Editor’s Note: Adriana Alexander and Grant Clarridge will each appear in the Bremerton Patriot every other month. Both students are participating in Bremerton Rotary’s exchange student program.

I just arrived in Brazil about four days ago, but even before I was on the plane it was an adventure! I can’t believe all my family and I had to go through; From paperwork to packing, it was all hectic. It was totally worth the stress because this country is absolutely beautiful!

To prepare for this journey, my mother and I went through boatloads of documents, signing them and sending them off, so my stay here could be legal. I had some trouble with my visa, so this process took a little longer than usual. We also went on a shopping spree, buying a year’s supply of everything. I actually think we bought enough things to last me a couple of years!

On the morning of Thursday, Aug. 21, my mother and I set off for the airport to catch my 11:20 a.m. flight. I first had to fly to Dallas and then make my way to Brazil. My first flight was smooth, but as soon as we hit Central America on my second flight, everything went downhill. There was a lot of turbulence and to make matters worse, we were flying through the sky during lightning. We must have passed through about 19 thunderstorms from Costa Rica on through the Amazon Basin. The storms began to abate eventually and by the time I was descending, the sky was clear of storm clouds. Also at this time, I received an awesome view of Sao Paulo, or what you could see of it through the smog. It was so big that I couldn’t see the end of it in the horizon, and I was in a plane!

I didn’t go straight to my host family’s house when I landed; instead I went to a resort for a getaway set up by the Rotary to give all the exchange students a chance to meet. People from all the countries of the world were there, from Hungary to Thailand, and they were all so nice and open.

During my stay I was able to attend a Junina which is a festival in June where everyone dresses up as farm people and they dance for hours. It was hilarious and fun. Spending time with the other exchange students was the most fun I have had in a long time.

It was so hard to say goodbye when Sunday came, but we all gave each other phone numbers and e-mails so we could stay in touch. On Sunday, I had a feeling that the days to come would be very confusing and stressful; I was right.

Though it is only Monday, I can tell that these first few months are going to be hard. Today was my first day of school and the only class that I did well in was chemistry, but that was by looking at the board; all the things the teachers told the class is a blur to me.

Let me tell you that it is extremely hard to learn anything when it is being taught to you in a foreign language, especially when you are trying to learn the language itself. We have an upcoming test and I believe that the only subjects I will know are math, chemistry and English.

After school, we went to an English class and I felt like I was Buddha in a room full of monks! Everything came so easy to me (no surprise) and all were asking me questions about myself and their work. Once that class was over with, we went to my host sister’s horseback riding class that I will now be attending every Monday.

Let me tell you that it is an experience to try and tell your horse to do something in English when all it understands are Portuguese instructions! In the end, I was able to get my horse to start walking and turn on command.

I can’t wait to see what other adventures this year abroad has for me.

Adriana Alexander’s next column will appear the last Saturday of the month in October.