Written by: Cassiano Santana dos Santos

Today I don’t want to make a “I have a dream” speech. One of the most important things I’ve learned here  it’s not to give unicorn and butterfly answers.  Therefore, I want to be realistic. Martin Luther King Jr.  was a leader and his speech transformed a whole generation and this generation made the society not be the same anymore. His ideas could change conceptions worldwide. Perhaps he’s a model for me, but I’m not him and, in fact, I don’t like models because they make us feel like machines, no creativity, no innovation, just copies. He’s an inspiration, for sure.  In summary, I could express a desire: I have a dream that one day I could look around and see that people live in peace together, in equality and in harmony.

However, I would like to speak about now and about how we’ve lived. It was just three weeks. Short? Of course not. Before it started, we were always saying that we were a family. And, in fact, we couldn’t imagine how it is to have this kind of family. Not blood family, but we are family. And since the first hug, the bonds among ourselves  became strong enough to take us away from our first comfort zone. Yeah, I said first. I said it because we’ve created a new one here, in another country, with foreign people, with so many different Brazilian accents. And I have to say that all the foreign people that we’ve met made us feel at home – our wonderful, fantastic and fabulous World Learning Staff the people from each host state. I’m sure that they are a kind of Brazilians right now.

All the moments we’ve lived here are in the corners of my mind. And I like to mention these corners because I think and walk around them to remember all of the wonderful experiences I’ve lived. And they always come out and make tears cross my eyes. All the smiles, tears, hugs, kisses, gestures, pronounced words and also the silence, the first snow flakes and our happiness on holding it, the falling down ice skating, the snow battles, the cold breath, the hashtags. I could be writing about so many special moments,  but they are many and I don’t want to make this a long text. I have to say that I’m writing it on the bus going to our last lunch time in the USA with all of the special people we’ve met. The words come easily because they come from my heart.  I know so melodramatic, but it’s the truth.

I just have to thank all of you so much for the most wonderful three weeks of my life. It was unforgettable and doesn’t matter how many words I use on how many papers I have, I was always gonna be unable to describe all of the single moments here. Thank you a lot Tracy, B. Hobbs, Phoebe, Quena, Ana, Danny, Hayley, Rute, Juliana, Márcia, Hirata, Tio Ed, Tacca, Blasi, all the coordinators in each host state and the people who come this dream true. Thank you my 44 sisters and brothers for occupying a place in my heart. That’s all!

Written by: Smenia Soares

“Hey guys! Well, it’s snowing a lot in Seattle, so schools are closed and the shops are closing around 5.  And at first we were worried because today were suppose to spend the day at Microsoft and we were very afraid that the snow would disrupt our plans, and in the morning we didn’t do anything because of the snow but in the afternoon we all met  in front of Roosevelt High; because of how it is snowing, many of us took a while to arrive, but we all went to Microsoft.  When we arrived there, it was truly amazing, they had badges with our names and we were greeted by Susan, a Brazilian who works there.  She took us to a meeting room where we met Andrew, a guy who left Pernambuco and through the Imagine Cup, a competition provided by Microsoft, he traveled to many parts of the world and he gave us many tips and showed us that the world does not belong to the lucky ones but to the determined and disciplined ones.  We met another Brazilian named Estevan, he taught us the value of the persistence.  We are very pleased and honored to know these people today, they are a model for us.  Although we haven’t  spent as much time as we wanted at Microsoft  the experience was amazing!”

Written by: Luiz Alberto

This Monday, January 16^th was a very special day for all the Youth Ambassadors in Cleveland. First, we went to our school, Wickliffe High School, where we met our driver Yuri and our coordinators, Danny and Rute. After a weekend without each other, the group went to City Year, an organization in Cleveland, where we did volunteer work – painting doors and windows. It was very funny, because there were other people doing the same volunteer work with us. Then, we went to the Snow Days, in Downtown Cleveland, where we ice skated and practiced other winter sports. I am sure I can say that the Cleveland Team had a very good time.

Written by: Ítalo Souza

My Host family actually is now my second family, today was the first day we spent together all day, and it was a significant day for me. I woke up around 10:00 am and my host mother cooked me a nice hot coffee, she guessed I was feeling greatly missed.

We went to a place – in the beginning they did not tell me the name – but I noticed on the road that I began to see snow, we were going to the Appalachian mountains!  I could see for the second time, SNOW, something quite remarkable! I learned to make a SNOW ANGEL!

Soon after we went to a quiet town called Blowing Rock, it was dusk and so we went to dinner at a restaurant in the city and returned to Charlotte.  I finished my day in a very special way – My Host Brother and I went to a Bonfire Night, at Késia´s Host Family , where we ate for the first time MARSHMALLOWS, which is a type of candy, where we can eat with salt and chocolate.

The day ended finally and I made ​​a point of telling my Host Family, “Thank you for the day!!!”

Check out the fun video of the Seattle students singing the song Chocholoza!

