Belo Horizonte here I come...

-Day 265 in Brazil-
-14-12-2004
-Wednesday
-6.20 pm

Huhu.........Finally I´m going to Belo Horizonte to visit Emmãnuel and some of the exchange students who went to Malaysia last year!!!!!!Raphael,rafael,Bernado,Fernanda...Can´t wait to see you guys :)Anyway, the biggest reason that I´m actually going to BH is because of my Good friend,Emmãnuel!!! This dude here has brightened my exchange year here in Brazil and thanks to all his cute and sweet SMS..I made it through until now! Well, actually let me give you guys a brief story on how I met him. It was during the Northeast trip that I went on with some other 44 exchange students that we knew each other. He was bringing along some other short term exchange students from India from BH to visit Brasilia and so being me I started the convo with him and without knowing it he was actually Jeremy´s Good friend while he was in Brazil.Jeremy was an ex exchange student to Brazil last year from Malaysia.What a small world!!! From then onwards, we started to communicate with each other through MSN ,ICQ and also though SMSes.So this is the story of our great friendship.....Weird right our amazing story? Anyway,from tomorrow night until next Tuesday, I won´t have the time to on9 because I´ll be away in BH.So you guys will only see me back on Wednesday ok......I love everyone!!!!

Make A Joyful Noise / I Will Not Be Silent
David Crowder, Terry Butler

Key:G
Verse:
Bm D E Bm D E
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth
Bm D E Bm D E
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth
Bm D E Bm D E
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth
Bm D E Bm D E
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth


PreChorus:
C9 G/B C
The flowers of the field are crying to be heard
C9 Dsus G/B D
The trees of the forest are singing
C9 G/B C
And all of the mountains with one voice
C9 G/B D C G/B C Amsus
Are joining the chorus of this world
C9
Oh, yeah
G/B
Oh, yeah


Chorus:
G D/F#
And I will not be silent, no
Em7 C9 G
And I will not be quiet anymore
C9 D/F# Em
Running through the forest Dive into the lake
C9 G
Bare feet on beaches white
C9 D/F#
Standing on the canyon
Em C9
Painted hills around And the wind against my skin
G D/F#
Every ocean, every sea Every river, every stream
Em7 C
Every mountain, every tree Every blade of grass will sing


Chorus 2:
G D Em7 C9
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth
G D Em7 C9
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth
G D Em7 C9
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth
G D Em7 C9
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth
(repeat)


I really wanna thank Kofi and Kunyalala for sharing great Christian woshrip songs with me....You guys have changed my life!!!*Blessed be the Lord*....Remember he rulesss and rockssss foreva....
Ps://Andrew, I really want you to teach me how to play this song when I go home..The chords and lyrics are all here...Take care!

I´m ready to go home!!!!!

-Day 263 in Brazil-
-13-12-2004
-Monday
-3.56 pm

I´ve been going out for the last 4 days in a row and I´m just so drained.......Went out with my host family last Wednesday and Thursday for Christams shopping and last Friday went Christmas shopping with another exchange student from Indonesia, Esti to 25 March. Esti stayed a night in my house on Friday and we were busy wrapping Christams presents from the Secret friend,a game that we were supposed to play on Saturday, A Christams Party and farewell party for exchange Students who came this January that was organized by ROTEX!
Basically, I´m still feeling the jinx from the Farewell Party last Saturday! The whole event was so Emo and everyone was crying during the speech the each of us had to give.*Sigh*! But somehow suddenly at that moment, I felt that I am ready to go home! Anyway, yeah....Finally I´m ready to leave all my good friends and family here and go home to my friends and family back there and to go back to my normal life!!!
Pai,mãe,irmã,irmão...amigos...EU TE AMO!!!!!

Thank you Kofi....................

-Day 259 in Brazil-
-09-12-2004
-Thursday
-11.32 am

Third Day
Love Song

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done
Well I never climbed the highest mountain, but I walked the hill of Calvary
Just to be with you I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you I'd give everything
Oh I'd give my life away
And I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
All of those dream are empty motion
It has never been done
Well I've never swam the deepest ocean, but I've walked upon the raging sea
Just to be with you I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you I would give everything
I would give my life away
And I know that you don't understand the fullness of my love
How I died upon the cross for your sins
And I know that you don't realize how much that I give you
And I promise I would do it all again
Just to be with you I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay
Just to be with you I gave everything
Yes I gave my life away
I gave my life away
Just to be with you

ps://Andrew, I´m not sure if you know Third Day but I´m sure you must have...Anyway, their songs rocksssss too..Especially this is here...*hugssss and kisses*

We are totally Words Apart!!!!!!

-Day 254 in Brazil-
-04-12-2004
-Saturday
-3.05 pm

Jars of Clay
Worlds Apart
I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all adds up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tear
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart

[Additional lyrics:]

I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart

-Vera Tay-

I´m tired, I´m sick, I´m fedup!!!!!!

-Day 252 in Brazil-
-2-12-2004
-Thursday
-4.50 pm

I have been so lazy with my blogging these days that someone..ermmm*hinting* who ar? had to put pressure on me just to blog today!!!!Well, I guess they just miss me..Don´t you Andrew?kekekekkek!!!Ok..Basically, from the last update, what did I do? I can´t even remember..that´s bad!!!I guess I just lazed around at home,eat ,do nothing and grow fat...hauhauauihahaia, Doesn´t this sound like Garfield? Oh, have you guys watch the Galfield film? It´s totally hilarious and funny.I guess those that hasn´t watched it, better go now...I bet you guys will laugh till you drop!!!kekekekekke..Oh ya, where was I? So, let me see? I went out with Rodolfo(Brazilian boy who just came back on a 1 year YEP in Malaysia)for the whole day yesterday. We went to Bienal(it´s the biggest Art exebition in Brazil) but after a while Rodolfo was like "Let´s go to some other place to talk, it seems that we are in this place but we are actually not looking at anything"!! He just came back from Malaysia last Thursday and we have lotsssssssss of things to talk about(i.e), his experiences in Malaysia and mine in Brazil,his travels in Malaysia and lots more!!! Actually,when I was still in Malaysia, he came to Melaka for a visit and he stayed at my place,it was really weird at that time because he couldn´t speak English and I couln´t speak Portuguese.Time flies and here I am now, in Brazil speaking Portuguese and him speaking fluent English and BM!!!! So, there we were at this Shopping place call Shopping Ibapuera, thinking of going to BURGER KING(The first in Brazil that just recently opened) to eat but as we arrived at the foodcourt, you would never imagine how many people were there and the line was just so longggggggggggggg..So, idea 1) forget about it, let´s go somewhere to eat. We got ourself a sandwich and sat down on a bench and just started to chat about everything under the sky....It was just so good! It was around, 2.30 pm, let´s go for a movie? Why not? ok....so, we went to watch Captain Sky and the World, which to me was the biggest fiction ever in history!!!It´s actually a movie based on a cartoon book! Later, we went to some place for a drink and Guess what? Both of us found something very interesting...AÇAI!! I guess Malaysian will never know what´s that.It´s a Brazilian fruit made into a dessert. We usually eat it with bananas and Granolas.I guess In Rodolfo´s case he misses it so much after a year and for me basically I have never eaten it so it was a new adventure for me! Not soon later, it was slowly getting dark, I still didn´t have the feeling to go home, so we just walked and talked, and walked to no destination along Paulista Avenue( The Wall Street of Brazil)until can you imagined that we walked as far as 4 metro stops.At 8 pm, it was literally jet black and we decided that it was time to go home...I went my way to catch the metro back and he took a bus to his University!!!The day was great and I guess it was perfect!!!!
My recent ups and downs:::::::::::::::::::::
18/11/2004>>>>>>>> A party to celebrate the Proclamation of the Republic of Brazil
The Rotary Club Of Sumaré
20/11/2004>>>>>>>>>I visited the Malaysian Trade Center at Paulista Avenue
21/11/2004>>>>>>>>>Football game at Morumbi Stadium(São Paulo vs Juventudes)
23/11/2004>>>>>>>>>My first Presentation about Malaysia at The Rotary Club
24/11/2004>>>>>>>>>Went to the Airport to receive Rodolfo back from Malaysia
25/11/2004>>>>>>>>>Went for my host sister,Marina´s prom!!!
01/12/2004>>>>>>>>>Went out with Rodolfo going round town, basically to everywhere

