–Nathália Hipólito Cardozo, University of Prince Edward Island
Part 2: Hello Canada
I arrived in town, “Don’t forget what your mother said, no hug, NO kiss only shake hands with them so they don’t think you’re strange. I arrived at the house- HERE IS WHERE I’LL LIVE FOR 16 MONTHS. All of a sudden I was speaking English all day, OMG! My brain was tired. Classes started, I began to meet new people, I found some Brazilians. One month passed- I was on Skype every day. I was doing better than I thought I would in school. My life became a series of presentations at university, group work, meeting more Brazilians, going out, studying and always speaking English. University of Prince Edward Island is located in a small town, but there were many Brazilians, which I really enjoyed. The town also felt really safe, THERE ARE JUST 3 BUSES!!!! Parties… dinner with host family… and just like that ALREADY 3 MONTHS HAD PASSED. I began speaking more English, and spending more time on Skype. And then, IT BEGAN TO SNOW. With snow came my first exams where I thought that I couldn’t write exams 100% in English. When the holidays came my host mother invited my colleagues for dinner at home; choosing, cutting, bringing a tree home for Christmas, more parties, and yes, speaking EVEN more English! I did great on my exams! And before I knew it CHRISTMAS!! I spent the holidays watching a marathon of Christmas movies with my host family, THEY GAVE ME GIFTS, SO CUTE!I had one more test to pass: now or never, skating, I passed the test! NEW YEAR ALREADY HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
2015, MY GOD WHERE WAS I THAT I DIDN’T SEE THE YEAR PASSING!! the new semester was heavy: blizzard, I did not realize that there was so much work, blizzard, I didn’t like winter anymore, Skype, first time skiing, work, made a snowman, blizzard, Skype, it was very difficult, more parties at home, I needed to wear tons of clothes, I met more people, A 30 PAGE PAPER?! It became impossible go to walk to school, giving another presentation, Skype, blizzard, classes canceled, another exam, nervous I thought I’d fail, more papers, class canceled, 1m of snow (!), a lot of clothes, dollar got expensive in Brasil, canceled classes again, ice skating, party, friends, a new snowfall record, PLEASEEE I just wanted a break, skiing again! My little cousin from back home began TALKING with me – IT WAS SO CUTE, classes canceled again, exams, the semester was extended, party, I met more people!!! Then all of a sudden I was half done! I was very happy, finals, looking for an industry placement, it started getting warm, snow began to melt, I did well on my finals, I found an incredible industry placement and finally… the semester was over, amen!! Just as the semester finished it was MY BIRTHDAY. They made a cake for me, we were almost halfway through 2015!
First placement day, MY SUPERVISOR WON A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE!! The temperature had climbed to 10 degrees and I almost put on a T-shirt! But, NO WAY there was still snow but I could feel spring coming, I HAD TOWRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT, some of my friends had left to do an internship in another province, party, I met more people, work, home, host family, snow continued to melt, I saw a flower THANK GOD, industry placement, research, I HAD TO READ 300 ARTICLES, party, it was getting warmer, Canada Day, Skype, MY SISTER’S BDAY, AGAIN? THAT WAS FAST, field work, skype, work meetings, PLANNING A ROADTRIP, reading more articles, writing, the flowers bloomed and were beautiful, A PERFECT WEEKEND AT MY HOST-FAMILY COTTAGE, field work, then it was really hot, conference, tulips, my road trip was near, I was able to see the whole Island because of the placement, more work, meetings, the weather was so good that I could go to the beach every day, and BEST ROADTRIP OF THE HISTORY OF THE BESTS ROADTRIPS, I had to finish my project, one of my closest new friends was going back home, lecture, meetings, 35 DEGREES!!! I DIDN’T KNOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE!!! Skype, I finished the project, printed the poster, field work, so hot OMG, party, emailed my supervisor, party, beach, THEN IT WAS ALMOST SEPTEMBER! I delivered my poster session, beach, my placement was almost over, time to register for the next semester courses, Skype, field work, and then: MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN CANADA. I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!
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