Florianópolis
New city, new stay, new friends, new culture.  Florianópolis is the city in the Southern state of Santa Caterina, Brazil.  The city is primarily made up of a people of primarily European ancestry, especially German and Italian.  Because of this the people look slightly different in colors and clothes. The food is also a bit different and the social behaviors. The city of Florianópolis, aka Florípa, is a huge island extends about 433km or 270 miles.  It has 42 beaches on both lakes and Ocean. The city is truly beautiful and clean.


The past few days I have been going through program's orientation and school began for my group on Tuesday. While I am here I will take a language class, two culture classes and two weeks of conversation class, everything will of course be in Portuguese:)


My university is located in the center of the city.  In the part of the city the buildings are placed tightly together and the streets, which are only for pedestrians, are paved with a mosaic design. Three blocks from the school there is a street market that sells fresh produce and cookies and cakes and breads and what not...It's so nice.

This weekend the program is scheduled to visit a nearby city where we will swim in the natural hot springs and go rafting.  I am excited.  There is lots to write but I am tired.  As I expected the language and the constant stimulation really wears me out...physically and mentally. But! Though I am tired, I am very happy.

More to come!