Elena Mascarenhas

2006-07 Inbound from Brazil

Hometown: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Sponsor: Bahia Rotary Club, District 4550, Brazil

Host: Flagler Beach Rotary Club, District 6970, USA

School: Flagler Palm Coast High School

Bio

Elena's Bio

Since my first day in Florida, I find me among happy and friendly people that are always ready to teach me, make me feel at home or just ready to have fun! Leaving the life that I had been building during all my 16 years was strange (but not bad!)... I'm far from my parents, my family, my friends, my school, my country... I'm far from everything that I used to have! But if I was able to build all my life once, I can (WE CAN) do it twice! And you can't imagine how interesting it has been....

Now I have a lot of things to meet and discover, I feel like I just was born! Doing an exchange student program was my dream and my goal since I was 8! I wished and I worked hard to be here, but my exchange is worth much more. It wont be just one more year, it will be the year! I'll grow, I'll enjoy, I'll learn, and I'll teach... yes, we are all able to teach something! I'm here to understand and to explain.... I came to see this country and to show mine!

Thanks God, thanks family, thank you Rotary... for making my dream come true!

September 20 Journal

Oh my gosh! I'm in Florida for more than 2 months already... the time is going away really fast! The only thing that I can think about is.... I have to enjoy every minute that I have here, because they won't come back never!

See that my exchange is being shorter could make me sad... but it isn't! because I can look back and see how many experiences I had, how many people I met, how much I grew! and also see that I've been developing not only my English but also my mind.

One thing that I notice is that here the friendship take more time to become close. Has been strange for me - don't feel the warm hug of my Brazilian friends every day, don't have by my side people that understand me with a single glance...

But you know? Each day is a new day, when my actions can make all the difference! Is interesting to see my friendships growing step by step... I could never imagine how is to make all your friends at once! I realized how much patience is a treasure when you start from the zero.

Here is a very, very small city... I look around and I see a lot of trees. Sincerely? It scared me! but so far I've done a lot of cool things! I went to Orlando some days ago and I saw the Cirque Du Soleil, the Planet Hollywood, Downtown Disney... yeaaaaah! It was Amazing!!! It looks so silly, but you can believe... my eyes were deep in tears when I saw all that stuff! "This world" was so far from me, from my reality! but nowadays, I can tell, MICKEY is my neighbor!Lol! And I can't wait for the inbounds' trip to DISNEY WORLD!

Hey my friends (inbounds 2006-2007)! I love you soooooooooo much! I'm counting down to see you again... You give me the best moments in the USA. You are more than special in my new life!

I can't forget to say how I appreciate my host Rotary Club of Flagler Beach and our meetings! I feel a member of this big family now =]

"I can't change the direction of the wind... but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destinations!"

and here I GO!

October 19 Journal

Last week was my HOMECOMING week! A huge event that happens in American high school =) it starts with the dress up days..... AMAZING! the first costume theme was Pajamas day, I was just counting down to Monday... can you imagine almost the whole school (including teachers!) wearing their bed clothes(besides their teddy bears, house shoes, robes, rollers in the head...)? I couldn't! After, we had blast from the past, super hero, poor and rich and on Friday spirit day ("everybody" wearing green, painted...). Was completely fun and unforgettable!!

On Friday after school I went to my friend's house, we painted symbols (green and black paw and FPC) of the school in our cheeks I went to the homecoming football game, which is the biggest ever! We won! Our team is certain really good.. score 41x0 , I guess... I can understand some things already, the most exciting moment is the touchdown!

I even could rest after all that because Saturday morning I went to the hair stylist! I liked the curlies that he did in my hair, however he cut it so much (what always happened in Brazil)! ok... I bet it is the same in the whole world =(

Then I need to hurry to packing 2 luggages: one for the after party at my friend's house (oh! I forgot to tell, she was nominated the homecoming queen! so cool!) and another one to the trip to North Carolina with Rotarians of my club!!

Well, my host parents dropped me off in Taylor's house around 5:30 for we have time to take the pictures =] the friends do it in here often before the big parties! and it was crowded! really... about 20 people and her house, it is sooo pretty, exactly as I imagine how would be an American house... I mean, it is even better, so cute. after we left (driving the cars -not me! them- what is awesome smell freedom, in Brazil we are only allowed to drive with 18 years old!

