Erika’s Journals

January 5, 2025

So Many More Memories Are Waiting to Be Made!

Oi from Brazil!

It feels like so much has happened since I last wrote a journal. Time has gone by way too fast!

November was a super busy month for me, and I spent so much time with friends and family. Early in November, I went on a trip with my first host family to the Brazilian countryside, and it was absolutely beautiful. It was such a relaxing place, with just forests everywhere. When we arrived, the manager showed us to our cabin, and it was everything I imagined, cozy, simple, and perfect. We stayed for 5 days, and during that time, my host sister and I tanned, I played volleyball with my host family, ate a ton of food, and swam a lot with new friends I made there. The Brazilian friends I met were amazing, we played card games and just talked the whole night. It was so nice to connect with more people from here.

After we came back from the countryside, we went back to Santos, and I had to focus on finishing school and preparing for exams since summer break was coming up. This whole school break thing is so different for me because I have almost three months off with no school, and it’s all during summer because the seasons are flipped (which I'm still getting used to). I managed to finish school and did pretty well on my final exams, and just like that, the semester was over. I couldn’t believe it! It felt like the school year had just started, but time really flies when you’re having fun. One of the best parts of my exchange so far has definitely been my Brazilian friends. They’re so kind and warm-hearted, and I feel so lucky to have such amazing friendships with them.

December in Brazil was incredible, but also super busy. The first thing that made it amazing was finally having summer break! I spent a lot of time hanging out with my friends. Even though it’s been rainy here in Santos, which means we can’t go to the beach as often, whenever the sun comes out, my friends and I run to the beach right away. Living so close to the beach is such a blessing! All we have to do is walk for 5 minutes, and then we can spend the whole day there, swimming, playing volleyball, eating açaí, pastels, and just enjoying the ocean. I’m going to miss it so much when I leave. It’s one of the things I love most about living here.

On December 15th, I moved in with my second host family, and at first, I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect but as an exchange student, I knew I had to adapt and be open to whatever the situation was. My second host family turned out to be amazing, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. I get along so well with them. My host mom is awesome, she’s like a mom and a friend all in one and I feel so comfortable talking to her about anything. Then there’s my little 7-year-old host sister who is the sweetest thing. She’s always hugging me and calling me her sister which is so cute. And finally, there’s my host brother who is like my best friend now. We hang out all the time, whether we’re baking, going to the beach, or just watching shows. I’m excited to spend more time with them and make even more memories together.

Christmas in Brazil was also special. Even though I had moved in with my second host family, I had already planned to celebrate with my first host family, which was so much fun. We went to my host aunt’s house on Christmas Eve and it was full of good food, music, and presents. Honestly, I didn’t expect anything but they surprised me by getting me gifts which made me feel so welcomed and part of their family. Christmas is a bit different here because families celebrate on Christmas Eve, not Christmas Day. After the presents we went home and the rest of the day was relaxed, we just slept and did nothing. It was nice to experience a Christmas different from the one I'm used to.

New Year’s in Brazil was one of the best experiences I’ve had so far. It was one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever seen. Around 8 p.m., my host brother and I met up with my first host family at the beach. We ate good food, talked about New Year’s, and just hung out. Earlier in the day, I said I would buy grapes so my first host sister and I could do the New Year’s tradition of eating 12 grapes in the first 12 seconds of the New Year for good luck, but I forgot them! We ran from the beach, looking for an open store, but had no luck. In the end, I just went up to a random restaurant and asked if they had any grapes. They thought it was a little strange, but they gave me 24 grapes, which made us so happy! When midnight struck, my first host sister and I ate our grapes and ran into the ocean to watch the fireworks. It was amazing. In the U.S., New Year’s isn’t a huge deal for me, but this year, I experienced something so special and different. I can’t wait to bring this tradition back to my family next year.

These past couple of months have been beyond amazing. I’ve experienced so much, and I honestly couldn’t ask for a better exchange experience. I totally understand now what people mean when they say, “An exchange year is not a year in a life, it’s a life in a year.”