Ann is complimenting her eyes with her matching shirt today! She is making progress but no doubt we will see many more shades appear. She is a good sport about the blog updates!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Day 3 of Ann´s Facial Trauma Watch!
Ann is complimenting her eyes with her matching shirt today! She is making progress but no doubt we will see many more shades appear. She is a good sport about the blog updates!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Vocational Visits in Santo Angelo
I had unfortunate luck of having my camera go haywire and so I bought a new one however missed some pictures, all instructions in adjustment are in Portuguese so will learn these words in Portuguese quickly. My host Bacilla took me to a nursing home facility where she volunteers as a cardiologist. There are three of them in town and they are not required to pay to stay in these facilities. When looking at some of the activities they hold for residents, accordion music, cakes and picnics outside are part of the entertainment. It takes many caring people and volunteers to help serve the residents and food donations and health donations are important. We also went to the office of my host family who are both doctors, Bacilla's husband Josef is a gastrointestologist and also does gastric bypasses which have been performed in Brazil for about the last 10 years as compared with the United States has been performing for 20 years. Our interpreter Marlo took me to a funeraria (funeral home) where I was able to ask many questions and the director also had some interesting questions. In Brazil most burials are within 24 hours and so there is very little embalming. Cremation is not common as many funeral homes do not have a crematorium. A mausoleum cost is approximately $15,000, where as a marble marker and with a long slab is about $2,500. Marble I believe is very plentiful here and this funeral home in Santo Angelo also gets the marble unfinished and puts finish on themselves. Fascinating day! Unfortunately, our team leader, Ann, took a tumble and bruised her head. At Ann's expense I was able to see how they did MRIs in Brazil and referral and immediate care take place. Thank God, it came out ok with no broken bones and no damage to the brain, just very harsh bleeding under her eyelids. Hoping the healing comes fast for Ann, she has been able to find humor in it and really coping very well considering how traumatic it must have been for her. I'll let her tell anything else. Tomorrow we visit a grade school, college and hospital. Ta Ta for Now!
Behind on Santa Maria Photos
Here are some fun photos with Rotaract group who made Easter chocolate bags for a school that has children that are not as fortunate in material ways and some of the scenery we experienced in the mountains around Santa Maria. I also had a hot dog - which they add many things to it including peas, corn, piknik fries, mayonaise, ketchup and mustard. Many other toppings may be included! The last two pictures are of the farms my host family has in which they raise 2000 acres of soybeans.
Santo Angelo
We arrived in Santo Angelo yesterday and were again greeted by several friendly Rotarians. I was introduced to my new hostess Laila. She is wonderful! We are able to communicate well, laugh, talk about fashion and travels. She speaks english beautifully! She has had some amazing international travels, it is so fun to hear her stories.
We were able to catch a bit of downtown shopping time and a quick tour of her neighborhood.
Today I will have a vocational visit and a Rotary meeting tonight.
Im anxious to catch up with my team as well.
Santo Angelo is very different then Santa Maria. It is quiet, relaxing and a bit slower pace here. More of what I am used to. I love it!
Pictures to come soon.........
We were able to catch a bit of downtown shopping time and a quick tour of her neighborhood.
Today I will have a vocational visit and a Rotary meeting tonight.
Im anxious to catch up with my team as well.
Santo Angelo is very different then Santa Maria. It is quiet, relaxing and a bit slower pace here. More of what I am used to. I love it!
Pictures to come soon.........
A Different Pace?
So far in Santo Ângelo the pace is different. The driving, what I saw of it yesterday, is more relaxed and the people seem less frenetic. I am kindly being hosted by Bernardo, his wife Elici, & their daughter Fernanda. The room I'm occupying belongs to Sabrina who is studying in Santa Maria & bizarrely enough lives within a block of where I was staying with Cherli, Jean, Luiza & Giordana! It's a small world everywhere.
Last night I was welcomed with some of the best pizza ever. Fernanda's boyfriend, Jedson, is quite a chef! He made 6 pizzas! 3 salgado or ~salty and 3 doce or sweet. Yet another meal that made me wish I had an elastic waistband on my pants.
Jedson cutting one of creations. In the foreground is a pizza with a chocolate crust, sweetened condensed milk & peanuts.
Me, getting ready to nom some deliciousness! The pizza on the right is called California and has apples, pineapple, raisins & cherries.
Your eyes do not deceive- that is chocolate crusted, chocolate-covered ice cream-topped pizza. Something I doubt I'll ever see again!
Traffic noises are subdued, bird songs can be heard and the sun is illuminating my room- feels like a good day!
Last night I was welcomed with some of the best pizza ever. Fernanda's boyfriend, Jedson, is quite a chef! He made 6 pizzas! 3 salgado or ~salty and 3 doce or sweet. Yet another meal that made me wish I had an elastic waistband on my pants.
