A Brazilian exchange student fully immersed himself in the culture of Brier Island.
Matheus Frigelg,18, of Sao Paulo Brazil may very well be the first and only Brazilian to ever take a New Year's Dip in Grande Passage.
"It was cold, very cold," remembered Frigelg. "You go outside and you think, ‘I don't know if I will do this' and then I thought I might never have the chance again to do something like this so you just jump in."
Frigelg stayed with the DeVries in Westport from August 2011 until just this week. The idea for the Polar Bear Dip came up one day when he was discussing New Year's traditions in Brazil. There they also go to the beach to swim, jumping over seven waves for luck.
They also get new clothes on New Year's Day and wear certain colours depending on their wish for the New Year. Many wear white for peace for example.
"It is warm in Sao Paulo, there is no snow. Here it is cold."
The water temperature was just one of many shocks for the young Brazilian. His home of Sao Paulo has 21 million people-about 100,000 times as many people live on Brier Island. His school alone has ten times the population of the island.
Frigelg knew nothing of Brier Island when he left Brazil. The exchange organizer had showed him some photos of Nova Scotia and he liked the pictures of "the forest, the snow and the cities."
"It has been fun," said Frigelg oh his six month stay on the little island. "The people are very nice, they talk to you and help you understand. It was a very interesting experience."
jriley@digbycourier.ca