The party was crowded, the school decorated and the disco was amazing! good music, dance and friends! very funny ;] I danced a lot, I didn't stop even when my legs started to get sore, was just so much fun! When the party was over we went to the homecoming queen's house where we had a snack and then we watched movies in her own movie theater!

6 o'clock...hour to wake up (yes, that earlier)! ... I took a shower and some minutes after Joy and Steve, a Rotarian couple of my host club, picked me up and then the wonderful TRIP to NORTH CAROLINA started!

Well... I confess that I slept almost all the way up to NC but was interesting because when I woke up I looked thru the window and.... the world was so colorful! and the fall became real to my eyes...! I've never seen this before, it's adorable...

The roads in America are very good! I think that the government works really well in this country...

When we arrived at the cabin (in the mountains) I just couldn't believe in what I was seeing...! The house was so "movie"! I mean... was completely like as I saw in the American mountains movies! But the point is: I didn't think that they were real... Bear heads and skins on the walls pairing with the deer head and dead big fish! Set on the floor, in front of the fire place a bear rug (carpet), was just the most cinematographic place that I could imagine to be in during my whole life!

And the hot spot of the property, a fabulous waterfall that converges to a huge and beautiful river where the colored mountain reflected..... Dreaming?? I don't think so!

The weather was interesting! I saw my "coldest temperature record" ever 40ºF (I know... but I used to live in a tropical country!)... and I just loved it! I wore 2 pants, a shirt with long sleeves, jacket, a huge red robe, and 2 socks! haha

I went to the top of the mountain, to the downtown, the the Biltmore Castle (my gooooosh! the hugest building that I ever saw! sooo pretty, is unbelievable how someone can have such a big "house" lol) I can't forget to tell how many ice-creams fudges and marshmallow (delicious when we heat in the fire place! you need to taste it!) we ate! And my trip partners: Joy, Steve, Andy and Utah (their friends) and Tuff (the dog!) are sooooo friendly, funny, and lovely.... they gave me one of the best moments in my life!!

thank youuuuuuuuuuuu see you in Daytona =D

November 23 Journal and Pictures

And you can imagine how much life can fit in 4 months! I did so many things so far...It's amazing I always have something to do, sometimes more than one at once (what drives me crazy, lol)! but that's great, because I'm having the opportunity to experience a lot. At the beginning, as I said, the such small and spread city scared me, that is because... it is different! But now I see that different doesn't means worse, actually it even means special. You learn to appreciate and enjoy the things just the way they

I gotta tell something really cute! November first was my 17th birthday, actually in this day I didn't do exciting stuff but was a nice day that I felt loved and happy... But 2 days after, I was coming home from my friend's house when I opened the door and...........

A BIG SURPRISE PARTY was there for me!!! I couldn't believe... I was almost without reaction for a while... just trying to realize that it was real!

My house was so pretty, all decorated with balloons, happy birthday signs, Brazilian colors...! but what made this day so special was the presence of a lot of my friends from the high school, from the exchange student program, from the church, Rotarians and my host family (almost complete! some came from Tallahassee and New York), which made me SO, so happy! the food was wonderful! My host mother is an excellent cook, she can even make my favorite Brazilian dish better than my mother! I received the most beautiful and deep messages ever! A lot of birthday cards, flowers and gifts, so cool and pretty... =D after we (some exchange students) went to the meeting of Daytona's Rotary club, was the best ever! the Rotarian did barbecue and a dinner for us... during the day we took a ride in his boat, played with the "tubing" (cool), danced...

There is NO way to forget one of the most remarkable days in MY LIFE! thank you thank you thank you... I have no words to say how it was priceless

The American HALLOWEEN is awesooome! I had a lot of fun with my friends... and a LOT of candies too!

Last weekend I spent an adorable time in Saint Augustine with some of my exchange student friends... it is amazing how we're close as we know each other for years...!

