B. Images: Rotary Potluck: An evening of assignments, accomplishments and goodbyes

10 of the 14 students from district 6980

On Friday July 13th district 6980 had our final event- a potluck in which each student brought food from their future host country and each student spoke in their host language. Each student also had to turn in two paragraphs in their host language about their hopes and expectations for the upcoming year. We had all known this event was coming but the reality of it was stunning. A year ago I would have never imagined that I would be spending a gap year abroad, especially not in Brazil. Now this upcoming year is a huge part of my life. I study the language every day, I am making friends with every Brazilian I can meet, and I see Brazil everywhere I go. I hear Brazilian music playing at Target, I notice every t-shirt with the Brazil flag on it and I am always listening into stranger's conversations to see if they are speaking Portuguese or Spanish. The changes in my life have been drastic but they have been for the best. I have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people through this experience and I have grown close to many of them.