In the Dark

I didn't know that this could happened in United States: on september 8th more than five million people coped with the sudden loss of electricity in San Diego County, Baja California, part of Arizona and other areas. These areas stayed without energy about 12 hours. The outage began at 3:38 p.m. after a 500-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line from Arizona to California failed, triggering a cascade of events that then knocked the San Onofre nuclear power plant offline. Those are the two major power sources for the region.

I was running at Mission Bay when I received the information of blackout- I meet a friend and he told me about the problem. So, I came back to my house but before I went to 7eleven convenience store because all markets and pharmacys were closed. In this place, there was a big line to buy food, drinks and others products. Some people were talking about the problem... An old man said that we were going to be three days without power. So the people in the line were scarried..The funny thing it was in general the people were buying beer, ice and water...everybody was ready to party in the dark.

The scary part was that it was so close to 9/11. People thoughts were about terror...I didn't think about that, but in the line of  7eleven I sad: What's going on? This situation looks like a big hurricane is comming to San Diego...Oh my gosh.
In the night, without energy, we went to ocean beach. There, a lot of young people was hanging out, fire bowls and the full moon were the unique lights... During the night, around 3 am, the lights came back!

Vegas

Las Vegas is renowned as The Entertainment Capital of the World. Over there you can find thousands of casinos for gambling, malls to shopping, nigthclubs, restaurants...The weather is too hot. Sometimes you have the sensation you are inside an oven...So, if you go there you should spend your time inside the pool or in air conditioning of casinos.

In the main street, Las Vegas Boulevard, you can find the best hotels. Durind the week these big hotels have great deals, you don't need spend a fortune to stay in a good hotel. Only in the weekends and holidays it is more expensive. For young people, during the day a lot of pool parties, located in the best hotels, are the best place to have a good time. At nigth, nigthclubs, casino, concerts and show (cirque de Soleil) are the atractions...

I've heard that you can see the lights of Vegas from the Space. The americans don't say Las Vegas, the pronunciation is a little bit different like "Veigas"...

The city's tolerance for various forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City, and this image has made Las Vegas a popular setting for films and television programs. Opposite of California State, you can drink in the streets...it's not a crime.

For me, it was a good experience, but I couldn't stand more than three days in Vegas. I prefer more nature beautiful places like Hawaii and many surf cities in California!

Summer in Hawaii

My trip to Hawaii had started well and finished like a nigthmare. It was only one week in Oahu, the main island of the Hawaii, capital is Honolulu. So, in the land of Barack Obama me and my girl arrived on 24th July at nigth. The flight was good but here in United States you have to pay for your luggage (US$25 per bag) and for your food inside the airplane (only soft drinks are free) - it's terrible.

Well, the two first days we stayed in Waikiki, the main crowded beach of Honolulu. Over there you can see a lot of tourists (the mostly part Japaneses), shopping malls, big hotels, restaurants and bars. These two days were good. It was sunny, we did stand up paddle board in Waikiki, we did well in these new sport for us.

After that, we spent three more days in North Shore of Oahu, the famous place of big waves in Hawaii. Over there we visited and had a good time in Waimea Beach, Pipeline, Turtle Bay and we did stand up paddle in Haleiwa Beach, as well.
On Friday morning we left North Shore with a good feelings, in our hostel (http://backpackers-hawaii.com/) we meet people from Canada, Australia, Korea and Hawaii. In these hostel you can borrow for free: bikes, masks, snorkeling. The houses have around three rooms and you share the living room, kitchen and bathroom. It was a nice place, I recommend it!

So, after three wonderful days in North Shore the nigthmare started. We came back Friday to Waikiki to spend three more days (the airport is near these beach). We stayed in Polynesian Hostel near our first Hotel, just one block from the beach. On Friday we rested and did a little shopping in downtown of Waikiki.

The day after was the worst part, we put all our valueable things in a backpack because we didn't want keep our stuffs in a shared room in the Hostel - that was our mistake. So, in the bag was my wallet, my money (US$ 200 - I changed the place the bag to the wallet to keep my money all the time with me), her wallet, tennis shoes, ipod, so everything. We stayed near the sidewalk of Waikiki Beach, to get a shade area against stay in the hot sun on the sand. When we had gone to the water, somebody stolen our bag... When I came back to our spot and didn't see the Jansport white bag I got crazy...I started to run in the sidewalk without a route and ask about the white bag...I asked a lifeguard about, and he told me he didn't see anything - his base was beside us...damn!

