Isabela "Isa" Murakami

2007-08 Inbound from Brazil

Hometown: Ribeirão Pires, São Paulo, Brazil

Sponsor: Ribeirão Pires Rotary Club, District 4420, Brazil

Host: Orange Park Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida, USA

School: Orange Park High School

Isa's Bio

Hello!

I am Isabela Murakami, 16 years old, from Brazil! Everybody knows the state Sao Paulo but I live in a small city called Ribeirao Pires. It's like 40 minutes from my city to the capital, named Sao Paulo also. My city is a tourism place with a lot of trees and history to know about. But we don't have a McDonalds! We have to go to the next city because there is a good mall.

I have a brother, 15, and a new sister from Mexico! My brother had a hard time with her, and said that he misses me a lot... now they forget me and being very well together. In the beginning, I felt jealous about her too... But I love her! She is very nice, funny...

My parents in Brasil are very nice with me. I love them so much. If I want something I have to ask to my father and if I want to hang out with my friends or boyfriend I have to ask to my mom. I like to talk to them.. they make me feel better (sometimes). They get stressed because a lot of work.

When I was in Brazil, I was not caring about spend a year in another country, because I just believed when I was in the airport in Jacksonville. The first couple days I felt the exchange shock... Uauuuu! But now, It's really different. I want to spend the best year eveeeeeeer... and I know I will...

I am learning a lot of things, because in Brazil we don't have those opportunities at school so I am taking every class that I can or every club. Yount family is very nice with me... I love them! They try to make me more comfortable as possible and a member of the family..

Each day has been a day of discoveries, I am loving it!!!! Because I like to meet people, know new places... I want to thank Rotary for this wonderful project of exchange that they are giving to us for this unique experience.

Beijos!

November 7 Journal

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.

My first days here that was all that I was hearing. It was hard to understand, I just nodded and smiled.

But now I can have real conversations, of course my English is not perfect but it is improving every day. And not just you but everybody around you can notice the difference.

Anyway, I have funny moments trying to say one thing that in fact means another thing and my accent doesn't help. Yesterday I forgot a word... I said " I wanna brush, but it isn't a brush, it's a half of a brush but you use as a brush." Do you know what it is? It's a comb!!! My host sister laughed at me for a long time...=D

At school I am doing really great, I got all "A" in my report card. Of course, the teachers know that I am an exchange student and give me a hand, but I don't think the school is hard. In Brazil we have 12 subjects per week and here it is just six. Also, I have a lot of friends, my lunch time is really cool. Sometimes, I talk in Spanish, sometimes in English. I will come back to Brazil knowing both. Besides, I am taking French classes, so one more! I am taking piano classes, I can already play some Disney songs, When in Brazil would I do it? Never.. That's why I am enjoying the most.

My host family is really nice with me. My host mom now is in Europe, she teaches me a lot. My host dad is so friendly and funny, I give him hugs all the time, we love to dance together. Then, my host sister is like a best friend, I tell her my secrets so does she. And I spend a lot of time with my oldest host brother, I like to bother him making a lot of questions. We like to go to walk tonight and to watch movies together. My family, they have a big heart, I really love them, they make me feel as I am at home.

I am really happy that I am here. I can't explain how wonderful is this opportunity! How wonderful to be in other country, with another culture and feel like being at home anyway. I know this adventure is just in the beginning but it will last forever...

I am so sorry because I didn't write before. I have been doing so many things that I forgot. But thanks for everything that Rotary has been doing for me. I really appreciate that. People who helped to spread this communication among the countries in a different way, people who are saving the world. Thank you so much!

January 13 Journal

It has been a long time that I don't write a journal, so finally this is it!

Let's start in December, we went to Disney World, it couldn't be better, it's perfect!!! First we had all the exchange students together plus the other District and second we were in the place where the "dreams come true". All the rides, all the time that we spent in the pool, the nights in the hotel, the fireworks, everything amazing! I don't have words to explain how much fun I had.

Then Christmas Eve came, I've never seen so many presents under the tree. We went to church at 8 o'clock, then we had some people who came over and at 11:30 pm we started to open presents. I was waiting for this day so badly because it was hard to see everyday those presents under the tree and couldn't open it! I couldn't sleep that night very well, I was so excited with my new mp3player, clothes, make up, that made harder to sleep. Besides, in that morning I was going to travel. After we packed everything, our trip started to Homestead. I slept all the way long, just waking up for food or bathroom. It was a pretty nice week. I met my multi-millionaire host aunt, it's amazing! I had never met anyone millionaire, I wouldn't imagine someone multi-millionaire.

I came back in time to go to the Gator Bowl Parade. I was wondering if we would just walk around and carry flags. Instead of it, I was running, smiling, and yelling " Feliz Ano Novo" or "Happy New Year". I really enjoyed to give them candies... After that, we had a good dinner in the Shacter's house (I am really thankful). It's a pretty nice house. We sang in Karaoke, played ping pong or pool, sat around the fire place outside or in the hot tub. At midnight we joined on the dock and we saw the fireworks. As always, we took a thousand pictures and had a lot of fun. I just love the meetings with the exchange students, we share lives and experiences. Things that I just know because I am here, I just feel what I feel because I am an exchange student. No one can explain all those feelings, they are just experienced by being one.

The day of switching houses was close and I had to start packing. Oh My Gosh! Besides my two full suitcases, I had two boxes, a sack and a back pack to take to my new house. It was so sad to leave my other family, I cried, they cried. I know this relationship will last forever.

My new host family is really nice. I have two sisters, Libby and Megan. We have a dog, a cat, and two horses. My host parents are Doug and Gretchen. In my first day with them, I already went to see the dancing horses in Jacksonville. Awesome! And my week has been fun. Come back to school, see my friends, I went to the barn, played tennis with my host sister and watched the school soccer game.

Now, I am so so so excited! Perfect New York with Charlotte and Kwang!!!!

Thank you Rotary

beijos