Oi queridos

Hello all,

Wow, this is a very neglected blog, sorry for the delayed update!

I just returned from a weekend AFS orientation in a city called Assis. It was a very good experience. There were exhange students there from: Germany [7, I believe], Hong kong [1], Greenland[1], Iceland [1], and Italy [1]. Although I was the only American and native English speaker present, English was how we communicated, aside from some portuguese with the students from Hong Kong and Italy...who I got the feeling were rather lost for the presentations. It is amazing how quickly English has spread [and is still spreading] as a second language. The orientation also gave me a chance to try Brazils very popular busing system, being that Assis is quite far from my city. And try I did...for 11 hours! Luckly I had an exchange student from our city to keep me company, and 2 counsilers on the way back.

Anywho, all is well here. My Portuguese is coming along, I`m starting to understand my classes, and I`m even taking the tests with my class! Although I doubt I will be fluent by the end of this month, as many former exchangers have told me, I feel that I have made some considerable progress. I`m also learning Futebol [soccer] at an ok pace. The problem is that no one here really practices, they just play soccer!

I had a great Churrasco [BBQ] for my birthday! We rented a little place for Churrascos and partys of the like, bought alot of meat and drinks, and invited alot of people; pictures soon to be on facbook, as soon as I get my camera back, haha.

On the sad side, my good friend that I had made moved to Campinas just this past week...and I feel his loss :[. I was going out with him and his friends just about every weekend, and now I am little in-between friends like that.

Theres not a WHOLE LOT for me to write about thats super fascinating to read about since I am simply living with a familly and experiencing thier lifestyle. However, I think I will be taking more trips to other parts of brazil in the next months [especially since I don`t have school in December or January!!] now that I am a little more independent. Alright folks, thats all for now. abraços e beijos,

Patríck