Hey everyone, missing a post here

I'm pissed now because I posted a really long message between the last 2 posts, but it was kind of depressing. I was saying that I missed home and was sad because I hadn't received that many comments, and nothing in the mail at my new house. Things are getting better, but I'm still missing everyone at home. If you get the chance, please send me some mail at my house here: Rebekah Francis Rua Leovigildo Filgueiras, 525 Apto. 12 Garcia Salvador, BA 40100-000 It's kinda expensive to call here, but if anyone wants to call I have a cell phone here too. My number is 55(country code)-71(city code)-9185-6089. Mom brought my computer when she came, so next time I'm online I hope to be able to put some pictures online. I guess I don't have a whole lot to report now, but just want some memories of home (sorry, direct translation from my Portuguese thoughts). Please write, miss everyone bunches! Beijos, <3Becki<3

Oi gente!

Hey there everyone! Hope things are going well at home for all, although I heard that there is about 8 inches of snow in central Indiana. Here today was the hottest day in the last two weeks, I walked outside and wondered why I had to wear clothes... I finally got registered with the federal police today, after two weeks of postponement the Brazilian police now have my fingerprints, documents, and photos (including one of my tattoos, so I'm permanantly identifiable). I took Mom to the airport yesterday, which was really sad. It was so nice having her here for a week, but I wish she could have stayed longer so I could show her more of the real life. While she was here we went to 3 different beaches, Pelourinho (the historic part of the city) a couple times, the Art Museum of Bahia, souvineir shopping at Mercado Modelo and she got to meet my family here. She called me this morning saying that she was still in São Paulo, there was a bad storm last night there and her plane had to circle for 2 hours before they could land, and she missed her connection back to the U.S. I know that she wanted to go back yesterday so she could have a day off before she had to go back to teaching, but I told her that she should stay in Brazil for one more day. She said no that she didn't have time, but Brazil thought differently. As they would say here, the gods willed her to stay, so she had to stay one more day. I also heard from her this afternoon, and she said how different it is there from here in Salvador. My friends and I know, which is why we are here in Salvador, but it was good for her to get to see the big difference. She should be back in Indiana by noon tomorrow. I'm starting to get a schedule here, and I'm thinking about joining a gym here. It would be good to have somewhere to go to use their weight equipment, but the gym by my house only has one price that includes all of the classes and everything (but of course it's more expensive). I wasn't able to get into the photography class that I wanted because we already missed too much. That's ok though because I decided that I'll just try to practice a lot myself. Take pictures that tell a story with my digital camera, upload them to the laptop (which mom brought for me), edit all of the pictures using the software, and maybe write a short story for each or write a longer story for every so many (in English or Portuguese, I think either would help me). I still miss everyone at home, and hope to get some more e-mails or letters in the mail. Even though I used to go a long time when I was in school without seeing friends and family, I feel like it's harder here because I am living in a very close, personal culture. I always see people being affectionate and always talking about missing their friends and family that are gone. Please don't forget about me while I'm gone. I'm not sure what I want to do, but I would love to see everyone when I get home and show you my pictures and share my stories. I may have to wait a little bit though, because I know at first I will be very overwhelmed and have to go through reverse culture shock. Ok, I only have 2 more minutes in the lab here, so I better get going. Please take care of yourselves and yours! Beijos <3 Becki <3

How is everyone?

Hey there, I don't have a lot of time but it's been a few since I updated. I was wondering how everyone at home was doing? I haven't received hardly any comments or e-mails, and I'm just kinda missing everyone at home. I hope things are going well for everyone, and as the weather warms up that it is bringing a little more happiness to your day. I have been a bit frustrated this week because we have been going to classes trying to figure out what to take. Two days in a row I got up early to go to a class to find out that it was at a different time. And it wouldn't be a big deal that I missed one class, except for we have already missed classes since they started before Carnaval. Although the program wouldn't even tell us what we could take and show us the schedule until right before classes were getting ready to recess for Carnaval... And then I get to campus and the schedules are totally different. I think once I figure out the real schedules and start actually getting to class that everything will be fine. But it's just a bit frustrating for me because I came here to study! Anyway, Mom is coming on Sunday! I am so excited to see her and show her all around here. I think that we are just going to stay around Salvador, and maybe go to a beach or island a little farther away over the weekend. I started making a list last night of the places that I want to take her and the things I want to show her. It's going to be a lot of fun sharing my life here with her. She has been studying Portuguese too so she would be a little better prepared for her trip, so she's excited about getting to use it. I probably better get going because I only have 2 more minutes on the internet. If you get the chance (anyone), please write to me! I haven't received any mail since I've been at my house in Salvador, and it's a little depressing... I hope that things are going great, take care of you and yours!! Beijos ~~ <3 Becki

Resaca de Carnaval-- Back to ´normal´ life!

