I'm late.
I mean not that late...but late in posting this update.
For months I suffered, dieing to find out where in the world I was going. Once I finally found that out, The next stage began.
2.] Sitting and waiting.
Again, for months I have sat, and waited to find out just where in Brasil I would be going...It felt like I'd never find out.
Portuguese classes dragged on, Bruna left and went back to Brasil...district conference passed.
Which by the way was fun, and horribly boring at the same time. I celebrated my 16th birthday on the night of the talent show. So I spent my whole day celebrating by sitting...and waiting...ha-ha-ha.
But in all truths...it wasnt the worst birthday I ever had. In fact it was just fine. I was able to sing the song I wrote "Dust" In front of all the rotarians...and not fale horribly due to the fact I could hardly breath because of my blasted allergies...
later that night, it was amazing...everyone signed a card and gave it to me...and sang happy birthday to me.
My mother showed up with flowers that my sister had bought for me...(the pervious day my mom showed up to the picnique with my favorite pumpkin pie..and cake for everyone else.)
The next evening Juliana, my friend from Brasil, decided to share one of her countries birthday traditions by smashing a few eggs over my head...I made an A line for the shower...
It was lots of fun...
ANYWAY!
back to my main story here...
A few weeks ago I recived a email from my host family!!! I was so excited that I started shaking and yeah! My host-sister told me her name was Marcela...and she had a sister and a brother, and a mother and a father!!!
She then proceeded to inform me that I would be Living in Joao Peinero...a small town of 40,000.
Now, so you see I thought that Iw ould be going to Belo horizonte...a city of 3.4 million...I was ready for an upgrade!!! figures I'm downsizing about 400,000 people...haha!!! no worries...it will be amazing.
As the school year draws to an end, I realize how much I have grown over these past few months...and how much I will over the next year. I'll miss my friends, but I can acept that. I can't wait to make new friends!!! And explore.
I just can't wait.
It's like a dream right now...it dosent even seem like I'm leaving anymore...It's been so long since I found out I had been accepted into Rotary Youth Exchange...
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Test Book Blues...
I was lucky enough to miss the droning sound of my alarm clock this morning...My mother came in to wake me up at 5:50am.
The previous day my math teacher Mr. Preacher had told me that taking a nice 30 minute run on the morning of finals would calm my nerves a bit. I figured I'd try anything. So there I was, roling out of the comfort of my new sheets to go and send my tired body into a ragged pace. I lazily slipped on my spandex pants and sweat shirt and headed out the door.
It was cold outisde, and for once i didn't mind the bipolar weather of Portland...it seemed just right today. I cranked up my Ipod and and ran for a good 30 minutes, returning home sweaty and red.
I gluped down a few sips of the protein shake mr. Whecter had given me...a bit to sweet for my taste, but I figured my brain needed some food for tought.
Gery my step dad was sitting at the island in the kitchen when I got home, we exchanged a few simple words then i went to go study some math equations...whoop-dee-doo.
I knew that I had them down for now, but as soon as I get into that classroom...POOF! like magic. all of the knowledge I ever held will magicaly disapere.
What wonderful luck I have.
Anyway...Last night on the ride home from my rothers graduation it hit me. Right smack in the face laughing at me, like the does the rest of our poor souls. I'm getting older. I mean, it's not to the point that I need to start planning my Will or anything...but all my dreams and everything...I mean...50 years from now I'm not going to be capapble of doing what I love...I won't be able to just pick up and travel, leave everything behind...or sleep on a cement floor.
I don't take risks...well not risky risks...I want to live life for every damn momment that I have...Enjoys the summers soft breezes.
I'm determined of seeing the world.
Mark my words, I will.
*Sigh*
The previous day my math teacher Mr. Preacher had told me that taking a nice 30 minute run on the morning of finals would calm my nerves a bit. I figured I'd try anything. So there I was, roling out of the comfort of my new sheets to go and send my tired body into a ragged pace. I lazily slipped on my spandex pants and sweat shirt and headed out the door.
It was cold outisde, and for once i didn't mind the bipolar weather of Portland...it seemed just right today. I cranked up my Ipod and and ran for a good 30 minutes, returning home sweaty and red.