Today, I received an email from AirFrance about my flight scedules Back to Malaysia*sigh*!!!!! I´ll be leaving Brazil on the 9th March 2005 and from today onwards it´s only about another 3 months....I don´t wanna go back but what can I do? Anyway, Christmas is coming and the Christmas mood is everywhere around Brazil....Including my house>>>>>>Note: The Chritsmas Tree was put up even before November!!!!!!
Anyway, to end this blog, I´ll like to wish all the following people here a very very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and may all your dreams come true:
1)My family=Dad,mum,bro and sis
2)Andrew and AAron Liu
3)Sandra Sim
4)Rebekah Tan
4)Joanne Ang
5)Justin Tan
6)Mr and Mrs. Jason Teh
7)Caroline Chan
8)Cherzzz
9)Emmãnuel Campos
10)Camila Gnoato
11)Gabriella
12)Rodolfo Ismael
13)Kofi Zwana
14)Kate my mate
15)Claire
& All my good friends in Malaysia,in Brazil and all the Gatewayans back in Melaka,Malaysia and last but not least,to all the Rotary Exchange Students in Brazil.

Cascavel.....Kofi and Gang

-Day 229 in Brazil-
-9-11-2004
-Tuesday
-5.10 pm

So...where was I...oh ya, just after Florianópolis!!!! Jana had to go back to São Paulo as she was supposed to go for the Pantanal trip so I went to Cascavel alone!!!While on the bus trip, guess who I was sitting beside? It was an English Boy!!!I couldn´t believed it but it was true...He was traveling around Brazil alone for 6 weeks and he was heading for the Falls!!!What a coincidence!!!Anyway, I stayed in Cascavel for a week and the first day when I arrived, I decided to give Kofi and Kate a surprise!! I called Kofi and he just couldn´t believed that I was in town!!! All I could here in the background...shouts of Excitement I guess...Kofi and kate were shouting like the world could fall down anytime!!!I guess I´m special somewhere inside them *cheeky smile*...I went for Kofi´s band practices, his school,getting to know all his goody friends and even went round town sight seeing with him and Gang!!!!I was staying at Camila´s place(she went to Malaysia last year) and we had so much fun.I went to Uni with her and even hung out together with her friends!!!I just couldn´t believe that finally I was meeting the famous Camila from Cascavel! She was so famous back than In Malaysia as she was a very nice,sweet,wonderful,respecful,kind exchange student from Brazil to Malaysia!!Even my dad and the YEP coordinator have said that she is a very polite student*wink*! I also had a great opportunity meeting the other Malaysian girl,Paramesvari who is from another city,Fransisco Beltrão near Cascavel!!!I was just so contented with life at that moment but wait a minute...No one in this world is ever contented with life? "Weird hei?".....She came down from her city just to meet up with me after hearing so much about the other famous Malaysian girl living in São Paulo *wink*..lol!We decided it was time to show our culture to Camila´s parents by cooking our famous "Curry Chicken"!! "Yum Yum....it was just delicious!!!Just miss Malaysian food so much!!!Fortunately,Camila brought home some Baba´s curry powder so this really made our cooking so much easier *wink*! So, Sunday came and I had to leave Cascavel....*sob sob*!!!But anyway, I was going to Toledo, the city where Rafael comes from..He is currently in Malaysia under a 1 year exchange too!!His family was just awesome especially Moiz(exchange student from India)who is staying at their house...I stayed at their place for 2 days and during those time...Moiz brought Paramesvari and I out to town for sigh-seeing and shopping of course!!!Prices down south are just so CHEAP...this word is very important to gurls you know? Besides, I went for a Rotary meeting there and met 4 other exchange students!!!I guess it was time to leave for São Paulo...I was reluctant and tried to extend my stay but...you know? I had to leave no matter what *sob sob*
So, this is the end of my South trip and I really had a wonderful time.....
Love you guys so much......

OCTOBERFEST...."PERFECT"!!!!!

-Day 221 in Brazil-
-1-11-2004
-Monday
-6.01 pm

So, I´m finally back in freaking São Paulo after coming back from Blumenau-OCTOBERFEST and from the south of Brazil...What should I say about the trip? It was wonderful,awesome,great,marvelous,excellent and etc.....To be honest, in non other words, the trip was just "PERFECT"! The first city that Jana from Botswana and I headed was of course non other than the famous OCTOBERFEST in Blumenau...Actually, do you ppl out there know exactly was it OCTOBERFEST? Answer me ppl....do you guys really know? Seems like no one is answering me so I guess I better explain it! It is actually a German drinking festival originated from Germany and I bet you ppl are wondering what´s a German festival doing in the middle of no where in freaking Brazil? Many years ago(donno how many), but anyway, the south of Brazil was formally a German, Italian and Dutch colony and Blumenau happened to be a German colony...So, "ahhhhhh" you ppl understand now? OCTOBERFEST in Brazil is the second biggest festival in the world after OCTOBERFEST in Germany and so being there was some sort of a achievement huh!So, where was I? Oh ya....back to Blumenau, Jana and I stayed at the Youth exchange Vice Chairman´s house for 3 days and it was just pure fun and enjoyment!!! German music was just being played everywhere around the city and ppl dressed in traditional German costumes were just happily dancing and singing!
Jana and I did quite a bit of shopping too that we actually found ourselves spending too much money but as you ppl know, OCTOBERFEST is only once a year so I guess it´s quite worth it after all!!! Guess what? We just couldn´t believe this part...We came across a group of British and American students studying at Belo Horizonte who came from São Paulo to Blumenau with us on the same bus and we met up at OCTOBERFEST too!!! All of us hung out together and had lots of fun together...isn´t the world so small?
Without realizing it, we were leaving Blumenau and was heading for Florianópolis to visit the Magic Island(named by the Brazilians) and to meet up with Gabi also.OK! This is really scary!!!We were again on the same bus with those freaking British and American students..isn´t this really scary! Gabi was an ex exchange student who went to India last year on a short term exchange program and there she met up with our short team program team from Malaysia too!This world is just too small!!! Well, during our 5 day stay with her, we just went to the beaches to relax, got oursleves all burned and also went for the most crazy band concert of Gabi´s bf!!It was just FUN FUN and nothing but FUN! I also had the opportunity to go to Gabi´s University were she is studying Languages(German and English) and I even bumped into some exchange students from Florianópolis and I was really delighted!
This is just part of my CRAZY AND SCARY trip..I´m really tired of typing now after rewritting for 3 times because my stupid computer keeps on shutting down*argggg* Well, I´ll continue tomorrow ok? Lots of love to everyone and ANDREW.....Thanks alot for always being there for me and also I´ll always cherish those *hugzzz* you promise me ok?
Love.........................VERA

OCTOBER FEST FINALLY!!!!!

-Day 198 in Brazil-
-08-10-2004
-Friday
-4.32 pm

My God....Finally everything is finalized!!!! Now at least I can go to Blumenau and my south tour peacefully!!!! I seriously just dislike(was almost near to saying Hate but...) my counselor(which exchange student doesn´t?)kekekke.Sorry dad, no offence ok?Here the story goes, My friend and I,Jana from Botswana,Afica were planning to travel down south next week but as usual....Under the YEP rules, all exchange students must get authorisation letters from their natural parents, host parents and last but not least the Youth Exchange chairman!!!!! At first, I was seriously thinking of not letting my Chairman know of my travelling plans because I knew complications would occur but as a good exchange student I decided to do it the proper way by getting all the authorisation letters ready!!!! My counsellor was such a job to handle..."You will miss school for at least 2 week", "Where will you be staying?"," I need all the information of all the place you are staying " and etc.....I could have just killed him but I just stayed( pretented) calm infront of him and let out all my anger at home!!!! My Rotary Club President was such a sweetie....he didn´t even object to my travelling plans..instead he was giving me support by telling me to have fun and to enjoy my stay there!!!
People out there always thinks that Youth exchange students lifes are great and wonderful...(of course they are) but not mentioning all the rules and regulations set by Rotary..*sigh* No comments!!! So, What do you all think? Just to go for 14 days to the south ,I needed to go through such a job just to let my counsellor approve of it!!! ------------------

LIFE´S A ROLLER COASTER!!!!!

