Brazilian student finds new normal

Senior exchange student Bruna Rocha comes from the most populous city in the Americas, Sao Paulo, in Brazil. The quiet of Wahkiakum County has become her new normal, and she's a little apprehensive about the return to the noise and commotion of her home town.

"I think it's going to be hard and weird to get used to my city again," Rocha said. "It's so big and so busy."

Still, there is the siren song of the heat, the beaches and the barbecues with friends and family calling her home.

"I miss my mom and dad a lot."

She smiled. "My dad is so excited for my return!"

Rocha is the youngest of three. On her phone is a picture of her niece, who is one year old. Rocha is obviously proud and in love with the child.

"We are party people," Rocha said. "We like to be together with our friends and play music and barbecue. Family is really important. I have a huge family. My dad has 11 siblings."

After two trips to Orlando to visit Disneyworld, she decided that she wanted to be able to speak English. She traveled to California and studied the language during a three week program. When it was over, she returned home thrilled and told her parents that she wanted to be an exchange student.

Fast forward to now. She's here and it's almost over.

"In the beginning I was a little bit afraid," she said. "It's such a different experience, it's good. I'm really happy. I want to enjoy my last months here. It's going to be hard to leave. I'm going to miss it."

Rocha teared up when asked about her host parents, Carrie and Ross Badger.

"I love them," Rocha said. "I couldn't ask for better. They are so nice and they support me a lot. My host mom always makes me laugh. They are both so much fun. I'm going to miss them a lot, it's going to be hard. I'm really happy with them. I think it would be so much harder if I didn't have them. They are like my real parents here.

"I think the family is the most important part of this, because if you don't get along with the family, everything is going to be awful."

Rocha enjoys all her classes, especially Mrs. Haberlach's Algebra II and weightlifting. She likes all her teachers but appreciates the extra support she has gotten from Mrs. Merz and Mr. Niemeyer.

She was on the homecoming court and tried track and field for a little while. She enjoys expressing herself, especially through writing.

Rocha will be expressing herself a great deal when she continues her education by studying Law at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo next year.