It is officially Summer here in the Southern part of the hemisphere. Crossed the equator yesterday, a day when we had no classes. We crossed it at 36 degrees 53.78 minutes west.

Everyone cannot wait to get to Brazil for Carnival (supposedly the biggest party in the world- resembles Mardi Gras times 100,000,000,000). A lot of students are hiring body guards to follow them around all night. I’m going on a SAS sponsored trip where we dress up and have a security detail with us. They were saying the safest place to be is on the balconies or on the buses. SAS will brief even further on safety at our pre-port meeting. I know a lot of students who are flying to Rio, the Amazon or Lencois to get out of Salvador. Luckily, we’re arriving on the last day of Carnival.

I don’t have much planned for Brazil. I’m doing Carnival on Tuesday night and going to Itaparicia Island on Wednesday. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are still up in the air. Lauren is going to Iguacu Falls (by the borders of Bolivia and Paraguay) I believe cousin Sandy has been there. Last night we had our first Vicarious Voyage meeting. A girl from North Carolina, named Sophia, and I received a first grade classroom in Massachusetts. Each student wrote us a “hi pen pal” letter and included their “Flat Stanleys”. We are supposed to take these Flat Stanleys wherever we go taking pictures to send back to the class. I’m really excited to begin communicating and learning more about the students.

Yesterday was a no class day. It felt so nice to SLEEP IN and layout on the pool deck in between rain showers. The water is calmest it has been since we left Puerto Rico! You could sure tell that it is Summer here!! It was 82 degrees and humid at 11am this morning. We are now a 5 hour difference from home.
One of my goals in Brazil is to find an internet café to try and upload some pictures. Hopefully it will work. Off to read/study…I can’t believe this is a