-Day 195 in Brazil-
-05-10-2004
-Tuesday
-5.11 pm



TAKE ME AWAY --AVRIL LAVIGNE
I cannot find find a way to describe it
It´s there inside
All I do is hide
I wish that it would just go away
What would you do
You do if you knew
What would you do

*Chorus
All the pain I thought I knew
All the thoughts lead back to you
Back to what
Was never said
Back and forth
Inside my head
I can´t handle this confusion
I´m unable come and take me away

I feel like I´m all alone
All by myself I need to get around this
My words are cold
I don´t want them to hurt you
If I show you
I don´t think you´d understand
´Cause no one understands

*Chorus
I´m going nowhere on and on and
I´m getting nowhere on and on and on
I´m going nowhere on and on and off
and on and off and on

Take me away
Break me away
Take me away

Life sometimes can be sickening!!!!!............*No comments*

Avril Lavinge Rawksssssss!!!!!

-Day 193 in Brazil-
-03-10-2004
-Sunday
-6.34 pm




FINALLY!!!!! Today, I got my hands on my favourite artist´s CD..AVRIL LAVIGNE!*Wink*
I´m so happy coz I found it in Extra supermaket for such a cheap price..Only R$27.90
Besides, I also bought another Cd...The sound track for a Brazilian soap-opera on the Tv every night from 9 pm to 10 pm....It is really good..
GTG now.....host sister got to use the comp now!!!Byebye

***Sorry for those anti Avril lavigne fanss!!! No offence ok?

NORDESTE 2004!!!!!!!!!!!!!*sigh*

-Day 192 in Brazil
-02-10-2004
-Saturday
-11.53 am

Time really flies hei!!! NORDESTE 2004 just ended like 2 months ago but to me it still seems like yesterday!!!I can still vividly remember those freaking moments we had on the trip and I´ll probably keep it at heart till as long I can remember! NORDESTE 2004 was my first Rotary organized trip and will my last too...The rest are too expensive so I decided to go down to the south of Brazil together with a few exchange students and we´ll be making our way to the famous Iguaçu falls...It seems that it is one of the 10 wonders in the world..*TRUE OR FALSE*??? Let me see? I know who to ask!! The MR Know all..Mr.Jimmy Tay!!!! Who´s that? Well...that´s of course my dearest father!!!!!!! Ok guys...I´ll find out from him and let you guys know ASAP ok? set? Saturday!!!!* evil smile* let´s get the Party started.......hahahahaha!Actually,it´s just a very normal saturday,I´ll be going out with my host mother later on and we´ll probably catch a show or as usual...her style!!*SHOPPING*
Ok...fellers! I got to run now....Hope to Blog later

Together with those freaking Aussies...We all had a blasting time on the trip....I really do miss my trip* sad*!
Vera Tay

ERmmm....Trip pictures together with my good friends..Kofi from Zimbabwe,Kate from Australia and who do you think that cute gurl is?
Vera Tay

Love you,Love you and love you!

Love you.....Love you....Love you!!!!
Vera Tay

My sadness,My madness,I´m my own savior!

-Day 190 in Brazil-
-30-09-2004
-Thursday
-4.09 pm


LOST IN TRANSLATION

Thunder storm and lighting strucks,
The clouds suddenly changes from
baby blue to jet black,
Rain starts falling from heaven above
and it gets heavier and heavier....
I´m all alone in the middle of no where,
Trying to find a place to excape,
But all I see is darkness covering me.
I´m stuck, I´m stuck....
This goes on and on in my head
Fear begins to overtake me
Sweat just keeps running down my head
I start to turn round and round
Seeking for help....
I´m lost, I´m lost.....
I donno what to do!!!!
I´m lost in this world of confusion
HELP....HELP....HELP....
*Screamimg*...........arrrrrggggggggggg!!
Written by:
Vera Tay

This is exactly how I felt as I was blogging........Sometimes I just wonder what is it like to live in a world full of pain and suffering???

-Day 188 in Brazil-
-28-09-2004
-Tuesday
-10.27 pm


The city at night.................Just so pretty...especially this dutch looking house turned bar!!!
Vera Tay

My host sister and I took the Teleferico up to the mountain..It was just so fun and scary too...
Vera Tay

A birds eye view from the top of a mountain!!!!Beautiful right?
Vera Tay

A family picture just before getting on the train for a joy ride!!!
Vera Tay

This was in the town...look! The designs of the houses and shops are so Dutch!!!! Fomally Dutch town
Vera Tay

This pic is so funny......just look at my host moms eyes while she is eating!!! Beside is my host sister,Larissa!
Vera Tay

-Day 188 in Brazil-
-28-09-2004
-Tuesday
-8.49 pm

It was just a freaking and awesome weekend in Campos do Jordão!!!!!!! Had so much fun there celebrating my host fathers birthday and I had a whale of a time there........We leave Guarulhos on Saturday at 12.30 pm and arrived there at about 2.30 pm....We had some problems looking for our hotel as my host mother booked it through the Internet!!!!! After going for a free half an hour ride going round and round the city......FINALLY, my mom decided to call the Hotel!!!*Sigh* Ok....found it and we unloaded our stuff and straight away we leave for Lunch.....I was just famished....could even hear the gastric juice churning in my stomach....Anyway, We went to a bem chique restaurante (porch restaurant) and I had Fettucini.....and some rice,meat,fried bananas and of course my can´t forget GUARANA ANTARTICA (typical Brazilian soft drink) with a piece of orange and ice......Delicious Lunch! After Lunch we walked round the city and of course my mom..the first thing she always does best....SHOPPING! *Wink* Walking around the whole day until dark than we got back *Detail......Brazil gets dark at around 6 pm* My host sister and I went for dipped in the rather small but comfortable so called heated indoor swimming pool but actually it was freezing cool! Dinner was marvelous and the food was just satisfying!!!!!* No comments*....As usual, went out with my mom SHPOPPING again...She bought like just 2 pairs of boots that cost about R$700.....My god! I was just so stunned!!
Sunday.....Breakfast went on well and lunch too....After Lunch,we went on a train ride to another city and the whole journey took about 2 hours..to go and to come back.It was just amazing looking at all the beautiful scenery as I told you guys that Campos do Jordão is like Genting highlands In Malaysia and so it is really high up in the mountains and there are lots of greens!!!>>>The train ride ended at about 4 pm and soon after it,My sister and I wanted so much to up to the mountain by the teliferico....so my dad gave us some money and off we went...I never sat on this b4 and it was just so thrilling. By the time we got down it was already almost dark...we rushed back to the hotel to get ready for my host fathers birthday dinner..After getting ready and stuff,my 2 host sisters,my host mother and I went down to the lobby to wait for the birthday boy...We sat there waiting and waiting and finally my host sis decided to go up to the room to checked things out.*Gosh* My host dad was feeling so ill...he was literally lying on the bad speechless...Felt so sad for him but thank God he was almost well the next day.!!!!His birthday dinner was a disaster and for that we just ate Pizzas but I was happy!!!Next day, woke up early and got ready to go back to good old Guarulhos.............Campos Do Jordão never to be seen again by VERA TAY JIN MEI from Malaysia!!!

