Just as a kind of add on to my last video, for those of you who do go to Brazil - whether on your Year Abroad or on holiday - these are some things to bare in mind before you go :)
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THIS. IS. IT!! The final stage of my build up to my year abroad in Floripa!! With one week to go before my departure - and the start of an amazing adventure - I have finally got hold of my VISA and the Typhoid vaccine, as well as some dollar (Brazilian Reais actually) and the last bits and bobs. Oh and I had a large bunch of my hair cut off - which with all the muggy weather we've had recently, was definitely one of my smartest decisions. People have been asking me if I'm nervous/scared etc and I would say yes, BUT only because this is my first time traveling overseas alone and navigating not only a new country but airport transfers by myself. But even then I'm actually chilled about it and am ready to go now :D Woop woop!! So this is my very last Build Up video, and as always I hope you enjoy :) See you on the other side!! (Or just on the Floripa and the Nut page). **I'VE PASSED SECOND YEAR!!**
So close now I can almost smell the sea salt and hear the samba (stereotypes, apologies!!). All I'm waiting on is: the darn VISA.... :/ Ah well, not long to go now! Less than a month, eep!! Just a quick side-note, when I explained in the introduction video that I would be making videos every week, I meant once I was actually in Brazil, not during the Build Up. My thinking was there wouldn't be enough to mention before I went :)
Okie dokie, so it's funny because I actually filmed this on the 22nd (ONE MONTH LEFT!!!!!) but it took until the wee hours of the 24th for it to be edited, captioned and finished (as much procrastination as during exam periods). This video details the painful experience that was my first application for my Brazilian VISA, I went the first Monday after almost ten days of non-stop post-exam partying and socialising so I hadn't had time to get anything ready or check the Embassy website to make sure I had everything: MASSIVE MISTAKE!! I got there and I didn't have a Police ACRO (lists all your criminal records; and takes about 10 days to process), the original confirmation letter from Floripa University nor a personal VISA application with a passport photo (which you have to register for online!!). So in short: my application attempt sank before it had even set sail and I went home having achieved "nada" - apart from going to Platform Nine and Three Quarters at King's Cross Station (heehee!). Also, I say more or less in the video however everything that I've recorded: happened. So yeah... :P My advice therefore is: 1. check the Consulate webpage ( for everything you need a good couple of weeks before you go to your appointment (i.e. because you'll probably need the ACRO as well). **Brazilian Consulate Web page: http://cglondres.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/student_visa.xml **Police Certificate Web pages: http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx 2. DO. NOT. PANIC!! I did and I probably came off as shifty. 3. You are going to Brazil so REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE BRAIN ON!! Although I'd just finished exams, I reckon they'd be much more obliging if you tried to speak their language - mine decided to reawaken the dormant-for-two-years French part of my brain on this particular occasion instead... I should probably add that Christine didn't actually bribe me with potatoes, it was in fact a promise I made to her instead - hopefully I'll remember! Love you Christine!! If you enjoyed this video, please be a doll and go to Youtube and like this particular video, muita obrigada (thank youuuuu)!! Otherwise, many thanks for watching!! :) This week SLAPSSoc (Spanish, Latin American and Portuguese Society) had their very last social - a society I've been President/Social Sec for for the last academic year. So what better way to end the year/ get a taste for my year abroad than an all-you-can-eat Brazilian lunch buffet?! It was stunning!! First you sit at the table and the waiter gives you a double-sided card, one side is green and says "Sim, por favor/ Yes please" and the other is red and says "Nao obrigado/No thank you". You then go to the buffet and have your fill of pasta, salad, chips/potato wedges, beans (very popular in Brazil!) and then you return to your table, turn the card to the green side and the waiters then begin bringing round about six different types of meat individually and you have your fill. You can keep refilling on the buffet and they keep bringing round meat until you've had enough, in which you then flip the card over to the red side, and they stop bringing it out. For uni students this was of course heaven! Although I definitely could've done with a nap afterwards... I also sampled my first Caiparinha ("kai-pah-reen-ya"), a trademark alcoholic drink in Brazil (consisting of cachaca, sugar, lime and lots of crushed ice), it tasted like a strong mojito (no doubt due to the Cachaca). Stupidly I forgot to take my memory card out of my laptop so I couldn't take any pictures of the food & drinks, so I'm relying on internet pics to demonstrate a Caiparinha to you instead (see below)... "Yay disposable camera pics instead!" Personally I would highly recommend this restaurant, particularly for meat lovers - although a couple of veggies joined us and had their fill at the buffet - and students of course, it's definitely worth the price!! I'm excited to make my own Caiparinhas and dishes!! I'm not gonna lie, I am even more hyped up for my year abroad now and next month could not come soon enough!! *Caiparinha: a refreshing alcoholic delicacy (if you can describe a drink as a delicacy?!) So basically, I got my booster jabs today! (Don't remember when today was, think it was a Wednesday...) They were boosters for Hep. B&C I believe, and due to a national shortage, I haven't actually got the Typhoid booster yet (shh!). I got boosters because I went to Peru for a month back in 2009; and I'd already had Yellow Fever (lasts 10 years apparently), but I think for Brazil it was recommended you have it done. For students who are financially cautious, you can get these jabs/boosters free on the NHS because you're going abroad for a year as part of your degree. So don't worry!! On a side note, I actually have quite a high pain resistance, the nurse said my arms would ache afterwards but I didn't actually notice until I lifted my arms up later on in a dance lesson. But even then it just felt like I'd been punched. I have ridiculously sensitive skin though, so for anyone who's the same: take your own plasters for the jabs! Sounds silly but will probably save you the pain later :P Also, there was about a week/two week wait for appointments, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get them before you go. For Yellow Fever in particular you need to have a certificate for it to take with you. The beginning of my journey of destiny! The beginning of my year abroad story! The beginning of the best year ever!! Hope you enjoy! |