Dóroty Felisberto

2009-10 Inbound from Brazil

Hometown: Clevelândia, Parana, Brazil

Sponsor: Clevelândia Rotary Club, District 4640, Brazil

Host: Jacksonville Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida, USA

School: West Nassau High School, Callahan, Florida

Bio

Dóroty's Bio

I am Dóroty Eva Garcia Felisberto, but my friends call me just Dóroty. I am 17 years old, I came from Brazil. There, I lived in the south region, in Clevelândia, one small city of the state of Parana. I have only one sister, who is 13 years old.

Now, I am living with the Coxwell Family in Callahan, rural area of Jacksonville, my host parents have 8 children, they are really fun and I am liking to be here. I am going to the West Nassau High School. I am just in my third week and know that will be one wonderful year.

September 24 Journal

One month and a half and I already learned things that I can use for all my life. My first month was weird … while I was very happy to be here, I was missing home. I had to fight with it, and now I know that I won. I had to pass that, what makes me stronger now. I cried for missing my family and friends, my city, my life, but now, this is my life!

My family is amazing. In Brazil I had only one sister, and here I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters living with me, 2 more children that are not living with us, one really big family … the good thing is that I am never alone, I always have things to do, and people to talk if I want to.

The first and second week at school was difficult because I didn't get to talk so much with the people, so I didn't get to make friendships… but now I am getting better, making friends and understanding more English, what makes me SO happy!

The people always ask me what I see of different between here and Brazil, my answer always is: EVERYTHING! School, houses, cars, people… I love it! The football games (Go Warriors!), the cheerleaders, the mail boxes! All like in movies.

I went to my friend's houses, beach, football games, football practice… my weeks are really busy. I love when people ask me to talk about Brazil, then I can show them about my life, my culture and all that makes my country special, that Brazil has good things also.

Whatever, I am loving doing this, I am loving USA!

November 28 Journal

More than 3 months in USA … the time is flying … omg! I don't feel like a tourist anymore, I don't even take pictures of everything like in the beginning … haha.

When I am at home, I don't feel that I need to go out to make friends, I already have mine! And I really feel good wearing my pajamas and watching movies with my host family… I love my little host brother coming in my bedroom to tell me what he found out with his toys … or going to school in the morning with my brother and sisters listening to music, and the sun brightening on my I-just-woke-up face … I love them!

Thanksgiving was great! Pretty American as well … family love is everywhere, it only changes the address! I really missed my cooking days with my family, but I enjoyed with them and it was unique! A lot of food, a lot of fun. I don't hate American football anymore! I am trying to get into it, and it is not that bad … I’ll learn it!

I went to a soccer game, I finally watched something that I knew about! I am sorry, but.. I’ve seen the best one in Brazil, so, good try, Americans! Haha.

School is going great. One day we were walking to my class and I got so many 'hi's' and my friend said, 'people like you already!' I really appreciate that.

I am not able to speak very well, but I can understand.. and guess what? I had my first dream in English … happy and scared in the same time, my honey-moon is over.

Yes, I am happy being here. Thank you for everybody that make it possible!

March 9 Journal

Well, here I am, after almost 7 months.. wait.. SEVEN? it doesn't feel like, and I know time is going faster and faster..

Let's talk about the last 3 months.. December, January, February.

I didn't fail my first semester! I got good grades actually, better than I imagined I would! SCORE!

Disney World was really awesome.. we visited 4 parks, and had so much fun! It was my first time going to Disney, so I realized my child dream.. of course I went to Minnie's house and took a bunch of pictures! Donald Duck is the cutest one ever! Thank you to my Host Rotary Club who provided me this trip!

Christmas! I was really afraid about how I would support my Christmas here without my family, since it was the first one of my life without my whole family meetings.. I realized that it wasn't that bad! Thanksgiving made me miss my family more than any other time.. I called my parents, we cried, we wished each other Merry Christmas! I felt really loved, and saw how mature I am getting since I got here.. I thought I couldn't handle it, and here I am! My host family gave me a lot of presents, we followed the scripture of Christmas dinner, open the presents in Christmas morning, and studied the Bible.. it was really fun!

I went to West Virginia with my church to a ski trip.. it was soooo much fun.. it was my first time skiing and seeing snow, and I enjoyed it a lot! I fell a couple times, of course.. It's funny how beautiful the landscape is when you look at outside from inside, and when you get out of the house, all you want is come back inside! It was freeeezing, but I loved it so much!

We had a New Year's eve party at Leandro's, from Argentina, where we had so much fun! We had a lot of food, swimming-pool, hot tub, karaoke, music and everything.. it was really special for me to spend my new year's eve with them, the exchange students.. we laughed a looooot! I can't miss the fact that my dear best friend Ana, from Brazil, fell into the St. John's River at the first moment of the year! When I heard it was her who had fallen, I couldn't help her because I was laughing so hard.. she made my year!! We didn't go to bed till 7 in the morning… we stayed awake to see the first sunrise of the year… it was amazing.. Thank You to Leandro's family for providing the party!

I played JV basketball, my host sister plays every year, so I started to come to the practice with her and stayed.. I loved the basketball games, the music and everything, my host dad usually went and watched us.. Now I am playing tennis, which I had never played before and it is being really cool.. I love the opportunity of playing some sports that I had heard about, but never played..