As my club president said to me yesterday, the exchange student program will be one of the most important experiences that I'll have... a year that will change all my life and mind... as a consequence, I'll be able to change the life of the others too! Because the world is showing me (each day more) that what really matters is to love and be loved in return!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (I'm excited about today!) beijos =*

December 13 Journal and Pictures

I enjoyed all parks! The tower, the rock'n roller coaster and the street all covered with Christmas lights were the best at MGM. In the Magic Kingdom the castle fireworks show (that was the prettiest thing that I've ever seen in my whole life!) was the one... I really enjoyed the space mountain, the Mickey's 3d movie (with apple pie smell!), the Fantasmic show, the whole Epcot park and the Everest, in the Animal Kingdom!! \o/ and was nice to meet even more exchange students from other districts! THANK YOU ROTARY, one more time...!

I also liked to watch the candlelight choir in the Epcot... this time as a spectator! because my first time there was as a choir member! I went to Disney with my High School chorus teacher and classmates to sing as a soprano! It was a priceless experience!!! I could imagine that I would go to Disney World one day.... but I could NEVER imagine that I would be part of that magic! We arrived there with the really-American-yellow-school-bus thru the 'staff entrance', then they fed us and we went to rehearsal with a real maestro and Disney's band and singers. Also a famous American, that I don't know (he was the judge in "Dancing with the Stars") went there to watch us, all the choir starts to scream his name! It was funny =-) On the way to the stage -crossing the park- we had security guards! and everybody was looking at us with our goldish clothes and (fake) candles! I'm gonna tell you that what I felt when the lights were on my face, the orchestra was playing, and hundreds of people (they said thousands!) were applauding us, will be on my memory forever! At the end I said for my teacher the most truly sentence: "you just made true a dream that I could never even wish!"

. . .

Last Saturday my city had the Christmas parade! was so nice.... can you believe that 'Santa Claus' came by parachute? haha too funny! It was also cool to see a lot of people with costumes, the bands and the decorated cars/trucks! Sunday was the District 6970 meeting in the... JAGUARS football game :D delightful! was the first official match that I watched, and I really had fun! After the game is even better! They have a drums concert.... SO SO SO Exiting! I had a lot of fun, danced and remembered my BRAZIL...oh yeah.... all those beats, energy, people, music, dance and happiness.... my heart was jumping out! I felt at home :D

Tomorrow I'll have a concert with the choir in the auditorium! will be very nice and big... I'm excited \o/

see ya tchau ;*

February 1 Journal and Pictures

New Year New Life!

Something incredible is happening ... 2007 has been even better than 2006, even though I thought that the things couldn't be better!

It all started in the last days of 2007, when I went with Edgar and his counselor to a hockey game... my first ever! I liked it a lot - it's really fast and ice skating looks awesome (I gotta do that too). On the 30th we went shopping at the Avenues Mall where we met Nathy with her new host family (they are nice). We noticed that, contrasting with Brazil, the clothes in the stores weren't majority white... because in our country, during the new year's time, almost everything is white! It's a really strong tradition over there: wear something (or even everything) white during the changing of the year... white means peace, what we all wish for! Actually each color has a meaning and you choose your clothes according to what you want in the coming year. Blue is harmony, red is passion, yellow and gold bring money, green is hope, pink... love. We don't wear black at all, it means that we aren't open for the blessings of the new year & new life. And between us... the underwear must be brand new, don't ask me why! We also toast with champagne at midnight, sing together and watch the gorgeous fire works. When possible we jump 7 waves (making 7 wishes) in the ocean, eat grapes (and throw the seeds away over our back), leave flowers and lighted candles on the beach.... It is amazing the new year's party in BRAZIL and it usually lasts around to the sunrise time...

But my party in America was also AMAZING! First of all in the 31st the exchange students plus some Rotarians went to the Gator Bowl Parade in Jacksonville.... soooooooooooooooo cool man! All the flags, the blazers with pins (or pins with blazers??), the fancy Rotary car, the public, the lollypops, the happiness, the FUN... wow, I loved, WE loved! After that we headed on to Olof host family's, that kindly hosted we all in their fantastic house. There we played basketball, soccer, ping-pong, played the game that we throw arrows in a circled board set on the wall (dardo? editor's note: I think she means "darts"), rode bicycles, scooters, jumped in the trampoline, swam in the swimming pool, danced, sang, ate really good...was awesome. During the last ten seconds of 2006 we were embraced in a huge hug counting down with the New Yorkers on the television... 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 zerooooooooooooooo :D yayyy - we were together, we were happy, and that is eternal.

