DON'T PANIC

Hey everyone. As you all know, my journey is almost at its end. Or maybe not. I think that this is not the end, but the beggining of a new one. Or is it the continuation? A think this journet will never end, but only improve with time because of the lessons we learn in the way. In the last two months I've learned a lot. Not just how to eat your taco without making everything falling off, or how to make a snow man (things that are simple and yet very important), but things more meaningful to me. Learning and understanding concepts was a result of this trip. I finally understood why we are ambassadors, even without seeing politicians and things like that, and a lot of other questions I had were answered (but then more questions came). I feel that our group was perfect. I could see a difference in all six of us after these months, and I'm so happy that our group is in a perfect tune. I was able to see life through an entire different angle, and that made me open my horizons in an incredible way. The exchange program is not just about changing your physical location, but changing ideas with different people and changing your mind. Now after exchanging a lot of visions, culture and information, I'm ready to go back and apply that to my life in Brazil. The experiences I lived here were amazing, an opportunity of a life time that changed the way I analyse life. The memories of these two months will be far beyond the 523 pictures in my camera, but forever in my heart. Something that I learned here was how to enjoy a new experience to the fullest: using every opportunity you can, but always aiming for the best. Now my brain is at the same time in Portuguese and in English without having to "switch" at any time. Well, saying how amazing everything was and how that changed my life, what is true, would be cliche and everything, but anyway, everything was AWESOME and very important. And for that incredible experience, I would like to thank. Thank everybody envolved in the process to make this possible. At first I would like to say thank you to my parents, that supported me all the way, and that will always support me. Thank you to my aunt Andrea especially, for introducing me to Partners and this program. Thank you to all my family in Brazil, for always believing in me. Thank you to everyone that helped me along my way to the US. Thank you to Ana Isabel, Ana Mary, Ana Maria and everyone in Partners RS. Thank you to all my friends in Brazil also, for supporting me, even saying that I was crazy spending my summer vacation in the cold of Indiana. Thank you to the Youth Ambassadors 2010, for being who they are. Now I want to say thank you to everyone envolved in the program in the US. Thank you to Jhani, Leslie and Laura, who made this happen and in such an incredible and fun way. Thank you to Rosane, Leonidas and their children for the hospitality and an unforgettable Rock Band session. Thank you for Dra. Campbell for finding the most amazing host family ever. Thank you to everyone in South Vermillion High School, for teaching me a lot more than school stuff. Thank you to everyone in the Sudduth and Polomski family, for the amazing time. And finally, thank you to Jeff, Rhonda, Amanda, Jordan and Brooke, for letting me be a part of your lifes for a while, as you are an important in mine. (If you are reading this, thank you for you too.)

Over and out