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Nathalia Cunha
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2006-07 Inbound from Brazil
Hometown: Belo Horizonte,
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Sponsor: Belo Horizonte-Oeste Rotary Club,
District 4760, Brazil
Host: Southpoint
Rotary Club, District 6970, USA
School: Bartram
Trail High School
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Bio
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November 1 Journal and Pictures - "I
enjoy football and I also like this country and Americans. They surprise
me. The food surprises me too. They have great food, not just hamburgers
and stuff." |
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December 27 Journal and Pictures - "I
went to Statue of Liberty, Top of the Rock, Empire State Building, and
Ice-skating in Central Park. And for my first experience in ice skating,
falling just twice was great." |
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April 8 Journal and Pictures - "I made
the Varsity Tennis Team! It‘s a lot of fun, especially now that the weather
gets warmer and it is a beautiful day to play tennis! I’m very happy." |
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Nathalia's Bio
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 I am Nathalia, and I come from Brazil! BRAZILLLL!! The country is
not just soccer, but the carnaval, the cheerful people, and beautiful place and
beaches. My favorite is Porto Seguro, Bahia.
I’m eighteen and I live in Belo Horizonte (Beautiful
Horizon), Minas Gerais with my parents and my sister, 19. In Brazil I
stopped school in the middle of the last year. I will finish the year at
Bartram Trail High School.
My favorite hobby is dance. I have always dreamed of being
a ballerina. I used to practice for five hours each day. Classic,
contemporary, and Irish tap. Irish is my favorite now. I like so many sports
too. The handball team that I played on was the state champion! I like
volleyball and tennis too!
I dreamed also of being an exchange student and my family
had some people with this experience. And now my dream is coming true. I
could not imagine a better place. This is the best place with best people.
It’s perfect and I love my host family, my house. Finally I’m very happy
here and I want this year is the best in my life. New experiences, new
friends, new places.
I am most grateful to my family and Rotary who gave me
this opportunity!!
Good Luck everybody!! |
November 1 Journal and Pictures
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Hi guys …I’m here for my first journal…Sorry about I’m late…But
let’s go! I’ve been in Jacksonville, FL for three months…the time fly…
The first … I couldn’t believe when I arrived and saw the
BIGGG reception, Saturday night! … All my three host families come with
brothers and sisters! I didn’t expect that…ohh myyyy… I was very emotional…
My first families are how I was imagining…Barry and Cynde
are very special people…I’m lucky to have them for my family! They did a
birthday party for me in my favorite restaurant and everything else.
In my first days here I saw my city and downtown
…Jacksonville is a huge city, this is why some places are very far. My
school is 25 min to my house. Also big…Some times I was lost there…It is
very different than in Brazil, but actually it's what I saw in the movie
about high school. The first event at school is a football game…it is very
funny, but most of the people don’t watch the game they just walk and talk…
The American people are fanatics with football, more than
Brazilians are about soccer…I have been at a Jaguars game (professional)
with LUCILE, from France! We had a lot of fun at the game … Food, dance!
She stayed with me, in my house for 2 weeks and I got my
host sister forever and ever. She is my best friend! We went with her too in
Brazilian night in Edgar's house where all Brazilian exchange students came
and did a big party with Brasilian music and food. Yes, Edgar’s host father
is a chef and tried cooking Brazilian food.
I also went to GATORS game (University of Florida) this
time with Akemi from Japan. She stayed in my house too for one week… Yesss I
have a nice host family and everybody enjoys to come here. The Gators game
is so cool. They have a lot of people, a big band and lots of songs… Now I
enjoy all the football games and I also like this country and Americans.
They surprise me. The food surprises me too. They have great food, not just
hamburgers and stuffs. In special I love what my host mom cooks for dinner.
So that’s why I gained some pounds more. I cannot think about that. Now I
start tennis class and I love this exercise. And I am practicing to make the
team at school that starts next mouth.
I love all my times in US. I've been doing big
experiences. Actually my best time here was with you guys (EXCHANGE 06-07).
The first orientation with everybody together, meeting each one. Was
amazing. And now in Daytona…so cool… I love you everybody! I’m so excited
for Disney!! I miss you guys so much!! See you next month!!!
Meeting people, and making good friends around the world
is just one special thing which the Rotary program is providing me. I had an
opportunity and good experience to do some social project with my host club
(Southpoint). Barry, Cynde, and I took new dictionaries to fourteen
classrooms in three inner city schools. At each third grade class we talked
about Rotary and exchange students and gave each student their very own
dictionary. They loved their dictionary and wanted to ask me questions about
my pins on my blazer. I was glad I participated in this project. It was a
good. After we went to the I.M. Sulzbacher center for the homeless. I got to
take a tour. My club was preparing the meal for 500 homeless people.