This is the famous Brazilian actor I was talking ealier on......The Raul guy...I bet everyone was thinking that he was such a cutie! LOL

Together with Freez from Thailand,Camille from Belgium and Me with our colourful and awesome Rotary blazer.

The 12 of us...Exchange students with our flags taking a group picture during the International Peace day parade outside Patio do Colegio...

-Day 184 in Brazil-
-24-09-2004
-Friday
-11.26 am

Can´t believe that I turn 6 month here in Brazil and I just can´t believe that time just flies!!!! I was supposed to confirm my flight back to Malaysia yesterday but *sigh* my counselor forgot to give me the air ticket which he is keeping!!!!Anyway, I´m gonna do it after I blog!!!! I´m so happy because on my way back to Malaysia I´ll be stopping in Paris because my route goes to Paris and I´ll be meeting my Uncle there who is coming over from London. I´ll fly on the 10th March 2005 and reach Paris on the 11th and we´ll spend the weekend In Paris and go to London by the Eurostar train which goes under the English channel .Most probably I´ll spend a week there before I return to Paris to catch my return flight back to Malaysia.....So, ppl,my fans,my friends, my close ones....be prepared to see me back in Malaysia by the 20th or latest 21 March 2005...Can´t wait to see everyone back in Malaysia in one full piece!!!
Last Tuesday( 21 September 2004) , It was International Peace day and 12 of us Exchange students including me went for a Parade in the center of Sao Paulo......It was just awesome! All of us with our different flags from our own country just made the whole event more colourful and cheerful...I even met a famous Brazilian actor (Raul Cortez) who was giving a speech on the stage and all the exchange students just went crazy taking lots of pictures of him!!! He is currently acting in a Brazilian sop-opera which I never fail to watch every night....SENHORA DO DESTINO ......Finally, my ability to understand sop -operas are good enough..so I decided to watch it... It´s just excellent ! Anyway,where was I.....Ooooooo...okok I was until when those freaking students (Including me) all trying to get his pic..and after it was a parade of all different cultures in Brazil from Japan, China, Colombia, Peru,The Jews and etc.... Guess what? After the event...All of us decided to go to 25 de Março......A very popular and cheap place to shop for anything you want....like earrings,clothes,shoes and etc!!! Everyone bought lots of stuff including tons of pins which we found from a store that had all types of pins to hang on our blazer...GREAT! This weekend I am traveling again to Campos do Jordao .....a very posh part of Sao Paulo and the whole family is celebrating my host fathers birthday there....Can´t wait for tomorrow but before tomorrow comes., Afterwards I´ll be going for my host sisters University Party at 4 O´clock and I guess It will be so fun...This month is just full of activities and I hardly spend any weekend at home....There just has to be some kind of party or outing during the weekends...Hai!!!! *TIRING*...............

-Day 177 in Brazil-
-17-09-2004
-Friday
-3.46pm

It´s been a wonderful yet depressing 6 months for me here in Brazil.....On one hand I miss my home so much but on the other hand I don't really feel like going home!!! Isn´t this just strange? I´ve just fallen in love with this awesome country and the my host family just treats me like their very own daughter.. How will be able to leave Brazil in a happy mood:( I still can vividly remember the day when I just arrived...I was thinking to myself ..one year such a long time but without knowing it 6 months has past and the remaining 6 months will soon past very quickly and *wink* I´ll be back home in Malaysia!!!!* SOB SOB*
Ok.......lets talk about something good now....Today,I just found out that there is another Malaysian gurl here in Brazil.!!!!!!!!!!* Happy* but she is staying in another state.We chatted on MSN and *wow* I just couldn´t believed it!!! We planned to meet next month in Falls do Iguaçu.Can´t wait till than...

A group photo of most of the exchange students in Sao Paulo in front of the Municipal theater

Well, Last weekend was just awesome!!!!!!!!! We all had a city tour round the center of Sao Paulo and not only that......I had the greatest opportunity to get to know all the new exchange students that just arrived last month. On Saturday, I went to the cinemas to watch Ferrenheit 11 September together with a bunch of exchange students and it was really great!Eventhough there were 2 Americans and they really hated the show.hahahahhaha.Well,Its normal.George W. Bush supporters!!!!!!!!!!!!

Together with Mu... from Turkey; Emily from USA and I at an Arts museum.
Vera Tay

Ermmmmmmm.....finally my precious Maggi Asam Laksa....
Vera Tay

-Day 169 in Brazil-
-Thursday
-09-09-2004
-4.41 pm

Hey.......its been like ages since I last blogged!!!!!! Internet went down and all because of me...I accidently deleted the Internet connection Icon and I had to *SURVIVE* without Internet for like 2 whole weeks!!!! It was really depressing!!!*Wink* After the terrible 2 weeks.....Finally the guy came to the house last Monday and downloaded the programme to the computer and *TAH DAH*.It´s back....it´s back.......it´s really back!!!!!I think I am really a Internet freak or rather a chatting freak!!!!*LOLZ* ......My bad...INTERNET QUEEN..kekekeke.Sometimes,I wonder.....after taking ages to blog,who really reads it?WHO REALLY READS MY BLOG????To those who are my so called my*PEMINAT SETIA* (FANS) ...like my dad,sis,Gerald,Andrew and Aaron..Thankyou so much for always dropping by! Guess what? I received a parcel from my dad yesterday sending me 30 pins and finally the most awaited MAGGI ASAM LAKSA Instant noodles from MALAYSIA...huhuhuh!!!!!!!My dad is also sending me some MILO ..........Gosh! Its been like 6 months since I last touched Milo and Maggi Asam Laksa!!!!!! It really feels like *Home Sweet Home * now.Thanks Dad....I love you!
Anyway, last Monday was Independence Day of Brazil and I actually wanted to go for the parade but suddenly this year they canceled it in my city and I really felt so disappointed.*Sob Sob*!!!!!! Finally, this Saturday I will be meeting all the new exchange students here in Sao Paulo and we´ll be having a Sao Paulo city tour.....I guess it will be so much fun!!!! I will be also spending a night in Emily´s house( USA)....and It will be a blast getting to hang out with other exchange students!!!!!!!!!!beijossssssssssss.
PS://Gatewayians.........miss you guys so much...*SWITCHFOOT* Rulzzzzzzzzz

hey guys......this is my new hair style!!!!! Isn´t it just awesome and beutiful.....hahahahaha
Vera Tay

Junior.........looks cute right?
Vera Tay

Together with Érika(The gurl going to Malaysia for her 1 year Exchange program) In the Airport just before she leave!!!!
Vera Tay

-Day 154 in Brazil-
-25-08-2004
-Wednesday
-5.56 p.m.

I am really so sorry that I have not been blogging for agessssss now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It´s just that ever since I came back from my Nordeste trip........I have been so BUSY!!!!!As busy as a bee!!!!kekekkekee.I just came back from a 3 day trip to mosquesçu,interior Sao Paulo. It is about 2 hours drive from where I live. The whole purposed I was there was because of ÉRica!!!!!!!!She is going to Malaysia for exchange program and you know the best thing is she is going to Melaka and my dad will be her counselor. Wow!!!!!!That will be a blast when I get back.So,lets continue.....I leave my city on Saturday nite and I only came back yesterday evening.Mogiguaçu was just awesome......I went out with Brittany(Exchange student from USA) and Alexandra(Exchange student from Poland) and we went round the city shopping,drinking Amazonian fruit juices and doing all sorts of crazy stuff.I even attended an Interact meeting and I had to give a talk about Malaysia and my experience as an interactor.....and guess what?Everything in Portuguese....I was *Nervous*!!!!!!!!!!Holding on to Brittany´s hand. :) But It was fine afterall...
Érika was so nice and I believed that she will like it there in Malaysia....Hopefully!!!!Her family especially her mom..........they were awesome ppl!!!!!!!!!Her mom gave me 2 blouses and other Brazilian stuff........It was just so nice of her.
Finally, It was the day for Érika to leave Brazil and so 5 of her friends,including me and her mother went to the airport to see her off.... As usual, normal things that happens in the airport when someone is leaving.It happened the same to me...........She cried,her mother cried,basically everyone cried. But I know for sure I will still see her back in Malaysia next year when I get back.....* Obviously* and it will definitely be a blast *Ya*.So, back in Guarulhos.....a big city,noisy,lots of cars and everyone is just busy working non-stop.......hai!!!!!What to do......life still has to go on and I can´t wait for my next BIG event......*LINKIN PARK CONCERT* on 11th September 2004 in Sao Paulo.Some ppl told me its a bad day because of the 9/11 incident but well who cares.....Its LINKIN PARK man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess my life here in Brazil will become busier than 5 months ago because now its just the beginnning and its the peak!!!!!!!Sometimes I just feel like packing my bag and just fly home but well I just have to relax and enjoy myself here and don´t think too much.Having a bad headache now so I better end it now........Enjoy and tchau.Beijossssssssssss

