Connor's Rio Address

Here is the mission home address for letters and packages:
Elder Connor Keetch Ottosen
Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission
Dois de Dezembro 78
Salas 703/704 Flamengo
Rio de Janeiro RJ 22220-040
Brazil
You can also e-mail him at connor.ottosen@myldsmail.net
He can get e-mails AND now he can e-mail family and friends back!!!!!
THANKS for the letters! He says they are like gold!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

First e-mail from Brazil


Ola!!!
Okay well so I am at Brazil!!!! I have to say I love it here. I was really worried because when we got in on Wednesday morning it was overcast and kind of depressing looking. We passed miles and miles of favelas on the bus ride. It is so much different to see it in person. It really made me think about how fortunate we are. Also the city is huge!!! I have never seen so much concrete in my life. We aren´t in downtown or anything but you can see it and I have never seen so many skyscrapers in my life, I have never seen a city that compares to this. But at the same time it is by far the dirtiest city I have ever seen. So much trash and graphitie on at least 25% oh the buildings we see. I don´t think there is a such thing as city planning as there will be a house, then a business, then a 30 story apartment high-rise. haha It is so different from the States, but at the same times very similar. All the grocery stores have fences around the parking lots and gates to get in or out.  The canals that run through the city are almost black and littered with trash. When we pulled up to the CTM I was really worried, there were 15 to 30 foot high walls with razors, barbwire, and electric fences all around. But it is a whole different world inside. It is really clean and nice with more personal space than Provo. It is pretty much a square building but with an open courtyard in the middle. I am on the 6th floor with the other 3 kids from my former district. They are all way nice and cool. My companion changed from Elder Kerr to Elder Stanger. He is from Boise Idaho, and has lived in South Korea and London before doing professional Ballet. Really nice kid. Us 4 are all going to Rio! The food here is really good and always fresh. There are less choices than Provo but it tastes better, usually meat, rice, beans, dessert, and some other sides. Breakfast is always the same though, bread, cheese and meat, and something kind of like oatmeal that is really good. They had sloppy Joes last night!! It was crazy! The only weird thing about the food is dessert, sometimes they are good but lost of times super weird. Last night it tasted like pudding with mouthwash on top. Anyways we have a weight room, volleyball and basketball courts to work out 4 times a week, probably my favorite part of the day. haha  It is way more relaxed here the mtc president even said so himself. We get to wear short sleeves except on Sunday. And after I am done writing this I get to go explore the surrounding neighborhood!! I am way excited to do that. It is actually 4 hours ahead here just so you know. So the people are so nice here!! I love it. The Brazilians we meet at the MTC are awesome and have so much energy! They stay up all night pretty much. We have native teachers that speak English pretty well. The language is coming slow I have to admit. It is really hard for me to understand them when they talk even if I know the words because they speak so fast!!! It will come in time though. There is so much energy and life in the city and with the Brazilian people! It makes me want to come stay a summer in Brazil! We will see if I still feel that way in 2 years. haha Thank you so much for all the advice and info. I love all you guys so much. Tell Kade to get better soon! I will try to write a written letter soon so that I can get more info. Love you! Elder Ottosen

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