FIRST!

I'm excited to be the first team member to post on our blog. This is just one in a series of firsts for me lately. First trip to Brazil (can't wait!), my first time learning Portuguese (it's coming along...keep praying tho!) and my first time spending 30 days in another country. I'm looking forward to meeting beautiful people, eating great food and really observing the little things that most Brazilians probably take for granted. This trip is going to be life changing......
BUT....
There's always a but.....
Before I(we) can let our imaginations frolick in the beautiful land of Sao Paulo, we have a LOT of work to get done. There's presentations to prepare, brochures to fold, business cards to copy and let's not get started talking about the VISAs yet. I'll save that topic for later. So right now, I'm just concentrating on making the best presentation possible and learning as much Portuguese as I can so I don't offend our hosts. But so far, I'm please to say that it has not been a burdensome process. In fact, it's been quite a joy. Why? Because of the DREAM TEAM!!!
Seriously, I couldn't have picked 4 other women as intelligent, kind, focused and funny. They're just like me! haha
Since I'm first I'll call everyone out...
LaTonya - She's the woman with the knowledge and connections...."oh you need a copy of last years presentation?...got it.....oh we need a Portuguese language tutor?...ok got it" She knows how to get it done and that's somebody you always want in your corner!
Leigh - She's our resident historian and the sweetest person ever. She is such a hard worker and she pays attention to detail. She definitely going to be an asset during our preparation and once we arrive in Sao Paulo.
Christina - This is another one who has access to resources - GOTTA LOVE IT! But Christina is also fearless. I'm convinced that if there's anything I'm not too sure about Christina will check it out and make us all look like wimps! I'm a picky eater too, so thank goodness for Christina
Beth - OH BETH! This girl is like my twin. All it takes it one look and we are laughing hysterically! Beth just got back from Italy so girlfriend's passport is always ready to go! I have a feeling that Brazil is not ready for Beth and Alicia
Jim - Jim is our team leader and he has traveled all over the globe, so I feel certain that he won't let any of us get kidnapped. haha Seriously, though Jim is an outdoors kinda guy who loves diving into new cultures. He's helping to keep us on track and thank goodness because May will be here before you know it.
So that's the team....and there's so much ahead of us that we can't wait to share it! After the Orientation in Winston-Salem I know everyone got even more excited about the trip and becoming a part of a great Rotary legacy. This WILL be a life changing adventure. Lucky for me- I am surrounded by great people and lucky for you that we plan to show everything. So keep checking the blog for new updates from the team as we prepare for our trip and once we are in Brazil we plan to use this blog to keep you posted on where we are, what we are doing, and who we meet. No need to thank us....IMAGINA!

Smile - Sorriso!

OK so this all began when a well-dressed, handsome, distinguished gentleman came into my office in August and smilingly said "Miss Christina I'd like you to apply for this opportunity". That man was none other than Daneel le Roux, President of ECVC (the company I work for), active Rotariaon & a former Rotary District Governor for District 7720. He went on to tell me about the wonderful opportunity Rotary was offering to young professionals acting as cultural exchange ambasssadors to Sao Paulo Brazil and that he thought I was a match. Of course I was thrilled at the prospect of going to a country I had never imagined was within my reach and now was actually possible. Sooo I hurried to complete and send in the application which resulted in being informed to come interview with the Rotary Committee on Sunday October 25th amongst other candidates for selection. During the 2 weeks before my interview, I feverishly threw myself into learning more about the values of Rotary and found that it was indeeed an organization that has what i love at heart - SERVICE ABOVE SELF! This idea matched perfectly with my own core values about helping others which led me to my work with ECVC serving People with Disabilities.

Interview Time - Sunday October 25th. Gathered at the Pitt County Public Library waiting for my turn...the worst part was the waiting lol...each one of the awaiting candidates (I found myself waiting with all of these intelligent successful young females from our district) entered the room to face a panel of Rotarians. When it was my turn there was the panel wiht me at the center asking questions about myself, my knowledge of Rotary, knowledge of Brazil & Sao Paulo. It was like a blur now...turning my head to face each person in the room one after another and then...IT WAS OVER sooner than i had expected. I stepped out into the hall and had my picture taken and waited with bated breath for their decision.

APPROVED!!! This was the beginning of it all when I met the DREAM TEAM destined for Brazil this summer...Jim our team leader, Alicia,Beth, Leigh & LaTonya...