Late night update from LISA

Hi all! I wish I had more time and access to keep this updated. We are kept so busy here with visits (to factories, farms, universities, libraries, government offices, etc.), social activities organized by our host families, and Rotary meetings that I usually just fall into bed at night and crash. We are having a lot of fun, and friendships are being created that will last a lifetime (my current host family wants me to come back in summer – January or February here in Brazil – and go with them to the praia – aka beach ... what do you say, boss), but it is quite exhausting. We are very much looking forward to going to Foz do Iguaçu this weekend for a sort of minibreak. Luis Octavio and his family will be joining us, so I anticipate a very good time. And we are counting on Nalini to take us shopping! (Not that I need to go shopping. I am going to have to mail shoes home as it is...)

A few words about libraries in Brazil ... They are very different. From what I have gathered so far – and this comes from extensive interviews with library employees – reading is not as popular a hobby in Brazil as it is in the U.S. That along with the fact that no library we have been to hás a budget, none have government financial backing, and none that we have visited so far own more than 3,000 books equals a very different situation here in Brazil. Some of the libraries have a librarian on staff, but the education requirement is just the equivalent of a BA. And many libraries do not have a trained librarian. Last night Kirsten and I visited a university library in Apucarana, and it was the first library we have visited that had barcoded books or an online catalog. Looking forward to sharing more upon return.

Something of note.... I feel like my English writing skills have deteriorated since I have been here. I am now so used to trying to convey my thoughts in the most elementary Portuguese, that I feel like I can no longer construct intelligent sentences in English. I am not sure if this makes any sense, but I guess what I am trying to say is that if I sound less than educated in this blog, it is because I am conversating in short choppy sentences here, and I hope it will not take me long to get out of that habit when I return!

Alrighty. It is after midnight and I have to tour a cashasa (sp, i am sure) factory (a rather strong Brazilian alcohol, comparable I think to tequila) at 9 am. So I am off to bed. Hope all is well stateside. You will have to do without us for two more weeks.