Yes I am alive

So lots has been going on. I´m absolutely loving it here...it´s so incredible, everyone should experience Brazil, especially Salvador. Yesterday I went to the historical district (Pelourinho) for the first time during the day (I´ve been a couple of times at night). The architecture is so beautiful...there was a Catholic Church that was just too much. It was Baroque style and so opulent...all plated with gold. We went into this jewelry store too and I guess Brazil produces some pretty sweet gems...I was definitely wanting to blow all my money on this one ring. I might go back and figure something out...I have to have something from there.

My host family´s daughter just got back from Disney World (when you turn 15 here...if you have money...you go on a big trip and/or have a huge party). She´s 14 still but it´s her break from school (here it´s during winter). She´s so sweet and really funny. She makes me smile! She is the most polite and gracious 14 year old I´ve ever known (probably because she is not American).

My Portuguese is improving...I moved up to the most advanced level today at my Portuguese school. Yay finally done with boring grammar...I´ve learned everything there is to know about it in the past two years. Now I actually get to do fun stuff! And I love talking to my host mom because she knows like maybe 15 words in English so it´s only Portuguese. Last night we talked about politics (one of my fav subjects) and Pres. Bush. She had some interesting things to say. I laugh so hard with her and her daughter when we´re all together...I love it.

I´m missing my besties and my family and my baby Sophie but I´m comfortable here...it´s feels like I´ve been here forever. This is just the beginning to my traveling and living abroad, so it´s good that I´m learning how to adjust and be without the things I´m used to. I´m super excited about moving Madrid for a semester after I graduate to live with one of my bests while she studies abroad (and then of course it´s on to Manhattan together!!!). The future is so exciting that it´s hard to live in the moment...so I´m trying to just enjoy everyday.

I can´t wait for Rio and Buenos Aires and snowboarding the Andes in Bariloche!...I´ve been looking everywhere here for anything snow related so I get an idea of prices for a board here but it´s only surfing stuff because of the obvious location and climate.

I miss the rec...I want to be able to run and lift whenever I want! I ran in the rain the other day and it was so good...people were looking at me crazy haha. But everyone here runs by the beach and is really concerned with being in shape and looking good. In the bathrooms there´s always like 5000 mirrors...I like the working out part but I don´t know about the getting all dressed up everyday...totally not my style.

Alright...tchau, até logo e boa noite a todos.