Jedson cutting one of creations. In the foreground is a pizza with a chocolate crust, sweetened condensed milk & peanuts.
Me, getting ready to nom some deliciousness! The pizza on the right is called California and has apples, pineapple, raisins & cherries.
Your eyes do not deceive- that is chocolate crusted, chocolate-covered ice cream-topped pizza. Something I doubt I'll ever see again!
Traffic noises are subdued, bird songs can be heard and the sun is illuminating my room- feels like a good day!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
On to Santo Angelo
Thank you for the beautiful engraved plaques Santa Maria Rotarians, and for your generosity, wonderful hearts and happy spirits, we will miss you! Our luggage load has expanded extreme amounts and so I am sorry to our future hosts that help us with it.
We drove to Santo Angelo today, a four hour drive and met our new host families, I am with Bacdilla and Josef and their identical twin girls. Spent the day relaxing, chatting with the twins and again look forward to yet another fantastic experience with the Brazilian people in Santo Angelo!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
One thought on our last night in Santa Maria :(
I woke every morning to the ringing of church bells and rooster crows. I will miss this place.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Picture Post: Vocational Visits, Rotary Meetings, and Churrasco Everywhere!
Our first Rotary meeting in Julio de Castilhos.
Children dressed up for Easter at a school we visited. Its in a very poor neighborhood and has done a remarkable job at raising funds to provide equipment and teaching resources for such a poor area.
One of my vocational visits to a treatment center for youth in conflict with the law. The graffiti in the background was done by a youth who was arrested for exactly that, and the counselors leveraged his talent to paint this wall on the treatment center (a strengths approach if there ever was one).
A worker at a mushroom farm we visited
Carrie Stenseth - Born to Ride.
Cooking Churrasco, sippin' on Chimarrao, while wearing a Gremio jersey. It doesn't get more Gaucho than this. Actually, its does (see below).
An actual Gaucho in traditional dress with his horse, on Perau road towards Itarra.
Santa Maria, RS - Mutio Lindo!
Easter Sunday
Yesterday I enjoyed the day with my hostess´s, Zoely, and her family. We had a great lunch of chicken lazagna, sausage, chicken, pork, candied apples, and vegetables.
Then Eloir, our host, took us on a drive to his summer and weekend home. Much more quiet and peaceful there. Large trees, a river, a lake and walking paths to enjoy. Much different than Santa Maria. His cabin is situated on a small lake. We enjoyed the outdoors and had tea and goodies.
Today we will tour University Federal Santa Maria and I will also have some vocational visits specific to my career.
Cooler weather yesterday, about 60 -65 degree F.
Very comfortable, in fact, the locals state this is their favorite season because the summers are unbearably hot. Reminder, this is thier Fall season now.
Then Eloir, our host, took us on a drive to his summer and weekend home. Much more quiet and peaceful there. Large trees, a river, a lake and walking paths to enjoy. Much different than Santa Maria. His cabin is situated on a small lake. We enjoyed the outdoors and had tea and goodies.
Today we will tour University Federal Santa Maria and I will also have some vocational visits specific to my career.
Cooler weather yesterday, about 60 -65 degree F.
Very comfortable, in fact, the locals state this is their favorite season because the summers are unbearably hot. Reminder, this is thier Fall season now.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Busy days
Feliz Pascoa! Happy Easter from Brazil!
Today I had traditional barbecue from Brazil including leg of lamb, beef and grilled bananas. Need portion control police for meals here, the food is very, very good. For sure the next time I go camping I am going to grill bananas. We also had a bread with a cream cheese in the middle with adobe spice. The spices here are very good and Lisette is giving me some to take home. We have been sharing different candies, ideas, and gifts with one another and Brazilians generosity is unbelievable. They gave me a chocolate easter bunny and a blanket made out of the fiber of a coconut. I may have an opportunity to host their daughter when she comes to vacation in the United States and am very excited about staying in touch with a new group of friends and community family from Santa Maria. I know I keep promising pictures, but connection has been sketchy to download photos sometimes, promise I will keep working on making time to post photos. We went to the municipal cemetery today where many honor their loved ones on Easter with flowers on their gravesites. Some of graves have a plaque on a wall that goes around the cemetery with their name, maybe a picture and their dates of birth and death. They have shelves in which many put plants or flowers or statues of Mary or Christ. Those that have some money have a granite plaque that goes in the wall, the sad part was those that could not afford write their names on cement plaque in paint. There were also many above ground vaults that often times were tiled in granite or other material. Very elaborate are very expensive. This cemetery was existing in at least 1918, so it is very old.
We later went to the mall where stores are closed on Sundays, however, the shopping mall food court area is a very large social place for the Brazilians in Santa Maria. They hire very good musicians to play in the malls here (musicians had even put out popular compact disks). We snacked on Pastelli´s which are very common in Brazil, they can contain chicken, beef or cheese, and are deep fried bread on the outside. They can be either shaped in a half circle or as a rectangle.
