A look into the island

Mountains!














I had no idea that Florianopolis was covered in Mountains! And everything is sooo green. It is beautiful. My friend, Mariah, who studied at cofc last semester, took me around the northern part of the island with her parents. It was so neat and beautiful. I asked about the mountains and if she hiked them. She said no that nobody did b/c of monkeys and snakes. I really want to because there are no houses on them and they are just all so beautiful. I love the island and from every direction it is beautiful. There is a huge lake in the middle of the island or Lagoa, and I live near it. I keep thinking it is the ocean, but it is beautiful. I had a blast with Mariah and her family. They are very fun and kind, even if we don’t understand each other. I also learned that the cars they use are gas and alcohol powered. Like and almost all the cars are the hybrids, and they are all stick shifts. Trisha you drive better than some of them so don’t feel bad… It is just amazing. Funny story, the only word that Mariah’s dad knew in English was Woodpecker! I thought it was hilarious. I don’t know what context made him only learn that word, but I decided to teach him tartaruga-turtle. In the pictures: 1. Mariah and I with a look at the lake, 2. Me making my hair look like it was blowing in the wind (mariahs mom told me to, i thought it was hilarious) 3. Another look at the lake, 4. The local boats in Floripa

Beach!

Today I learned that lunch is the big meal of the day in Brazil. Rodrigo, John and the cousins all came over and we had a big lunch. It was very fun, and pretty tasty. I have had no trouble eating here. I learned from Rodrigo that people usually gain weight in Brazil b/c the food is so good!! Oh well, even if I am wearing dental floss! (That is what Brazilians call the bikinis b/c they are sooo skimpy) The books about Brazil are not lying about that, all thongs, and the guys all wear Speedos, unless surfing. Like all of them, it is weird, but interesting. The beach we went to today was called Praia Mole. Rodrigo says it is because the sand is so soft, which is true, even in the water your feet sink in the sand like they would really dry sand. It also makes large holes and mini sandbars everywhere. The waves today were HUGE. Not many people surf them b/c they crash close to shore, so you can’t really ride the wave very long, but they are big. I was exhausted after playing in them for ten minutes. It was so neat. And all around the beach were great mountains completely undisturbed by people. There were also people paragliding, which is defiantly something I will have to do.



















In the pictures: The beach crew at the lake lookout after a long day at Praia Mole (Carlos, Johnathan, Me, Luisa, Rodrigo) 2. Me and Carlos playing in the waves, i love him 3. The view off to right on Praia Mole where we climbed around 4.My house that I am living at, dont worry Mom there is a covering in the back for when it rains.