Jordão compares life in Brazil to America

Many foreign exchange students visit the United States to attend an American school. Belle Jordão was one of those students. Jordão resides in the large community of São Paulo, Brazil and was staying with Jeff and Connie Mellies in Silver Lake. She left Silver Lake on Jan. 12 to return to her home. (Due to numerous snow days, this article could not be submitted before she left).

Jordão talked to her family once a week by phone or often sent émails. She also talked to them via the Internet on msn.com.

Jordão has an older sister, Linda, who is 18 years old in college.

“We’re close friends now that she lives in a different town,” said Jordão.

Jordão also has a younger brother, Luiz, who is 10 years old.

“He’s very nice, we love to play sports together, like soccer, hiking, etc.,” said Jordão.

The Mellies have two sons, Silver Lake High School senior Jeremy and freshman Jason.

Jordão compared her relationship with Jeremy and Jason to her sister and brother.

“Jeremy is the older brother that I always wanted. We have nice talks together; we can talk for hours, giving advice, comparing what Brazil is different from America.

“Jason is also nice. He’s more quiet, but sometimes he won’t stop talking and messing up the house, just like my brother in Brazil,” said Jordão.

Some students know how difficult it is to meet new friends in an entirely new world.

According to Jordão, “My classmates here are very different from mine at home. I see different people every hour here, but in Brazil, I see the same people all day.

“The clothes and houses are very different. The houses here are close together, and I live in a big town,” said Jordão.

Two activities Jordão plays in Brazil are soccer and handball.

Jordão described the game of handball.

“It’s a mixture between soccer and basketball. It’s an indoor game, with seven people: one in the goal and six playing. You can dribble the ball and pass it, but you can’t kick. You have to throw the ball in the goal. It’s kind of a water polo without the water,” said Jordão.

Other sports played in Brazil are swimming, basketball, chess, volleyball, and track. Jordão is an AFS (American Field Service) member.

“Since I was little, I wanted to be a foreign exchange student because my dad was one.

“My dad went to Buffalo, N.Y. When he was 17 years old, he traveled from coast to coast when his program ended. He wanted to learn a different culture, different language, people, etc.,” said Jordão.

Jordão attends a much bigger and developed private school, Colégio UiRApuRu.

“It’s a new school, 15 years old. I’ve gone there since I was five years old. I went to a different school from two to four years old. At the beginning, it was really small, but now it’s getting huge. We even have college there,” said Jordão.

Jordão explained how Brazil is different from America in terms of entertainment, sports, politics, etc.

“We can go to night clubs, the movies are cheaper, we can drink at any age, and baseball, softball, and football aren’t very common. Soccer is the sport in Brazil, and volleyball is a very common sport for both women and men,” said Jordão.

Jordão liked Silver Lake better than Brazil because there is snow here and she could see wild animals.

Before Jordão returned to Brazil on Jan. 12, Jerry Bollig, AFS sponsor and teacher, threw her a going away party on Jan. 10 at Avila’s Mexican Restaurant.

Jordão has many memories she’ll keep with her on her way home.

“I loved being an exchange student here. I made a lot of friends; some of them are thinking about going to Brazil and visiting me there! I hope that happens. Everybody helped me and Silver Lake is a very hospitable city. I want to come back some time,” said Jordão.

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