Sunday, April 30 continued
Our team met in the home of Prof. Luis Octavio da Costa, who heads the GSE and Youth Exchange programs for the District 4710 of Rotary International here in northern Paraná. We had been in communication with Prof da Costa prior to arrival. He has directed these programs for many years and his daughter, Nalini Indira da Costa, led the Brazilian contingency to northern Indiana.
Prof. da Costa laid out the plan for our time together, explaining the program, and reviewing our itinerary for the month. He talked about how the program has developed over the years to what it is now. They have made the program less structured and have involved fewer clubs so that the team has a deeper experience in each place instead of just touching lightly on many places.
Prof da Costa came from Goa in India to Paraná over 40 years ago where he met his wife and they raised their family. Prof. da Costa runs the family business, Academia Washington, a private English language school. Their home is furnished with many artifacts from India. Mrs. da Costa is a lovely hostess and we enjoyed dining al fresco in the lush backyard of their home.
Guests at the dinner included all of the host families for the team plus District Governor Alvaro Brochado and Governor-Elect Pelaya Sanchez, as well as the two Rotary International Youth Exchange students, Sasha from Winnipeg, and a girl from Perth, Australia (sorry I forget her name). It was interesting to hear their impressions of Brazil after nine months and three months respectively. Both are in lover with the Brazilian culture and glad they are participating in such a program.
Great meal with plenty of wine and beer and great conversation, making for another fairly late night. Seems as though wine loosens the inhibitions and helps us to try our limited Portuguese. I have every confidence that we will do well.
On a “down” note, my host family’s daughter went to the hospital this evening due to abdominal pains. She is pregnant and lost a previous pregnancy last year, so they are concerned.
Justin is earning his nickname of “Justin time” as he and his host family are usually the last to show up.
Roz is staying with the same host family as Lisa as her intended host family is in São Paulo. Her plans are to move tomorrow when they return.
This is the first time that we gotten together since we went to our respective homes and so far everyone is coping well and enjoying the program. Most of the host families know very little English, so it is forcing us to learn Portuguese as quickly as possible. Justin lives by his English to Portuguese dictionary and Kirsten says that she loves to talk so she must learn Portuguese as quickly as she can.
Justin is the most social of all of us, constantly making new friends with his ready smile. I think we could have a whole separate section of photos of Justin and a cute Brasileira.
Monday, May 1
Today is Dia dos Trabalhadores, comparable to our Labor Day and like our Labor Day, is an unofficial start to autumn. Everything is still closed and people go to the beach and take it easy.
First thing we did this morning was to visit the city stadium for a soccer tourney. Various companies sponsor futebol teams and they have a play off from sixteen teams down to the top six. Instead of full games, they play only ten minutes. In case of a tie, they use a shootout to determine the winner.
We stopped by the hospital to visit Amaury and Luzia’s daughter. She is resting and doing well. We hope all is fine.
While my host, Amaury, is always right on time if not early, Justin showed up half an hour late and missed being introduced over the loud speaker to the crowd. We were taken down to the playing field and watched the game from the shade. Our hosts are all so concerned that they don’t want us to burn and we’re all happy to be in the sun after our winter at home in Indiana. Feels great!
Next on the agenda: time to eat again! Today’s lunch is the traditional churrasco, featuring various grilled meats. Despite not being hungry, we enjoyed the various meats and especially enjoyed the grilled pineapple with cinnamon. Yummy! Also at the churrascuria was the Mayor of Arapongas, who we will visit tomorrow. One of the host families works in the Department of Public Works (same as Justin in the US) and introduced us.
Roz learned that her family has returned home and Lisa’s family will take her to her new home at 2:30 pm. According to Prof. da Costa “Nice house!”. The rest of the afternoon is one of rest before learning Brazilian dances tonight!
To be continued:
Prof. da Costa laid out the plan for our time together, explaining the program, and reviewing our itinerary for the month. He talked about how the program has developed over the years to what it is now. They have made the program less structured and have involved fewer clubs so that the team has a deeper experience in each place instead of just touching lightly on many places.
Prof da Costa came from Goa in India to Paraná over 40 years ago where he met his wife and they raised their family. Prof. da Costa runs the family business, Academia Washington, a private English language school. Their home is furnished with many artifacts from India. Mrs. da Costa is a lovely hostess and we enjoyed dining al fresco in the lush backyard of their home.
Guests at the dinner included all of the host families for the team plus District Governor Alvaro Brochado and Governor-Elect Pelaya Sanchez, as well as the two Rotary International Youth Exchange students, Sasha from Winnipeg, and a girl from Perth, Australia (sorry I forget her name). It was interesting to hear their impressions of Brazil after nine months and three months respectively. Both are in lover with the Brazilian culture and glad they are participating in such a program.
Great meal with plenty of wine and beer and great conversation, making for another fairly late night. Seems as though wine loosens the inhibitions and helps us to try our limited Portuguese. I have every confidence that we will do well.
On a “down” note, my host family’s daughter went to the hospital this evening due to abdominal pains. She is pregnant and lost a previous pregnancy last year, so they are concerned.
Justin is earning his nickname of “Justin time” as he and his host family are usually the last to show up.
Roz is staying with the same host family as Lisa as her intended host family is in São Paulo. Her plans are to move tomorrow when they return.
This is the first time that we gotten together since we went to our respective homes and so far everyone is coping well and enjoying the program. Most of the host families know very little English, so it is forcing us to learn Portuguese as quickly as possible. Justin lives by his English to Portuguese dictionary and Kirsten says that she loves to talk so she must learn Portuguese as quickly as she can.
Justin is the most social of all of us, constantly making new friends with his ready smile. I think we could have a whole separate section of photos of Justin and a cute Brasileira.
Monday, May 1
Today is Dia dos Trabalhadores, comparable to our Labor Day and like our Labor Day, is an unofficial start to autumn. Everything is still closed and people go to the beach and take it easy.
First thing we did this morning was to visit the city stadium for a soccer tourney. Various companies sponsor futebol teams and they have a play off from sixteen teams down to the top six. Instead of full games, they play only ten minutes. In case of a tie, they use a shootout to determine the winner.
We stopped by the hospital to visit Amaury and Luzia’s daughter. She is resting and doing well. We hope all is fine.
While my host, Amaury, is always right on time if not early, Justin showed up half an hour late and missed being introduced over the loud speaker to the crowd. We were taken down to the playing field and watched the game from the shade. Our hosts are all so concerned that they don’t want us to burn and we’re all happy to be in the sun after our winter at home in Indiana. Feels great!
Next on the agenda: time to eat again! Today’s lunch is the traditional churrasco, featuring various grilled meats. Despite not being hungry, we enjoyed the various meats and especially enjoyed the grilled pineapple with cinnamon. Yummy! Also at the churrascuria was the Mayor of Arapongas, who we will visit tomorrow. One of the host families works in the Department of Public Works (same as Justin in the US) and introduced us.
Roz learned that her family has returned home and Lisa’s family will take her to her new home at 2:30 pm. According to Prof. da Costa “Nice house!”. The rest of the afternoon is one of rest before learning Brazilian dances tonight!
To be continued:
posted by Doug Risser at 1:14 PM
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