Alas, a date of departure!!!

Oi, everybody!

One fine day this week I was sitting at the computer, woefully absorbing more Portuguese, when suddenly my phone began to buzz and I was presented with the ultimate question...to answer or not to answer? The number read "restricted", so naturally I was a bit perturbed. After ceaseless reasoning and inner conflict, I decided to pick up the phone. I listened, to my ultimate surprise, to Kiersten (the travel agent) with the news that my visa had been received and she was working on my ticket AS WE SPOKE!!!

Needless to say, this was beyond exciting and I am ecstatic to finally be on my way (or close to it). My plane ticket was officially booked today for a departure on Tuesday, March 9th, and my travel itinerary reads as follows:

3:21 pm - leave Milwaukee (Tuesday, March 9th)
6:33 pm - arrive in Atlanta
7:35 pm - leave Atlanta
7:10 am - arrive in Sao Paulo (Wednesday, March 10th)
1:10 pm - leave Sao Paulo
4:10 pm - arrive in Recife

!!!

Now, I have to include in this post that the most exciting thing I have done so far with that bit of information is having chosen my plane seats for the flights to Atlanta and to Sao Paulo. Suddenly it made everything appear a little less surreal, and helped me realize that somewhere, in all this chaos, I stepped out of a dream and into reality.

So..emotions. I'm not exactly sure what to call mine at this point. I suppose the most accurate description would be "ecstatic-enthralled-amazed-stoked-petrified-gripped-bouncing-off-the-walls-happy-vigorous". That doesn't really describe it, though. Its a little more like a jumbled mess of feelings, sewn together to create...voila! My unanticipated level of anticipation! Throughout all of this, and even now, it's been most difficult to comprehend the enormity of this experience. I'll never, ever in my lifetime forget this, but more than that, afterward I'll never, ever be the same. Not only will I have grown into a young Brazilian beach bum, but my level of cultural understanding and my comprehension of differences (neither good nor bad) will exceed that of where I am at now. Furthermore, I'll speak fluent Portuguese and have seen another small part of this enormous world that we live in. My belief is that we were placed here, in this massive spinning sphere with billions of other people to meet and places to see..so why not explore a little?

I've already decided on the next 5 or so countries I want to live in after Brazil, and I'm anticipating that this exchange will get me moving so that I might see what its like to live, learn and laugh abroad! I'm sure I'll just fall in love with the process, and chances are I'll continue with it the rest of my life (teaching English, or music, or Peace Corp or something). Essentially, I'm just ready to explore and see, and above all, experience. There is so much life just brimming over the borders of countries most people haven't even heard of..more than anything I want to be part of it! I feel like I can go further than Elkhorn, Wisconsin, and learn about cultures a little more rooted than what I've experienced here. Really, though, it seems to be important to make an impact anywhere you go, to change what was there for the better, even if its just leaving a pleasant memory. I guess what I can take from this is that while Elkhorn is tiny, half the places I want to go are tinier...every place has its certain quirks and charm.

My flight was originally going to be for this Friday (tomorrow D:) but I'm glad we rescheduled it. First of all, I would be missing Ryan and Sharon's wedding, which is completely out of the question, and second of all, there is no way I would have been ready. Tuesday I was sure I would be...but now that two whole days have passed and we've been scrambling around, I know that Friday would have been too soon.

Spontaneous thought! Seeing as I'm in Sao Paulo for 6 hours, and I'll be wearing my oh so stylin rotary blazer, maybe I'll snatch a Rotarian and ask them (politely, of course, and in Portuguese) to show me around the city! That would be TOTALLY awesome, if I'm not too tired from the 12 or so hour flight. Even if I am, I'm willing to undergo a little exhaustion if it means an adventure :D

Well, its late and I'm off to continue packing D: <--that is how I feel about putting all my summer clothes and sunscreen in two suitcases and a duffel that I will have to lug with me for 24 hours!

Adeus, meus amigos!

Madeline

P.S. The picture at the top is Carnaval in Recife. See all those ants milling around the streets? Those are people. Needless to say, I'm pretty bummed about having missed it, but maybe its for the best. I'll experience PLENTY of other events and fun times while I'm there!

Also, I realized today how kind and endearing humanity can be. I was at the dentists office, and it was absolutely charming to see how wonderful and kind the office ladies were, along with Dr. Knutson. Everybody seems to express such a genuine interest in my experience. It is entirely heart warming. So, to the office ladies, if you're reading this, I'll send pictures to that email when I get the chance. Thanks to your wonderful establishment, when you see me smiling in the pictures, my teeth will be pearly white :)