Hi All,
Checking in from Brazil finally!!! We have been so busy and without internet access so it has been impossible to blog. Let me first say how amazing it has been here for all of us. After a nice day on Saturday, we finally got to sleep in on Sunday. As a matter of fact, I did not wake up until 10:00 am on Sunday. Woohoo! Finally some sleep. After a slow start, we picked up Joe and were off to the beach. As we are on Brazilian time now, we were supposed to be there at 11:00 am and didn't arrive until 1:30 pm. No problem though, Clarissa, Marcos (the lovely team leader who will be taking his team to California and Nevada in May), his family and Luciana were already there and having a fabulous time. Because we love to eat so much, we ordered a bunch of food. Chicken kabobs, crab empenadas, cheese fries and some fried crab balls (can't remember exactly what it was called, but was definitely delicious!). After the delicious snacks, we headed out to the water, which I must say feels like bath water. There is no body shock to get in!
After the water, the snacks, and the hot sun we were ready to go shopping. A HUGE "thank you" to Marcos for taxing us around all afternoon to help us find exactly what we were looking for even after he had spent all day with us at the beach! Marcos and Luciana, we can't wait to entertain you and your team in California. Now, time to go home.
When, I arrived home, Ramon and Monalisa presented me with some fabulous gifts! Pedro loved them so much, he started playing with the soccer ball. (Pedro, is my one year old brother from Brazil. I absolutely adore him). I then had 40 minutes to get ready for the comedy show. One thing, among the many, that I have learned in Brazil is to get ready fast! It is awesome.
So we got all dressed up and headed to the show. Despite not being able to understand him, it was hilarious!! I had a ball, he acted most of his jokes out and Ramon and Mona translated some so we had so much fun.
After the comedy show, off to pick up Joe and head to Cariri. Cariri is a Forro(Country) restaurant and bar. There we met Ramon and Mona's friends, Lay, Gracie and there family. We have hung out with them all week and they have been so gracious. The girls gave me a CD of all the Brazilian music they have been trying to teach me. It was so fun, the band gave me and Joe a special shout out for coming all the way from California and we both learned had to dance Forro. Can't say we are good at it, but had a lot of fun learning. Might I add that I tried cow intestines while we were there...ewww!..kind of taste like crispy bacon. After Cariri, it was off to bed. :)
Thank you to all of our FABULOUS hosts in Aracaju, we will miss you!!
Monday
Got up early on Monday to figure out my packing. Yes, as if I haven't already had enough issues...I had to figure out how to fit everything I need in one suitcase because we will be taking a domestic flight from Feira De Santana to Maceio. This was interesting, but I survived and made it to the van at 8:00 am. We were now on our way to Feira De Santana, four hours away. About one hour into the trip, we stopped at a road side stand to use the restroom. Our so gracious driver bought us coconut water, we have all tried it, but are not to fond. However, because he already purchased it, I passed, but pointed to Clarissa. She was lucky enough to accept the water. Now, the big challenge...what to do with this coconut that none of us wanted. We found a place to lodge it in between the seats, so we thought that we found the perfect solution! We spoke too soon, the first HUGE speed bump that we hit, the coconut went flying all over the van. We were all laughing so hard, we forgot to pick up the coconut. It rolled all over the van several more times before we finally got to a location to dump it. Clarissa did take several drinks of it to confirm her decision of it not being to her liking. :)
We arrived around 12:30 at Flor do Maracuja in Feira De Santana. There we were met by more lovely rotarians. We were given our host assignments, ate lunch and were on our way home. Lucky for me and Clarissa, we got placed in the same home so we have now been roommates all week. Monday evening was just for settling in and getting some rest.
We are hoping to blog some more tomorrow to bring everyone up to speed. For now, good night and orbrigada.
Jacque
Saturday, May 1, 2010
This is Adrienne writing today:
I want to tell you about out host families in Aracaju. Can you imagine having a visitor, who doesn’t speak your language, for whom you now do everything (drive to, pick up, house, feed, launder, introduce to your family, entertain) for a week! Yes, Brazilians do just that, with élan!
In Aracaju, I stayed w Dr. and Senorah Joao Santana. Clarissa with Paula and Lelah Gomes, Joe w Dr. Rosemary, and Jacque w Ramon and Monalisa. We thought we’d won the lottery, but they acted as if they had! Such gracious and welcoming hosts! (Can you imagine a week w me in YOUR house?) Even as we drove away Monday morning, Dr Santana called to remind me that should we need anything, he’s the man to call. Guess what: all our hosts said it and mean it!
After meeting with the Rotary Club Presidents Monday lunch here in Fiera de Santana, we were swept away into new host homes, again greeted as their family. Clarissa and Jacque are together, Joe and I have our own host families. I’m most familiar with mine, so let me tell you: Dr Jurace and Uyana Dourado, and their two children are amazing. Neither Jurace nor Uyana speak any Inglais, but the computer provides good translation. That and facial expressions and hand gestures really do work!
They have 2 children: Daniele, also a dentist, and brother Davi, one year from graduating dental school. Both have some English competency (I have LITTLE Portuguese), and when you add a computer translator, it works!
I feel like the most revered aunt they might have as a guest. Wednesday, for example, I needed to meet with my wonderful Team (yep, occasionally there’s Team business, blogging and other stuff that needs to be attended to.) The Dourados hosted us on the patio, with warm welcomes, hospitality, fine food and drink. Then next day they hosted everyone for a fabulous lunch. Then invited us all back for our “free” day this weekend. YES!
