the major questions

I've gotten so many questions lately about Brazil - when are you leaving? where are you staying? are you fluent in Portuguese yet (even though it's only been one month and you've had other things to deal with like exams and stuff)?

Sadly, I can't get even past the first one - when am I leaving? Honestly, je ne sais pas. I'm supposed to be in Sao Paulo by May 23rd, but it definitely depends on the arrival of my visa. How stupid would I be to buy a ticket without it? Maybe the consulate will read this post and think, "What a sad person. Let's send her her visa RIGHT AWAY." That'd definitely be ideal.

As for where I'm staying, I'll be living and working with the rest of the MC (national team), in a house altogether. This part sounds like it'll be the biggest gongshow - yes, that's fifteen people in their early twenties under the same roof. While this seems like a sketchy idea in theory, it's probably just because it is. I foresee unreal days where none of us can do any wrong, and other days where we'll all want to kill each other. But that's what makes the MC experience so great, and I'm looking forward to it the most.

Finally, my fluency in Portuguese is not exactly fluent. I was doing pretty well at first, tearing through the numbers, alphabet, and some simple phrases. I even bought myself a little phrasebook. But then exams hit, and I'm just trying to find my motivation again. Portuguese is such a beautiful language, but teaching myself how to speak it is proving to be a little arduous. Maybe if I listen to enough Brazilian music it'll just seep into my brain through the headphones. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll think about language websites again...

xx Shree

ten days

Three months ago, my plans included traveling for a couple of weeks after graduation, moving to Toronto, living and working with people that were already friends of mine and, ultimately, experiencing a different side of Canada.

Three months later, I'm amazed at how much things have changed. My post-graduation plans now include me packing up my life, moving to São Paulo, living and working with people that I (for the most part) do not yet know and, ultimately, experiencing a different side of the world.

Finding out that I was going to be the next MCVP (National Vice President) Communications of AIESEC in Brazil was one of the most incredible things I have ever experienced. I thought my interview had gone horribly, had prepared myself to hear that I was "an amazing candidate, and had made the choice hard" but had failed to realize my dream yet again. To say the least, it took me a couple of hours to break through the shock and experience the elation and certainty that I had been waiting months for. That was ten days ago, now.

I have tried my best to savour every moment since then. My last few weeks at home, my last few weeks as a student, my last few weeks with snow and cold... There are definitely things I'll miss, but I am more than ready to experience Brazil, and leave Canada behind (at least for now).

xx Shree