The world is even small in Brazil. On the way out of the mall, I ran into one of the interpreters from Sao Pedro (about an hour and one half away) and we greeted each other. Goodbye for now, I can not wait to here from the others about their day - excitement and growth in many areas for all of us. Hello Team from Brazil who is in Bismarck right now.
Today I had traditional barbecue from Brazil including leg of lamb, beef and grilled bananas. Need portion control police for meals here, the food is very, very good. For sure the next time I go camping I am going to grill bananas. We also had a bread with a cream cheese in the middle with adobe spice. The spices here are very good and Lisette is giving me some to take home. We have been sharing different candies, ideas, and gifts with one another and Brazilians generosity is unbelievable. They gave me a chocolate easter bunny and a blanket made out of the fiber of a coconut. I may have an opportunity to host their daughter when she comes to vacation in the United States and am very excited about staying in touch with a new group of friends and community family from Santa Maria. I know I keep promising pictures, but connection has been sketchy to download photos sometimes, promise I will keep working on making time to post photos. We went to the municipal cemetery today where many honor their loved ones on Easter with flowers on their gravesites. Some of graves have a plaque on a wall that goes around the cemetery with their name, maybe a picture and their dates of birth and death. They have shelves in which many put plants or flowers or statues of Mary or Christ. Those that have some money have a granite plaque that goes in the wall, the sad part was those that could not afford write their names on cement plaque in paint. There were also many above ground vaults that often times were tiled in granite or other material. Very elaborate are very expensive. This cemetery was existing in at least 1918, so it is very old.
We later went to the mall where stores are closed on Sundays, however, the shopping mall food court area is a very large social place for the Brazilians in Santa Maria. They hire very good musicians to play in the malls here (musicians had even put out popular compact disks). We snacked on Pastelli´s which are very common in Brazil, they can contain chicken, beef or cheese, and are deep fried bread on the outside. They can be either shaped in a half circle or as a rectangle.
The world is even small in Brazil. On the way out of the mall, I ran into one of the interpreters from Sao Pedro (about an hour and one half away) and we greeted each other. Goodbye for now, I can not wait to here from the others about their day - excitement and growth in many areas for all of us. Hello Team from Brazil who is in Bismarck right now.
Ann´s Easter Posting - Blog by Ann
Hello, Everyone,
This is a post from Ann. The days have gone by with such swiftness. It is Easter Sunday and the sun shine bright on this special day. It is nt humid for a great change and it is quite comfortable even though hostess, Aoeely is a bi cold.
When we met with the outgoing Team Brazil, I had said how I hoped it had stopped snowing by the time they arrived and they said they had hoped to see snow. It is too warm here for snow and it would be quite the experience for them.
Last night we went with the Rotoract young adults to a pizzaria. It was an all you can eat place and for R$25 we ate well. You had a sign you put on the table to indicate if wanted a `salty` topping which could be chopped chicken hearts or turn it over for doce (sweet) toppings which could be meringue with strawberry jam swirled into it or a chocolate pudding-like mixture with nuts on it. The California pizza topping which was fresh fruit including figs was my favorite.
The people here are so very anxious to give us a grand experience. They are so kind and caring. I hope we can show them the same hospitality as well as giving them a feeling of welcome and belonging. They open museums for us on Saturday, always have at least 2 interpretors, and want us to see Brazil as more than the Amazon and the Samba.
This is a rich and industrious state in Brazil. The farms are large and soy beans and corn are 2 large crops. They make ethonol from sugar cane here. It is probably more expensive than gas and so may not be the fuel of choice.
Several of the young men we have met are agronomy majors at university and either own or plan to own companies. They travel to America for such business contacts as to go to Minneapolis and Omaha to begin a partnership to import GPS systems for farm tractors, to explore import/export of grain products, and one fellow has his own home decorating company. They are not afraid to be movers and shakers. It is just so great to see the spirit of the youth here.
Many of the young adults are law majors. They attend university or 5 years majoring in law and then study for a rather rigorous bar exam. Just like home just not the pre-law course of study as we have.
Shopped the mall yesterday afternoon. I just could not see myself in the 3 to 5 inch heels they sell for over $200 per pair. I used to wear 3 inch heels to teach in but I was young and even more foolish then. The shoes for men and women are very attractive to very pretty and the shoe stores abound. The women wear very fitting jeans or leggings here and then the very high heels.
Zoely has orchids growing on mango trees in her yard. She loves flowers and has many pots and planter full of green and flowering plants.
I will go for now.
I miss home and my loved ones but am truly enjoying my time here and only wish they would be with me.
My husband, Joe, would go crazy with the driving here. We are driving along at about 80 to 120 KPH and are about 10 inches behind the driver in front of us-no matter if it is a car, motorbike, or truck. It is white knuckle time.]