As I thought it was very hard to get to the internet during Carnaval. Although I had learned a lot about Carnaval before I came here, nothing could have prepared me for it. It literally takes over the entire city for a week and a half. For two weeks now I have had to watch people putting up and tearing down plywood and metal structures all over Salvador. For a little over a week every business that doesn't specifically cater to tourists was closed, including the post office and mall. The first three nights some of my friends and I bought tickets to be in a bloco, which I think I already explained~~ but is a roped off area where you travel with the "trio-eletricos" (like huge floats with speakers and a band playing on top) down the whole parade circuit. It was a lot of fun because I got to listen to pretty good bands (all though they were all mostly playing the same 10 songs~~ gotta love Axé music...), dance in a safe area without people really trying to molest me, and hang out with my friends. Each night with our bloco there was a different band, my favorite was Timbalada. The rest of the people in the bloco were really into it, the music was different, and the atmosphere reminded me more of a mosh pit (which you know is my kinda scene!). The other three nights I hung out with my friends Sarah (another student in the program) and Antonio (a Peruvian who lives in the same house as me and is here studying Portuguese too) in the pipoca. Before Carnaval I didn't really understand why the area outside of the bloco was called pipoca (popcorn), but I quickly learned! The people who can't afford to pay to be a part of Carnaval or the locals who know where the fun places are to hang out stay in the areas right outside of the bloco. There there isn't any security and really is more like a mosh pit. Everyone is hanging out drinking, dancing, and pushing everyone else in the crowd. Also, if you make eye contact with any of the guys (as long as he isn't making out with his girlfriend at that moment), they would try to kiss you. A couple nights in the pipoca we hung out with my host sister, Lais's friends in Ondina. That was a lot of fun because they knew where the fun places are to hang out and we kept running into people that they knew. That was a good defense for me not to get molested by the guys because I'm Lais's sister ; ) The last night we went to Campo Grande, which is close to my house. We were warned ahead of time that it was a lot different from Ondina, but I wasn't really sure why. When we were on Av. Sete outside of Campo Grande I saw 3 fights within 6 minutes and the police came and broke them up. You would think that would be a good thing, for the police to come and break up the fights, but the police scared me more than the favelados (people who live in the slums) that were fighting. Usually the people who were actually fighting took off as soon as they saw the police coming, and by the time the police got there they arrested their friends who weren't doing anything. I saw one kid with a policeman's hand around his throat, many getting hit hard in the back with 3 ft. long billy clubs, and some people getting kicked. Throughout the night I kept seeing the same thing, so we decided to go home early the last night (left at 1am) because I was getting nervous ~~it was just me and my friend Raquel who is tiny in the middle of all this chaos. I had a lot of fun during Carnaval, but I am glad that it is over now. Us Americans aren't used to partying all night 8 days in a row and sleeping only a little during the hot mornings. Conclusion: Brazilians know how to party! Now that Carnaval is over, I am glad the city is returning to normalcy. I came here to see what life here is really like, but it was a cool thing to glimpse at the biggest party in the world. A lot of places that were boarded up during Carnaval are very beautiful (like the parks), and I am glad to get to see things like they normally are here. My classes start on Monday (History of Bahia is first), and Tuesday I get to go register with the Federal Police (oh goodie! atleast I'll be official now...). I will update you guys soon with how the classes go this week. AND Mom is coming to visit on the 12th! I'm very excited for her to come and see what life is like for me here. I think that she will really like the people, and it will be a good opportunity for her to practice the Portuguese that she's been studying over the last couple months. It's very cute that she's trying to learn, but I've been studying for 2 and 1/2 years and I still have trouble communicating with people. That's what I learned when I had taken a semester before I came to Brazil the first time, but any bit that you have is better than nothing. By the time it is time to come home, I will have a very good grasp of the language so I can go home and forget it... Oh well, that's life. Take care everyone! OH OH If you would like to send me mail, I would absolutely love to get it! My address here is: Rebekah Francis Av. Leovigildo Figueiras, 525 Apto. 12 Garcia Salvador, BA 40100-000 Brasil Rebekah is easier for Brazilians than Becki because they have the name 'Rebeca'. Even when I say Becki, they have trouble repeating it. I know that phone calls are really expensive, but if you'd really like to call I have a cell phone here: 55(country code)-71(city code)-9185-6089 I would really love to hear from you some time! Beijos (kisses) <3