Mosquitos biting my legs.

This morning I walked myself to the CIEE office
where I have my 4 hour Portuguese class. It's about a 15 minute walk
and the street that I have to walk the longest on is incredibly steep.
In fact, so steep that you can't see the top. The trek was definitely a struggle,but then I arrived sweating and exhausted and felt so accomplished.

I'll say it again: I love my 4 hour Portuguese class.
I didn't think it was possible but it flies by.

For lunch we went to a restaurant where they charge you by how much your plate weighs. They're pretty popular. The meat here is really good. I'm not a huge meat person but once again the meat here is delicious. Especially the beef. Oh and I had great lemon mousse.

The afternoon Brazilian culture lecture was substantially better today. I could actually understand a lot of what he was saying. I don't know if I'm getting better or it was just a clearer lecture.

I think I'm getting better.

After class, Fernanda one of the CIEE workers who is actually only 22 and a student at the University here, took me to her mom's dentist where there were the best dressed receptionists that I've ever seen. The dentist was an incredibly sweet lady with a cute little blond braid. She also spoke English which was helpful. She fixed my tooth (a fractured filling) and cleaned my teeth for 150 Reais which is like 80 dollars maybe.I didn't even need anesthesia. Then she gave Fernanda and me the little toothpaste tubes. She might be the best dentist I've ever had.
Fernanda just dropped me off back at home in a taxi.
I know it's still really early but I get why Americans come here and
just stay. It's been one of those days where you come home really happy. The mosquitos are out to play but I feel good. Beijos!

B

Eu adoro

I moved in with my host family this week. My host mom is a journalist. Her name is Nelcy. I also have two host sisters Olivia (18) and Sophia (21). Sophia has a boyfriend named Ricardo who I consider my host brother. I adore my host siblings. They are hilarious and in general good company. They've really gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable. We've been speaking in English which I know is bad, but it was really important to me to establish a relationship with them first. We'll start with Portuguese this week for sure. I've asked Nelcy to start speaking to me in Portuguese and she does. Then I look confused. And she repeats it. Then she repeats it again in English.
They live in a beautiful peach and teal home with a garden in the front. Their house is full of art and contemporary furniture and the kitchen has 50's style black and white tile. My room is small but very comfortable (Barbie sheets!). I have a wonderful view of rooftops from my window and there's also a pomegranate tree (too far to reach).

Today was my first day of class. I love my Portuguese teacher. She has some excellent teaching methods. I spoke more Portuguese in class today than I have since I began learning the language. There was some awkward racial stuff but I think that will happen a lot while I'm here so I won't sweat it...yet. The class on Brazilian culture proved to be much harder. Picture a one hour lecture on modernism in a language that you don't really understand. I had an awful headache by the end. After class my host mom picked me up and we went home. I took two pain meds and "napped" until 7:30pm. Oh I also discovered today that I chipped a molar sometime this afternoon. It's sort of sharp but otherwise I don't notice it. I should go to a dentist. I'll see if CIEE can help me tomorrow.

Now because of my odd sleep schedule I'm not entirely sure when to go to bed. That being said I am feeling tired again. I'm not exactly sure why I'm so exhausted. I think it's probably the heat. I've been watching American television with Portuguese subtitles all night. It's great. Super helpful. The best are music videos because lyrics are typically very simple.
On a final note, today my dad signed an e-mail "Tchau!" So very sweet.

Beijos,
B

Day 1

I'm here and everything is wonderful. Really.
I keep comparing this to the first week of college. Remember how time felt like it was flying by because so much was happening? I feel like I've been here much longer than 1 day.

CIEE has put us up in a very nice hotel for orientation. There's wonderful art on the walls. This morning I woke up late and as I was reaching for a pair of jeans and a sweater I remembered that I was in Brazil. What a fantastic realization.