-Day 146 in Brazil-
-17-08-2004
-Tuesday
-4.27 p.m

Well......I skipped school yesterday because it was my host mothers birthday and the only time she had time to celebrate was in the morning before she went to work and university at night.Guess what? She turned 28 years old yesterday........I gave her 1 of our kelantan batik which she can make into a sarung kebaya......She was so happy!!!!:)So, as usual I wason9 the whole afternoon chatting,writing my Rotary report and of course uploading new pics into my fotolog.Today..........back to school again!!!!!! We were having our monthly test and I was really bored to tears!!!!So,guess what? I ended up writting a Malay poem.My passion for writing poems and songs really keeps me busy in school when I have just nothing to do.Ok!!!!The poem is here,plz enjoy:

Puisi Cinta

Cinta yang aku melalui ni,
bukan mudah tapi amat sukar,
selama ni aku menyimpan dalam hati,
perasaan yang amat menyentuh jiwa ni.
Saya ingin melafazkan cintaku,
tapi sering dihantui perasaan ketakutan.

Apa ketakutannya?
mungkin cintaku tidak dibalas,
perasaan malu bila cinta ditolak.
Oh..............Apakah cinta?
Mengapakah kita harus melalui semua ni?
Kesengsaraan jiwa sering menghantuiku,
Kesakitan di hati bukannya orang tahu.

Tapi di akhir duniaku,
Walaupun apa terjadi padaku,
ia adalah berbaloi,
kerana kamu adalah cahaya hidupku dan,
saya tetap akan mencintai mu untuk selama-lamanya.

By:Vera Tay

Ok......so this was the poem I wrote! What do u ppl think?I know my Malay has deteorated and this was the best I could do.Hope you ppl liked it:))))))

-Day 144 in Brazil-
-13-08-2004
-Friday
-9.34 p.m

I know I have been really slow in updating my blog....Its just that I just shifted to a new family last week and I have been really busy getting used to the new environment....The family comprises of my host parents,2 sisters and a brother........ermmmmmmmm!!!!They are so nice.....Muito legal! My host father is a civil engineer and my host mother and host sister(Larissa) helps him out in the office.My other host sister(Ynaia) is the same age as me and she goes to an engineering university in Sao paulo city.Oh...................My host bro is only 3 years old and he is just so adorable and cute..What more to say :) Anyway, to cut a long story short, everyone treads me like their daughter and sister......In return I call them mãe,pai,irmã and irmão....
So....I know all my fans out there has been asking me about my trip and how was it? It was just awesome,magnificent,fantastic............! It was like a dream come true to me travelling around the northeast of Brazil..All in all we went to 10 cities.Sao paulo-Belo Horizonte-Ouro Preto-Chapada Dimantina-Maceio-Fortaleza-Natal-Recife-Salvador-Porto Seguro and the grand finale Rio de Janeiro!!!!!!!!!Huhu...it was the most beautiful city and the beach was just indescribable.It is really so x10000000000000000 hard to decribe to you guys out there about my trip......Interested? Contact me....hahahahha!!!!!!I am available 24/7 or see my photolog.............I am so excited to meet Erika next week (she is going to Malaysia for YEP) as she is organizing a farewell party and she will be leaving on the 24th of this month.Her mother personally invited me as she also wanted me to meet Erika before she leave because she is going to Melaka,Malaysia......The first Brazilian gurl from Sao Paulo to Melaka..........I just cant wait to see her!Fans.......................plz also see my new fotolog www.fotolog.net/veratay1986 and do drop some comments in there ok?Beijossssssssssssss.....Boa Noite!!!!!!!!!Good night!

-Day 130 in Brazil-
-02-08-2004
-Monday
-10.40 p.m

Finally....I´m back from my Northeast trip!!!!!*Home Sweet home*......I really had a blasting time over there with all the other exchange students!
Never did I think that parting was so painful until the day when we all had to leave...The atmosphere was really filled with emo...and practically everyone including myself was crying.I just could not control myself...Anyway,here I am back in Sao Paulo and to my surprise guess who called?It was Amirul.As soon as I got back from my trip yesterday,I received a phone call from him!!!!!To my biggest surprise he is still here in Brazil and I really can´t believe it....Anyway, we went out today to the mall for lunch and later went shopping for a jacket for myself..I ended up buying a very Beautiful brown winter jacket..thanks to Amirul´s help in choosing for me!I must say that as for a guy he has not bad a taste for womens´clothing....Soon after we leave for Guarulhos centro to look for cap that he was looking for...After walking for ages finally I found one that was just awesome and he just bought it of the shelve just like that!!!Went for a drink at some place that he recommended and we talked so much that I did not realize that it was almost 7 pm already.....It´s still like a dream to me...Amirul still here and meeting him again!!!I´m just too happy...beyond words to describe!!!!
Anyway.....he is going back to Malaysia tomorrow nite and I still have the whole day to spend with him at least....I will write more about my trip tomorrow k?I am kinda sleppy now..Tchau!!!!!Beijosssss

-Day 98 in Brazil-
-01-07-2004
-Thursday
-5.57 p.m

Finally!The winter holidays has arrived.*No school,no school and no school* for 1 whole month...kekekeke!In just another 3 days I will be going for my Northeast Trip with Belo Tours together with all the other exchange students in Brazil.Apart from feeling happy...I´m also very excited about the whole thing.At last I amtravelingg around Brazil together with all my friends and ppl tell me that I will definitely enjoy my time there.I still have not done my packing and I still have tones of things to buy for my trip...I just spend R$150 on just buying more clothes for my trip yesterday..Reallyy *Pok Kai* now.But what to do?1 month there so I really need to buy more pants for my trip...Forgot to add that today I received a package from Amirul.....Really felt so happy.He sent me his name cards, club banner plus a letter.After reading the letter,I know that I am going to miss him alot coz he really brightened me up all this while in Brazil...*Eu estou muito saudade com voce*
Tomorrow going out again with Rio and Ricardo....I´m sick of staying alone at home while everyone is working and usually I will just on9...So I called them just now to arrange something.Rio is going back soon next month so I better take the opportunity to spend more time with him.I´m just afraid when I come back from my trip,I won´t have much time to see him anymore!Looks like all my friends are going back to their respective countries and it will be really sad for us to part...Well as the saying goes "All good things have to always come to an end"!So, we shouldnt get too emotional but just enjoy our 1 year of exchange here and continue to contact each other....Really feeling down and no mood to go on now..So I will just stopped here.Tchau.Beijossssssssssssssssss!

