Caroline
Brazil to Eureka Springs

Travel Blog

Photos

• Did you have the ice storm (Jan 26, 2009)?

We had a bad ice storm, the streets were all covered by ice and some snow.

• Did your power go out?

Our house didn't have power but our neighbor had because she is in the hospital loop, so she invited us and some other people that live in the same street that also didn't have power to shower and eat in her house.

• If the power went out, did you stay at your house or go some place else?

We didn't have power for almost one week.

• If the power went out, what is the one thing you missed most about having electricity?

The thing I missed the most was my computer and the TV.

• Did you take pictures of the ice on the trees or in your town? (if yes, please send one or two for your blog entry).

I have some pictures of the streets and the power lines that were down,

• What did you do to help out your host family or neighbors during the ice storm?

I helped my host mom take care of our dogs and try to get soem candles to work on our house for the first two nights. When we were in our neighbor, I tried to help her prepare food or clean soem dishes.

• What did people in your neighborhood do during the ice storm?

Some kids were snowboarding on our street because we live in a big and really straight hill, but the other neighbors were trying to take some of the tree limbs out of their houses and the street.

• Did you have any fun adventures during the ice storm?

I tried to use our little dog to slide less than a foot on our yard, and tried to went and explore these experience with my host mom. I also went with a friend on a lodge to watch movies on Friday.

• What is the one thing you will remember most about the ice storm?

I will always remeber about being without power and cold, locked inside our house. But I will remeber also about how good our neighbors were with each other.

• What did you learn during the ice storm?

I learned that is really important to have a generator =p.

• How was your trip to the US?
  My trip to the US was very nice, but I was feeling nostalgic after saying godbye to my family and friends in Brazil.
• What did you learn at Orientation in Joplin?
  At the District Conference, I learned more about the program and the rules that I, as an exchange student, need to follow. I also could understand more about the Rotary. 
• What is a fun time you had with your host family?
  I had a great time at Thanksgiving with my first host family because she took me to her parents house. Her parents live in a farm in a small city, South Arkansas about three hours from Eureka Springs. We had a tradional lunch to celebrate Thanksgiving with all her family and friends; on Friday we went shopping in Fort Smith; Saturday we stayed at the house and helped her mother put the Christmas tree up and the ornaments. I was a cool holiday!
• What do you do for fun in your host city?
  Sometimes I hung out with a couple of friends here in Eureka Springs or we go to a basketball game.
• What are you studying in school?
  In school my classes are: US History, English College Bound, Journalism, Physical Science, Calculus, Ceramics and East Lab.
• Are you in any school activities (soccer, band, interact, choir, debate team ??)
  I joined the Robotics Team, the Junior Bank Board, the Interact Club and now I am willing to play soccer.
• Did you go to Halloween weekend? What was one fun thing you did there?
  Yes, I did. The Halloween Weekend was so much fun! The most fun thing we did there was going from house to house asking for candy (because it was something I had never done before).
• What is a funny story about your exchange?
  The most fun thing about my exchange was the first day I got here, when I was at the airport and had just got out of the plane and I said to myself: Here we go new life! And when I turned the corner, I saw my first and second host mothers there with a cute welcome tag waiting for me!
• Did you go to the ski trip? What was one fun thing you did there?
  Yes, I did. The mos fun thing I did at the Ski Trip was spending my day with Leti because we worked out at the condo, went to the hot tub and then we went to the sauna; that was a great day!
• What do you hope to do over winter vacation?
  I hope to go shopping a little bit and have a great New Year =D