The best thing about being in the Brazilian MC is being in the LCs

Wow, man!

I cannot believe how great LC visits are!

I arrive on Friday morning (7am after a 8 hour bus ride) into Belo Horizonte. On the bus the night before I was looking out of the window, thinking how good it is to travel as part of your job!

Getting picked up... go for Pao de queijo (cheese bread, traditional for the region I am in). Do some meetings and then go for lunch at Ines house (EB member)... the maid (everybody has a full-time maid) cooked beans, rice, vegetables, meat (lots) desert. I felt so lucky!

Then it gets better... go to the LCs planning weekend (all the LC does planning together) at a country retreat an hour out of the city. Bring on the swimming pool, small monkeys (so cute!) in the forest, hot water and a luxary house big enough to occupy the 20 AIESECers. I loved the weekend, the LC liked the planning and seem to like me also!

Then I go back... staying at Helenos (a male AIESECer). His family are so kind, they make an effort to speak English (they speak a little) and teach me Portuguese. I have my own room, internet access, and my own bathroom. The maid prepares fresh fruit juice and a big breakfast and for lunch all Brazilian food (yesterday a gorgeous fish pie). I also used the onsite swimming pool and visited the pope square which over looks the city. Later today I go downtown and see the founding area of this 3 million city. (Belo Horizonte is only 100 years old and was planned to be a state capital).

But I have also been working. I did a mentorship training (went well) and meetings with the EB. Tomorrow I meet the alumni of AIESEC BH to present the alumni plans that we have. Last night we had a Gringo talk (Gringo = foreigner) with the trainees and SNs here.

At the weekend I go to a graduation party (likely to be another cultural experience) before I go onto Juiz de Fora, but eventually I will have to return to Sao Paulo and the MC house, although I prefer my current accomodation!