I went downstairs and headed to the kitchen. Meggie was there. I would miss her too. You can't measure how you feel about people. It can't be measured, but it can be lived. So, I couldn't measure what I felt about the Bailey family. There are no words to explain the importance they had for me during this program, and also all people in Cleveland.
I sat on the chair, eating my cereal, when my host mother came toward me. I froze. She went to hug me, with tears on her eyes. She said: "I'm so sad because you're leaving." This is one of the moments that I will always remember. I felt the same, and I hugged her back. She asked me if I had everything ready. Mr. Bailey and Campbell came downstairs. I thanked them for everything they had done, for their hospitality and for hosting me. I hugged each of them. It was time to go.
Campbell and I when I was leaving
My host mother drove me to Westlake High School. As we approached, I saw all the host families and Youth Ambassadors waiting in front of the school. Mrs. Bailey stepped out of the car, helped me to grab my suitcase and hugged me again. The time seemed to stop at this moment. She needed to go. I still remember the words that came out of my mouth when she entered the car: "Thank you for all!". I felt the tears falling, as her car headed off. I saw Ana; she had the same expression in her eyes, as well as all the Youth Ambassadors.
Evrybody in front of Westlake High School
Everyone started saying their good-byes. We got into the limousine and we headed to see Gina.
As we entered, she greeted us and told us what she wrote on her facebook page: "It never gets easier to say good-bye." She asked each Youth Ambassador to talk about all of the experiences in Cleveland. She also talked about Social Justice and Human Rights. She showed this video that really grabbed my attention.
We discussed about the video's message and how the experience of being in Cleveland changed us: about our host families, volunteer work and action plans.
Youth Ambassadors inside of Gina`s office
Well, I was thoughful. I realized Ana was writing on her sheet. I loved it! She wrote the names of people who had taken any part in the program.
Ana`s sheet
After that, we went to have lunch with Gina. We ate and headed to watch the movie "Ring of Fire" at the Cleveland Clinic OMNIMAX, which is located next to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
This is me near the restaurant
João, Ana, me and Gilmar matos in the restaurant
When the movie ended, we left the building. It meant that we were really close to saying good-bye to Cleveland. We arrived at the airport and we checked-in. Gina followed us until the security guard blocked her passage in the line. She hugged everyone. I had just said my good-bye to an important person in the program for us.
Flags of the Ohio State and the United States of America
Flag of the Cleveland City and Great Lake Science Center
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seen from OMINIMAX
This is me in front of the OMINIMAX
All Youth Ambassadors in the movies
Do you know when you dream of getting something in life for a long, long time, and you achieve this dream. We meet people while walking this path, while you dream. These people are part of this dream and they definitely have an important role to make it all happen. This thought was applicable for the Youth Ambassadors who were with me, for Gilma Matos and for Gina. I admired her a lot, since the first moment. She always showed how important this program was for her, and also how she liked being with us. I knew that she would be one of the people who I would miss most in Brazil.
Our plane was delayed. When we landed in Washington D.C, we got out of the plane and went outside. We saw the other Youth Ambassadors and the staff from World Learning. Hugs, hugs, and more hugs. We headed to 4-H. Everyone was so electrified, telling stories about their experiences in their host states.
4-H at night
Welcome Youth Ambassadors -greetings from 4-H staff
As we arrived at 4-H, we went to our bedrooms. This time, I shared the room with Janailton, Alexandre Monçale and Lucas Alves. We went downstairs to enjoy the pizza party. We also did some activities.
Youth Ambassadors in the pizza party
There were many posters on the wall filled with questions. They asked what we had learned in our host states, and what our thoughts were about Social Justice and Human Rights. We did the activities in groups, and headed to our bedrooms. So much happened and there was still so much to experience in the next few days.
Desci as escadas e fui para a cozinha. Meggie estava lá. Iria sentir muitas saudades dela também. Você não pode medir o que você sente pelos outros e vice-versa. Não é algo para ser medido, mas sim vivenciado. Logo, não conseguia medir o que sentia pela Bailey Family. Não há palavras que transmitam o significadado que eles tiveram durante esse programa, assim como todas as pessoas que conheci em Cleveland.