I'm not sure when we slept (did we sleep? just kidding... just a little but we did), we talked and laugh a lot that day...... "PERFEITO"!

Right after I get home I went back to my packing.... I have sooo many stuffs! 3 enormous luggages + a hand bag and my purse to fit it all! Took me a while to put that together, but the "deadline" was close: January 3rd > moving day! I cried when I saw everything packed and when I left to Jacksonville (knowing that I wasn't going to live in my 1st home anymore), but wasn't that tragic... as my first host family said: I'm moving, not leaving. And I was happy =] I knew that I was going to live with Lea! She is my counselor (actually, she was, they "fired" her, because she can't be my counselor and mom at the same time), we met in my earlier days in America and since so I love her. I also love to live here, even though lots of people won't be excited when I say "no... It's only Lea and I", they don't know how fun it has been! Host families aren't necessary a model - dad, mom, a brother, a sister & a dog! - they are real, and however they are, they're beautiful. "Opening your heart to the world"

Now that I live extremely close by the beach (with the intracoastal view in my porch!), my daily routine changed completely. My bus stop is on the beach side walk with a gorgeous sunrise - this is how my day begins... when I get home I walk Maxi, our dog. She's so sweet! What amazes me is that the cat Oliver (Oli), comes to hang out with us... so cute! Then I ride my bike, YES finally I'm doing some exercise but eating!! and hopefully I'm gonna lose this 18 American pounds that no, thanks, I don't want as souvenirs!

Another good thing about living here is that I know a lot of people that also live by the beach, and now I'm able to go to some places by myself (which means a lot for me) and do things such as go to the bank, to the stores, to restaurants + ice cream store, pass by to say friends hello and of course, chill on the beach or in a cool wooden bridge over the river =]

10 days ago I went to an oyster roast, I haven't been in one before, but was nice! Rotarians were there and for me it automatically means Have Fun! Every time that we are together it's awesome =] And you won't believe what they did for me....

I was kind of sad because I wasn't going with my friends to the end of the exchange year trip. It's gonna be the BEST TRIP EVER (Grand Canyon, Idaho, Los Angeles, Oregon, Las Vegas...!) with 100 students that are in the USA or Canada... sounded so good, but I knew: I couldn't go. I couldn't.... BUT now I can and I'M GOING! They are giving it to me! One more time my Rotary club is making possible the realization of dreams in my life, they are awesome. THANKS FLAGLER BEACH ROTARY CLUB! I love you ! <3

I couldn't be happier ;) live.laugh.&.love Elena

April 19 Journal and Pictures

So here I am... back to my journal after 4 months! it seems a lot, but they were SO fast. Oh gosh... I'm starting to freak out... I DON'T wanna go back that soon!! (not that I don't wanna go back to brazil.. yes I do. but what do you think about talking about leaving within a year? yeap that would be tremendously awesome. but no, Elena, come back to the reality: in 2 months you gotta wake up from your Cinderella dream). Think about the coolest year in my life, that would be 2007. First of all we started it in an amazing Passover party at a Rotarian's house, that hosted all of us. Since then my life has just been getting better and better. I moved to the beach on the first week. All my life changed.. and I had SO much fun living there...! My host mother (my mother) Lea, is super involved with politics and business and she used to take me everywhere with her. It was very interesting to see how do this things work in the USA. I also became a Gator and a Starbucks fan ( all her fault ;] ), they are awesome and I don't know what I'm gonna do of my life, since we don't have them in my country... okaaaay I'm over dramas now.

What I really want to say though, is how much this American life became MY LIFE and I just don't know how it is going to be without it. not mentioning my friends... MY FRIENDS ARE AWESOME and I love them to death. We just had PROM! I have no words to describe how much fun we had... Pictures time, dinner out, dance, afterparty... we had everything and I just couldn't have had a better experience of that such important event in an American teenager life - or in an Brazilian teenager life, mine =]

I moved from the beach 20 days ago, my new house is cool too, has a nice pool and we can kayak, take a boat or jet ski ride whenever... my new host family is the sweetest!! Now I have a little sister, she is not that little - 15 years old - but still, and I like that, because I've never had one before.