The New Semester.. I changed all my subjects, all new 4 classes.. I am taking 3 languages in the same time.. French, Spanish and English, and yes, I get confused sometimes, but I simply love learning all of them.. in these classes we usually have field trips and competitions.. my other subject is American History, which is pretty interesting.. I had taken in Brazil, but it sounds so different coming from Americans.. I sure learned with them how much I love my country and how important that is! I am doing good, and excited to see how my grade report is going to seem like.

We went to Key West in the end of January.. that place is awesome.. it was the last time I saw some of the exchange students and it felt so weird. We still have 4 months and I might not see some of them again.. now I feel how hard is going to be when I have to say 'goodbye'. We snorkeled during two days.. we were divided in groups so we could study about nature and environment.. I sure learned more about sea water! I got closer to some exchange students I had never talked with, but the problem is that it was our last time together! We had a dance party on Friday night that was just amazing.. I hadn't danced like that since I got here.. we tried to enjoy our time together as much as we could.. and omg, I love those guys so much. Thank you Rotary for the opportunity for the trip!

February came, and carnaval happened in Brazil.. as a Brazilian I missed it so much! But I handled it very well and I am not ready to leave. During all this time I have made a special friend, my awesome best Brazilian friend in America, Ana Laura Nobre. We talk everyday (we try to talk in English.. but sometimes the Portuguese comes out, our bad!) and she helps me, like I help her.. we hang out as much as we can, because we live far from each other in Brazil.. but I am so going to visit her!

I am really close to a lot of people here, I am making really good friends.. from all over the world and Americans! My friends from here are always telling me that they are going to visit me in Brazil, and I really hope they do. My relationship with my host family is great. They are great.. I can say I just met a new family out of my country. I am so grateful for everything they have done for me, and I wish they knew how much I love them!

My city here is so funny! It is really country, so Y'ALL must know what I am talking about.. haha I am really used to with that and I will never forget any of the people I met here.

Thank you Rotary and everybody that work really hard to make this possible for me.. it is being my best year, with no doubts. I will try to make one more journal before I leave.. I promise! God bless y'all, have a great year!

Doroty :)

May 10 Journal

Hey everyone! Time to talk.

It's been 9 months.. and time is flying faster than always... I can remember when I counted days to leave Brazil, or when I just got here, and I can't believe the time to leave is coming... unbelievable!

I've been very busy, a lot of trips, a lot of fun!

I went to two foreign language competitions, both of state. In the French Competition, I got a 'bon' for taking a test, and in the Spanish I got 'superior' and a trophy for my poem declamation. Both of them were a lot of fun, and great to help my new two other languages to develop.

During Spring Break I went to Massachusetts in a mission trip with the church. Everybody kept asking me: are you crazy? Spring break and you're going up north? YES, I did, and it was an awesome experience. We did community work and helped one of the churches there during 10 days. I got to know Worcester and Boston, different, but beautiful in their own way. The job we did it was great to show me America differently. I met poor people and helped them, learning how to accept and not judge by their appearance. It was my first Easter without my family, away from home, just like the other holidays I have spent here, but really close to God, since I was with the church youth group. Amazing times.

An expected time came, my birthday. What in Brazil would be a big deal, being now 18 years old, when I could drive, it was just one more, but for sure, a special one! My mom in Brazil bought me a present, and will give me when I get home, my Brazilian dad started my license process, so I can go ahead and get it when I get there! Me and the exchange students went to the town center and had dinner together, it was a lot of fun. My host family made a cake with the Brazilian colors on it, and also a decoration, it was so sweet of them! Now I am an adult, what a change! That for sure is happening, it is been happening.

As a Brazilian, I couldn't miss the Brazilian Day in Miami, which was really amazing. We had a looot of rain, but it was worth. I got to watch a Brazilian singer, who did a great job, and saved the day! South Florida is so pretty also! I went with a Brazilian family that lives here for more than 10 years, and we had so much fun! It was good to see all the Brazilian stuff they have down there, since they have a lot of Brazilians in the area. I bought some Brazilian juice, candy and drinks! Really good to remind me of home.

I moved families! My sister, who I met in the beginning of the year, told her family about hosting me and they decided they would do it. Funny story: First time I met my host dad, we were at a Mexican restaurant, he had a cup of very icy cold water in front of him, and I went to greet him with a hug, hit the cup and spilt the whole cup on his lap... I am lucky he is very funny guy and tells everybody about it...

I love my first host family, but it was good to move. My new family has only one daughter, 16 years old, and two more who don't live with us. My dad plays guitar and bass, and we played and sung together. I am having such a great time!

I did a presentation about Brazil in my Rotary Club, what makes me so happy! I had been waiting for it for a long time, and finally showed a little bit about my country and life!

Prom is next weekend and I am sooo excited about it! my first and only prom! We are riding the limo, having dinner, taking pictures, doing everything that is required!

Every day I realize that I am doing the right thing, doing what I am supposed to do. And also can't stop THANKING the Rotary and everybody that makes it possible! I know I will see the success in the next coming years, and I owe it to all of you. Thank you so much, MUITO OBRIGADA!

I will write one more time before I leave, for sure with some tears on my eyes.. thinking about the most awesome times I had during this year.