Julia Marini, brazilian exchange student

After a while here I am to update you all about my experience in Germany. I am not quite sure when was the last time that I wrote you, so I will summarize my stay since its beginning.

During the first month here I went through the experience of living among a new family who belong to another culture which is not mine.

My classes started on my second week here. I will not have to do tests until I get some fluency in German.

People here are not very easy-going. Even when you try to establish a chat or a first contact, they tend to be quiet. Now some of my classmates started getting closer to me and they took me to go skating and to birthday parties. However it is not an easy task to make friends here.

My German skills are improving fast and I have been doing my best to get better. (Learning a new vocabulary is the toughest task in my opinion.) I am having classes once a week. It is not enough in my opinion, but I cannot complain since I am not the one paying for them. They are taught in a institute for immigrants. Most of my classmates at the Institute are as young as I am and they are here for different reasons like Au Pair exchange working.

My host family is very nice with me. I will be staying with them till the New Years´ Eve then I will move to a Rotarian family.

I have participated in three of the meetings at my Rotary Club here but they said that my presence was not necessary, then I at least go to the formal meetings whenever they happen.

I had created 2 very complete Power Point presentation on Brazil and Curitiba but unfortunately my computer broke down and I lost everything. I will create other presentations later this year to show them my city and my country.

I had a trip with the other Exchange Students from my district to an island located in the north of Germany. It was really cool and I did like it.

Settling down here is not easy for different reasons. I miss the mild weather of my country and the kindness of my people. Nevertheless it has been the most exciting and challenging experience of my life.

Voluntary work is something that catches my attention. I have been looking for one here where I can help but it is not easy to find them. Germany is a very organized country and even in churches they do not know what I would do to help. Do you at Rotary Club Curitiba Oeste have any suggestion to give me?

On the 22nd November it will be my 3 month anniversary in the country.

Best wishes to everybody and thanks once again for the excellent chance I am enjoying here in Germany. It will make the difference in my life.