Bon Gia to all,
Ann
This is a post from Ann. The days have gone by with such swiftness. It is Easter Sunday and the sun shine bright on this special day. It is nt humid for a great change and it is quite comfortable even though hostess, Aoeely is a bi cold.
When we met with the outgoing Team Brazil, I had said how I hoped it had stopped snowing by the time they arrived and they said they had hoped to see snow. It is too warm here for snow and it would be quite the experience for them.
Last night we went with the Rotoract young adults to a pizzaria. It was an all you can eat place and for R$25 we ate well. You had a sign you put on the table to indicate if wanted a `salty` topping which could be chopped chicken hearts or turn it over for doce (sweet) toppings which could be meringue with strawberry jam swirled into it or a chocolate pudding-like mixture with nuts on it. The California pizza topping which was fresh fruit including figs was my favorite.
The people here are so very anxious to give us a grand experience. They are so kind and caring. I hope we can show them the same hospitality as well as giving them a feeling of welcome and belonging. They open museums for us on Saturday, always have at least 2 interpretors, and want us to see Brazil as more than the Amazon and the Samba.
This is a rich and industrious state in Brazil. The farms are large and soy beans and corn are 2 large crops. They make ethonol from sugar cane here. It is probably more expensive than gas and so may not be the fuel of choice.
Several of the young men we have met are agronomy majors at university and either own or plan to own companies. They travel to America for such business contacts as to go to Minneapolis and Omaha to begin a partnership to import GPS systems for farm tractors, to explore import/export of grain products, and one fellow has his own home decorating company. They are not afraid to be movers and shakers. It is just so great to see the spirit of the youth here.
Many of the young adults are law majors. They attend university or 5 years majoring in law and then study for a rather rigorous bar exam. Just like home just not the pre-law course of study as we have.
Shopped the mall yesterday afternoon. I just could not see myself in the 3 to 5 inch heels they sell for over $200 per pair. I used to wear 3 inch heels to teach in but I was young and even more foolish then. The shoes for men and women are very attractive to very pretty and the shoe stores abound. The women wear very fitting jeans or leggings here and then the very high heels.
Zoely has orchids growing on mango trees in her yard. She loves flowers and has many pots and planter full of green and flowering plants.
I will go for now.
I miss home and my loved ones but am truly enjoying my time here and only wish they would be with me.
My husband, Joe, would go crazy with the driving here. We are driving along at about 80 to 120 KPH and are about 10 inches behind the driver in front of us-no matter if it is a car, motorbike, or truck. It is white knuckle time.]
Bon Gia to all,
Ann
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Week 1 Comes to an End
So many exciting and new things we have experienced this week. One of the highlights this week for me is meeting the Rotaract team (young adults 18 to 30 who are advised under another Rotary club). Their club president, Liz is part of my host family. There are areas in Brazil that are very poor and yet you truly see the Rotaract members putting service above self. Liz had the members over to the house and they filled bags with a variety of chocolate eggs, bunnies and candies, I even was able to participate and had brought along the very American PEEPS which were also stuck in the bags. The group brought me to the school the next day and they passed out the treats and introduced me in the classrooms. They explained where I was from and I was able to show them on a globe. The hugs we gave the children just melt your heart, they were so happy to see us and have us take their pictures. I was so touched when some of them gave me the special rabbit they colored. The school really makes many things out of very little and the Rotaract club helped secure some computers for their classrooms.
I had a vocational visit with Dr. Elizabeth who actually works in very much the same areas of work that I do. She is a psychologist at a clinic, however, her primary job is to provide counseling and support groups to people who have experienced a death of a loved one. She was very generous and allowed me to sit in on a presentation she gave to her support group. They gave me a wonderful plant and it was exciting to share information. She works in a private clinic, the state of Rio Grande do Sul does have hospice care, however, much of it is provided in the capital city of Porto Alegre. It is a new field here.
We moved on the next day and went to Tupancireta where we toured a mushroom farm and a large company that cultivates soybeans and many other agricultural products. Wow, who would have ever thought there was a very particular process to this that needs much care. Mushrooms are cultivated by using rotting straw as the growing mechanism. There are particular temperatures that allow for growth and a pasteurization process.
Quinn, Jill, James and I climbed up to the top of the soybean storage silo - it was so full with soybeans one felt like if the fell, they would be swimming in a bowl full of cereal. We capped off the day with dinner with the outbound team heading for District 5580 it is the first time in this district that inbound and outbound teams have met. We were able to share some things they might expect in coming to Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and in Thunder Bay, Canada. I have no doubt they will experience Midwestern and Canadian nice!
Another highlight this week was going to Sao Pedro do Sul, we toured a petrified museum, where we saw dinosaur bones that were preJurassic age, and antiques of many every day items for this Gaucho culture. My most memorable moment on this day was when we all were able to ride a Creola horse in Gaucho land. They felt I was holding out as I trotted the horse and led it in and around posts, they said I drove the horse with the comfort one drives a car. This seemed to be a pleasant surprise. I loved riding the horse. This particular horse was trained to provide therapy to children with Down Syndrome through riding.