Sentei-me na cadeira e comecei a comer meu cereal, foi quando Mrs. Bailey desceu a escada e veio em direção a mim. Congelei. Ela veio me abraçar, com os olhos lagrimosos: "I'm sad because you're leaving. - Estou triste porque você está indo". Esse vai ser um dos momentos que sempre, sempre irei recordar por toda a minha vida. Meu chão desabou. Fiquei sem reação, porque sentia o mesmo. Apenas abracei-a com toda a força. Ela me perguntou se já estava com tudo pronto. Mr Bailey desceu com Campbell. Agradeci a eles pela hospitabilidade e por terem me acolhido e os abracei. Time to go!
Eu e Campbell, antes de partir
Minha host mother me levou para Westlake High School. Chegando lá, vi todos os Jovens Embaixadores com suas host families. O clima de despedida pairando pelo ar. Mrs. Bailey desceu do carro, me ajudou a tirar a minha mala e me abraçou novamente. Um abraço demorado, até que nos desvencilhamos. Ela tinha que ir. Lembro-me das minha últimas palavras: "Thank you for all!". Senti as lágrimas correrem pelo o meu rosto, à medida que o carro dela se distanciava. Virei e vi a Ana, com a mesma cara que eu, tanto como os outros Jovens Embaixadores.
Jovens Embaixadores antes de deixar a Westlake High School
Todos começaram a se despedir, tiramos uma foto em grupo e entramos na limousine que nos esperava para irmos ao escritório de Gina.
Chegando lá a Gina nos recepcionou e comentou que havia colocado no Facebook: "It's never get easier to say good-bye - Nunca é fácil dizer adeus." Ela pediu para que cada Jovem Embaixador falasse um pouco sobre cada experiência tida em Cleveland e também falou sobre Social Justice e human rights, mostrando esse vídeo que achei super interessante.
Discutimos sobre o vídeo e sobre Cleveland havia nos mudado; sobre as host families, sobre os trabalhos voluntários e falamos sobre os nossos action plans.
Jovens Embaixadores dentro do escritório do Cleveland Councils on World Affairs
Todos nós estávamos meio que pensativos, e a Ana começouu a rabiscar isso na folha dela. Eu adorei. Todos os nomes daqueles que haviam participado do programa de alguma forma.
2011 Youth Ambassadors Cleveland-Ohio Forever <3
Depois das discussões seguimos para almoçar com a Gina. Comemos e seguimos para assistir o filme "Ring of Fire" - filme que lelata a atividade vulcânica em nosso planeta e seus impactos na terra - noCleveland Clinic OMNIMAX, que ficava ao lado do Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Eu em Cleveland, antes de entrar no restaurante
João, Ana, eu e Gilmar Matos dentro do restaurante
Quando chegamos lá ainda passamos pela loja que tinha dentro dela. O OMNIMAX ficava do lado do prédio da NASA e eram interligados.
Bandeiras de Ohio e Estados Unidos em frente ao OMNIMAX
Bandeiras de Cleveland e do Great Lake Science Center
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame visto da janela do prédio
Eu em frente ao OMNIMAX
Jovens Embaixadores dentro do OMINIMAX
Depois que o filme acabou saímos do prédio e isso queria dizer que iríamos nos despedir de Cleveland logo logo. Chegamos no aeroporto e fizemos check-in. Gina foi até a fila para entrarmos para a sala de espera, mas dali ela não podia passar. Ela saiu dando um abraço em todo mundo. Disse "chau" para uma pessoa tão importante para nós dentro do programa Jovens Embaixadores.
Sabe quando você sonha com algo por muito tempo e consegue alcaçar esse sonho, e encontra pessoas muito especiais que fazem parte desse trajeto. Então, isso se aplicava a todos os Jovens Embaixadores que estavam comigo, ao Gilmar Matos e a ela. Gina foi mais do que uma coordenadora nos EUA. Eu a admirava muito, muito mesmo, porque primeiro ela sempre demonstrou o quando esse programa era importante para ela, e segundo, o quanto ela gostava de estar conosco. Sabia que ela seria uma das pessoas que mais sentiria falta quando voltasse para o Brasil.