I gluped down a few sips of the protein shake mr. Whecter had given me...a bit to sweet for my taste, but I figured my brain needed some food for tought.
Gery my step dad was sitting at the island in the kitchen when I got home, we exchanged a few simple words then i went to go study some math equations...whoop-dee-doo.
I knew that I had them down for now, but as soon as I get into that classroom...POOF! like magic. all of the knowledge I ever held will magicaly disapere.
What wonderful luck I have.
Anyway...Last night on the ride home from my rothers graduation it hit me. Right smack in the face laughing at me, like the does the rest of our poor souls. I'm getting older. I mean, it's not to the point that I need to start planning my Will or anything...but all my dreams and everything...I mean...50 years from now I'm not going to be capapble of doing what I love...I won't be able to just pick up and travel, leave everything behind...or sleep on a cement floor.
I don't take risks...well not risky risks...I want to live life for every damn momment that I have...Enjoys the summers soft breezes.
I'm determined of seeing the world.
Mark my words, I will.
*Sigh*
3...2...1...
[This was posted on Friday, March 23, 2007...belive me.]
I can Honestly say that if I had the chance,
I would step on that plane tomorrow.
For those of you who are late on hearing the news,
I will be leaving this summer for a year abroad in Brasil.
I'll be gone for about 360 days.
Last summer I had the privilege to travel through the Mediterranean with people to people student ambassadors.
I discovered my passion for travel and foreign cultures. By the time I had reached Italy, My heart was telling that I should never return to America. I promised myself that i would return to the country as soon as I could.
Later that summer when i arrived home, I was in desperate need of more travel, or at least to return to the amazing culture of Italy. I moped around for awhile until my father mentioned a word about looking into studying abroad.
little did he know that that small comment would result in his 15 (to be 16) year old daughter leaving his nest a few years to early to leave the modern life of an American behind.
I began looking at programs, searching the internet and doing research on programs. My father strongly insisted that I apply to Rotary. I nagged at him due to the fact that i had just missed their dead line. I sat down are wrote them an essay email telling them about how much I wanted to return to italy, and see what the world has to offer.
I had no response....
not right away, to say the least....
I began applying to on online Youth exchange program called Intrax...It was a long process that I had to write several essay's for and be on the tip-top of everything. About half way through filling out that program, The Rotary emailed me telling me that they had an open interview time if I could get my application turned in before then. Being my silly little self...I thought to my self, "ha! well that sucks..I'm already half way through this other one....I don't need to apply to another one..." and with once click...I deleted the email.
VERY VERY VERY luckily for me...my mother had also received the email...and had set up the interview.
I was their last interviewee, and was very nevourse for the outcome.
I waited for a few weeks to hear back from the Rotary...it was very similar when i was waiting to hear back from People to people if i was accepted into their program or not. After a few weeks of me waiting for a phone call, My Step dad Gery got an email saying that i was accepted...he called me up and read me the email...
In the moment I found out I was accepted my life took on a new course.
I started to get Familiar with the Rotary club... the first event where i met the whole bunch was at a silent auction...I met Molly who was the one other kid who was accepted into our Rotary club.
She will be going to India next year.
We became quick friends, and then later that evening met Juliana...The one who convinced me to go to Brasil.
So I'm sure your all thinking, "Wait...where is Italy in all this?"
Well the fact is...You don't EXACTLY get to choose your country in Rotary.
It's like a business meeting...you meet all the adults and The country Officers...now, Your main objection is to present yourself the best you can in front of the county officers, and get to know them so that they remember your name. All of them are the keepers of your fate.
In the end they ultimately choose which country you will be going to.
Through the process I slowly began to realize that Italy just didn't seem as my main focus anymore.
I just wanted to get out an see the world, see some where that would throw me for a loop...Teach me the wrongs in all the stereotype's out there in the world.
The more Juliana talked about Brasil, the more and more I wanted to go there. Now only was she the sweetest thing in the world, but Bruna another Brasilian I met along my way with Rotary was just as amazing as Juliana!!!
By the time the Ski trip rolled around I was all excited and worried at the same time.