-Day 96 in Brazil-
-29-06-2004
-Tuesday
-6.30 p.m

Nossa!!!!!!I really had a great and wonderful time of my life for the pass 4 days together with Amirul....I think these few days was the happiest time of my life in Brazil!Finally,I know I´m not alone in Brazil,at least there is someone else here with me from Malaysia but the sad thing is he is going back this Sunday.*Sob Sob*!I sent him to the bus station today and I really got emotional when his bus left...Ok!So let me bring you ppl back to last Saturday when we first met.Actually I found out about Amirul through the Internet and finally we decided to meet because he was leaving soon.So,when I went to the bus station to pick him up,I didn´t really know who I was looking for.Well,I have seen his pic but in real life its really different.Anyway,I spotted this guy who looked like him but I wasn´t really sure but I had no choice so I just patted him on the back and he turned..Luckily it was Amirul..if not I will be so shy!kekekekek.
Later that night,we went to a Sukiyaki party together with my host parents and later we spend the whole night talking until about 4.30 a.m. only did we dropped of to sleep and we had to wake up at 7 a.m. the next day to go to Hopi hari with Rio from Indonesia and Ricardo from Ecuador was really crazy and funny...and I was the only gurl there!!!!!During out rides,Rio was really funny coz he is scared of heights and we all had to really persuade him to come with us and the funny thing is after all the rides...he is like "wow!!!!I want to go again!!!Lolz.We Really had a blasting time there at Hopi Hari.The fun we all had wasn´t so much of the rides..but more of the time we all had together.I really enjoyed that day.We literally spend the whole day there.We left Terminal Barra Funda with a bus at around 10 a.m and we only got back at around 10 p.m.After that crazy trip,someone suggested that we all go for a drink somewhere and we all ended up at a roadside store.By the time I got back was almost 12.30 am midnight...because Amirul and I got lost while going home..We missed the bus stop but thank goodness we managed to find our way home!Monday!!!!!Huh,I skipped school coz Amirul was here..He was supposed to go back in the afternoon after going to the bank but he had some problems taking out his money and so he had to stay another day and go to the bank first thing in the morning the next day.I was delighted coz Amirul was staying another day...huhu!So,we decided to go to the cinema and catch a show and we ended up watching Harry Potter 3.*Interesting*.Finally today...skipped school again and Amirul woke me up at about 10.30 p.m. 1)Breakfast 2)Bank 3) Lunch 4)Bus Station....We reached Tiete Bus Station about 1.30 p.m and Amirul bought a 3.30 p.m bus ticket to go back to Pouso Alegre-Minas Gerais.We spend our time by walking around and we stopped by to have a drink at some cafe...The Bus station was really impressive..Just reminds me of KLIA in Malaysia!Jeng...jeng...jeng....*3.30 p.m.* The time has come for Amirul to leave...It was really painful for me to say goodbye to him.I probably will only get to see him in the next 5 years coz next February he will be going to Rome to get his International Bachelor in an International Business school
there.By that time,I´m not even back in Malaysia..So,I dont really know when will I ever get to see him again!!!Anyway,as long we keep in touch I know that our friendship will always be there...Ate Mais!Tchau...beijossssssssssssssssssssssssssss

-Day 91 in Brazil-
-24-06-2004
-Thursday
-5.08 p.m

I´m so excited..........coz I finally spoke to the other exchange student from Malaysia yesterday.Amirul has been here for like 1 year and 2 months and next Wednesday he will be going back.....*Sob sob* Just when I found out that I am not alone, he is going back..*sigh* But the good news is most probably this Saturday he is coming down from Minas Gerais to Guarulhos and he will be spending a night at my place!Great........then the following day we will be going to Hopi Hari(team park) with some other exchange students....I´m sure it will be very fun!!!!!!!!!!!!Just cant wait for this Saturday!
Well.....let me update you ppl out there what happened this week....On Tuesday,I attended the Installation of The Rotary Club of Guarulhos which happens to be my host club also. It was held in the Rotary Foundation building and for the first time it was nicely decorated with flowers and ribbons all over..It was a grand Installation..Even the district gavenor, members from various clubs in Guarulhos and Rotarators attended this function!!!!!The new President is now Rtn. Miguel and during his speech which I did not understand at all...he just couldn´t control his tears...it was really touching.I personally like him alot...he is the most friendly Rotarian around...Well, the other days was as usual...school,school and school! Nothing really much is happening in school except that everybody is busy preparing for the Festa Junina which is this Saturday..My classmates are all busy practicing their dance and of course I would be the most supporting audient...kekekke!Hope to see Amirul and friends this weekend....Tchau & beijosssssssssssssss!

-Day 90 in Brazil
-22-06-2004
-Tuesday
-5.45 p.m



Vera Tay

Some of the exchange students attending the Festa Junina together with Rotex......Really had a blasting time there! Food ,food and nothing else but food..We were really eating like a pig that day..kekekee.Anyway, in a nut shell, the whole party was a great one..Muito legal!!!!!! Beijo...Tchau

Vera Tay

-Day 87 in Brazil-
-19-06-2004
-Saturday
-11.35 p.m

Weekends...........GREAT! But today was different.I had my portuguese test......and as usual,I had to dragged myself out of bed at 8 am.Apart from being nervous and scared I was kinda tired also...slept at only 1.30 am yesterday and with just 6 and a half hours of sleep...I really could have dropped dead!But as soon as I reached the destination..my entire sleepy feeling just faded away...That was because I was so happy to see the rest of the exchange students that I personally have not seen for a long time..As soon we open our mouths...we just could not control it!!!!Finally....it was the moment..jeng jeng jeng!!!!I felt like screaming during the test..*ergggggg*
I found it so hard coz this the first test for me and I just came in March wherelse the rest all came in January.....That means I´m really slow compared to them.But at least my examiner said she was impressed with me coz I can speak so well with just being here lest than 3 months and that I can speak 4 languages...kekekeek!That really made my day!Finally...THE END of the test!!!!!*whosh*
Now,next event on the list....Festa Junina with Rotex..It was more like a farewell party and last gatherings for some of the exchange students who are going back after 1 year here.The party was just fantastic and as usual...there was so much food again....Just had to control myself.*sob sob*.Made many new friends but also had to say many goodbyes to many of the exchange students...Especially to Anouck from Belgium...1 of my good friend.Befor I left, we hugged each other so tight that we did not want to let go of each other..Everybody was felling rather down that evening! Sometimes when a friendship is made..is kinda hard to let go especially a far distance friendship..I hope I won´t take it so hard when I leave for Malaysia next year....Beijou!!!!!

-Day 86 in Brazil
-18-06-2004
-6.55 p.m

Sigh************Finally its Friday!!!!!But still....I can´t enjoy myself!Tomorrow I have a very important Portuguese Test by Rotary and if I fail it..I won´t be able to go for my trip to the Northeast..*Nervous*..Anyway,I know I have studied and so I put the rest to God!!*grinn*Last Tuesday,ermmm...I went for a typical country party...Festa Junina,organized by my Rotary Club.Its a very big event in Brazil..I´m actually still quite blur what izzit all about..only know that its a Festa in June..thats why its call Feista Junina and all the small children will dress up in typical country dresses!Arrrrrrrrr...lost track..*hahah* was talking about the party,the food was like..yamyam..just could´t resist..!As the food was going down my throat.*oh* is as though I could sence that my clothes were getting tighter and tighter..probably not my clothes but "ME".There was BBQ,sweetcorn,sausage but mostly irresistable desserts...which made me temted to try all of them..
This month is like a month of just pure eating....There are just too many feistas around...The thought of it just scares me...!Just so afraid of putting on weight..kekekekekeke. Anyway...gotta get back to my studies....Wish me Luck!!!!

