Gabriel Abade

2009-10 Inbound from Brazil

Hometown: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Sponsor: Bahia Rotary Club, District 4550, Brazil

Host: Freeport Rotary Club, District 6990, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas

School: Bishop Michael Eldon School, Freeport, Bahamas

Bio

Gabriel's Bio

Hi! My name is Gabriel de Jesus Abade. I am seventeen years old. I'm from Brazil, Bahia, Salvador. My city has more than 3 million inhabitants. Yes, this is a lot.

So, I decided to be an exchange student, because it's a opportunity we only have one time in life. This wasn't easy. Say "good-bye" to my girlfriend, friends, family, city, culture. Say "good-bye" to my life. But I decided to don't say "good-bye" and, actually, say "see you soon".

I had a big party 4 days before I got on the airplane. My friends are so lovely. They made me a letter with almost 10 meters (I don't know how to say this in American size, but it's too big). There were so many surprises this day and the day that I got on the airplane.

I saw by the airplane my city getting distant and distant that, sometime, I couldn't see that. But, I was happy, because I was going to Bahamas. However, I stayed 12 days in Florida. It was amazing. Now, I'm in Freeport and enjoying my time here. I'm sure this was a difficult choice, but the best I could do.

By being an exchange student, I can learn a new culture, new languages (I'll learn French in school). But, the most important learning I'll have is to discover myself and give the appropriate value to my country. Some of you may ask: What? Do you intend to learn more about something you know for 17 years? And my answer is "yes". When you are part of something, you sometimes don't see some stuff. It's so normal to you that you don't stop to think about it. When you are abroad, you stop and say: "Wow, I've never seen this thing this way. So, why we do that? Is it good or not?" I don't know. It's good to see the things by another angle.

This will be the best year of my life. I'm sure about it.

September 20 Journal

The last day in USA. In the next day I am going to Bahamas, my host country. Roy Joseph warned me that my host sister (Lanny) and all my family (Joseph - father, Paula - mom and Janae - sister) will come to Florida to the departure of Lanny. Because of this, I am supposed to be in my counselor's house a couple of days.

However, I became very SURPRISED when I arrived on the airport and saw my dad waiting for me. I thought this so unbelievable. Joseph didn't go to the departure of his daughter only to welcome me. Based on this, you can understand how lovely is my family and how I'm mainstreamed with them.

So, let's resume my almost one month here. I went to restaurants, Rotary meetings, Port Lucaya (center of the city where the teenagers hang out on weekend). I also went to the sea with a boat. The water here is so clear. I was able to see many fishes and other sea animals. The day before yesterday, I, my counselor, his son and friends of us went to a camp. They controlled some kind of little airplanes. It was amazing. I am planning to feed and swim with dolphins, go the movies, go bowling and go to the beach. Yeah, crazy, I didn't go to the beach yet, because it is raining too much here.

Oh, I almost forgot. I appeared on the news too. I'm getting famous here.

The thing I love here is that the people are very friendly. It's easy to build good relationships.

My school is very strict. My uniform is something like Hogwarts uniform, but it's good.

I think that's all I can summarize now. Definitely, this is a wonderful experience.

December 4 Journal

(October 18) 2 months and 6 days away from home, 1 month and 25 days in Grand Bahama - Freeport. When you stop to think about how long you’ve been an exchange student, you really get surprised. Time goes fast.

We leave our country, our culture, our family, our friends, people that we love so much. And, then, when you are abroad you know more people that you start loving. I think the best part of the exchange is exactly THE exchange. Exchange of knowledge, experiences, love, thoughts.

Undoubtedly, I learned a LOT these 2 months, especially from my parents. I didn’t know perfectly how to wash, dry or iron clothes (I had a maid in Brazil). I also didn’t know perfectly how to do the dishes. My parents taught me some techniques that I can use in doing this kind of things.

It is good to have some people abroad to care of you. I love my family at all and I will save in my memories everything that I will experience here.

Let me start telling about what I did since I wrote the last report. But, before this, I need to say how glad I am with the weather. Like, yesterday I took shower 4 times because it was very hot; nevertheless, when I got up this morning the weather was so cool, the breeze was amazing :D.

Okay, let me talk about what I’ve been doing. My sister turned 16 on September 14th and she had some kind of sleep over with her friends. On the last day of the sleep over, the girls came to our house to have lunch with us. It was a very good day, we had a very good lunch where I became able to know her friends and make more friends.

Do you remember I didn’t go to the beach when I wrote the last report? So, now I went. It is so beautiful, at sure I’m in paradise :p. The water is very clean and clear.

Last week, I had a swimming day on school. Each one of us, students of Bishop Michael Eldon School, are separated in houses. I’m on the Rum Cay. So, this day was a swimming competition. Unfortunately, my house didn’t win, but we are going to improve our results next time.