Will leave a few more events to the rest of the team to continue the saga of Team Brazil!
I had a vocational visit with Dr. Elizabeth who actually works in very much the same areas of work that I do. She is a psychologist at a clinic, however, her primary job is to provide counseling and support groups to people who have experienced a death of a loved one. She was very generous and allowed me to sit in on a presentation she gave to her support group. They gave me a wonderful plant and it was exciting to share information. She works in a private clinic, the state of Rio Grande do Sul does have hospice care, however, much of it is provided in the capital city of Porto Alegre. It is a new field here.
We moved on the next day and went to Tupancireta where we toured a mushroom farm and a large company that cultivates soybeans and many other agricultural products. Wow, who would have ever thought there was a very particular process to this that needs much care. Mushrooms are cultivated by using rotting straw as the growing mechanism. There are particular temperatures that allow for growth and a pasteurization process.
Quinn, Jill, James and I climbed up to the top of the soybean storage silo - it was so full with soybeans one felt like if the fell, they would be swimming in a bowl full of cereal. We capped off the day with dinner with the outbound team heading for District 5580 it is the first time in this district that inbound and outbound teams have met. We were able to share some things they might expect in coming to Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and in Thunder Bay, Canada. I have no doubt they will experience Midwestern and Canadian nice!
Another highlight this week was going to Sao Pedro do Sul, we toured a petrified museum, where we saw dinosaur bones that were preJurassic age, and antiques of many every day items for this Gaucho culture. My most memorable moment on this day was when we all were able to ride a Creola horse in Gaucho land. They felt I was holding out as I trotted the horse and led it in and around posts, they said I drove the horse with the comfort one drives a car. This seemed to be a pleasant surprise. I loved riding the horse. This particular horse was trained to provide therapy to children with Down Syndrome through riding.
Will leave a few more events to the rest of the team to continue the saga of Team Brazil!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Pic Post
At the school RotarAct partners with after their Pascoá (Easter) program. We GSE-ers are in the back.
A traditional tea/mate served with a metal straw. It's very hot. Etiquette suggests you drink it all then pass it to be refilled with water & on to the next person. Each time we learn new "rules" related to the she-mah-hoe (phonetically written). Plus- I have no idea how to spell it in Portuguese! We've been lucky to have it nearly every day at least once.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Ann's First Post
Dear Family and friends,
My first blog. We have had a wonderful first 4 days here It is warm for us and we are perspiring in our lined jackets. The Santa Marians are in jackets and long sleeves.
The food is so good and the barbecue is plentiful and very good meats. They serve food like we serve at home. Potato salad, fruit salad, omelet and lots of chocolate.
The others have told you about our tours. We were at a school today in a low income part of Santa Maria. The director is a wonderful woman who is a true entrepreneur. She has formed partnerships with the Rotaract club and with other federal entities. She has a heart as large as outdoors. She is dedicated to her 78 students.
This experience is so fulfilling. We are meeting a society that is warm and accepting. They are happy to speak English with us if it is a language they know. They want to practice their English with us.
The team is doing so very well and show a good face for our countries.
Talk more later,
Ann
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
April 19th
Another long day scattering about while trying to anticipate where we may be heading or what we may possibly be doing. Plans change often so you have to prepare yourself to fly by the seat of your pants....literally when you are driving with brazilians! Automobiles, bikes, motorcycles, people and even sometime a horse and buggy all on the same small bumpy narrow road. . . oh, random wandering dogs too. Also horses and cows graze openly in ditches and roadsides. But, brazilians slow for nothing and I mean NOTHING! One of my hostesses today held my hand as we crossed the roads...so sweet and SO necessary!
Today we left our homes at about 9:00 am and drove to Velho Amancio Vineyard for a tour. It was a very beautiful (´bonita´ in portuguese - see I am learning ) vineyard. It has been family owned and operated for several generations so its fun to see how a family runs such a successful business together.
We then drove up the Perau Mountain road and Itaara. It was beautiful and lush with forest and flowers. More pictures and attempts of speaking portuguese with our host drivers.
We ventured downtown afterwards to view the cathedrals, churches, theatre, and several (meaning hundreds) of random vendors. People are selling a lot of Easter baskets right now.
Coffee and pastries as always were wonderful......´mystery in the middle´ is how I refer to them, you never know what your going to get. Some good and some not so much.
Arrived home at about 7:00 pm and my host family and I are going to have supper together since, sadly, tomorrow I have to switch to another host (which Im sure will be just as wonderful). My family is going to visit parents/grandparents in Florianopolis in SC. They will take a bus 12 hours to see them.
No run-ins with spiders or lizards today (or rabid dogs) which always make my day easier. Also, Simba, the family bear has not eaten me yet but boy does he want to!!