-Day 81 in Brazil-
-13-06-2004
-Sunday
-5.18 p.m

As I was writting this blog....I was listening to the most popular and current released song "The Reason" by Hoobastank.The words there are so meaningful and touching.People out there..if you have not listen to it..go now...WALK,CRAWL,RUN or anyway...just go and listen to it.I bet you all will enjoy and fall in love with it!This weekend was a very special weekend....It was Valentine´s Day in Brazil and well...we could see that everywhere was selling flowers and the valentine´s mood was all over the shopping malls...Love was in the air!!!!
Wow!In a months time I will be having my winter holidays and I will be travelling to the Northeast of Brazil.....can´t wait for it..................................Excitingimarvelousous,excellent,wonderful and all the words you can think of to describe how I feel.We will be going to places like Brasilia,Rio de Janeiro(wonderful beaches),Bahia(fantastic typical music)and many many tourist spots.Anyway....I guess I will have more exciting stories to tell when I come back from my trip..Thats all for today....Tchau...Love you!!Muakssssss

HOOBASTANK LYRICS

"The Reason"

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why i need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You [x4]

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

-Day 79 in Brazil-
-11-06-2004
-Friday
-7.44 p.m

Well....looks like I have been "Lost in Transition" for the past 1 week.Have you guys watch the show..it was played in the plane while on my way here to Brazil..It was a nice show though!I just didn´t have the mood to blog..Vera Vera..did you like the Jota quest concert you went to last week?...This phrase has been buzzing around me for the past 1 week..Anyway,the concert was excellent..the atmosphere was just wonderful..I really had a blasting time there!last Sunday,I went to the cinemas to watch The day after tomorrow.It was a great disappointment coz it was partly because it was in Portuguese and the other part was because it was not what I expected the movie to be!They spend so much money on advertising but it wasn´t that great after all.Lolz!Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday..school,school and more school!Finally,yesterday and today was public holidays...so I could sleep in late and relax...haha!I went to the cinemas again yesterday and we watch a Brazilian movie..its about a famous Brazilian singer who died of AIDS.
Today...a brand new day..Saw collin on9 in IRC and he told me that he got the Daimler Christler scholarship that he applied for..I was so happy and excited for him!I just felt like hugging and congatulating him...but too bad..too far ad..in Brazil lah!I was shock too how did he get the scholarship?well..he saw the advert in the Star newspaper and just applied for it and later sat for the test...Not until today..that he knew he was selected...They called him up and told him to go for his training next week at Shah Alam..It seems that in the whole Malaysia only 22 ppl was selected and I guess Collin was just 1 of the lucky one!After 3 years of mechanical engineering training..then he will be able to work for Daimler Chrysler Malaysia or maybe even be lucky enough to go to Daimler Chrysler Germany..just like How keen,my other lucky friend!
Lives a journey that is kinda hard to predict!We meet...we share..we gain..we cherish..we appreciate den all of a suddent everything seems to be in reverse mode..we loose...we fall..we just have nothing nice in life..don't even know why I will feel this way?I guess this is just part of a journey in life!When I think that all of my friends are leaving and going their separate ways after schooling days...I tend to get quite sad..*Sob Sob*Sometimes in life..if we don't learn how to let go of certain things..we may never know how much we appreciate and cherish it.But..why do we always have to learn things in the hard way??Like a blossomed friendship..we may not see each other in like 10 years or more..but once we see each other..the friendship is still there and will remain there forever..So friends out there....I hope I may see all of you back someday...and our friendship will last and remain forever!Friends4ever!!!Love you guys...Muaskkkkkkkkkkkkk :)

-Day 71 in Brazil-
-03-06-2004
-Thursday
-6.14 p.m.

Woh!Its been like more than a week since I last blog...For the last whole week,I was down with terrible cold and had a bad cough as well!!!Ermmm..it is frezzing here man!!!!Can´t stand it anymore!!!Anyway,last Sunday I went to a BBQ function organized by the Rotary clubs in Guarulhos!!!It was nice!!!What can I say more..Brazilians are famous for their Churrascaria(BBQ)..Just can´t wait for tomorrow coz I and a group of friends from school will be going to a concert in Sao Paulo.This is a famous Brazilian group.."Jota Quest"..This is my first time going to a concert in Brazil thats why I feel so excited about it!!!!
Today I feel very happy coz finally Gerald made up his mind(so hard to convince him)to stop playing CS(counter strike)!!!So many ppl in this world are just addicted to this game...so getting to convince 1 of them to stop...is realy good news..Gerald is a very good friend so..finally he "lam tong",I am also very happy for him loh!!Donno..what to say ad..Tchau!!!!!!Muaskkk

-Day 60 in Brazil-
-23-05-2004
-Sunday
-11.06 p.m

Oh..Well!Today is exactly 2 months since I left malaysia for Brazil.I had a wonderful weekend!Yesterday was my first time going to a disco so I was pretty excited about the whole thing..In the afternoon I went to Democrata Pub again for lunch..Remember I wrote earlier about the pub that serves very good feijoada(a typical Brazilian food)?After that,I went to Cibelle´s house and finally in the night...we went to Blen Blen Black Music Disco with 3 of her other friends and another 2 youth exchange students from Belgium~Anouk and Alexandre.I guess with my kind of features,nobody would ever believe that I am actually already 18...I realized that ppl were like staring at me..Maybe because I am a foreigner or maybe I look to young for my age or even maybe because I am too pretty and cute..Lolz!Later,I ordered a Nova Shin Beer and a glass of mix fruit vodka while Cibelle ordered a kiwi caipirinha(white rum and kiwi=Brazillian typical drink) and a can of beer.I tried her Caipirinha..It tasted terrible ..It was my first time to such places,so I wasn´t really used to it!Anyway,after our drink,we headed off to the dance floor.All in all.It was a night full of experiences.We decided to go home at 4am ,even at this time,it was still considered early.If this was in Malaysia,My dad would have chopped off my head!Hahahahaha!
Today,we only woke up at 12 something.....Oh ya..Alexandre and I slept at Cibelle´s house and we had a wonderful time together...Can´t imagine that we only slept at 5 am the night before and we woke up at 12pm with only 7 hours sleep!So tred man!

-Day 58 in Brazil-
-21-05-2004
-Friday
-12.00 a.m

Crush

What is a crush?Can anyone out there tell me the exact definition for crush?To me...I personally think it is a kind of feeling we have deep down inside us when we like someone.We will find all sorts of ways just to get closer to our crush and chat them up;we will feel extremely happy when their around us and we wish they would be there 24/7;when they feel happy,naturally we will also feel happy for them and when they are sad..we will definitely feel the same way too.Have you ever heard the song Crush by "Mandy Moore"?If you have,then you will understand what I am trying to put across;if you have not,then you really have to go check it out- view the lyrics and understand it.
I myself have also experience all this too.At that point of my life,I was young,immatured,innocent and I thought that i was really deeply in love with all my crushes.But all this was only temporary,slowly the lovey dovey feeling just faded away.
I have always been questioning myself and others what is a crush,like and in love and how do we tell the difference between them?But till now,I still yet to have an answer for it.Nevertheless,I am confident enough to say that as I grow older,I will surely experience it one day and tell the difference for myself.As for now,I just want to enjoy life till the fullnest and not think of anything else but to look forward and achieve my goals and dreams in life.Besides,and to have a deeper walk in my christian faith with the Lord!

Today was a very busy day for me.After school,I had 'Football Practice".It was fun watching the boys and gurls play.I was looking forward to put my foot on the court but did not had a chance to because of some unforeseenn reasons.I am sure that next week I will be able too.After the so called "Football Practice",I had to rush home to take my shower and head to the shopping mall to meet my school friends.We had earlier agreed to play Bowling and this is the second time their inviting me so I had no choice but to obliged.Nevertheless,it was fun!I was quite bad at all the games coz as far I can remember,this is my 3rd or 4th game that I ever played in my whole entire life!But it was the fun and all the laughters that we enjoyed the most.Now,I am so tired out!

Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him.
Psalms 25:14

-Day 57 in Brazil-
-20-05-2004
-Thursday
-6.06 p.m

A Poem To Share

You are who you are for a reason.
You´re part of an intricate plan.
You´re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God´s special woman or man.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom design with God´s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master´s seal,

No,that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept it hurt you so,
But it was allowed to shape your heart,
So that into his likeness you´d grow.

You are who you are for a reason,
You´ve been formed by the Master´s rod,
You are who you are ,beloved,
Because there is a God!

