Hi
Hello! I cannot think of the craziest thing I have done before. Can you think of anything?
I don't usually do crazy things, I'm boring hahaha
What is the most exciting thing you have ever done? Have you been on any adventures, hiked any mountains, explore any rainforests or deserts?
I hiked Angel's Landing in Zion National park I moved to a different country all by myself. what about you?
That is pretty crazy! I have heard that the hike is pretty dangerous if you are not careful. I also heard that it is a beautiful view. Moving to a different country by Yourself is also an exciting adventure. As for me, I lived in Russia as a missionary. Plus, I got married. That is an adventure in and of itself!
That's quite an adventure. I admire your courage
Yes it is! And thank you. My husband and I are going to Moscow this summer for internships. I also admire your courage. It is not an easy thing to travel by yourself to a new Country. That takes a lot of courage and faith to do so!
Thank you. What are you doing for your internship?
I do not know yet. It is a joint study abroad/internship. We will take classes at a university in Russia, but they will pair us up with a company ni a field we are interested. Once we arrive, we will have interviews with some of the companies they contacted and e will choose what one we think will match us best. We are also waiting to know if we wil Recieve our visas. Because of the conflict between the United States and Russia, it might make it difficult. If we do not, we will go to Latvia instead. However, we are
That's cool. I'm glad you can go together and speak the language. So one don't have to interpret to the other.
Optimistic:) Yes, I agree. Translating is hard and tiring! It would take a lot out of us if one of us did not know th lagnague!
And you would have to be together. Almost all the time.
Exactly. All of the time. I love my husband, of course, but that would not give us opportunities to grow on our own
Yeah, that would be like a second misson.
Exactly. Do you have a place in the world you would like to visit?
I would like to visit Myanmar, but right now they're having a lot of genocide, so I'm kind of glad for not being able to visit. What about you?
That would not be the best place to visit! I would eventually like to visit Jerusalem, but it is also not the most safe place in the world. I would also like to visit Greece And Rome. I enjoy learning about ancient history. Percy Jackson was one of my favorite book series growing up. I also would like to visit Finland. I served in St. Petersburg, Which is right across the border. I also would like to go to Rio. After seeing the cartoon with the blue bird, it has been a dream. Basically, I want to go everywhere.
That's cool. I wanted to go to the study abroad in Jerusalem, but I wouldn't be able to take classes for my major there. My childhood dream is to travel around the world.
That is the hard thing abuot som study abroad. They do not all  fit our majors. I have a cousin who is a finance major,  it he decided to go to the center in Jerusalem to take A break and have a neat experience. Maybe you could do that if you want a break. Or, you might be able to get an internship. Th fact that you arare studying in a university Outside of your native country shows how you are somewhat achieving your childhood dream.
That's true, I never thought of it like that. But you're right.
That is awesome!
I will graduate first and then travel. I will have more money and time. I don't want to stay in school longer than I need.
That is wise. Will you travel around the United States?yuo have been to Angels landing, but do y'all u want to go anywhere else?
I went to Cali last summer, I'm going to Seattle this summer, I went to Idaho a couple of times, I went to Colorado once. I want to go to New York.
I love Seattle. I have been there a couple of times. It is absolutley beautiful! What parts of Colorado and Idaho did you visit?
I went to Loveland in Colorado and I hiked for a bit at the Rocky Mountain Park. My roommate is from Shelley, so we go there all the time, and Idaho Falls.
My brother in law is from Colorado. I have never been there. What ere you doing in Colorado?  My husband is from Idaho, so we also travel there often to visit his family. Apparently you are making your way across the states! That is neat.
I had a boyfriend from Colorado, so we went to visit his family.
I have heard that Colorado is a beautiful state! Do you enjoy hiking?
I do if the trail is pretty. If it's just hiking for the sake of it, I don't enjoy as much, and my legs hurt more. I think it's psycological.
Have you been up to bridal veil falls or rock canyon here in provo? They are pretty, and the hike is not that bad. If you go down south a bit, Nephi canyon and a canyon in Spanish fork are beautiful. Do you hike much when you are home?
Not really, Brazilians don't hike a lot. We prefer playing soccer, volleyball, and other sports. I haven't done any of those hikes. My hiking history happens mostly at Zion's
I am impressed that you climbed angels landing, even if you do not hike very much!
That's a funny story.
I enjoy soccer and volleyball as well. Do you play either sport here?
