 My name is Larissa and I am 17 years old (I will be with
18 on sep. 11th - ^_^) I am an exchange student from Brazil and I will live one
year here, in Jacksonville, Florida. I am so excited for that!!
I am from the southeast of Brazil, in the state of Minas
Gerais, which is a very beautiful place, in mountains, that makes beautiful
views and an agreeable weather. My city Belo Horizonte is the capital of
Minas Gerais and has approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. I live with my
mother Edna, my stepfather Roberto, and my three sisters: the oldest one,
Michelle who is 23 years old and made her exchange program in Texas; Lauren
is 22 years old and she made hers in Russia; and my younger sister, Anne
Caroline, 14. I have two stepbrothers but they don't live with us: Gustavo
18, and Eduardo 15 years old. I have a really big family, I know!! But I
like it!! ^_^ And I can't forget the love of my life: my little dog Lolita,
who I will miss the most!!!
I was in the last year in my school and I used to do a lot
of things, such as participating on the student's consul, the school
newspaper, the voluntary group, and for five years I was part of a theatre
group who presents on theatre on my city. The coolest thing ever: my first
host family helped me get into an art school where I can study theatre!!!
Aren't they great?!!
I like to get busy, do as many things as I can, and things
that I like. I love to read, watch movies, hang out with friends, meet new
different places and different people, learn different languages and
culture, and I love to talk!! So if you are doing something interesting,
call me; if you aren't, call me anyway – I will love to hang out with you or
simply talk. ^_^
I hope to enjoy the most of my exchange, and make this the
best year of my life!!! Thanks
PS: my site with photos and journal of my exchange year:
www.fotolog.net/larissanaflorida |
A dream is a wish your heart makes.
Bette Midler
"Have faith in
your dreams
And someday, your rainbow will come shining through
No matter how
your heart is grieving
If you just keep believing
The dream that you wish will
come true"
My dream became true in the 23rd of July at 7pm when I got
into the airplane to Florida, USA. It was the beginning of my exchange
program! I had butterflies in my stomach, I was so excited and nervous, and
happy! It was my dream becoming true. I wasn't really afraid because I
talked a lot, before the trip, with Al Kalter, who helped me a lot making me
feel calm and secure. And I talked a lot with my 1st host family, they made
me feel at home even before I arrived in the country. All of them were so
nice with me that made my trip great! Without fear and insecure feelings -
what could go wrong with these incredible people to help me?
In the Atlanta Airport it was hard, I had only 45 minutes
to cross the whole airport with a really heavy bag. But I made it in time,
people were nice to me and helped me with my larges suitcases.
I arrived on 24th of July in Jacksonville Airport 20
minutes earlier, but Rob, my Rotary counselor, was there to receive me. He
gave me a big hug and said "Welcome". I was so happy!!! I did it!! My family
came a few minutes after that with a welcome sign! I felt like home. It was
so good feelings…
My host family: I have three host sisters, Katie is the
oldest. She is 20 years old, really pretty, fun, really intelligent. She is
going to travel to Hawaii in the end of August. Audrey is 19 years old,
really pretty, nice and fun. She likes the same things as me. She is going
to college in Tallahassee, in the end of August too. Meredith is as pretty
as her sisters, really nice and fun. She is 15 years old, and studies in the
same school as me. My host parents, Pete and Kristi Helow, are really fun
(my host dad is always making jokes) and kind and lovely.
On the way to the house I could see my new city -
Jacksonville is so beautiful!!! With a lot of green and rivers, a lot of
pretty houses… My host family is so fun!! We talked a lot (the airport is
really far form the house). They made a lot of jokes, and asked me about
Brazil and my life there. And I couldn't stop asking about Jacksonville,
everything was so different and so cute.
My two first weeks here was still summer break, my school
just started the 8th of August. We did a lot of fun things! Starting in my
first day - they took me to a Japanese restaurant (my favorite food), to
celebrate my arrival. In my second day they took me to the beach – it was
incredible!! The beach is so beautiful, and the water is so warm … And my
host sisters offered to teach me surf!! I'm going to be a surfer before the
end of this year.
 I
spent a lot of great time hanging out with my host sisters. I am really
lucky to be in this family!! They took me to see Jacksonville, to the beach,
to the movies. I met their friends, and we did a lot of fun stuff. I met
some other exchange students. I met first Gulten, from Turkey, when I went
with Mr. Ken to a meeting in his Rotary. She spent the day in my house and
then we went to my host club meeting. It was good, the only bad part was
giving my first speech there. I was awful! In the second Saturday I went to
a birthday party of Trish, a girl who was going to be an exchange student on
Austria. I went with Gulten and met Pond and Olga. It was fun.
After these two awesome weeks of vacation my school
started. I was accepted in an art high school here. This school is different
from the other ones (I had to send a monolog in English to be accepted) and
I study, besides the normal subjects, theatre subjects. My first day wasn't
bad. Everything was different and new, and I made my first friend in school
- Marina. Kristi, my host mom helped me a lot in my first day in school,
without her this day wouldn't be so good (thanks again Kristi ^_^)
This first month of school was really hard for me. Though
it started really good, I had a lot of difficult days. I understood all of
what the teachers said but in the end of the day I was always with headache
and tired. I didn't make any more friends in school - people are really
closed in their own groups, and spent my lunch time by myself, though I
tried really hard make friends.
 If
in school I was having a hard time, in home with my host family I was having
a great time. The best time ever!!! I went to Disney world to the Magic
Kingdom with my sister Audrey and Jarred, both great friends!! IT WAS THE
BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!! It was sweet, freaky awesome, ridiculously good …
hehe ^_^
The inbound Orientation was really good!!!!! I met all the
exchange students and they are awesome! I made a lot of good friends. I had
a really great time! I'm crazy to see them again!
This 1st month was like a dream becoming true! It was
perfect. Sometimes difficult, but with these hard times I'm growing. I'm
really lucky to have this family! I really had fun with my (host) mom, dad
and my sisters. They are like my family now… I was really sad when my
sisters had to travel - Katie to Hawaii and Audrey to Tallahassee. I really
miss them!!! But I'm happy to have Mere with me. We spend all the time
together, hanging out with her friends, watching TV (Gilmore Girls and
Everwood), talking, and laughing. My sisters here are my best friends. For
all this great time that I'm having here I thank My host parents, Katie,
Audrey, Meredith, Jared, Mr. Ken, Al Kalter and all people in Rotary. Thanks
for all.
|
Larissa