Written by: Gabriel Rodrigues Fagundes

Calm and furious, beautiful and dangerous. She can give us a wonderful view in the morning, a lot of fun at any time of the day. Yes, I am talking about the snow, which decided to show herself and cancel all the activities that we youth ambassadors were supposed to do here today, in Seattle. Actually, also because of the snow schools had no class and only a few workers went to their jobs. Barely we could see buses on the streets, all the cars were going slowly through the roads. Oh, all these things because of the snow! But she, this little white and soft thing that slept in the shoulder of the city of Space Needle, could not take out the enthusiasm of the Seattle Team, pretty well led by Bethany Hobbs and Hayley Kanlyn, which had an enjoyable time in a place called Interfaith Church.

The Seattle Team at the Interfaith Church

It’s s church that welcomes all different religions. There, we had the opportunity to learn more about one program of the church, called Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). The program attend to all kind of people, like students and prisoners, and tries to show with concrete actions how to have a better relationship with people. We talked, we had fun, we learned. Learning is a such a royal act! All the time we are learning more about learning, learning about our neighbors and about ourselves. This is definitely wonderful!

Beijos e abraços,

Written by: Joyce Amorim

Hi, I’m Joyce Amorim of Para and I’m here in Bozeman at a very cold-16C … That’s right, I came straight from the Amazon region to the cooler regions of the U.S. … It seems novel but the story of Youth Ambassadors is true.

Today was very special because it celebrates the day of Martin Luther King Jr., a very important celebration for Americans and yesterday we had a celebration which talked about the concept of charity and equality among men, the subjects that Youth Ambassadors are discussing in all our time in the workshops. The word is action plan every day we discuss how this wonderful experience will help us improve our reality and how we can improve our work in Brazil.

Today Ms.Shannon (leadership skills teacher) was our teacher and we talked about ourselves and about body language to help us in our a presentation.

At the Museum...look in the Dinosaur's Mouth!

But life is not only study but also adventures here in Bozeman, mainly in the snow where I’ve walked.   We went skiing and I fell down  several times, we bathed in natural pool of hot water, ate wonderful food, and I’m enjoying every day what my host family is teaching me. Bozeman is just fun ,there is much to know, today I went to the Museum of Rock where we saw large dinosaur fossils and got great gifts for my friends.

This is the responsibility of a Youth Ambassador, see new places and learn from others mainly to represent our beautiful Brazil.
Bye guys! See ya!

Written by: Gabriela Martini dos Santos

Hi guys!

Look at the snow!

I’m loving my host city, Bozeman, MT. My host family is amazing and we have the most beautiful landscapes ever. It is our third day here, and I’ve been doing lots of funny things, like visiting a high school, the MST – Montana State University, The Public Library and talking with a bunch of nice people.

All of us at Yellowstone

Well, today was our first Saturday here in Bozeman, so we had a day off. Me, Ana and Leo went to the oldest National Park ever, Yellowstone. We could see lots of animals like elks, bisons, ducks on the river and we saw a wolf, (yeah!) things that even my host parents who live here have never seen. (I was there with Ana’s and Leo’s host families).

Our day was really, really fun. Lots of snow, pretty landscapes, piknick at the car seeing bisons, and knowing different people, making friendship, having interesting conversations. I think I can’t believe I’m here yet, because I had no ideia that it could be so amazing.

Even trying different food that maybe you don’t like (as I did today) is such a good experience. You really feel that you’re in another country, living another culture, and being greatfull for all these nice things happening to me.

I wish I can enjoy every second I’m here, and later can say: “yes, I did the difference”. As, I’m sure, all the 45 Youth Ambassadors can do.

Written by: Diego Amorim

The view I woke up to!

Today is Sunday, our free day. Each one can do whatever one wants with the host family. I woke up at 10 in the morning with a surprise, when I looked through the window, it was snowing. It`s a beautiful view seeing those snowflakes floating. That makes me remember the first time I saw the snow, in Washington DC, with the other 44 youth ambassadors. Amazing. By the way, I`m missing them so much, they can`t imagine how. Going back to snow, we are very lucky to be here now, because snowing in Seattle is not so usual. My host mom said that it happens only once or twice a winter. She explained to me why: the town is situated between two lakes which keep it warm.

Diego infront of a Snowy Seattle Skyline!

Many people took advantage of the snow to go sledding. Wherever I went there were people doing it. I did it and it was nice. From the site where I was, there is a fantastic view of downtown Seattle.

Besides, I ate a delicious hamburguer for lunch and watched the movie “Across the Universe” (soundtracked by Beatles) with my host sister. She made cookies for me, they were yummy.

The yummy cookies my host sister made

The days here have been amazing, the visit to the EMP museum, the Boieng factory, the volunteerism at Food Bank, everything.The Youth Ambassadors Program is a great source of learning. The American and Brazilian cultures have similarities, but there are many differences, and it`s been an incredible experience know them. I’m looking forward to know how the next days will be.