It was my first week in the U.S, I was with a friend, her mom has a bed and breakfast by the park. So she was telling me all these things that I should do down there. So she said that was her favorite hike, and we went to the park to do it. After a few hours I started asking if we were almost done. At the end the feeling was really good. And I didn't know anything about Angel's landing. I understood my accomplishment after I told someone and they told me how dangerous it was. So, I don't play any sport here because I keep telling myself I don't have time. Maybe next semester I will make more time to practice something.
That is quit the introduction to the United States! I am proud of you for tackling that hike, though it possibly helps that you did not realize that you were hiking such a Rough hike. I have been to zion's Once, but e did not have time to hike angels landing. Maybe someday I will be able to do it! Did you play many sports when you ere growing Up? Or did you have other hobbies hen you were in Brazil?
Probably, I have to tell my friends, if you want me to do something hard, don't tell me that is hard. I played soccer and volleyball in high school I also did a lot of crafting. I love book binding, drawing, painting, origami, and other random stuff.
That is a good way to look at things. Sometimes if our brain knows something it hard, it will tell us we cannot do it. However, if we see it as simply a fun challenge, it make It easier to accomplish it! Wow, it seems like you do a little bit of everything!  Are you still able to do crafting? Since I graduate high school, I have not been able to do all of ththat hobbies I once Did smiply brcause of time.
I agree, the secret is to lie to your brain. hahaha I haven't had as much time here. I was talking to my roommate about it. Sometimes I feel like a bird in a cage because I was used to doing many different things all the time.
It is crazy how powerful our brains are! We are in control of ourselves way more than we think we are. It is hard in college because there are a lot of opportunities to do new things,  it yuo sometimes have to make the choice to do something that will help you more in the futur
Here I stay on campus all day, trying to finish homework, projects and things like that, and plus there are all the policies and restrictions to international students. So I'm I have very limited resources.
I did not realize that international students had so many restrictions and policies! I hope that you are still able to find joy and excitement in your life with hat you can do
We have a lot of restrictions, but I find other ways to have joy. I'm quick to adapt to new scenarios.
That is good. That is a very useful skill to have in this world. What is your favorite thing about Utah? Or provo?
I love the landscape. It doesn't matter where you look Utah is pretty. I tell people that for me living in Utah is like living in a live painting everyday. And the four seasons are well define. You can see each one around and on the mountains.
I take for granted the beauty of Utah. I was born and raised here in Utah. I love that that there are four seasons. I have family in Arizona, and it is practically summer All year long. What is the weather like from the part of Brazil you are from?
It's usually warm and humid, we have winter, but it isn't crazy like the winter here. It rains in all seasons.
I never dealt much with humidity u til I visited family in Seattle. We also went to Hawaii when my dad was stationed there. Do you like the humidity? Also, is all of Brazil humid and rainy or just the part that you are from?
I like humidity because I don't have to use lotion or lip balm all the time. Hahahaha Brazil is humid in general.
Oh my goodness, I totally agree! Even though I am used to the temperature and lack of humidity,  I always have to use lotion! I am also very fair skinned, so I have to Wear sunscreen almost anytime I am outside. What is your favorite place ni Brazil?
In Brazil, I only have to use lip balm during winter. I really love my state. It sounds bias, but my state has the best food, and we have mountains and green everywhere. There are no beaches, but we don't miss it. Hahaha I also think the people in my state are more friendly and welcoming.
I do not blame you. That sounds wonderful! What part of Brazil is that then? (North, south, east, worst?) and do you live by a rainforest?
I served in Sao Paulo and if you said good morning to someone walking on the street, they would give you a look like you were trying to rob them. It's southeast, it's north of Sao Paulo and west of Rio. If you know those ones. It's not close to the rainforest.
I do. And I can imagine people looking at these two little sister missionaries like they are robbers. It is a funny image! I know those places. I have never been to Brazil,
My state is called Minas Gerais, in case you want to look it up.
It I have seen pictures. I will look it up! So are the states basically cities, or is it like counties here in Utah?
States in Brazil are like states here.
I did not realize Brazil had states! I just googled yours, and it looks beautiful!
What messes people's head is that there is the state called Sao Paulo and the city with the same name which is the capital of that state. The same with Rio.
That would make sense as to why I did not know then!
Thank you. My state is also very historic. So you will probably see pictures of old houses and churches.
Correct. They are beautiful, but old. And the food looks amazing!
Yep, they were built by the slaves. And by law, they have to keep them and restore from time to time. Search from food from Minas Gerais
Those buildings are amazing. Some of them have the appearance of European structure, yet they also have a different flair to them! I have not seen buildings hit  like them! Oh my goodness I just searched for the food! I am now hungry!