The weekend dragged on forever, and all any of us really wanted was to find out which country we would be going to for the coming year. The evening of the announcement I remember getting into the car with my host dad and mom of the weekend with the 3 other girls i was staying with...Wen-wen, Erica, and Audrey. We where all laughing and saying how we all wanted each-other to get the countries that were out first choices...Except for Wen-wen...she was in from Taiwan. We bust into sinning "I can go the distance" from the Disney move Hercules...because we had watched a disney move each night that weekend...due to the fact our host parents had like every Disney movie ever made...
but anyway...
as the night dwindled down, all of us...the Inbound and Outbound students were sent to the Bowling ally and were set loose.
Let me tell you,
about 90 kids with only three adults to look over them isn't the smartest idea...
When the time came...all the Country officers came to the building as slowly got us ready for the announcement of the countries.
You could have cut the air with a knife.
They started reverse alphabetically...
Brasil was second to last.
I remember at one point they where calling up a body named Andrew to come up because he was going to Taiwan or something...and for some reason the beginning of Andrew makes my mind think they are saying Angela...and i just about died.
It got down to the two last counties...
Argentina and Brasil...
A whole puddle of us were sitting on the bowling ally floor looking up at all the kids who's names had already been read...knowing that in just a few short seconds that ours would be read two.
Slowly our group dwindled down two the last to people...
Audrey and myself.
Latched arm in arm we sat there shaking in anxiety looking up at the Brasilian's and the Argentinean's.
Now, Audrey wanted to go to Argentina..and I wanted to go to brasil...
Yes it was evident that we where going to get the counties we wanted...but still...they could have been awfully cruel and switched it up on us...
Either way...
Latin America is fine with me!
The moment they read our names We flipped Sh*t and sprinted to our new group.
I couldn't believe I was going to go to Brasil!!!
I had a huge amount of doubt within me...due to the fact that
Lori...y country officer is in my Rotary club...Lori is in Charge of India and Brasil.
Molly...the one other person accepted into o my Rotary group was going to India.
Now how bad to you think it would seem if she sent both her kids to her countries?
pretty bad right?
Well luckily it wasn't a problem...and we both got our Wishes!
Also...Everyone in my host family that weekend got their first choice in Country.
Erica is going to Italy.
Audrey is going to Argentina.
I'm going to Brasil,
and Wen-wen is still here from Taiwan!
Over the past few month's Rotary has started to pick up, and soon enough I will be finding out which part of Brasil I will be going to! I'm so excited, it's all that is ever on my mind now day's.
I know it will be a lot allot allot of work getting up to that point, with Visa's and ll that stuff...but I'll do it and accomplish it!
Thanks for reading everybody!
Sincerely,
Angela.
[NOTE: this section is copied from a blog I created erlier...but I lost the password and email to...so here is my new account. :D]
I can Honestly say that if I had the chance,
I would step on that plane tomorrow.
For those of you who are late on hearing the news,
I will be leaving this summer for a year abroad in Brasil.
I'll be gone for about 360 days.
Last summer I had the privilege to travel through the Mediterranean with people to people student ambassadors.
I discovered my passion for travel and foreign cultures. By the time I had reached Italy, My heart was telling that I should never return to America. I promised myself that i would return to the country as soon as I could.
Later that summer when i arrived home, I was in desperate need of more travel, or at least to return to the amazing culture of Italy. I moped around for awhile until my father mentioned a word about looking into studying abroad.
little did he know that that small comment would result in his 15 (to be 16) year old daughter leaving his nest a few years to early to leave the modern life of an American behind.
I began looking at programs, searching the internet and doing research on programs. My father strongly insisted that I apply to Rotary. I nagged at him due to the fact that i had just missed their dead line. I sat down are wrote them an essay email telling them about how much I wanted to return to italy, and see what the world has to offer.
I had no response....
not right away, to say the least....
I began applying to on online Youth exchange program called Intrax...It was a long process that I had to write several essay's for and be on the tip-top of everything. About half way through filling out that program, The Rotary emailed me telling me that they had an open interview time if I could get my application turned in before then. Being my silly little self...I thought to my self, "ha! well that sucks..I'm already half way through this other one....I don't need to apply to another one..." and with once click...I deleted the email.
VERY VERY VERY luckily for me...my mother had also received the email...and had set up the interview.
I was their last interviewee, and was very nevourse for the outcome.