So all in all, God only knows what I answered yes (sim) to today. But, I have not been kicked out of the country yet. So, God willing, another update tomorrow. . .
Solway fan club - hope you are enjoying hearing of my adventures...and that it is!! I can´t wait to share pictures and goodies with you when I return. My host mother has a fantastic candy dessert dish called Ambrosia. I plan to share this with you when I return. No spiders today! I am visiting an elementary school tomorrow so I am very excited to give them your pen pal letters and nice pictures you created. Isaiah and Ethan - hugs and kisses from mom! Have a wonderful Easter! Save some candy for me!! XOXO
Oh, and my host family in Santa Maria have a gift for you too!
Talk and update again very soon.
Today we left our homes at about 9:00 am and drove to Velho Amancio Vineyard for a tour. It was a very beautiful (´bonita´ in portuguese - see I am learning ) vineyard. It has been family owned and operated for several generations so its fun to see how a family runs such a successful business together.
We then drove up the Perau Mountain road and Itaara. It was beautiful and lush with forest and flowers. More pictures and attempts of speaking portuguese with our host drivers.
We ventured downtown afterwards to view the cathedrals, churches, theatre, and several (meaning hundreds) of random vendors. People are selling a lot of Easter baskets right now.
Coffee and pastries as always were wonderful......´mystery in the middle´ is how I refer to them, you never know what your going to get. Some good and some not so much.
Arrived home at about 7:00 pm and my host family and I are going to have supper together since, sadly, tomorrow I have to switch to another host (which Im sure will be just as wonderful). My family is going to visit parents/grandparents in Florianopolis in SC. They will take a bus 12 hours to see them.
No run-ins with spiders or lizards today (or rabid dogs) which always make my day easier. Also, Simba, the family bear has not eaten me yet but boy does he want to!!
So all in all, God only knows what I answered yes (sim) to today. But, I have not been kicked out of the country yet. So, God willing, another update tomorrow. . .
Solway fan club - hope you are enjoying hearing of my adventures...and that it is!! I can´t wait to share pictures and goodies with you when I return. My host mother has a fantastic candy dessert dish called Ambrosia. I plan to share this with you when I return. No spiders today! I am visiting an elementary school tomorrow so I am very excited to give them your pen pal letters and nice pictures you created. Isaiah and Ethan - hugs and kisses from mom! Have a wonderful Easter! Save some candy for me!! XOXO
Oh, and my host family in Santa Maria have a gift for you too!
Talk and update again very soon.
April 19th
April 19th - I had the pleasure of visiting my host mothers clinic. She is a pediatrician but functions as a general practice doctor while working at this clinic. Brazil has socialized medicine so this clinic is open to the public. The waiting area was outside under a roof and a small area inside. There was a room for a dentist, a treatment room, an exam room and a gynecological room. All the staff was very friendly and I even was able to observe some interested diabetic wound care.
After visiting the clinic Ju and Adriano took me to walk through their ´club´. It was quite similar to a North American country club but no golf. Soccer, volleyball and basketball are the sports they play at this club. There was also a ´lake´ they swim in but much different then our lakes. Also a nice kids pool area and a huge wave pool. Very fun! There was nobody there because it is considered Autumn here and sometimes ´cold´ (like 70´s)!
We then came home and had some lunch. We had a day trip to a hydroelectirc plant but it was canceled due to heavy rain and unsafe dirt roads.
So instead we hit a local super market, coffee and converstations until it was time to take a trip to Julio de Castilhos for our first rotary meeting and presentation. Julio de Castilhos is about an hours drive from Santa Maria.
We arrived home at about midnight. I then visited with my host family about the day and they also showed me a slide show of their trip to Peru. Very nice!
To bed at about 12:30 am.
Hello to my Solway friends! Guess what? I almost stepped on a tarantula! It was the size of a small orange. Yuck, I now watch were I step. Also, there are fun little lizards that live in the house I am staying at. They don~t bother anyone so they just wander about on the walls. The biggest one I saw was about 5 inches long.
After visiting the clinic Ju and Adriano took me to walk through their ´club´. It was quite similar to a North American country club but no golf. Soccer, volleyball and basketball are the sports they play at this club. There was also a ´lake´ they swim in but much different then our lakes. Also a nice kids pool area and a huge wave pool. Very fun! There was nobody there because it is considered Autumn here and sometimes ´cold´ (like 70´s)!
We then came home and had some lunch. We had a day trip to a hydroelectirc plant but it was canceled due to heavy rain and unsafe dirt roads.
So instead we hit a local super market, coffee and converstations until it was time to take a trip to Julio de Castilhos for our first rotary meeting and presentation. Julio de Castilhos is about an hours drive from Santa Maria.
We arrived home at about midnight. I then visited with my host family about the day and they also showed me a slide show of their trip to Peru. Very nice!