Yeah, there's a lot of things like that in Brazil. Many people from different countries migrated there, so different regions have different styles. If you want to see Europe in Brazil search for Gramado RS
Brazil is such a special country! And I love the cheese balls! I went to tacanos once and they were so good.
It's like seeing Germany in Brazil.
It does! Wow!
The cheese balls are my favorite. I buy them at CostCo. I buy them frozen. Then if you look at Manaus, you will see native americans hahah Like we said earlier, Brazil is a melting pot.
I now know why Brazil is a melting pot! There is just so much to it! Ar you planning on moving back to Brazil once you graduate?
I don't know. I'm planning on visiting for sure. My entire family is there. But I think it will depend on job opportunities I have. Or maybe I have a great idea for a start up that would help Brazil somehow, then I would.
That is understandable. I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to international governments and cuontries. What do you think would help Brazil?
I'm not sure. The biggest problem there now is the corruption in the government. The government is divided in 3 powers like here, so they can have checks and balances. But instead of checking on each other, they are working together just to get more money.
That is hard. I love Russia with all my heart, and some of the most sincere people live there. However, it breaks my heart when I think of what the people go through because Of the government. It is so sad that so many people just want money! It is also sad because money does not bring one happiness.
So basically there is corruption in all levels of government and since they are working together, even if you find someone who is not corrupt to be the president. That person wouldn't have any power to do anything. That's true. But that's what they go for. And I don't know about Russia, but in Brazil you have to vote during the elections. It's not like here where you can choose if you want to vote. And in most cases there's no good candidates. So you try to vote for the less corrupt. Last month the former president was judged and sentenced for corruption. Now he is arrested. I hope they do that to more politicians.
I feel that is how we do it here. In Russia, it is also an option, however, the government practically chooses the candidates. That is crazy about the president! Growing up in Utah, I never saw how sad our world is. Now, I see the bad,  it want to make good things happen to change it. That is hard, though. Does Brazil have senators and Representatives from each state?
Yes. The government works just like the government here, supposedly, but the elections are different. In Brazil is popular vote. Which can be rigged.
That is so sad! I know that there are good people in this world. It is sometimes hard to find them, and it is harder for them to gbe t in a position here they can change what is going on.
There are good people. But media only portray the bad because it gives them audience.
That is a good point. It would be nice to have a new channel that highlights the good!
If you look around and try to see the good the others are doing you will see that there are more good than bad in the world.
That is so accurate. The more people I talk to, the more I realize that we are all people! We make mistakes and simply try to do what we believe is best.
Yes. I've been learning a lot here. Hahaha
Well, on a happier note, have you seen the baby ducks at the duck pond south of campus? They are sure a good reminder that there is a lot of good in the world!
I haven't. But the place I live has a little pond with two ducks. They had babies last year. They are so cute.
That is fun:) baby ducks are so adorable! Thy are basically little squeaking fur balls! Are there a lot of wildlife where you are from?
The ducks were in my apartment complex here in Provo. Hahaha But there isn't a lot of wildlife where I'm from. I live in a city bigger than Provo.
Right:) but when I think of Brazil, I think of tropical birds and monkeys. Bigger than provo? Wow! I come from a small town, so provo is huge for me!
Bigger than Salt Lake even. I know people think about that a lot. But the only places you will find wildlife in Brazil are isolated farms, or the Amazon or Mato Grosso regions. I come from a bigger city, so Provo is to small. Hahah
I guess salt lake is not a huge city compared to most cities in the world! St. Petersburg is huge! I enjoy big cities, but for me, any city appears big:) I think there were more cows than people in my city, come to think of it.
I love big cities. There is so much to it. You can do so many things.
You would enjoy Seattle. It is huge and very interesting. There are so many things to do!
I already enjoy it. I went there in October for my interview. I went to many different places in Bellevue and in Seattle. I'm already making a list of places to go. People are telling me great things to do there. AndI just got an email from Microsoft to join the Microsoft club. They go to different places and have different activities.
That is exciting! I feel people there are very friendly. And you will enjoy it there because you shouldn't have to use so much lotion and lip balm! The food is also pretty Delicious as well. And they have lots of concerts!
Yes, I'm excited for all of that. I'll leave my cage for a bit. Hahaha When are you going to Russia.
We are going in May. If all goes as planned! When do you leave for Seattle?
Probably on my b-day. I'm going to Idaho on Sunday. Then I'll be there until May 10th, then driving to Seattle. My internship starts on the 14th
Well happy birthday in a few days! That will be such an exciting adventure! Thank yo Sorry! Thank you for the chat. I am going to help my husband make dinner right now. Maybe we will chat again! Have a wonderful day!