Spencer Merlo Update

Posted by Holly Sorgen 
 

As sent to the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie:

I have just returned from a month long rotary sponsored trip to the northeast of Brasil and found this a perfect time to catch up. Basically this trip started in Rio De Janeiro and we (more than 40 exchange students) went up the Brasilian coast until the city of Fortaleza for 27 days. It was a great chance to see more of Brasil and now I can proudly say that I have been to 17 of 27 Brasilian states. Just in case any of you were wondering put the jellyfish on your list of animals that you never want to get stung by. I will personally tell you that after four hours of pain you learn fast that those little guys pack a punch. As well as my jellyfish encounter I had a chance to surf, ride the highest waterslide in the world, learned a little more about samba, danced capoeira, and did a tour in Roçinha, Rio´s most famous favela. Now I am safely back in Unaí with a months worth of dirty clothes and it lookes like I will get to know the waithful washboard a little better in the next few days.

 


School is starting as well and as much as this trip was one of the best experiences of my life a little routine wont hurt me either. I was talking with Jaime Naito last night and I was told that I can live in his house for the month of February which is exciting (Plus I think he has air conditioning and probably a maid). As much as I am totally content with my current family I think in the next few days my bags will be packed and I´ll be on my way to a new family and a new Brasilian experience.
 
On top of this I have also been working with Hugh Impey and Greg Podmore on a grant that will send 5000$ from Grande Prairie to Unaí. This money will then be used at a wheelchair bank that our club maintains, to fix more than 80 wheelchairs and hopefully buy a few more. These wheelchairs will be rented out to the population of Unaí at a cost of zero dollars, for an unlimited amount of time. 
 
As deadlines are quickly coming up I am also in the process of applying for university, I am applying at UVIC (Bcom), University Of Calgary (Bcom) and CarletonUniversity (Bachelor of International Business), so wish me luck, these are competitive programs and I might need it.
 
I would like to thank you (Rotary Club of Grande Prairie) all again for this experience, and if anyone has questions of any sort please feel free to email me at punch134@hotmail.com 
 
Take care
Spencer Merlo