Week 2 - Thursday:

The host family dinner was front and center on the minds of the students. Experience with students from the past indicates that the weekend spent with the host family is top on the list of highlights for the study abroad. Lots of emotions are involved as students prepare for the visit, meet their host family, have that first dinner with them and then spend the weekend Brazilian style. I don’t think words can truly explain the experience and every student handles it differently. I will have to say that any conversation amongst the students on Thursday was related to the visit. We had class all day and then students got cleaned up and chose their attire for the evening. The students arrived to the dinner before the families and for me, it is interesting observing the students talk, their nervousness rise, some last minute practicing of their introductions and checking out each family as they arrive wondering whether that family will be their host. The time has arrived. Introductions began. I have pictures of each introduction and meeting. The students did a wonderful job on their introductions and this year the host families introduced themselves also in Portuguese. Once introduced the students then sat with the host family, had dinner and got to know each other and the plans for the weekend. Ask your student about the dessert that evening. Good byes were said, sighs of relief exposed and the students returned to the hotel. On the bus, one student looked at me and calmly said “I am thoroughly exhausted both physically and emotionally”. My response, “that’s to be expected and the worst is over”. He just smiled. The pictures are the students at the hotel before we leave or as they wait for the host families to arrive at the restaurant.