Dear Mom and Dad,

How are you? I'm fine down here in Venezuela. Venezuela seems like a great place to live. I think you definitely made the right choice to move here! Venezuela has a lot of famous places that I enjoyed visiting. I'm sure that you will too! Venezuela is very different from New York and I think that you will have fun discovering new customs and hobbies here.

Like I mentioned before, I visited some famous places while I was here. One of my favorites was Angel Falls. Angel Falls is a waterfall in southeastern Venezuela. It is the highest uninterrupted cataract in the world! I also visited the Isle De Margarita-it sounds like a great summer home. The island enjoys a dry, desert climate. It's the perfect place to get a tan! The last place that I visited was the Plaza Bolivar. It is named after Simon Bolivar, the liberator of Venezuela, along with other countries. The plaza contains a statue and fountain honoring Simon. I had a great time learning about these famous places in Venezuela! I'm sure that you will too.

I met a lot of people in Venezuela. Nearly all of them are Roman Catholics! Did you know that only 4% of the population in Venezuela are not Roman Catholics? Wow!

The nationalities in Venezuela are varied, unlike the religions. About half of the population in Venezuela are mestizos, or descendants of mixed Spanish and Native Americans. Other nationalities include European, Native American, and African. I'm glad that I'm taking Spanish. I'll need to know it when we move, because Spanish is the official language. Even though there will be no Chinese people to talk to, I know I will have fun making new friends of different nationalities.

Did you know that Venezuela is the 4^th largest country in South America? It's bigger than the states of Texas and Oklahoma combined! The land is divided into 4 regions: the llanos, the Maracaibo Lowlands, the Guiana Highlands, and the mountains. I wouldn't recommend moving to the mountains. They are steep and it's hard to make a living there. I would prefer to live in the llanos. The gentle grasslands there have rich, bountiful soil that is excellent for farming. It was paradise for the Indians who had lived there. Or, we could move to the Guiana Highlands. They also yield rich soil that is good for farming, but it can get a little cold there. I wouldn't want to move there if I were you, mom- it would be too cold for you to wear that beautiful new skirt and blouse set that you just bought. A last choice would be the Maracaibo Lowlands. It is named after the Maracaibo River, which is near by. We can teach Kevin (my brother) to swim in the shallow parts of it if we move there. You should weigh the pros and cons of these 4 very different regions and decide which one you would like to live in.

Some sports that are popular in the U.S. are also common in Venezuela, such as baseball. Baseball is the most popular spectator sport in Venezuela. People also enjoy watching bullfights and horse races. Fishing, hunting, swimming, and golf are popular participation sports. Women especially enjoy walking, cycling, and playing softball. For entertainment, people enjoy dancing, watching movies, and attending cultural events. Late-night soap operas are also popular, especially among women. I can't wait to try new sports and develop new hobbies in Venezuela!

The greetings in Venezuela are pretty different from those in America. Men greet each other with an abrazo, or an embrace while patting each other on the back. Women greet each other with an abrazo and a kiss on each cheek. An abrazo is given between men and women only if they are close friends or relatives. A handshake is common between strangers and acquaintances. If I were you, I'd want to practice these greetings so that I'd be ready when we move.

Venezuela has a very colorful diet. Casseroles, meat pi, pasta dishes, and especially stews are popular. You can show off your great lamb stew, Dad! A favorite breakfast food is the arepa; a deep-fried pancake made from white corn flour. Sometimes the arepa is filled with meat, butter, and cheese. Mmm! I hope that you two can learn how to make that. Many Venezuelan dishes are made of corn and served with rice on the side. We usually eat rice as part of our dinner anyway, so we're used to that. I can't wait to have a chance to sample these delicious foods in Venezuela!

Venezuela has a wide variety of exotic plants and animals. Venezuela has different species of forests, including, palms, coral, brazil wood, and mango. Mammals dominate the animal population. Some common species of mammals are the jaguar, the monkey, the bear, and the deer. I can't wait to actually come face to face with these exotic animals! Many bird species also thrive in Venezuela. Flamingos, herons, and guacheros are among the most common types of birds. You will love seeing the flamingos and their hot pink feathers. Some reptile species are found in Venezuela, including crocodiles and large snakes such as the anaconda. Sorry Mom, but you're going to have to get used to these animals if you're going to move to Venezuela. I'm sure that you will find the exotic plants and animals here fascinating!

Venezuela's basic unit of currency is the Bolivar. There are 455 Bolivars in one U.S. dollar- don't forget to exchange money before we move! The Banco Central De Venezuela is the government-banking agent. It was founded not too long ago in 1940. Venezuela's principal stock exchange is located in Caracas. You two will want to visit it. The petroleum/oil sector dominates the economy. Unfortunately, this makes the economy very volatile and unstable- if something should happen to the sector, Venezuela's economy could crash!

I found out that Venezuela’s flag has the same color scheme as the flags of Colombia and Ecuador because the three nations were united for a time after winning independence from Spain. Yellow represents the land, blue represents the ocean, and red represents the blood of patriots. The seven stars represent the seven Venezuelan provinces liberated from Spain in 1811.

I hope this letter lets you know what it's like to live in Venezuela so that you will have an easier time adjusting.

Love,
Katherine