'm getting used to it because I recently called 30 degrees Celsius (about 80 Fahrenheit) cool. That's how "cool" it can here here at night
-About the food here: I really like what they call pastels here. They are dough around meat or cheese that's fried and it's really good. They eat a lot (and I mean a LOT) of beef here and it's very good (but the hamburgers are just not the same). An interesting thing is that instead of having pancakes for breakfast with syrup (only my Canadian french teacher here even knows what syrup is), they have them for lunch or dinner stuffed with meat.
- School starts at 7 and ends at 12:30 except for Fridays when it ends at 11 because we have a P.E. class in the afternoon. On Tuesdays and Thursday I have basketball practice and my first match is on Monday. On Mondays and Wednesdays I take a French class in the evening at one of the language schools.
-The chairman's farm in Aracatuba had a pool.
-For Heidi: "Hi mom" = "Oi mamae"
-Some people here speak English very well. Others do not.
-We have a maid so I do not have any chores :) and I am involved in there daily activities like going out to dinner with the family.
-If you want my mailing address ask my mom or dad at bjvortherms@aol.com or mvortherms@courant .com
I also want to remind people (Wendy) that you don't have to have a username on Blogger to comment, just choose to comment anonymously.
And sorry again for the long delay.
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