Born to be Wild (by Júlia Rockenbach)

I’ve thought of traveling to some country where I can practice my English, I would like to live abroad for at least 6 months… Of course it is not easy to get away from your family for a long time, but I really want to do it. I’ve sent some e-mails to a friend of mine; we used to study together at PUCRS, in 2004. She has been living in Australia since 2006, that’s why I’ve kept in touch with her. I knew she could help me a lot, because although I should go to a travel agency, I think that first it is important to talk with someone who has been living there, who doesn’t have any intention of selling anything to me. I’ve asked her about very basic questions that everyone who would like to travel would ask.

Then, in one of these e-mails she told me that the place where she’s been living is wonderful, but that she’s had some difficulties to practice her English because there are a lot of Brazilian people living there. Every place she goes she meet a Brazilian person. Then she told me that the best thing to be done would be to live in a house with people from other countries. Well, I would like living this way, but maybe I can find other place to live, where there are less Brazilian people around.

So, since she told me that, I’ve been researching for other countries and then, about one month ago, I found a travel agency’s website where there are a lot of interesting suggestions about travels, but one especific called my attention: a volunteer job in South Africa called “Born to be Wild Lion Project”. You stay there about one month, helping orphan lions - you can choose other projects which help other animals like elephants and monkeys - and practicing your English. The place where people sleep and work might not be the most confortable place to stay, but this must be an unique experience. I found this opportunity an excellent idea, I really love animals. I’ve been thinking of doing it. I don’t know when, but one day, when I have money and time, I will.

Here is the website address (in Portuguese) for you to have more information about what I am talking about:

http://www.ci.com.br/trabalhar-no-exterior/trabalho-voluntario.africa

If you google the name of the project, you will find more information about it, in English.

The Group's Photo

Ladies and gentlemen, our group!

Brazil on the sexiest lists (By Cecília Mezzomo)

I came across an interesting article on the website concierge.com, about the worst hotel guests in the world. Names like Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey and Amy Whinehouse were on the list. From attracting a flood of paparazzi to demanding gold faucets and mineral water for having a shower, these people really bothered hotel staffs around the globe to figure on the list of the most unwanted guests.

On the same website, a list of the world’s sexiest beaches 2008 – there are places like Malibu, Turkey and Greece. Unfortunately, Rene, Cidreira was not on the list this year, but Natal was chosen as one of the most seductive places to go. The beach is described as having blue warm water and back dolphins.

Brazil also happens to be on the list of world’s sexiest hotel pools, which is located at the Hotel Fasano, in Rio de Janeiro, facing Ipanema Beach. Tiny bikinis, caipirinhas and Havaianas flip – flops are mentioned, but the text does not diminish the country – on the contrary, it highlights the tourist potential of our land.

FIRST DAY (BY VANESSA FILIPPINI)

I guess 61 is going to be our lucky number.
And I think this is our first experience working with a blog.

A photo of our city (by Rene)

This is a photo of our city, Porto Alegre, in the Southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.