However moving was the hardest experience that I've been through so far. I cried SO SO SO much. I've never been that sad in my life before. I barely slept for about 4 days, my body was soaring and I was about to break down...(what a crazy feeling... I can't really figure out why it was so intense, probably because besides missing Lea so much, the moving made me realize that YES, the things do have an end, an mine - as an exchange student - is not far to come. Fortunately I had people that stood by me and did everything to cheer me up, and these people are the ROTARIANS of my club. I gotta tell you that the relationships that I established with some of them are so amazing that I have them as my family, as angels that will always have a place to live in my heart.

My Easter was perfect!! I went with my new family to Massachusetts. We spent 3 days at her sister's house, over there Easter is an important holiday and we got to do all the traditional customs, such as stuffing the little eggs with candies and 1 dollar bills for the grand hunt (about 15 people running around the yard with plastic bags to get them!), painting eggs, looking for our "Bunny lefted" Easter baskets right after waking up, eat a LOT of food and especially get together with the family (more than 20 people). I definitely loved ALL that, but the thing that amazed me the most was the SNOW! Oh my gosh, I GOT TO SEE SNOW! I couldn't believe, it is April and it wasn't supposed to snow by now... but IT DID! How blessed I am...

OH! and I can't forget to say a very excited thing... I've been DREAMING IN ENGLISH! yay yay yay even my dad was speaking in English with me - but he actually can't - how funny! Now I do everything in English, I gotta translate them to Portuguese if I need to. Weird! but I like though :)

Now I have a bunch of things to do and NO TIME to fit them in!!

The Rotary District 6970 Conference is coming up and I am excited about it... it's going to be so gorgeous! And I'm sure that I'll be really happy, especially because I'll get to be with my exchange students buddies again!!!!

love for yall :D Elena

May 15 Journal and Pictures

Hi everyone! I've done many cool things lately...

The District Conference in Gainesville was amazing! I got together with the inbounds, the outbounds, the Rotarians... I really enjoyed it. A lot of cool stuff happened... on the Parade of Flags we were all so proud for carrying our flags and for listening to our national anthem! Srushti's dance was truly entertaining. There I received the Exchange Student of the Year award, which made me so so happy. I was surprised... first because I didn't know the District would recognize a student, then because even if I knew that, the kids are all so amazing that I wouldn't expect to receive it either... However I am thrilled with it and also with the Paul Harris Fellow, which was given to me by our governor Brent Williams, so sweet of him to do that. I'll cherish them forever and always, both things meant a lot to me!

Before the Conference, Lea -host mother2- and I did a "Gator tour"! We went to the Swamp, to the basketball arena, we took pictures with the statues of Albert and Alberta (the mascots), we visited the UF campus.... It was cool!! I am seriously thinking on coming back to FL and study for a year, as an exchange student (YAY again! I'm gonna like that) in the University of Florida. It is an awesome school and they teach law -what I'm gonna work with- really good, so to do that would be great for my future.

Right after leaving Gainesville I went to school and met up with my High School friends, we had our Grad Nite in Disney/Magic Kingdom! Actually they had, I'm not a senior yet... however I got to go too. I told my counselor I wanted to experience everything, he agreed with me! cool :D the party was a blast. We got back at school by 6:30 am! so tiring -I went home and slept right away- but so much FUN!

After wake up, Donna -host mother3- took us (her daughter Taylor, a friend and I) to celebrate my host sister's 15th birthday spending the weekend in a hotel in St. Augustine called Casa Monica, which is more than 100 years old and is awesome.

This month I had one of the most amazing experience one can have... I SWAM WITH DOLPHINS! Lea, Jennifer (her daughter) and I (her other daughter lol) went to Marineland. There we had a class about the animals and got to learn a bunch of cool stuff, then we went to the tanks and hung out there for half an hour... playing, kissing and admire those adorable creatures!

How lucky I am :) What I've done in a year is probably more than what a lot of people won't get to do in their whole life time.