O nosso avião atrasou, mas chegamos no aeroporto de Washington encontramos todos lá: o staff da World Learning e os Jovens Embaixadores. Abraços e mais abraços... Seguimos para o 4-H. Todos muito animados, contanto fatos e histórias sobre suas host families e seus estados anfitriões.
O 4-H quando chegamos a noite
Welcome Brazil Youth Ambassadors - Quadro de aviso desejando boas vindas aos Jovens Embaixadores no 4-H
Fomos para os quartos. Ficamos com diferente roommates dessa vez. Eu fiquei na companhia do Janailton, Alexandre Monçale e o Lucas Alves. Nos dirigimos depois para uma pizza party para comemorar a nossa volta para Washington D.C e fazer dinâmicas.
Jovens Embaixadores de volta a Washington D.C *Foto Embaixada dos Estados Unidos*
No ambiente em que estávamos tinham várias cartolinas na parede com perguntas para cada Jovem Embaixador responder, de acordo com o host state. Eles perguntavam o que havíamos aprendido, o que considerávamos Social Justice e Human Rights. Fizemos as dinâmicas efomos dispensados para irmos para os quartos arrumas as coisas e dormir. Voltamos para os quartos e fui dormir. Muitas coisas aconteceram e muitas ainda estavam por vir.
It was Sunday and we decided to go to a different local church. The Mass would begin at noon. I woke up at 8:30 a.m. Mr. Bailey drove us to have breakfast at First Watch, the place my mother most loved to have breakfast.
This is me and my host mad having breakfast
We went back home and I played with Meggie in the garden. She is so sweet!
This is me and Meggie
Meggie
This is me and Meggie in the garden
This is me and Meggie
It was time to go to church. It was bigger than the first one I went to, but just as beautiful. During the Mass I noticed again that I would leave Cleveland tomorrow. Life provides beautiful moments; we just need to take advantage of them. Didn't you do that Allan? Why are you feeling bad? I thought that and I felt better.
Church
Inside fo the Church
Church
Amplifier and stained glass
Stained glass
Church
When the Mass ended, Mr. Bailey and Campbell came back home, while Mrs. Bailey went out with me to go sightseeing. She was cold and she took me to Starbucks Coffee. She saw a mug with Cleveland written on it, and bought it for me as a gift. It was so sweet of her!
In front of Star Bucks
She drove me to a neighborhood that I had never been to before. This neighborhood was close to the shore of Erie lake. We passed through many narrow streets, many of them making circles. This part of this city was beautiful. As we passed one street, I saw children playing in the snow.
She stopped the car in front of an observatory. I took many pictures and we headed to Rock River Park. I would know how nice is to fall on the ice.
Near the observatory
Observatory
United States Flag
Rocky River Park
This is me in the park
Erie Lake
When I slipped on the ice, I stood up quickly. I didn't want to worry my host mother who was in the car watching me. I went down to the shore because it was interesting to me how the frozen water came together with the sand. I went up the hill and told my host mother I was fine. My mother told me this is why many people do not allow seniors to walk around when it's snowing.
We went back home to get dressed for the farewell party. At night, all the host families would meet each other! It would be so amazing!
I went to my room and started packing. I usually compare life to a suitcase. My suitcase was heavy and full, not only because of my clothes, shoes, or books which were with me, it was heavy and full because of the emotions, feelings, thoughts, knowledge that I would cherish and keep throughout my whole life.
Everybody was ready and we headed to João's host family’s house. As we arrived, I was greeted by his brother, Quetin Kraft. My host brother and father went to watch an important football game that was on TV. I went to talk to the Youth Ambassadors and the host families.
João's host brother's house
This is me, Ana and her host mother
Tairik, me and Ana together
My host brother watching the game on TV
Host families at Joao`s host family house
When we noticed we weren't missing anyone, all of us had dinner. We also played some games.
Layse and me
Rizia`s host sister and me
We all after dinner
I went downstairs, where there was a ping-pong table. I played a lot and had fun with Gina and Danielle, the Brazilian who was hosted by Gina to study in Cleveland.
Gina and me
Danille Muller and me
During the party, some Youth Ambassadors decided to go bowling. I preferred to go back home with my host family instead. We said our good-byes and left. When I glanced at the clock in my bedroom I realized it was almost 2:00 a.m. I needed to sleep a little bit. After some hours I would leave Cleveland.
