December 8, 2006

Hello All,

Thought I'd get another email out to everyone since it's been a while and a lot has happened. Probably the biggest thing is that I changed families last week, but as I was on a Rotary trip this past weekend I have only been here a few days. It's definitely a big change as I now have four brothers and a sister, whom I share a room with (just with the sister, not the boys! ; ) ) Their apartment is in centro (like downtown here) which is awesome because I can walk almost everywhere and a lot of my best friends live just a few blocks from me. I love my new family. They have been so kind and welcoming, especially my host mum. So far I am very happy here! Here however, is my new address... Christmas letter/packages would be more than welcome!

Erin Wicks
Rua Professor João Candido no. 685, apto 31, 3 andar
Centro
Londrina - PR
86010-000
Brasil

Got back from a trip to the beach with a bunch of other exchange students Monday morning at 7:00 AM. Other than a grueling night in the bus with no sleep it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately it wasn't in the 90s like it has been here, still it was warmer than our last trip and we actually got in our swimsuits and in the water. It was a really cool little place and we went hiking and saw some of the most beautiful beaches in the South of Brazil. Since it is a surfing beach there were lots of waves and surfers to keep us occupied, and one night me and some friends stumbled across a bonfire on the beach and made some new Brazilian friends. It was amazing, lying in the sand by the fire listening to some guys play the guitar and me attempt to keep up with a tambourine. Very cool.

Although we never ended up pulling off a Thanksgiving dinner (my friend's sister got sick at the last minute and we didn't have another place to hold it so last minute), Saturday a few friends and I have planned a Christmas party for all the exchange students in our district. We're having it in a nice hotel and making sure everyone wears formal attire- suits, dresses, the whole thing. We're going to stay up all night because one of our friends has a flight back to South Africa at 6:00 AM and we want to take her to the airport. All in all it should just be a really fun time and help to celebrate Christmas with some of my closest friends in Brazil, who are truly my family down here.

I hope everything up North is going well. I am definitely going to miss a lot of things about home this Christmas, especially my family, friends, and of course snow! Make sure you enjoy them for me, and send lots of love and pictures of all your goings on to me!

Much love and beijos (kisses),
Feliz Natal (Merry Christmas),
-Erin