On October 12th, me and my parents went to McLeans Town, distant 2 hours by car. We had the 37th Annual Conch Cracking Competition Discovery Day celebrations. Initially, I didn’t know what it exactly was. A friend of mom suggested me to go there and try. I was like: ‘what is it?’ And then she answered: ‘you only have to crack it. You’ll enjoy it’. And I almost went, but fortunately I discovered that the animals were alive. So, I decided not to go. hahaha

But, it was very fun and also funny. Some people could do it very fast. They were also prizewinning with some trophies or medals.

On October 10th and 11th, I stayed in USA. We went to Miami, Coral Gables and Everglades. There were two amazing days, because I was with teenagers that are also experiencing the same thing that I am experiencing. We talked a lot and had a lot of fun. My friendship with them is growing really fast. The only thing I miss in Bahamas is other exchange student.

This afternoon, I am going to West End, distant 40 minutes by car. It seems good. My parents are trying to make me know everything about the city and country and I appreciate this. By now, I think that’s all I can tell you.

December 26 Journal

On the last report I stopped on the day that I was going to West End. I was able to take a look on other parts of the place where I am living and it was a good family afternoon. Most of the usual days, I am working in the school and, once I am out of it, I am still working on it. Letters, home work, projects, book reports and on and on and on. All these things that I got used to are helping me to improve my English. I am not treated as an exchange student, but actually as all the others and they demand the same of me.

When someone asks me what's the best thing in school, my answer is that you are different. Your height, your style, your eyes color, your hair color, your thoughts, your accent, whatever. It doesn't really matter what makes you different, but the fact of you being different is the most important. I had people stopping me to ask for a photo, as Solange did (picture is attached), girls saying they love my accent and it just keeps going. The Primary School children were passing through the High School and they are so cute, so short, so angelic. Then I decided to make fun of my friend Bella and I said "Hey Bella, don't get lost, your group is moving out of here". My friend Clifford just started laughing a lot and Bella was like "that ain't funny Gabe". Anyway, I am telling this story to prove that to be different or in another words to be an exchange student is awesome. Clifford turn to me and Bella and said: "that ain't funny, nobody said it was. If you said this Bella, I wouldn't laugh but because GABE said it's funny". So, for you who are considering the idea of becoming one of us, come on, what is taking so long? Join the fun :D

On November 6, 7 and 8th I went once again to the USA, it was just awesome. Homecoming game, exchange students of District 6990 together, pool, Hard Rock, exchange students presentation, dinners, lunches and snacks with friends, gee it was just fabulous. Oh, I have other advantage of being an exchange student to reveal: you make friendships that last forever. For example, Tim Hornuf, exchange student from Germany, is my best friend in the USA. The kind of thing that you can't explain, it just happens.

On November 11th, my parents had anniversary of 20 years. They make such a wonderful couple, the house is always full of love :D

Attached is also a picture of me and my mom in church. Do you remember what I said about everlasting friendships? The relationship between a mom and a son is of trust, love and, the most important of all, friendship. That's what make us son and mother, not the fact of me living in her house. I trust her a lot, we talk about everything, I just feel comfortable to open my feelings and experiences to my loved Paula.

On November 15th, me and daddy went to the movies and we watched 2012. We got along pretty well too. We are always together organizing the house and talking and all that stuff that son and father do.

On November 22nd, we went to the confirmation of Azure, one of the best friends of my sis. Attached is a very good picture of me, Azure, Paula and Joe.

On December 3rd, I went to the Rotary Meeting (I go once a month), but this one was different. I went with Abigail, Kiana and Dekel, members of Interact. It's always fun when we are with friends :D Attached is a picture of me and the girls, my counselor Richard Bates, the president of Rotary and people from other Interact (other school).

On December 5th, I went to Lucaya, centre of the city, to the Christmas Tree Lighting with my friends. It was a lot of fun. Attached are two pics of it.

Right now, on December 26th I am sitting on my bed during Christmas Break. I got up 12:45, mom brought me some pancakes for me on a tray while I was on bed watching TV, come on, how am I supposed to not love it? hahaha. With some memories yet from the past two days: on the 24th we went to our church, Marie Star of the Sea, at 11:30 p.m. and we came back home at 2 a.m.; yesterday, Christmas Day, we went by grandma's house. It is almost finished so we decided to go there so it would make her happy and it did. We ate, watched movies, played games, talked, it was a lot of fun. Attached are some pics.

I am going to Nassau to experience the Junkanoo, Bahamian Carnival, on December 31st, coming back on January 3rd. Much more information will be available for you all.

Right now I am very thankful. Thank you to this family, to this city as a whole, to the country, to the Rotary, to the people, to my life. I learned something very important with this exchange and it's not even close to the end. I learned that we have to thank for our opportunity to be alive. In my case, I thank God each single day for having this wonderful opportunity; nevertheless, some people don't believe in God. But, most of the people believe in something above all of us, someone that can change our lives, someone who can listen to our wishes and make them come true. I know that many people wish they could do the same and sometimes it is not possible. I know that some people even want to have a roof to sleep under. Most of the times, we are complaining about little things and all that kind of stupid concerns. We don't have any idea about how privileged we are.