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December 27 Journal and Pictures
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Hey everyone…
Almost 5 months in Florida and so many things have
happened … in school, Rotary meet, football game, Rotary party, Rotary trip,
friends, host family!!! Now it’s holidays …yeah…I can’t believe we just passed the
Christmas!!! But anyway, let’s see what things were more outstanding and
exciting! First thing was I saw the Blue Angels in Jacksonville’s navy base …The
most famous military planes are just amazing…All the acrobatics, velocity,
sounds …It gave me goose bumps!
Rotary exchange students…Elena birthday’s weekend (girl
from Brazil) was awesome. The day after her surprise party, the Rotary club
from Daytona area did a big meet (party) in Rotarian’s house and the
exchange students who came could enjoy barbecue lunch, swim in the pool,
boat ride, dance…So much fun!
Disney Trip!!! Something that I never forget! It’s the
most perfect and magic place for me… Better when you are with people that
you like so much!!! During the day while we enjoyed all the parks and
attractions we meet new people from other Rotary districts, talk with our
friends; anyway, having fun …for me that I have been in Disney World was
just a dream. I could go back and live all this emotion again…the Epcot ball
and all the small countries, Tower of Terror (Elevator) in MGM Studios,
everything in Magic Kingdom, the parade and of course the light show at the
end of the day…For me everything that go to this magic place goes back to
the young feelings and it’s where your dreams really can come true!! We
don’t stop here. We also went to the Animal Kingdom and during the nights we
could enjoy the pool in hotel and continue make new friends, and exchange
the cultures! Great time!
Now it’s time to talk about experiences with host family!
After being with Barry and Cynde for five mouths I can say they are my NEW
family, America family! I love them…the time that I have had with them was
just wonderful. Was such a good thing and special spending my first
Thanksgiving with this family and all the celebrations for Christmas! During
the Christmas time they took me to not more, not less than NEW YORK CITY!
City of light, of noisy, amazing energy…anyway, the beautiful city…much more
in Christmas time with all decorations, people going shopping and every
special thing that just NY has. I went to Statue of Liberty, Top of the
Rock, Empire State, and Ice-skating in Central Park. Was awesome - could see
all the lights from the top of NY City. And for the first experience in ice
skating falling just twice was great. I also went to Christmas musical on
Broadway (soo beautiful, perfect), and saw the big Christmas tree in
Rockefeller center …Ohh my god…we had such a great time! The funniest thing
was I left my kiss with lipstick in the top of some Italian restaurant…It’s
their traditions!
Tomorrow I’m moving to my new host family. I’m nervous but
excited.
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April 8 Journal and Pictures
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I’m here for one more journal. I hope I can remember everything
because now I’m living the most exciting and busy time here... And I can't believe
how fast the time passed after 4 mouths...It’s ok...It’s not time to think about
it...
I was telling you guys in the last journal that I was
going to change family for the first time. So here I am living with the
Klein’s. They are awesome, very nice ...The busiest family ever. I love
them! Now I have one sister (Healy) and one brother (David) + Hannah who is
in Japan now as an exchange student! We have a puppy too ... BEAR (she is so
cute). For me the experience of living with them has been very good. I’m
learning more about Jewish religion. I went to Jewish service which is
different from mine, but I thought was very interesting the fact that the
children when they complete 13 years old can be part of the service with
their family which makes special!
I did so many fun things with them and I became as busy as
my family ... I went to the circus, where I had so much fun remembering the
time that I was a young kid. I watched RENT (Broadway musical). It was
great, and special for me to listen to some of them songs which I already
was familiar with. I don’t stop here. I went to Billy Joel concert also.
That was such a good time!
There were a lot going on with Rotary also. We went to Key
West where we stayed in a SEA CAMP (most fun camp) as a big group of
exchange students from our District, some from south Florida, and American
students from Michigan. There was one of the most exciting times that I had.
We did boat trips where we learned about the corals, pollution, and marine
environment. We also did snorkeling and collected some of corals or
interesting sea organisms to talk about. So to increase all learning and
entertainment that had, we got in our boat group and discussion about our
team to present in the end of the day as a big table discussion with
representatives from all over the world. That was awesome!!! We also spent
the last afternoon in Key West city, doing shopping and visits. The city is
very cute...looks like a history city! I loved it! Continuous with Rotary,
we have a pleasure to receive my counselor from Brazil (Ivan Vianna) who is
also responsible for the kids who go to Canada and another important
activities representing Rotary in Brazil. We took him to a very popular
restaurant in Jacksonville where were some of the exchange students from
Brazil and some future whom will go to Brazil next year. Was successful!
Now it’s time to talk about school ... After long time
practicing tennis and dedication, finally I made the Varsity Tennis Team at
Bartram Trail high School! It was a Big Deal for me and has been such a
great experience. We already started the season and we pretty much have
practice every day and matches every week. It‘s a lot of fun, especially now
that the weather gets warmer and it is a beautiful day to play tennis! I’m
very happy.
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