10/2

Oi!

I'm starting to get used to Brasil... but it's definitely not what I expected (nothing ever is, is it?)

I went to a club last weekend called Calypso. It's supposed to be the best club in inland Brasil. It was a total bust. I love to dance, but what these people were doing was not dancing-- it was a spasm at best-- to the worst techno music of all time (and I'm not a big fan of techno in the first place, let alone BAD techno)... anyways, I am really looking forward to my adventures to come...

I'm going on a rotary trip to Pantanal e Bonito... so that should be exciting-- we get to go horseback riding and see anacondas and crocodiles and fish for piranha!! In November, I'm going to Sao Paulo to see Phantom of the Opera (in English), and there are 2 really cool city-wide parties in October and 1 huge one in November... then in December my host family is taking me to Sao Paulo to see the sites and go shopping and then we're spending New Years on the beach... so things should begin to pick up soon.

I really hate school here.. but not to worry--summer vacation begins Dec. 1 and then school starts back up in February and in Feb, I don't have to go back to high school... I have several options and I'm really hoping that rotary will allow me to volunteer in Araçatuba's orphanage a couple days a week and teach English or Spanish (in Portuguese) the other days of the week... so that should be great... not to mention that I plan on traveling during summer break and Carnival is in February!!...

The good news is that my Portuguese progressing at an amazing rate and I understand as much as I did after about 5 months in Thailand (and I've only been here two weeks!!) so that's really awesome and encouraging and my host family and rotary club keep raving about how great my Portuguese is which makes me feel great!...so when I'm frustrated with school and completely bored out of my mind, I just remember what is coming and try to look forward to all of that! well, I gotta run now!

beijos,

Kati

ps- Grace, is Denard okay? I'm not exactly sure where hurricane Rita reeked havoc...