January 15, 2011

The students are at their home stays so I have a few minutes to catch up with work from OSU and updating blog. The second week in Brazil was busy just like the first. Most of the week was spent in classes but there were a few highlights. Let me talk about class first. Our students have had quite an adjustment to what classes are like in Brazil. Classes go from 8:00 am to noon with a 10 minute coffee break at 10:00 and then 2:00 to 6:00 with a coffee break at 4:00. The coffee is served in very small cups and it is exceptionally strong. Some of the students are really enjoying the coffee. The long classes are quite a change. This week the students had classes from Dr. Fernando Peres, Dr. Pedro Mello, and Dr. Dalcio Caron. Then Cristina Fonseca teaches the survival Portuguese. Next week they get to meet Dr. Ricardo Shirota in the classroom. He is the Brazilian director and they have only seen him outside of the classroom.





The students were very tired on Monday from the big weekend of rafting and zip lining. They had class all day and had a free evening. Tuesday they had class then played basketball. Class 12 has some very good basketball players. We divided into four teams and played each other. In the pictures you can see the players and the “cheerleaders”. On Wednesday we visited Citrovita Votorantim in Araras in the morning and saw their orange processing plant. The orange season is finished for the year but we did learn about the company and it’s importance in the Brazilian market.





We ate lunch at a typical Brazilian restaurant and toured a Nestle Plant in the afternoon. In the evening we went to Ana Vitoria’s sorority house for supper. We ate hotdogs Brazilian style. The students sang, shared their dancing styles and just relaxed for the evening.




Let me take this time to let you meet the three Brazilian students who have been working with the program. First we have Carolina, then Henrique and then Ana Vitoria. They have been very patient, responsible and fun. All three have fit right in with our students and some long lasting relationships have been made.


It was back to class again on Thursday. Survival Portuguese class was spent practicing their introductions for meeting their host families. The host family dinner was Thursday night and the students were nervous, anxious and excited to meet their host families. We also celebrated Jessie Maier’s birthday on Thursday. She remembered how to cut the cake Brazilian style and she gave the first piece to Audry.






The host family dinner was held in a small restaurant in Piracicaba. We took up the whole restaurant. The students arrived first and then the host families. There is a picture of each of the tables as the students waited and tried to guess which family was theirs as they arrived. Then you can see some of the host families as we began the introductions. Each student introduced him or herself and then they sat with the host family. Once everyone was introduced the families and students ate supper together. It was a nice time to break the ice. Lots of talking occurred on the bus going back to the hotel about the families, plans for the weekend, what they talked about at dinner and hopes for the weekend.

Friday was a class day and then the students left with their families about 7:00 Friday evening. I felt like a mom sending their kids off to school. It is always fun to talk when they return Sunday evening. We will have a class meeting Sunday night once everyone is back to share the experiences of the weekend. The family stay is always considered a highlight of the trip.

Oh, before I forget. Yes, we have had a lot of rain but we are not near the flooding that has made the national news. The flooding has been in Sao Paulo and Rio areas. We are planning to go to Sao Paulo on Friday but we will be careful to check ahead where we are visiting. Shirota was in Sao Paulo yesterday so he knows the location of the flooding.

Best wishes with your snow and we will cope with the rain. Take care.