Lindsey Footit's February Report from Brazil
Posted by Bob Hlina
Another report.... I cant believe how fast it has gone
After coming back from the Northeast trip with the other exchange students, I spent only a week in Joao Pessoa, relaxing and enjoying the company of my host family. During February, is Carnival. Joao Pessoa has its Carnival before the actual dates. During that time, I went three nights.
After coming back from the Northeast trip with the other exchange students, I spent only a week in Joao Pessoa, relaxing and enjoying the company of my host family. During February, is Carnival. Joao Pessoa has its Carnival before the actual dates. During that time, I went three nights.
The first time was the Block of Athletics. My host brother and I bought our tickets, got our shirts ( everyone has the same shirt to be identified with the block) and danced with the block all the way down one of the main streets until the beach. The bands play on top of platform style buses and every few minutes they move a few more inches forward. Everyone dances and moves forward as the buses do. It was my first time doing something such as this. I had such a good time. The next block I went to was the Day of the Virgins. This day, men/boys dress up as women and play pranks on everyone. It was hilarious! I have never seen so many skinny, hipless and ugly women before! I laughed the entire time. Finally, the third time, my host grandmother got us tickets to stay on one of the buses during the actual block. Her cousin is the bands singer/guitarist. His band plays fevro, a type of music famous in Recife and Olinda. Dancers of fevro use small colourful umbrellas when they dance. This day was the Block of Mosquitos. For over two weeks, Joao Pessoa had a huge Mosquito float on the praia just for this event. My host grandmothers cousin wrote a song just for this block. Its so famous, that he played it several times during the night. Everyone would go wild when it played. I was glad that I was on the bus that night and not having to dance. I dont know how people can dance all night!
After the one week in Joao Pessoa, I flew to Foz de Iguacu, to visit family and friends with my host grandmother and my host brother. The city of Foz de Iguacu is in the state of Parana, located in the southwest of Brazil, bordering the neighbouring countries of Paraguay and Argentina. There, we stayed with my host grandmothers brother, who has an amazing apartment that views Paraguay. It was absolutely stunning at night when the sun was setting and the sky was filled with pink and purple clouds.
There, we went to the Iguazu National Park to see the world famous Iguazu Falls. They were fantastic! It is nothing like the Niagra Falls, which have buildings and such close by. The Iguazu Falls are extremely well preserved and absolutely beautiful. It consists of many individual waterfalls. Two thirds of the falls are located in Argentina, but the best views of the falls are located in Brazil. My favourite part was the Devils Throat, which is the biggest waterfall and is in the shape of a `U`. You can basically be surrounded by over 200 degrees of waterfall. At that part, there is a platform that goes out onto the river, and I became completely soaked. We went to the park two other times afterwards. Once, to go on the Macuco Adventure, which is a jeep ride through the forest to the lower part of the river. From there, you take a powerboat and go up to the smaller falls to get drenched! I bought a plastic cover and stayed kind of dry... The third time, we went just to eat at the expensive hotel in the park, where there is a beautiful view of the river just before it hits the falls.
After coming back from the trip ( I was almost sad, I absolutely loved the family and friends we stayed with!) I came back to start school. Unfortunately, there was a confusion and I was put in grade 11 again! Since I have already finished high school back home and was not wanting to study the same material again, I talked with the school counsellor and hopefully, by next week I will be in grade 12. The sad part is that I am starting to get attached with the students in my class. Today, however, I participated in two classes of grade 12 with some of my friends and loved it.
As for Rotary this month, I went to one of the first meetings since their summer break to see the presentation of the new president of the Rotary club. I was enthused since the president is now a WOMAN!
Thats all for this month.... its going too fast!!
Lindsey
After the one week in Joao Pessoa, I flew to Foz de Iguacu, to visit family and friends with my host grandmother and my host brother. The city of Foz de Iguacu is in the state of Parana, located in the southwest of Brazil, bordering the neighbouring countries of Paraguay and Argentina. There, we stayed with my host grandmothers brother, who has an amazing apartment that views Paraguay. It was absolutely stunning at night when the sun was setting and the sky was filled with pink and purple clouds.
There, we went to the Iguazu National Park to see the world famous Iguazu Falls. They were fantastic! It is nothing like the Niagra Falls, which have buildings and such close by. The Iguazu Falls are extremely well preserved and absolutely beautiful. It consists of many individual waterfalls. Two thirds of the falls are located in Argentina, but the best views of the falls are located in Brazil. My favourite part was the Devils Throat, which is the biggest waterfall and is in the shape of a `U`. You can basically be surrounded by over 200 degrees of waterfall. At that part, there is a platform that goes out onto the river, and I became completely soaked. We went to the park two other times afterwards. Once, to go on the Macuco Adventure, which is a jeep ride through the forest to the lower part of the river. From there, you take a powerboat and go up to the smaller falls to get drenched! I bought a plastic cover and stayed kind of dry... The third time, we went just to eat at the expensive hotel in the park, where there is a beautiful view of the river just before it hits the falls.
After coming back from the trip ( I was almost sad, I absolutely loved the family and friends we stayed with!) I came back to start school. Unfortunately, there was a confusion and I was put in grade 11 again! Since I have already finished high school back home and was not wanting to study the same material again, I talked with the school counsellor and hopefully, by next week I will be in grade 12. The sad part is that I am starting to get attached with the students in my class. Today, however, I participated in two classes of grade 12 with some of my friends and loved it.
As for Rotary this month, I went to one of the first meetings since their summer break to see the presentation of the new president of the Rotary club. I was enthused since the president is now a WOMAN!
Thats all for this month.... its going too fast!!
Lindsey