Name: Mateo Clarke

Host Country: Brasil!!!

Email Address: clarkeme@ktc.com

1) Is this exchange experience what you thought it would be?

No, It’s so much more. The people I’m meeting, especially some of the exchange students I traveled with were the most amazing people I've ever met. At times it’s conflicting because I’m enjoying it so much here, but half of me is in different place. However, I’m loving it and couldn’t have hoped for anything better.

2) On a scale of 1-10, where would you say your host language skills are? Why?

7. I understand everything, almost everything. Especially in one on one conversation. But Brazilian-Portuguese has a lot of slang, which makes conversation with my peers at times difficult. But speaking is a different story. There are so many verb tenses that the only way to learn them is by practice. It doesn’t help that I spent the last month traveling with a groups of exchange students who, all but a few, spoke English fluently. It’s coming.

3) Have you moved to your 2nd host family? Tell me 3 good things about them.

If you have NOT, when will you move?

I have and I love them.

1. They have 3 children in their 20s who are here in the house during the summer holidays. The son went to Minnesota in 01-02 through rotary, so he can relate to what I’m going through and helps me with my Portuguese

2. The mom is a great cook and very patient with me. Always curious and conversing with me, the only way for me to get better at the language.

3. They have a Piteca court in the backyard. (piteca is an Indian game played like volleyball but instead of a ball they use a type of shuttlecock you with with your palm. It’s a lot of fun, and my dad host a game every Tuesday.)

4) What are your plans over the Christmas holidays?

I just got back from my trip of the Northeast, traveling for a month, and that was great, the best month of my life. For Christmas, I’ll probably stay here in Arcos and maybe visit my “grandparents” in the cities they live in close by. For New Years, a friend invited me to go to the beach with his family, but if that doesn’t work, I hope to go to Belo Horizante, the capital of Minas Gerais with my brother, where they have a lot of parties and where I have a lot of exchange student friends from the Northeast trip.

5) And on YOUR Christmas list....

1. Books, Books, Books

2. Sunflower Seed and Beef Jerkey

3. Money to go to the beach

6) Anything you want to add.....

I would like to thank everyone back at home for having faith in me and giving me this opportunity. I having the best time of my life. I promise I am not disappointing YA’LL.