To bed at about 12:30 am.
Hello to my Solway friends! Guess what? I almost stepped on a tarantula! It was the size of a small orange. Yuck, I now watch were I step. Also, there are fun little lizards that live in the house I am staying at. They don~t bother anyone so they just wander about on the walls. The biggest one I saw was about 5 inches long.
Monday, April 18, 2011
DAY 2 in Brazil
After a terrific greeting from President Phillippe, Sergio and Alcione from District 4660 we drove 4 hours to Santa Maria where started with a wonderful meal and getting to know my host family mostly through picture sharing and Google translator. Spent all of the next day with hosts Paulo and Lizette Pigatto. Paulo is a civil engineer and Lizette has a doctorate in education and works with special education students. They also have a farming operation and plan was to spend the day at the farms. The most wonderful hosts, we drove to area near Julio de Castilhos where Paulo has two farmsteads to manage a farm of 2000 acres of soybeans. Met the foreman and his wife who prepared a traditional churassco, MMMMMM. This is Brazilian barbecue - had beef and pork that are barbecued on a spit. Lizette took me around to the many fruit trees where I reveled in the many different kinds of fruit including, fig, pomegranite, guava, oranges, limes, and a couple I had never heard of. I will never see fruit the same way and my palate definitely has expanded - trying to minimize waistline expanding, but it will be very difficult. In addition to the soybeans, there were pigs, cattle, chickens and fruit trees to keep family supplied. There is one house where they serve the employees and another house for the foreman´s family. Very similar concept to Bonanzaville farms in earlier years in Red River Valley. Roads are dirt roads and soil is very red in rural areas. We traveled on to the second farm which is where the main soybean operation is. Pigattos have their own elevator right on their farm. Their son Luis, is an agronomist on the farm. Another beautiful home, where they have rooms for workers to sleep in, kitchen and dining area for employees. Many fruit trees here. We had picked up Paulo´s father Antonio who was with us all day, and we also stopped at Antonio´s sister´s house, much of his family lives in area. The Pigatto family are a very warm and generous Italian family and you can tell they are very close. For being in another part of the world there are many similarities in industry. John Deere tractors are prevalent as they have a plant in Santa Maria. Day 2 - Today was up for breakfast with Liz, who is a Paulo and Lizette´s daughter, warm milk with instant coffee and sugar, baguette´s with various spreads, and papaya was my start to the day and is very typical Brazilian breakfast. Then was picked up by the Brazilian GSE Coordinator and he took me to Santa Maria´s funeral chapel. Customs in ceremonies share some similiarities and some differences. Not many people are allowed to have their funeral in the church, they actually have a room in a chapel where people can visit for 24 hours. where viewing is available. They do not bring anything but flowers to this room for viewing and being with family, sign of respect for people to stop in to chapel. There is an area outside of the chapels for people to meet or take a break from the mourning in chapel. When the 24 hour vigil is over the loved one is transferred to the cemetery and many times the funeral service arranges a bus to take mourners to the gravesite. The chapels are next to the hospital so the body can be transferred easily. As a grief counselor, for me this is helpful in understanding customs that may be the norm in Brazil. Thales then took me to a Gaucho store (which is Brazilian cowboy traditional wear and supplies), Santa Maria is very proud of this gaucho culture. We traveled on to a dinosaur museum where we saw artifacts from old missions and also bones from before the jurassic period of dinosaurs. We have been graciously driven around and taken care of by many Rotary members. Tonight, we had our first presentation for the Julio de Castilho Rotary club, we had a very fun time with them and learned about their area also. They were very generous to us with gifts and hospitality, and we look forward to more time with clubs. I have taken many pitures but its midnight - will post pictures in the next couple of days. Grocery store was very fun experience today, lots of different produce and meats!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Day 1: Thank God for Google Translate
Adventure the first: While I was arriving in Porto Alegre, my bags were sitting doing nothing in Atlanta. Not how I imagined starting my trip. However, the wonderful Rotarians who greeted us at the airport took charge and made sure I had what I needed until my bags arrive (hopefully tomorrow afternoon...). After meeting our host families and throwing back a few cocktails in the parking lot, my host Gilberto drove me to a shopping mall, where the following took place:
Adventure the second: I purchased underwear in Brazil without anyone speaking the same language (you know what overcomes a language barrier? A BARGAIN! 4 pairs for the price of 3!). I truly had no idea what was being said, but I walked out the proud owner of Brazilian underwear (MYTHBUSTER: not all underwear in Brazil are thongs), 2 pairs of socks, and some sweet Havaianas flip-flops. I arrived at the lovely home of the Correa family and Vania had already laid out some of her son Pedro's old clothes which almost fit. I instantly felt part of the family...despite:
Adventure the third: No one speaks English. I speak absolutely no Portuguese. What do you do in that situation? Give everyone a computer and use Google Translate. I was able to have full conversations in broken English/Portuguese with the whole family, we even brought the computer to the dinner table so we could talk. I think someone should nominate Google Translate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
I could tell you about the wild bbq with extended family this afternoon, the horniest dog on the planet, becoming a diehard fan of the Gremio soccer team (Eu So Gremista!), and the conversation with a 10 year old girl in which she said "Ontario...Bieber!", but that will have to wait.