Onto the wonderful Rotary Clubs! Tuesday we had lunch with the Rotary Club of Fiera de Santana. It’s a larger club, with so many terrific community projects. We then met w the Rotary Club of New Horizon, a small dynamic club that, uniquely, doesn’t meet over a meal. The next day they toured us to the center they sponsor in an impoverished rural area. Using the lure of youth soccer, they’ve successfully engaged boys, girls, their parents and community in activities that strengthen and support all residents. We also visited a cultural center showcasing indigenous music, at risk of extinction. Visit them at www.quixabeiradamatinha.com.br
Another meeting at lunch with the Rotary Club of East Fair in a Brazilian Steakhouse, the kind a few of us have been lucky enough to see imitated in US. Wow!! We were toured through the Fiera de Santana Art District, and finished that night with a dinner meeting w the Rotary Club of Subae.
Re our presentations. As well as we planned and created our presentations, we knew immediately we needed to tweak ours. Our audiences vary in size, location and room amenities, but one thing is constant: Many of the Rotarians have no English fluency. On a bus ride, we spent 3 hours reducing our power point slides and more importantly, the words that accompanied each. Paulo Gomes (thank you, Paulo!) translated the power point into Portuguese. While we’ve had interpreters so far, with Portuguese written on the slides, we can manage unaccompanied as needed.
OK, I’ve been long winded, but there are still 2 things I need to state. I am overwhelmed by the hospitality, effort and personal commitment of our family hosts, the Rotary Clubs, and the countless hours that go into making our vocational and cultural experiences resonate so personally with us. This is amazing! My second point: I love my GSE Team: Clarissa, Joe and Jacque are each the consummate ambassador, achieving a perfect performance and pitch in every situation (despite intestinal or mosquito issues.) They are THE BEST!
It’s 12:45am, tomorrow’s already here, and the sun will be up on our new schedule before I know it. Good night!
I want to tell you about out host families in Aracaju. Can you imagine having a visitor, who doesn’t speak your language, for whom you now do everything (drive to, pick up, house, feed, launder, introduce to your family, entertain) for a week! Yes, Brazilians do just that, with élan!
In Aracaju, I stayed w Dr. and Senorah Joao Santana. Clarissa with Paula and Lelah Gomes, Joe w Dr. Rosemary, and Jacque w Ramon and Monalisa. We thought we’d won the lottery, but they acted as if they had! Such gracious and welcoming hosts! (Can you imagine a week w me in YOUR house?) Even as we drove away Monday morning, Dr Santana called to remind me that should we need anything, he’s the man to call. Guess what: all our hosts said it and mean it!
After meeting with the Rotary Club Presidents Monday lunch here in Fiera de Santana, we were swept away into new host homes, again greeted as their family. Clarissa and Jacque are together, Joe and I have our own host families. I’m most familiar with mine, so let me tell you: Dr Jurace and Uyana Dourado, and their two children are amazing. Neither Jurace nor Uyana speak any Inglais, but the computer provides good translation. That and facial expressions and hand gestures really do work!
They have 2 children: Daniele, also a dentist, and brother Davi, one year from graduating dental school. Both have some English competency (I have LITTLE Portuguese), and when you add a computer translator, it works!
I feel like the most revered aunt they might have as a guest. Wednesday, for example, I needed to meet with my wonderful Team (yep, occasionally there’s Team business, blogging and other stuff that needs to be attended to.) The Dourados hosted us on the patio, with warm welcomes, hospitality, fine food and drink. Then next day they hosted everyone for a fabulous lunch. Then invited us all back for our “free” day this weekend. YES!
Onto the wonderful Rotary Clubs! Tuesday we had lunch with the Rotary Club of Fiera de Santana. It’s a larger club, with so many terrific community projects. We then met w the Rotary Club of New Horizon, a small dynamic club that, uniquely, doesn’t meet over a meal. The next day they toured us to the center they sponsor in an impoverished rural area. Using the lure of youth soccer, they’ve successfully engaged boys, girls, their parents and community in activities that strengthen and support all residents. We also visited a cultural center showcasing indigenous music, at risk of extinction. Visit them at www.quixabeiradamatinha.com.br
Another meeting at lunch with the Rotary Club of East Fair in a Brazilian Steakhouse, the kind a few of us have been lucky enough to see imitated in US. Wow!! We were toured through the Fiera de Santana Art District, and finished that night with a dinner meeting w the Rotary Club of Subae.
Re our presentations. As well as we planned and created our presentations, we knew immediately we needed to tweak ours. Our audiences vary in size, location and room amenities, but one thing is constant: Many of the Rotarians have no English fluency. On a bus ride, we spent 3 hours reducing our power point slides and more importantly, the words that accompanied each. Paulo Gomes (thank you, Paulo!) translated the power point into Portuguese. While we’ve had interpreters so far, with Portuguese written on the slides, we can manage unaccompanied as needed.
OK, I’ve been long winded, but there are still 2 things I need to state. I am overwhelmed by the hospitality, effort and personal commitment of our family hosts, the Rotary Clubs, and the countless hours that go into making our vocational and cultural experiences resonate so personally with us. This is amazing! My second point: I love my GSE Team: Clarissa, Joe and Jacque are each the consummate ambassador, achieving a perfect performance and pitch in every situation (despite intestinal or mosquito issues.) They are THE BEST!
It’s 12:45am, tomorrow’s already here, and the sun will be up on our new schedule before I know it. Good night!
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