In March I met the publisher of my city magazine in a store. We started talking and I told him about my experience as an exchange student, which he liked pretty good and asked me if I would write an article about it... "-absolutely"...! The Palm Coast Life Style Magazine came out this month, so exciting! It is cool when people come to me saying they read and liked it. It also includes our inbound Nathalia Cunha, our outbound Bristol Marotta and the Rotex Kira Chichersky, I interviewed them... THANKS girls! - the article was published on the magazine website too: www.palmcoast-lifestyles.com! (read the article)

Last weekend I got to hang out with some of the exchange students... how I LOVE that ;) we went to a friend's party, to the beach and the to the Daytona Beach West Rotary club party, where Bill Griffin gave a great speech about the exchange student program/the exchange students... he also invited each one of us to talk about who we are and what we have done... It was beautiful! (Audrey and I cried by the way... we always do, lol). On this Sunday I helped my club with our greatest fund raising, the 'a hundred miles Bike event', which was recognized as the Best Fund Raising at the district conference!

Yesterday I hung out with Lea -host mother2- my Rotary club president Judy, Terry, and with Joy (Rotarian) in the beach house they rented to get together over the weekend. Even though I'm much younger (sorry about that, girls ;]), we ALWAYS have fun. I love how they are all friends and how I'm a friend with them, so then we all can spend time together at once! How convenient is that? Because time is the only thing I don't have enough.. :D

Today is Mother's Day!! Oh my gosh I've never had so many mothers before... My mother, my grandma, Edna, Lea and Donna (host mothers) + Joy and Judy (Rotarians that care about me like I was their daughter and who I love with love we give to mothers). They all got cards and phone calls, which for me was kinda crazy, interesting and also pretty cool! I had breakfast with my current family at Starbucks, lunch with Lea, Jennifer, and Tom (2nd family), and dinner at home (Taylor and I prepared such a cute table with chocolates we made, cards and flowers for Donna, she loved!).

That is going to be my last week at school, I'll miss it terribly, however I can't wait to do all the amazing things I'll get to do on my vacations! (I'm going to Washington DC within 2 WEEKS who-hoo).

Alright... I gotta go because it is too long already! :)

Kisses and hugs ;* & _o/

Elena Macedo Mascarenhas

May 21 Journal and Pictures

I'm somehow gone back to Brazil already...I can feel that. I am a half here, a half there. I'm lost for having two places to go and do not know where to stay.

When I stop to see what has changed, it surprises me to realize that the patriotic Brazilian girl has become an American. I used to wear Brazilian things all the time, hardly ever would you see me without at least one thing (a shirt, necklace, bracelets, shoes, sweater, earrings...) that was representing my country... by the end of 2006 those started to be absent in my outfits... I didn't mean to, but it just happened to be like this. I kind of learned the Star Spangled Banner song throughout the year, and now that is the anthem I sing when I do so. I've seen my "Myspace top friends" changing month after month (yeah I did a Myspace... but... which AMERICAN teenager did not?) ... what at first was filled with Brazilians and exchange students now has Americans all over!

The Brazilian coffee is one of the most famous in the world, but when I think about coffee, I think about STARBUCKS. When I'm planning my future trips, they are not about driving a car or taking a plane for few hours... I want to go to Europe, Asia, I want to come back... I wanna go see my friends, and now they are all around... My world got bigger!

My thoughts are in English, my DREAMS are in English, my 'everything' is in English (until when though?), that is MY NEW DEAL of LIFE. that is who I AM now... Will they understand my changes? even more... will I understand what remains the same in Brazil?

The readjustment will be tough... we'll again be lost in conversations, we'll again not know the lyrics of the songs, or the nice places to go hang out. We'll again hear silly questions about the place we came from (which now is the USA)... but instead of "do you have internet over there? do you live by the jungle?" they will be asking if all we ate was hamburgers and fries...

One more time, the relationships will have to be built. They don't really know us anymore, and we might not know them as well... because much changes in a YEAR. And few people will realize that without being an exchange student...

Elena Macedo Mascarenhas

June 12 Journal and Pictures

May was an amazing month, so has been June! I have done sooo many things...