Boa Noite...
My travelers translation guide is titled `Lonely Planet´. I completely understand why!
After the longest day(s) of travel I will likely ever endure we were excitedly greeted at the airport by Rotarians - I let Quinn attempt the correct titles and name spellings! We traveled by van another 3 hours to reach our final destination (for the next ten days) in Santa Maria. We then were introduced to our first host families. I was kindly greeted by Antonio and his wife Eveli along with thier wonderful children Ju and Adriano. Ju and Adriano.....speak english pretty well! Oh, and I was also greeted by their dog (who I might add adores me)! I can tell by all the viscious barking he excitedly greeted me with! By my estimation he is about 150 pounds of massive muscle German Shepard. You can imagine my delight when Ju greeted me in English! Its the most unfamiliar feeling to be submerged into a culture where you cannot communicate. Again, I completely understand why my travelers translation guide is titled Lonely Planet. Like Quinn noted we merely arrived at our host families and we were invited to the All Women´s Rotary celebration. So I quickly showered (first time in 36 hours), and was accompanied to the celebration. We ate good food and listened to a ton of converstations and speeches that I am sure were all very good (at one point I may have heard my name and someone pointed at us....hmm). Just smile and wave! I did recognize a Lady Gaga song! We were brought home at about 1:00 am. I kissed the picture of my family goodnight, fell into bed and pure exhaustion took over from there....I woke in the same position! Today a barbaque will be held by my gracious host family. More great converstation attempts to begin! I feel just as sorry for them. It´s an ongoing game of pictionary and charades! A special hello goes out to my favorite classrooms at Solway Elementary School! Hello to all and hugs to Isaiah and Ethan! More to come.........
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Hello Brazil! Olá Santa Maria!
We have safely arrived! After nearly 35 hours in airports or planes- we were very graciously greeted (banner & all) in Porto Alegre by Governor Felipe, his assistant Sergio and a wonderful gal, Alcione. Alcione tirelessly translated for us throughout the day and into the night. Muito obrigada!
We then drove from Porto Alegre ~4 hours to Santa Maria. There on the edge of town in a parking lot was held what James coined a Brazilian tailgate party. Many of the host families where there as well as other Rotarians. We were treated to two traditional dress outfits, a mate drink, and a vodka cocktail. Each received equal enthusiasm from us travelers.
After dispersing into our respective locations- Jill, Ann and I met again at the 14th Anniversary for Santa Maria's All-Women club. A neat night, which even at one point included a "man parade"!
Here's hoping that I spelled names correctly & that tonight I get 6-8 hours of sleep! Boa Noite.
We then drove from Porto Alegre ~4 hours to Santa Maria. There on the edge of town in a parking lot was held what James coined a Brazilian tailgate party. Many of the host families where there as well as other Rotarians. We were treated to two traditional dress outfits, a mate drink, and a vodka cocktail. Each received equal enthusiasm from us travelers.
After dispersing into our respective locations- Jill, Ann and I met again at the 14th Anniversary for Santa Maria's All-Women club. A neat night, which even at one point included a "man parade"!
Here's hoping that I spelled names correctly & that tonight I get 6-8 hours of sleep! Boa Noite.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Visa!
Yay! After a long and admittedly stressful wait, my Visa is here! Now- priority one is packing. Less than a week till departure.
Friday, April 8, 2011
RE: Flashback to Orientation of Team Brazil
This is our first photo as Team Brazil 2011. What a journey it has been from November 2010 to now - exactly 7 days prior to takeoff! From left, Kirsten Addison-Downs (alternate team leader - who went above and beyond in helping us get ready), Quinn Swanson, Carrie Stenseth, Jill Biehn, Gwen Damlo (alternate team member whose enthusiasm and support is unmatched), and Ann Perry. Last but definitely not least, our very own Token Canadian Male, James McMahon.
My teammates Quinn, Jill, James, and Ann, along with Gwen and Kirsten our alternate teammates, are wonderful people and I hope to continue our treasured friendships long after we return from Brazil.
There are so many people to thank for the support we have all been given, many Rotarians have approached all of us with encouragement, excitement and support. We'd like to thank all of our sponsoring clubs in both District 5580 and 4660. It is a substantial undertaking to coordinate an exchange and requires much involvement behind the scenes from Rotarians, businesses, individuals, hosts, communities and organizations. A BIG THANK YOU to you all!
We look forward to meeting our new Brazilian friends and sharing many memories and life-changing experiences.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)