March 10th

So I have travelling so much since my last post. So many cities, beaches, breathtaking scenes, friendships created, interesting people talked to, things experienced, and memories made. This really have been going so well. Found out my mother is coming to visit and I will be moving cities into my states capital, Curitiba. Also my friend who got sent home is coming back to visit. The culture here is now completely normal for me which is very cool. The only thing i worry about now is returning to the States. I have been going to most of my rotary meeting and I have recently started University here which is very cool. I'm studying political and social sciences and i might even get a diploma. I help with English at an international school and recently, some of the other Americans, had a stand at an international fair where we talked about the the U.S to future exchange students and sold Hamburgers and cupcakes. Another one of my friends was just sent home from Italy for not getting along with his family and arguing with his counselor too much. It was like they wanted him home it was very strange. also i'm going to be moving to my 4th family before I move to Curitiba which is another annoying packing I have to do. Also I am learning Spanish so if any Spanish speaking exchange students wanna speak with me in Spanish that's appreciated. Things are still going well.

January 1st

So today is January 1st, the day before our Big trip to the northeast of Brasil. The trip is 30 days and we go to 11 cities so I'm super excited. I have been playing a lot of soccer and have made some really good friends in my city and with the other exchanges. I don't have much in common with my second family but they are okay with me travelling and going out and experiencing Brasil so all is well. I spent Christmas with my family and another exchange student in my city, it was very weird sweating on Christmas outside with shorts and flops. After that me and some exchanges went to this beach for New Years and it was definitely the best New years I have ever had. But at the end of this beach. The last day we were at the beach two of my best friends were sent home for contraband. This really sucks in every situation but i feel as if this one was strange, it was as if rotary was trying to send them home. They interrogated at 16 year old and an 18 year old by threatening them and lying to them and when they finally signed a paper saying they broke the rules they told them that they just heard rumors so they told them they had evidence. The worst part is that the 18 year old accidentally confessed to a different crime, but it was all the same to Rotary. I have been wondering if this is normal or within rotary rules to do. I be saying goodbye to my best friend tomorrow and shortly after getting on a bus to the best trip of my life while he gets on a plane back to France.

November 20th

So today marks 3 months since the day I left Albany. Very surreal. I could not have imagined in a million years the exchange could bring me experiences like this. My host family is truly like a family to me and leaving them is going to be difficult. The friends I have made here are unparalleled. Brasil holds some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. But the craziest thing about exchange is how much I have learned and grown, It is like i am a different person completely her. Seeing social media from back home is like seeing children arguing over remedial things. It really does put things in perspective. Also it is very strange to speak English and I have started to prefer Portuguese. Homesickness has not taken me and I really feel that i'm enjoying every second. I travel around cities in my state a lot. and soon I will go to Sao Paulo to meet with Felipe, Shay, and maybe Adam. I also may go to Argentina and Paraguay soon with my host family. Very exciting times. Beijos.

-Liam Hill

september 20th

Setembro 20

It has almost been 4 weeks here and im still loving it. Working on college applications. Went to a reggae club concert last night and it was cool. The VIP was cool. Played a soccer tournament the other day too. I also had an immersion weekend last weekend where we did alot of friendship building activities and they actually worked,i think I built some friendship pretty good. really got er done. There was a polish birthday tradition at the weekend. I think i might take a portuguse class wednesday, about time haha. I got a few new shirts and my school started.

September 6th

Setembro 6

Its been like two weeks and brasil is still dope. Ive been playing soccer, going out, trying so many new things. I love it. I went to a club this past friday and met MC Guime who i didnt know existed before that day but hes a super famous MC in Brasil. My Portuguese is getting better, english is still getting worse. I had Barbecue at a birthday party yesterday and it was the best meat ive ever had. I have some crazy times already. My family has 2 maids. Went to the nicest house I have  ever been in yesterday. A funny story i was with my host brother, Lucas, who is like 6'3 and a big dude, a real manly man. We are in the car on the way home from the middle of the city and he says "This is my favorite music" The screen in the car turns to concert film and this Brazilian Justin Bieber teen pop sensation come on. He sang along so loud and for the next few minutes and asked me to sing along with him. So its me and this grown man screaming along to the blasting music of this Brazilian teen pop sensation. I like him.

August 31

Agosto 31

It has been about a week for me in Brazil. Not as hot as you'd expect but still pretty freaking hot. I love my host family and my host brother Everton has been the key to my success here. Portuguese is not that hard and i can understand most people if they don't talk too fast. I have played soccer with Everton's team 3 times already. The difference between players in brasil and the US is unreal. Everyone in the US is so worried about new cleats and how light their cleats are and spend 200-300 dollars on cleats that they hope will somehow magically make them messi because messi wore them. In Brasil you will find players with 30$ fake copa mundials that would violate any player on my team with ease. I like brasil and im going to the FBI today to let them know i'm here and to finalize my Visa. My first day of School was friday and all the kids were intruiged and scared of me at the same time. they would stare at me and when i looked back would put there head right back down to their paper. I was walking in a crowded hallway once and i to throw something out in a trash bin behind me so I turned around and immediately the whole hallway became silent, parted like the red sea, and stared at me as i threw out the wrapper. Super strange. Also i think my English is getting a lot worse, sorry Mr. Grove. I met the other exchange students yesterday, They were nice. I traveled alone for the first time to a city two hours away. Impressive right. My first week has been great and i really have no complaints. Tchau

August 23

Agosto 23

This is my very first blog post from Brasil. A warning to any readers, most of these will be short and sweet. I arrived Today after 20 hours of flying and layovers. I have meet my family and I really like all of them, Everton, Edilson, Sonia and the second family, Ivo e Terezihna. I think the first house has a maid, or maybe just a cleaning lady I'm not sure. The whole family is out so I'm choosing to blog now. I'm excited for tomorrow.