I went to Washington DC with Lea -2nd host mom- and Jennifer -host sister- on the 24th, then on the 25th my cousin Paty, who has been an auPair in Virginia came over to spend the Memorial Holiday with us! We stayed there for 5 perfect days... in which we learned a lot visiting the memorials (Lincoln, WWII..), the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court (being there was emotional to me, since I chose to study law I wanted to go there so bad... and I DID!), the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, the National Cathedral, tha Arlington Cemetery (with the changing of soldiers), the Zoo (Pandas are really cute!), Georgetown... we also ate in great places, but the Brazilian steak house, or Churrascaria, was for sure our favorite, it was a blast and Deliciouuuuus. I loved introducing the Brazilian "treasures" (farofa, pao de queijo, caipirinha, churrasco, feijoada...) to my host sister and I'm pretty sure she loved it back haha! Oh! Guess what we found on the middle of the D.C. sidewalk? A tribute on the "Extra Mile for community leaders" to Paul Harris! The three of us (Lea, Jennifer - who also has a Paul Harris Fellowship - and I) couldn't help ourselves and sat on the floor to take a picture with him, it was cool and hilarious.

We went to my cousin's host family house... It was awesome!! I met her family and they met mine + I saw the kids she takes care and her room :) we are blessed for having had this opportunity. We all had a GREAT time and none of us will forget those moments! SO MUCH FUN...

I came back on the 28th and went straight to Palm Beach with my first host family and slept over their friends' house... on the next morning we went to the Brazilian Consulate to validate my school transcript (I SO felt back in my country when I was there, you have no idea), then we went to the airport to PICK UP MY SISTER Carla, that came to VISIT me and to meet my American life :) having her with me was a huge bonus, she stopped here in her way back from Europe and stayed for 5 (very very busy) days. We slept each day in a house and spent time with all my families and other Rotarians. On the same day in which I took Carla to the Rotary meeting (she was the speaker there and did a wonderful job!!) we -Joy, Steve and I- gave her a Welcome party, for which lots of my friends + Rotarians and host familes came to meet her! We also had some time to spend by ourselves, talking A LOT, exchanging experiences, feelings and enjoying the time we had. It is even hard to explain how significant it was to show my sister all that places and people I've been talking about and to be able to feel her with me again!

Those days were a precious "transition experience"... it was funny when I came down to the hotel lobby to meet Paty... I was so nervous and so excited at the same time! it was the first contact I had with my "Brazilian life" after 11 months and I didn't know what to expect. Jennifer came with me and 'made it easier' :) "that's okay.. I think she is here already, you can look now" and Paty came running to me giving me a huge Brazilian hug yay! My cousin said that on the first day my Portuguese "wasn't really good" but that I got much better after all, lol! She also said I'm heavier, according to her a "positively heavier" (!?).. for my sister I got more mature... but in general they think I am "still the same" with some good changes (such as being more punctual!). They all got along really good! Sometimes I kinda stared on them (Carla and Paty) when they were talking with the people I met in America.... It was just like seeing those Hollywood special effects in which they put things that were originally apart (my Family in Brazil and my Family in the US) together... It was a bit crazy but it gave me a beautiful feeling as well: both of my "lifes" can remain alive at the same time. Being in one of their places doesn't mean losing what I have in the other.

Carla left on the 2nd (by the way, I dreamed back in PORTUGUESE on that day - so so weird), after dropping her off I stayed in Miami with Joy (Rotarian) and Steve, we went to south beach and I - of course - took many pictures! (talking about pictures, I took almost a thousand in D.C., NO kidding) :)

I went straight from Miami to Orlando with my 3rd host family, Donna and Taylor (who invited her friend Hana to join us) to spend 3 days in a resort over there.. we went to Disney (beautiful, especially the Spectro [in the dark] Parade, I hadn't see it in my previous visits), to the Hard Rock Cafe (sooooooooo cool) and shopping wow wow wow It broke my budget (all worth it though). When we came back my little sister went to RYLA (she enjoyed it very much) and I stayed with Donna. We and her friends went down to see the launching of the shuttle who-hoo, it was unique!

Saturday the 9th was my going away party, which I loved and had fun! It was a beautiful day and people that are special to me were there (some exchange students, Rotary Committee and my Club members) + I had one of the coolest cakes ever with a mixture of Portuguese, Italian and Spanish -trying- to say BYE ELENA WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH in my language lol (it was wrong spelt, but really well understood - and funny!)... thank you thank you thank you :) the party ended up by 6pm but we extended it until 1am with our 'family after party' [very and special guys] --> it was an UNFORGETTABLE day!