Yesterday was a lot of meeting people and eating. We went to a buffet for lunch and I was surprised to find that I had no clue what anything was. I could tell what was meat and what was pasta and what was vegetables but I couldn't really read the signs or make out specific flavors. Although everything was delicious that was definitely my "Shit, I'm in Brazil for real" moment. After lunch I went and found Angela.
There are no words to express how good it is to have a close friend nearby at moments like these. We hugged and hugged like we hadn't seen each other in years. Interestingly enough, Angela is rooming with a girl who goes to MU and is friends with my friend since middle school, Noah. They're both so comforting to have here--two "hometown" connections.
Later that evening we did some orientation stuff and had dinner and then the CIEE people told us they were taking us dancing. We walked about two miles to a club which wasn't open yet at 11:00pm (we are not in Minnesota anymore) and then got cabs and headed back to a place closer to the hotel. The walk ended up not being in vain because we got a great walking tour of the city. The club was fun and we headed back around 1 which was perfect for our 7am wake up call this morning. Today is mostly more orientation. I'm meeting my host family tonight which is a little scary even though they seem very nice.
I probably wont write everyday but I think that it's important to write at the beginning at least.

Tchau!

-B

Update

My flight arrived to Chicago on Wednesday morning almost 30 minutes late. As a result I missed the block of time for visa inquiries at the consulate but knew I could return on Thursday and tried not to sweat it.
On Thursday at the consulate I sat in the oddly sterile waiting room with my heart frantically beating out of my chest. I think I knew things were going to be okay when I heard the guy ahead of me (one of four, middle aged White guys traveling to Brazil "on business") go up to the window and say "Hey I need a visa to Brazil and I'm leaving on January 9th. Can I get one by then?" and the woman replied "Yeah, that shouldn't be a problem." I remember being annoyed with him and the ease with which he asked the question and I still don't understand why anyone who intentionally wait last minute to apply for a visa.
Once I got to the window myself, I explained the situation, the lady took my application and then told me "You're leaving on January 8th? We'll send it either on Monday or Tuesday. Is that okay?" And that was it. So, God granted, I should have my visa by Wednesday and leave on time.
Currently I'm in Minnesota buying my time until January 3rd when a flight back to Missouri was cheaper. Despite all of the last minute traveling and stress, I've actually had a lot of fun the past few days.Go figure.

7 days and counting.
-B

Bureau-crazy

From CIEE:

" Hi Bimbola,

I received the message from customer service. I will contact the consulate as well, but unfortunately I have heard from other students who use the Chicago consulate that they were running into the same issue – we’re not sure why the Chicago consulate is requiring the VITEM4 instead, as their requirements for the 1 are clearly for exchange students and all of the other consulates are processing it as such. There’s not much I can do – we have been appealing to them since they have done this to a few students and we’ve been trying to have them process it.

At this point there’s 1 of 2 options:

1) Fly to Chicago to have the visa processed

2) Contact your airline now to see if you’re unable to make the flight if you can use the credit towards a later flight. Explain the situation (that you’re waiting for your visa) and will be flying to Sao Paulo just at a later date – most airlines will allow you to use the credit for the flight as long as you tell them in advance that you won’t be able to make it. If you need to arrive a bit late to the program because of your visa this is something that I will talk to the resident staff about, it shouldn’t be a problem. "

I'm tempted to write back,

"Dear CIEE,

You are unhelpful and send e-mails that take up room in my inbox and make me sad."

Love,

Bimbola

....So I'm flying to Chicago tomorrow morning to take care of business. Wish me luck!

Visa Troubles

There are nothing like visa troubles to remind you that you're scheduled to leave the continent in 11 days.
I found out today that the envelope that was suppose to contain my visa-ed passport for Brazil actually contained paperwork informing me that I had applied for the wrong type of visa and they needed more paperwork. I have 11 days. To make things worse my study abroad adviser was out of the office today "for the holidays." How nice.
It's hard, waiting until tomorrow to fix this whole mess. It's looking like I may need to book a flight to Chicago on Wednesday and pay the consular a visit.
Send positive energy my way tonight.
(Please someone tell me something good tomorrow).

Goodnight.

B

So Angela says I should update my blog more...

I'm writing to inform you that this will soon become my study abroad blog.Although I think that study abroad blogs are lame by definition what else can I call writing in a blog while I'm studying abroad?
Starting on January 8th, 2010 I will be studying abroad in Brazil first in Sao Paulo for a month and then in Salvador da Bahia until June 22nd.
(Sorry, I don't know how to put that squiggly thing over the "a" yet. Or how to properly format a sentence within parenthesis).

All My Love,
Bimbola