September 20, 2005

I ended up not going to all my stuff this weekend because I had my first exchange student meeting!! Ah they definitely should have done one sooner. I was wondering where everyone was (haha).

So I know about all of the big Rotary trips I can go on. I have to fax some of the stuff to my grandparents – for signing and stuff. But luckily they can fax it too. Yea, no mail!! There’s a trip this Friday. I don’t think I’m going to go to that. They should have told us about it ahead of time (its to Machu Picchu). However, I need to pay a deposit ahead of time for the remaining trips to reserve a space for me. They’re 100 dollars each, except for the most awesome one, which is 500 dollars. I will definitely have to pay more later -- a lot of money, but these should be great experiences. And, if you think about it, if I decided to travel to these places some time later (not that I’d have an opportunity as good as this) it will be a lot more expensive for airfare from the US, and a lot more hassle.

I’m figuring you’ll be curious about the trips, so here’s some quick info:(these are only estimates, dates can be changed too)

Pantanal/Bonito (one of the last unexplored natural reserves in the world, with the biggest wildlife reserve in the American continent)—8 days about $200--Sept 23-29 (rafting, snorkeling, safari) by bus, October 28 - Nov. 5, or Nov 4 - Nov 12.

Northeast tour (the 'dream trip’): 30 days (all of January!!) $700 (Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto, Brasilia, Chapada Diamantina-lençóis, Maceió, Natal, Fortaleza, Recife, Salvador, Porto Seguro, Rio de Janeiro.... basically includes some of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, and there’s traditional dance classes, and I’m sure so much more. I CAN’T miss this one!!!!!! (Though all of them sound wonderful) by bus January 2006.

Buenos Aires (capital of Argentina, supposed to be very beautiful and full of culture) -- 5 days $250. April 2006.

South tour----Foz do Iguaçu.-.one of the biggest sets of waterfalls.(275 of them) in the world, bigger than Niagara, Florianópolis, Curitiba, Sao Paulo. $300 for 10 days (for the complete tour, which I think I should do) by bus April 2006.

Latin American journey ---- Equador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina. 22 days $500. Seeing new countries is definitely a good thing. April/May 2006.

Amazon expedition (I heard about this even before I left, and it sounds awesome) ---- Manaus, boat expedition, jungle safari, trekking. 10 days (Yea! I get to sleep in hammocks again!!!! I love it; I wish I could have used mine while I was in the US) and 200 dollars-airfare not included, because you can leave from anywhere in Brazil. April/May 2006

I know I’m going to have to say a lot more about this later, and I’m sure I won’t be able to describe it all... but I’m so excited!!!!!!! How are things in Wooster? Oh yea, so this agency (belo brasil tours) said that they could arrange tours for anybody that comes (its arranged for foreigners, yes they speak English haha, a lot of people do).

I know not everyone I’m sending this to really needs the info and dates and stuff, but it might be interesting.

Até mais,
Jess