- So since my last update we went on our first excursion to Balneario Camboriu. It's basically another beautiful city North of Florianopolis. We took a boat to a beach where we stayed and hung out for a while and then took a gondola up a mountain and at the top we took this roller coaster thing through the rain forest. It was super fun and beautiful. It was just a day excursion so the rest of the group went home but me and few other people decided to stay the night there. We ended up going to a really fun samba bar that night and the hostel we stayed at had the most comfortable beds in the world I think, so it was definitely a good decision to stay.
-On one of our days off we went to Barra de Lagoa which is a beach town really close to where we live. It is absolutely beautiful and we went to a sea turtle rescue place there which was really cool. We also went on a hike out to these rocks where we had a pretty relaxing day of swimming and hanging out.
- Rachel and I discovered the best Thai food EVER. We met the owner of the restaurant at the beach and he actually won an award in Thailand for having the best Pad Thai. So naturally we had to go see for ourselves. Well, he wasn't lying. Toy's Thai, I'm so sorry but you have been replaced.
- My Portuguese continues to improve slowly but surely, but I'm convinced that in the process my English is getting worse.
- School is going well, I have my first test on Monday and I'm actually pretty nervous. It will be interesting to see how tests are structured and graded here.
- My host mom had a churrasco (Brazilian bbq) last weekend and the food was amazing. They know how to BBQ here.
- They don't have/use pepper here. It is really difficult to find in stores and they don't have it at all in restaurants.
- We've claimed one of the stray dogs as our own. We named him Nosso and he hangs out with us all the time and often walks Rachel and I home... like all the way to the door and then he turns around because he knows he's not allowed in.
- I'm officially going to Rio from May 5-8 with some people from my group. I cannnnnnot wait! It will be really nice to see a completely different part of Brazil.
- I'm sure there is plenty more for me to talk about that I'm not thinking of right now but I will try to update more frequently.
On the gondola:
