Transcript on Karla's presentation during her last Wednesday lunch meeting at Culver's.
I didn’t know how to start talking about the most special year of my life, and when I was thinking about it, just figured that “Karla what’s your update for us this week?” would be a good start since that’s the question I’ve answered every week.
I started to listen to my father talk about his exchange year when I was five and now I have my own stories to tell about my year. The way he always told me everything about It, was super special because he made it magical for me.
Today, I can talk about this magic. It’s the magic of rotary- You can see it and you can feel it. “
But Karla, magic is something abstract: “ how can you see it? How can you feel it? Let me tell you: When we are putting service above self in action and we provide service and integrity to others. When we promote world understanding, goodwill and peace. When we provide fellowship and grants to our community. We can see the magic when Rotary members have contributed more than 1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from Polio. And for last, but not least, I could see the magic every single day of my year Living this amazing experience. I would like to talk about it: WHAT A YEAR I’m going to start talking about the members of this club now, and I’m not gonna lie: it was hard to find words to describe such special people.
You guys made my Wednesday’s better, and that’s not just because we have Culver’s for lunch. I love being around Rotarians because I love being around people that make a difference in the world, people that change others life destinations. And I can say that, because you guys for sure helped to form a better human being in me by all the wise conversations, hugs, having me help in the fundraisers at the same time I was learning about how important and heart warming is to serve the community I’m in.
One time I heard we are a mosaic of every person that was part of our life’s, and I have to say, I’m so pleased to take a little bit of each of you and your passion for serving and taking care of people, with me to complete the work in progress- that is me- since I’m only 19. So, today for this amazing club that hosted me: I would like to make this commitment: I hope to be part of the change in the world, and being as passionate for helping as I am right now. And when I do it, I hope to you have you guys as my partners, because we can’t change the world if we are not having each other building better friendships every single day with every small thing.
And one last thing to say, please don’t forget: Mi casa es su casa. I’m gonna be so happy to meet you for a coffee if you're ever in Brazil. *well, it would probably be with a lot food cuz first you are in Brazil, second you are with me. Thanks for taking such good care of me and being such a helpful club for this community that now has a place in my heart.
Now, we are going to talk about my families, the people that wore with me every day. In one of my favorite cartoons, Winnie the Pooh says “how lucky I am for having such special people, that make it so hard to say goodbye” Well, I’m glad that Ken, my first host father taught me that is never a goodbye, it’s always “I see you later”. Each of you taught me something different and made it possible for me to keep the club entertained every week by the things we did: Oglesby’s my first host family, thanks for teaching me how to takes things easier. Lisa and Ken I’m gonna miss our movie nights, even if they wore mostly terrible movies and after finishing it we were like “why did we even start it?”.
Lisa, I’II probably dream I’m eating your banana bread forever, thanks for fixing my back with reiki. Ken, thanks for teaching me how to play Rummy, and for all the conversations about life. Carmen, you taught me how it was like to have a sister for the first time to watch girly things like “the summer I turned pretty”. Thanks for driving us to Culver’s to grab ice cream just because I wanted to hang out, and even more, to let me play Justin Bieber in the car (I’m still hoping I’m gonna Marry him at some point).
Hooks, you guys got me in the winter time. I thought I was gonna be sensitive because of Xmas time and I just had an amazing Xmas, you guys made it incredible with my first big family Xmas. Mother Jada: you are one of most hard working people I know, you really taught me a lot about life, your heart is so pretty and that’s one of the things I love the most about you. Thanks mothering me, teaching me how nice a road trip can be, and how I can survive a hike even if I’m literally dying cuz I don’t do exercises EVER. Learning how to make decisions with you was a super important part as well, because we need to be the Boss. Also, your soups are always going to be in my heart during the cold winter days. Elise, my little sister, my bus and baking partner. We had such amazing moments together. She nicknamed me: hurricane Karla for reasons most people doesn’t need to know, but she for sure has a reason for it (well, ok, maybe 20) I learned way more about Taylor swift, gymnastics and Sephora than I ever thought I would. Ur such a baddy.
Father Jon: I’m sure that some random things about my day will make me remember about you: If I ever listen to U2 in a random day, when I make a shower announcement, when I eat good meat. Also, I still don’t know where I’m gonna find oysters in Mato Grosso (cuz I’m sure is not gonna be in a waterfall), but I’m gonna think about you when I have a good one. Thank you for being so amazing. Cravens: Our time together was so fast, maybe because you guys wore my last host family. And even if it was fast, We finished it with a flourish. Mom, our connection is just crazy since the first time we saw each other. I’m so happy to have you in my life, and that you even got to talk with my father. Thanks for being a hairstylist and always braiding my hair, for making me amazing things with you knitting abilities. For laughing at my jokes, making the best Mac n cheese in the world, for being my partner for everything. I really and truly love being your daughter, you are a trophy in my life.
Joel, Your food is amazing, it makes me wanna cry cuz is so good and it makes me so happy. I’m really hoping you come to Brazil at some point so I can show you all our variety of bananas. You are an amazing father, all our moments together are always amazing. Other than that I just would like to remind your that: sinal com a mao descendo. Carter and Nalia gave me an experience: having 2 siblings for the first time- it was really nice. Carter taught me a lot about music I would never imagine myself listening to angry loud music at 8am in the morning on the way to school. Also thanks for teaching me how to eat a huge heavy donut with a lot of cream. Nalia, if I’m ever in dc and I look to the Washington monument I’m gonna think about spidermen. I’m always gonna be your number one fan if you’re playing basketball.
Thanks for making me realize how brave I am by going to all the roller coasters in Virginia. I’m so glad with the amount I grew up this year and when people ask me what happened I’m gonna be proud to say that it was the exchange year in a small town with big hearts in the middle of Wisconsin, with amazing people (and cheese) that will always be in my heart. Dear friends of Mount Horeb, the update for this week, is a world in Portuguese that doesn’t a translation, it’s Saudade. A close translation would be- I miss you, or longing. Well, difference is that Saudade has feelings inside of it, saudade has memories, saudades has a smell, saudade has a taste, saudade has a sound, and most of all saudade brings you comfort because you know you lived all the moments as most as you could. Thank you!