Yesterday my host family + friends and I went out with the boat to have dinner. =] On our way to the restaurant we saw Dolphins and manatees!

Now I'm here, typing my journal at 4:20 am because I gotta use each hour of the days I have left... I've been packing like crazy (since I'm changing homes and also going to the "Rotary End of the year trip" tomorrow), doing many things and barely sleeping... but you know my 'theory': I'll sleep when I go back home, now I gotta live it all! ;)

Love, Elena Macedo Mascarenhas

July 18 Journal and Pictures

My last moments in America were wonderful!

On June 13th I went to the western adventure trip, with 10 other exchange students from our district + almost 100 from other places in the US and Canada!! Oh my Gosh, we got to do SO much...we went to California, Nevada, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah! We were just so excited for seeing all the different places America has... We got to be in a desert then few hours later, at the iced mountains. We got to water rafting, to hike, to see snow, cactus and exotic animals. We visited cowboys' villages, big cities and even the 'moon' (the 'moon craters')! we passed by Salt Lake City and met some of the Rotarians who attended the International Conference, it was fast but cool.

The majority's favorite place was SAN FRANCISCO, yeaaaah, one of the coolest place on earth! so pretty and unique... we were so lucky that we got to be there during the GAY PARADE haha so funny and FUN! Lots of music, dance, costumes and naked people!! - Things that are allowed just because of a right for which Americans fought so bravely to have: FREEDOM [in all its ways] - I can tell this place left an eternal mark on me and on my friends ;)...

Sometimes we were stuck at the bus (singing, playing cards, taking pictures, trying to sleep or just being bored) and we had to care our luggage up and down almost every single day... but who cared? We were so glad, not only for had gone to all the places we went, but especially for the people we went with. Can you imagine how awesome it is to be surrounded by more than a hundred exchange students? VERY awesome, because those people have so much to add to you and they always want to enjoy each minute [because they know they have to go back home sometime soon]. There I met new kids (including Mary Lynn, the exchange student from Idaho, who my mother hosted in Brazil while I was in the USA!) and had the opportunity to spend a great time with the friends I made in our District 6970, who I really love and will treasure forever!

Back in Florida, I had a big issue... PACKING! wow, what a hard job, for MANY reasons... first: it sucks and it's boring, 2nd: it takes a while, 3rd: it is sad. You already can tell I avoided doing that, right? yes I did, but then I told myself I had no choice and it would be worst if I had to pack on my last days, not being able to relax or enjoy anything. so I got it done...

On the 4th of July it rained SOOOOO much. I went downtown with my bike (as the usual) to watch the parade and got really soaked lol. Because of the bad weather, the day wasn't as everyone expected but I can tell it was still unique and unforgettable =)

Then, just 2 days and a half were left until my departure... So I got to hang out with some of my best friends on the 5th and on Friday & Saturday I relaxed and spent time with mom (Lea). The two of us did for the 'last time' things we used to do regularly... go grocery, cooking, go to the spa, to our 'every Sunday' store lol (and to the Brazilian store), and to have a nice dinner together! nice and sad, cool and strange. I cried SO SO SO much on my last night... [I just calmed down when we went eating ice cream! which we bought exactly for that kind of situation..] It was hard to sleep. I woke up many times, looking around and being glad for seeing it was '-still dark' and that she was still there. But then it was morning. Lea and I went to the beach to watch the sun rise and, in a gorgeous moment, Florida 'gave me the sweetest good bye that I ever did receive', with a lonely dolphin 'telling' me -I'll see you soon.

Friends and Rotarians were with me at the airport! I loved having them with me on that moment... It felt awkward, I didn't cry much... Almost 24hrs later I was received in my country with such a warm and wonderful welcome party! It took me a whole week in Brazil to 'realize' I was gone, and consequently, to ball. Expected tears though. Because I Love America SO much and I miss you with ALL my Heart

THANK YOU ROTARY and everyone who was with me during my stay in the US! I had the best experience I could ever have had, and it all in a year, in my EXCHANGE STUDENT YEAR!

Yours in Brazil, Elena