Winding Down
Things are starting to wind down.
I think we have finished our scheduled visits and vocational days now.
Today started with a visit to the UEL, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, the state-supported university. The University has 1350 teaching staff, another 3000 other staff, more than 14,000 undergraduate students, and 2800 graduate students. We met the President in his office and he presented each of us with a university pin. While walking through the campus we visited one of hte first wooden houses built in Londrina back in the 1940s. Interested to see.
Londrina several years ago was Brazil's fastest growing city and because of that has a low median age. There is almost no one over the age of 50 who was born here. Londrina means "London's Daughter" in Portuguese.
After that we drove through the University's "urban farm" before visiting a bookmobile at a local park. Enjoyed a nice walk through the park in the sunshine. Numerous capibara inhabit the park as well as monkeys but did not see the monkeys.
After that we went to a Londrina version of the "pay by the kilo" buffet. Several of us then went to Rotarian Jose Botelho's apartment and met his wife, saw his art collection, got a nice view of downtown. before heading to our vocational day appointments. Kirsten and Lisa were going to an American School and I think Roz was going along as well. Justin was going to City Hall for his day. I went to the local TAM Airlines office but our scheduled appointment never showed up after we waited about half an hour. The good news was that while there I reconfirmed our flights and found out that we have decent seats on the return flight, much better than we had coming down.
Since that meeting bombed, I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the central part of Londrina, tried on some shoes but didn't buy, but did buy a couple of shirts. I was told that my flowered shirts from the US immediately identified me as an American (and they did) so I bought two shirts so I won't stand out so bad.
Not sure what is going on tonight but since we don't have morning plans tomorrow, I think several are planning to stay our late. At this point, the team leader has not been invited.
BTW, Justin was out late last night but totally bummed about it. His host "father" had two tickets to something and asked Justin if he wanted to go. Turned out to be a seminar at a hotel selling a self-improvement program and Justin had to sit through the two-hour sales pitch. It didn't sound as intersting as Lisa's visit to a "biker bar" that hosts the Brazilian verson of the Hell's Angels, the "Black Iron".
She can tell you more about that.
One week from now, we will be home. At this point, the time has gone fast.
Doug
I think we have finished our scheduled visits and vocational days now.
Today started with a visit to the UEL, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, the state-supported university. The University has 1350 teaching staff, another 3000 other staff, more than 14,000 undergraduate students, and 2800 graduate students. We met the President in his office and he presented each of us with a university pin. While walking through the campus we visited one of hte first wooden houses built in Londrina back in the 1940s. Interested to see.
Londrina several years ago was Brazil's fastest growing city and because of that has a low median age. There is almost no one over the age of 50 who was born here. Londrina means "London's Daughter" in Portuguese.
After that we drove through the University's "urban farm" before visiting a bookmobile at a local park. Enjoyed a nice walk through the park in the sunshine. Numerous capibara inhabit the park as well as monkeys but did not see the monkeys.
After that we went to a Londrina version of the "pay by the kilo" buffet. Several of us then went to Rotarian Jose Botelho's apartment and met his wife, saw his art collection, got a nice view of downtown. before heading to our vocational day appointments. Kirsten and Lisa were going to an American School and I think Roz was going along as well. Justin was going to City Hall for his day. I went to the local TAM Airlines office but our scheduled appointment never showed up after we waited about half an hour. The good news was that while there I reconfirmed our flights and found out that we have decent seats on the return flight, much better than we had coming down.
Since that meeting bombed, I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the central part of Londrina, tried on some shoes but didn't buy, but did buy a couple of shirts. I was told that my flowered shirts from the US immediately identified me as an American (and they did) so I bought two shirts so I won't stand out so bad.
Not sure what is going on tonight but since we don't have morning plans tomorrow, I think several are planning to stay our late. At this point, the team leader has not been invited.
BTW, Justin was out late last night but totally bummed about it. His host "father" had two tickets to something and asked Justin if he wanted to go. Turned out to be a seminar at a hotel selling a self-improvement program and Justin had to sit through the two-hour sales pitch. It didn't sound as intersting as Lisa's visit to a "biker bar" that hosts the Brazilian verson of the Hell's Angels, the "Black Iron".
She can tell you more about that.
One week from now, we will be home. At this point, the time has gone fast.
Doug
posted by Doug Risser at 2:42 PM
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