Meeting Brazil

HELLO EVERYONE!

I've been a very bad girl and haven't written anything about Brazil after being here for two-weeks. To tell you the truth, life has been very busy getting to know a whole new country and culture but things seem to be falling into place. I'm warning you that this is going to be a long post, so brace yourself and be prepared! My adventure to Brazil all started like this...

September 15th was a very busy day. Of course you all know what a complete procrastinator I am and you probably can believe that I had about 500 million different things to do before I left for New York. I went into school to say my good-byes to everyone and take one last look at the old place. It was so nice to see everybody and I said many farewells. My mom and I left Montpelier around 7-ish, of course 5 hours after our estimated time, and began a long car ride through the hills of Vermont yelling "BYE VERMONT!" every 100 feet. When we crossed over into New Hampshire/Massachussetts we began to hit traffic which lasted probably the entire way to New York. We arrived at the hotel around 2 in the morning and that was probably when the enormity of everything hit me. I spent the night crying and hugging my mom feeling completely unprepared and that I was making a big mistake. The next morning I spent trying not to cry as we took the shuttle to my terminal. I remember everything didn't feel real, like a dream. When I said good-bye to my mom I lost it and felt the most scared I've ever felt in my life.

The airplane ride was 10-11 hours long, but it was probably the most comfortable ride I've ever had. I met such nice people and although they took my mind off the gravity of the situation, I pretty much cried for most of the flight. When I arrived at Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo, Brazil I got lost and couldn't find my family. I felt so alone and confused and extremely depressed until I stepped outside of the airport. The first thing that hit me was a gust of fresh warm air followed by a lone voice calling out, "María?..." and then I saw them. With big goofy smiles on all of their beautiful faces and their arms wide open I saw my new families. All the regrets, all the sadness, all the cold lonely feelings dissapeared and I was surrounded by their love. Because my portuguese was... um... questionable at that point all I could do was nod and give them all the biggest hugs you could imagine. After we stopped at a pizza place in a nearby town called São José and headed on back to Guaratinguetá to my new home.

Ever since that my life here has been filled with love, happiness, and exciting new things. All of the brazilians have excepted me with arms and hearts wide open. They really all are quite lovely people. I've tried new exotic fruits, I've played crazy brazilian games, and I even took a capoeira class (which I must tell you is the most spectacular thing you'll ever see the human body do). I've met people from all over the world and made friends with some of the kindest people you'd ever meet. I miss my family, friends, and pets terribly but I'm so happy here and am enjoying every minute.

I love all you so very much and I'm so thankful that you all are supporting me. All of the e-mails everyone has been sending are all so very touching and I think of you all everyday. I would add some pictures but I forgot my camera in the states (can you believe it? yeah, thought you could). All I can do is tell you that life here is like a dream and it keeps getting better everyday. I love you all so much!!! You're all in my heart!!!

SO MUCH LOVE!
-marie