Today I just felt like praying and asking God about my future and I came across this poem in the book that I am currently reading.It is called The Purpose Driven Life by famous christian writter=Rick Warren!I have been thinking of my life and wanting to go to a deeper level in my walk with the Lord!Somehow.....I just push it off my mind..until yesterday night when I was sitting in my room praying..I just felt a very strong feeling inside me...something that I can´t explain!From yesterday onwards..I suddently just felt very excited reading the bible which before I just dread..I guess this time in Brazil is a time of healing and recovering like what my youth leader said when she was praying for me before I came here.She said that she sence this is a word from the Lord...

Draw close to God,and God will draw close to you
James 4:8

-Day 53 in Brazil-
-16-05-2004
-Sunday
-6 p.m

All bright and sunny!!!!Eventhough the weather was so cold....it was still a fine day.Today I went out again with the Exchage students together with the ROTEX to Parque Ibirapuera.There were about 10 of us...They were from Switzerland,Mexico,Ecuador,Australia,Turkey,Belgium,Denmark,Finland and of course Malaysia.......:)We were all there at 10 a.m and we had a stroll around the park...enjoying our presents together..talking and laughing..I got to know more people like Olivia from Switzerland,Katie from Australia,Camila from Denmark and.....I like Olivia and Camila the most coz they were so friendly and really nice to talk to..Later,we all played football together eventhough I never played football in my whole entire life before...I was fun!We all had lunch on the grass just like a picnic and the girls were all lying on the grass admiring the fine weather..Eventhough we did not do much in the park,I still enjoyed it very much coz I made new friends and that is the whole purpose of this exchange program!

-Day 52 in Brazil-
-15-05-2004
-Saturday
-11 p.m

Finally the weekends has arrived!!!!!Yesterday I went to Santos for the Rotary Conference District 4430.I had to wake up at 5.30 a.m so that I could get to Colegio Rio Branco in Sao Paulo city where the bus would be picking us up on time....Well,I felt quite lonely at first coz I did not know anyone...But later on I got to meet this Indonesian girl,Mexican girl and Japanese boy....They were very friendly people...We exchange our cards and pins so that we could have more pins on our blazer...All in all,the journey took us about 1 and a half hours to get there...The Mendes Convention Center was very big and grand.We all had to go up to the stage to introduce ourselves one by one and later we sang a song...There was about 15 of us from Disrtrict 4430.
After lunch,we went up to a hill so that we could have a birds eye view of the beach....It was fantastic!The scenery from up there was just words beyond description!Not long after,it began to rain!!!This was terrible coz it spoiled our City tour around Santos..so we ended up in a Fish Museum "admiring" fishes..Well,it assn´t that bad after all!!The Rotarian then decided to bring us to the port to go on board a cargo ship that is owned by a voluntary organization named "Green Peace".The main purpose of this organization is to fight illegal cargo ships that are bringing transgenic soil in to Brazil...Currently there are 3 ships around the world..Brazil,Australia and Argentina.Okok!!!!!Then finally returning home.In a nutshell,I had so much fun that I wished that the day did not end!

-Day 48 in Brazil-
-11-05-2004
-Tuesday
-6.10 p.m

As usually,today I had to dragged myself out of bed to get ready for school..lolz!Well,nothing really happened at school except that my friend told me he wants to apply for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program(probably got inspired by me)hahahaha..I got so sleepy at the end of the period that when the school bell rang,I immediately rush out of the class and headed towards home to my precious COMPUTER!!!!
At 4.45 p.m I had to get ready to head back towards school coz I had to attend Laboratory for Physics classes.Now,I am back here on9ing again coz I miss my friends so much...this is the only place I can find them....Tchau!!

-Day 47 in Brazil-
-10-05-2004
-Monday
-7.11 p.m.

A brand new day....for the week..Its Monday and I really feel so lazy to wake up at 6.30 a.m. to go to school.But what I can I say...I am force to go!!!Today,in class I felt so bored and tired not because I had not enought sleep but because I didn´t understand what the teachers were teaching.Anyway,I had extra classes after school for Spanish and portuguese today and I had to go eventhough I don´t understand anything...Normally during the weekdays nothing much happens except for going to school and on9ing..lolz!

-Day 46 in Brazil-
-09-05-2004
-Sunday
-11.20 p.m.

Today is Mother´s Day!!!!I really miss my mother.."Happy mother´s Day ma!!Anyway,I woke up at 12 p.m this afternoon(shy man wake up so late)lolz...I gave my host mother the tea cup set that I bought and wished her Happy Mother´s day!!Today,we went to my host parents relatives house for lunch and celebrated Mother´s day there.The house was well designed and had many nice pieces of furnitures and not forgeting the lovely swimming pool.The food was so good that I couldn´t resist myself from taking a second round..Roast duck,Roast chicken,Grilled fish,Spagetti,Salad and delicious desserts were some of the food that was served today..After lunch..we all had a Karaoke sesion which my host sister lead everyone to it since she has a wonderful voice.In a nutshell,we all had a wonderful time over there.
For dinner,my host sister,David and I went to Mc´ Donalds to have some burgers since everyone was so exhausted to cook dinner..And now I am here writting my blog as usual and is cracking my head as what to write!!!!!Sometimes as I am writting my blog...My good old memories of Melaka begins to bring me back there and starts to make me miss all my good friends and people that are dear to me!!!I really miss Malaysia and melaka.See you soon Next March.

-Day 45 in Brazil-
-08-05-2004
-Saturday
-11.12 p.m.

Ha..ha..well,I didn´t really sleep well after 4 a.m. after I received a sms from my friend,Gerald from Malaysia.I was thinking to myself which mad person would sms me in the middle of the night but it turn out to be my friend from Malaysia,so never mind.Anyway,I woke up at 10 a.m.,did some housework and ate my breakfast.Ok!people you really got to hear this,this is the most exciting part,today my host family brought me to a Typical Brazilian pub,Democrata for lunch and guess what? the place was just amazing..The atmosphere was so nice..a live band was playing and singing Typical Brazilian music,(Samba and Pajode) and people were just dancing and shaking their body as if a party was going on..Well,even if there was no party,Brazilians are always partying 24/7.I can´t really describe the scene to you,you just need to be here to experience it for yourself!The owner of the pub,designed it as if you were sitting by the road side and houses beside you and people dancing freely.Get what I mean?The food was excellent also..It was a eat all you can concept for only R$17 and we had "Feijoada", a typical Brazilian dish which is cook with different parts of the pig,rice,"salada",fried bananas,fried manjoaca and other local cuisines.
It was already 4 p.m. when we finished lunch and so we decided to go to Picasso´s exhibition that was being held at Oca,Parque do Ibirapuera.Picasso´s paintings were just amazing and there were so many of them shipped all the way from Museu Picasso,Paris for the exhibition.I bought a T-shirt and post card as a souvenir to bring back as well.All in all,we spend about 3 hours there just gazing at the lovely paintings.I also bought a tea cup set for my host mother since tomorrow is "Mother´s Day".Tonight,we had CHINESE FOOD!Heard that,CHINESE FOOD!I had Chop sui and Sping roll.Finally!It was really tasty...Didn´t know that chinese food in Brazil also tested that well?Anyway,I think I have written enought for the day.Better stop now...Tchau!!

-Day 44 in Brazil-
-07-05-2004
-Friday
-5.45 p.m.

Oh!!!!!I am now in Brazil under a Rotary Youth Exchange program and will be here for 1 year...I am only gonna come back next March...Oh man,I really miss malaysia and of course my proud hometown..Melaka.
The thing that I miss most is of course the lovely "Nasi Lemak" and "Curry Chicken"!!!!!Anyway,today I went to school as usual and by the way I am attending Colegio Guilherme De Almeida in Guarulhos,SP,Sao Paulo.
Today the weather was extremely chilly coz winter is approaching soon in July and it is getting colder each day.....As everyone knows,Malaysia is so hot that when I landed at the airport,I felt as if I was in Europe or something like that!:)okok!!!!I have been talking for so long that I think I have to go..Tchau!!!