I waited for a few weeks to hear back from the Rotary...it was very similar when i was waiting to hear back from People to people if i was accepted into their program or not. After a few weeks of me waiting for a phone call, My Step dad Gery got an email saying that i was accepted...he called me up and read me the email...
In the moment I found out I was accepted my life took on a new course.
I started to get Familiar with the Rotary club... the first event where i met the whole bunch was at a silent auction...I met Molly who was the one other kid who was accepted into our Rotary club.
She will be going to India next year.
We became quick friends, and then later that evening met Juliana...The one who convinced me to go to Brasil.
So I'm sure your all thinking, "Wait...where is Italy in all this?"
Well the fact is...You don't EXACTLY get to choose your country in Rotary.
It's like a business meeting...you meet all the adults and The country Officers...now, Your main objection is to present yourself the best you can in front of the county officers, and get to know them so that they remember your name. All of them are the keepers of your fate.
In the end they ultimately choose which country you will be going to.
Through the process I slowly began to realize that Italy just didn't seem as my main focus anymore.
I just wanted to get out an see the world, see some where that would throw me for a loop...Teach me the wrongs in all the stereotype's out there in the world.
The more Juliana talked about Brasil, the more and more I wanted to go there. Now only was she the sweetest thing in the world, but Bruna another Brasilian I met along my way with Rotary was just as amazing as Juliana!!!
By the time the Ski trip rolled around I was all excited and worried at the same time.
The weekend dragged on forever, and all any of us really wanted was to find out which country we would be going to for the coming year. The evening of the announcement I remember getting into the car with my host dad and mom of the weekend with the 3 other girls i was staying with...Wen-wen, Erica, and Audrey. We where all laughing and saying how we all wanted each-other to get the countries that were out first choices...Except for Wen-wen...she was in from Taiwan. We bust into sinning "I can go the distance" from the Disney move Hercules...because we had watched a disney move each night that weekend...due to the fact our host parents had like every Disney movie ever made...
but anyway...
as the night dwindled down, all of us...the Inbound and Outbound students were sent to the Bowling ally and were set loose.
Let me tell you,
about 90 kids with only three adults to look over them isn't the smartest idea...
When the time came...all the Country officers came to the building as slowly got us ready for the announcement of the countries.
You could have cut the air with a knife.
They started reverse alphabetically...
Brasil was second to last.
I remember at one point they where calling up a body named Andrew to come up because he was going to Taiwan or something...and for some reason the beginning of Andrew makes my mind think they are saying Angela...and i just about died.
It got down to the two last counties...
Argentina and Brasil...
A whole puddle of us were sitting on the bowling ally floor looking up at all the kids who's names had already been read...knowing that in just a few short seconds that ours would be read two.
Slowly our group dwindled down two the last to people...
Audrey and myself.
Latched arm in arm we sat there shaking in anxiety looking up at the Brasilian's and the Argentinean's.
Now, Audrey wanted to go to Argentina..and I wanted to go to brasil...
Yes it was evident that we where going to get the counties we wanted...but still...they could have been awfully cruel and switched it up on us...
Either way...
Latin America is fine with me!
The moment they read our names We flipped Sh*t and sprinted to our new group.
I couldn't believe I was going to go to Brasil!!!
I had a huge amount of doubt within me...due to the fact that
Lori...y country officer is in my Rotary club...Lori is in Charge of India and Brasil.
Molly...the one other person accepted into o my Rotary group was going to India.
Now how bad to you think it would seem if she sent both her kids to her countries?
pretty bad right?
Well luckily it wasn't a problem...and we both got our Wishes!
Also...Everyone in my host family that weekend got their first choice in Country.
Erica is going to Italy.
Audrey is going to Argentina.
I'm going to Brasil,
and Wen-wen is still here from Taiwan!
Over the past few month's Rotary has started to pick up, and soon enough I will be finding out which part of Brasil I will be going to! I'm so excited, it's all that is ever on my mind now day's.
I know it will be a lot allot allot of work getting up to that point, with Visa's and ll that stuff...but I'll do it and accomplish it!
Thanks for reading everybody!
Sincerely,
Angela.
[NOTE: this section is copied from a blog I created erlier...but I lost the password and email to...so here is my new account. :D]
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