My last message on this report is taken from a song, I guess all of you know it. Now, it may sound as cliché because this music is all over the place: commercials, iPods and everybody knows. However, I'll leave it at the end of my journal and hope you try to understand the message it brings to us: "Listen to what I say. In your life expect some trouble, when you worry you make it double. Don't worry, be happy. BE HAPPY NOW!"

May 1 Journal

Hey guys, I am here once again. It kind took long for me to write again for reasons which do not really matter right now. So, on my last journal I was about to go Nassau in order to experience Junkanoo (Bahamian carnival). Well, to describe it I just need one word: AWESOME!

Paula Harris, my mom, and me went to Hotel Atlantis and it was just gorgeous; she showed me the whole city. Something that was very different to me: I entered in the year of 2010 inside a church. Yea, but that’s what exchange is all about: experiencing new things. 5 pictures are attached. I just have to thank a lot the Harris family for all they provided me, it was for sure 4 wonderful months.

Based on the way I am talking, you guys can easily guess I moved; yes, I did. At the beginning, the idea was very scaring to be honest with you all. On my last day with the Harris, we went to Port Lucaya: we had a pizza by the pizzeria Pisces and then we went to the centre where me and mom were dancing. Yea, I was sure I was going to miss them.

New year + new house + new family = new experiences. I moved to the Burrows family on January and I could see it was such an important change in my exchange year. The first shock was to find out that I would live with 7 people under the same roof: me, Princess (mom), Neil (daddy), Shade (19 year old sister), Marcus (13 year old brother), Nicholas (3 year old brother), Tori (9 year old cousin) and Gloria (auntie).

The first thing we did was go straight to shop for groceries. Right there, a fast relationship was built: my lil bro, Nick, was running on the market and I was chasing him; after, he was on my shoulders and I was playing with him. My mom was talking to my daddy like: look, they are already friends.

From this day until now, everything has been great. I will have to summarize because it is too much story for a journal. Nicholas is like EVERYTHING for me. I ask him “whose babe are you? Who is the boss here? Who you love the most?” and his answer is: “GABE! GABE! GABE!”. I play with him all the time.

My sister Shade and me are very close, something that me and Janae were not. We watch movies many times, we talk about everything, we laugh and have fun with each other. Yea, Shade is just that kind lovely person that is impossible to not like.

Marcus is the most annoying brother I could ever have. LOL, I am just kidding. I keep playing with him like this all the time. We play of fighting, we play games, we play basketball (me, my daddy and him go to the court every weekday), we talk. He is like my little brother that I never had.

My mom and my daddy are like everything for me, they are so kind and lovely. I can’t describe in words how I am thankful to them. Well, I don’t have space to mention everybody. My parents have 6 children (5 sons and 1 daughter).

Life has just been amazing to me, my exchange has never been so good. I go out with my friends almost every weekend, me and my family go to the beach constantly (it is like 10 minutes away walking), we go fishing on my daddy’s boat, we play basketball every weekday as I said before. As a family, we do a lot of things together; every time some people come to the house and we eat together and watch a movie (my family is huge). I love this family more than anything else in this world.

Madeleine came with her family to Bahamas and we got to go out together. It was awesome (as she always says). When she left, I was sad because I hate to say bye. My mom dropped them to the Port and on the way back home I was crying. Not only because my friend was leaving, but because it came to my mind that I will leave here one day too. I was telling mommy how much this idea scares me and how much I am gonna miss them.

My mom, Princess, is like a real princess to me. I love her so much. So, she is the kind very emotional person, she doesn’t want anybody to see her cry. So, she said that when I leave, she will get the car and go for a ride. She will drive and drive and drive and she will only come back when I were gone; she will let daddy take care of my departure.

She said that when I leave for good, she will go with me to Brazil. Let me stop it, because I am almost crying now. I am gonna miss them a lot. Oh, I went to the United States and my mom called me saying that Nick was giving her problems: he couldn’t stop crying. She told him I went, but I was coming back and he was like “I don’t want Gabe tomorrow, I want Gabe now. Why did you let him go mommy?”. He is my little babe. And, yeah, I had to be talking with him through an international call to say that I was going to be home soon.

It is funny the way things happen. Right now, he came crying to me saying that my brother hit him and came to lay on the bed with me.

I was even supposed to go to a third family, but I did not really want to move. I was wondering for one month if I should do what I want (stay) or what I should do (go) and I decided to stay. It was kind difficult to get it said, even because my next family was going to be my counselor’s one and the decision of not moving has to be reported to your counselor. But he did understand it and everything’s okay.

To be very honest, I would say that NOW I became a real Bahamian: I dress like a Bahamian (baggy clothes), I talk like a Bahamian (all the slangs and stuff), I walk like a Bahamian, I LIVE like a Bahamian. I got so many friends, people that I love so much. They are even talking about organizing a good-bye party for me.

My year has just been great, I couldn’t ask for nothing else. Thank you Rotary for providing me this wonderful year that I will remember forever and wherever I go.