I woke every morning to the ringing of church bells and rooster crows. I will miss this place.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
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
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