So, we went to the police station in Waikiki and did the robbery report in Hawaiian style (a little bit lazy). Then, we went back to our hostel without our stuffs. We only had a pack of bread, a cream cheese and cup needles. An Australian girl, who was in our room help us talking about her stolen cases. Now, I'm here in the airport after stayed four hours giving information like who am I? What kind is my american visa? Where I live in US? What am I doing here? When I came to US? Which is the colour of my underwear when I arrived in USA ? (I'm kidding).

Now, we are going to Brazilian Embassy in LA to get the emergency passport. We learnt about you have to be careful in all places in the world.
In my life, I had never been stolen like that, neither in Rio de Janeiro, city which is know about the beautiful landscape and the crime. Once I was stolen in Guaruja Beach when I was 15 years old but in that occasion it was R$ 20 and a t-shirt. Fortunately the police caught the thief.

Thank you God for we are safe, healthy and have a family who support us.

It's not easy

When I arrived in San Diego, I didn't know what was going to happen. First of all, when I listened to a lot of Americans speaking in the streets - you can say for me "you are stupid, it's obvious". But I heard about there are a lot of Mexicans and you can speak only in spanish, it's not true. Downtown and the most part of the city people speak in English, real American people from many states - here is located the biggest US Navy general quarter - many families came to SD because their fathers was called to work in Navy, located in Coronado Beach and Miramar. It's a big complex with dorms, training camps, administration building, harbors and others military stuff.


So, I came to my new address. Before that I left my country I had paid four weeks to stay in home stay accommodation. It means I will live with an American family - It's weird when you don't know the place, the streets, the neighborhood but in the same time it's a good sensation too. Nowadays I know the city and you can think everything was new two months ago...

But in that moment, I didn't know anything. So, I got a cab (taxi) and passed the address to the driver. After 20 minutes I was in my new home, where I'm writing this text now. My first perception, it was a nice house with a big backyard and a gorgeous ocean view. After that I meet Sylvia, the house's owner. She is very nice person, almost 50 years old. She is divorced and has two beautiful little girls, Kalani and Xaiane. The other member is Kirra, the Korean guy, he is more than 30. Oh, I almost forget there is Roxy, the female poodle dog - she's like a daughter for Sylvia, as well.

Here I'm going to my third month but it will be the last in Sylvia's house. The neighborhood is great, has a beautiful view point and good houses around. But I don't have the best conditions inside the house. My room is big (in the past was a garage), has a tv and a desk. But is dark, the furniture is old and I have to cross the yard to go to the bathroom, it's terrible. Also, the food is not good and sometimes don't have dinner. Moreover, a brazilian student came to live here and Sylvia is building a new room, result: more people. I think I had a good time here but I know I can find a better place and I already have found one. I forgot to say but the Internet signal in my home is terrible, as well - I have to access the Internet in the living room. But I know there isn't a perfect place,but I know there are many places better for me at this moment.

First impact

My two first months in United States were really good and at the same time very hard. First of all, you have to get used with the food (it's terrible), the people (in general are friendly and easygoing), the place (beautiful, cold, warm, beach, urban, all these things together). In my opinion the food is the worst part. In my country, I usually eat healthy food, fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals etc. But here in United States, healthy food is expensive and the fast food is very cheap. Also when you eat a similar food it doesn't have the same taste...sounds funny!

I am fascinated with the new place, new beaches and landscapes, new people (for all places in the world), new school... Actually, I came with a goal, which was to learn English and be fluent in this language - that's my goal and I can't waste my time or my money. You can say it is the most common goal for a lot of people, can be, but many students forget this, others come to work and save money, others come to travel and spend a good time. It all depends...

Fortunately, I'm on my way. I'm studying and watching tv... I've read some books and now I can listen and understand better the songs in the radio- it's amazing. In my jiu jitsu classes I talk with Americans all the time. I've meet students from many places in the world and my English is getting better day by day. I know people from Turkey, Korea, Sweden, Japan, Greece, Russia, Spain, Saudi Arabian, Japan and China...