Can't Believe Another Week has passed in Brazil

May 23, 2007 - We are still in Erechim and we are celebrities - we were interviewed by the local newspaper, Bom Dia, had our pictures taken and then off to the local TV station, Global. During our lunch at the Rotary Friendship House we were filmed eating a special soup - chicken with a small tortalinie - that Marlie had the cook make specially for us. We were very moved by the Rotary school for needy children - it provides them with education, warm clothes, food and involves the whole family in social activities. Their motto is "Education, Love, Work". We also went to a candy factory and were interviewed again by the TV station dressed in smocks and paper hats - not a good look! We had a special time eating pizza including chocolate pizza. In the middle of dinner the whole place erupted when Gremio won the playoffs. This was the same time that the Ottawa Senators got into the Stanley Cup - so you can imagine.

May 24 & 25, 2007 - We left Erechim for Lagoa Vermelha (Red Lagoon) to our new wonderful host families. What a time we had with Arnaldo on his 2000 hectare farm. Wild and wonderful. He has a beautiful place and works with his daughter, Valesca. He took us all over including a wonderful wild ride off-road ride in his new truck over his fields to the top of a hill with a view of the entire countryside. Arnaldo has a dream of developing the land he loves with his daughter. The next day - more adventure with Arnaldo and his cousin Eraldo on his farm farther out from the city. On Eraldo´s farm we road in the combines as they harvested soybean and corn. Amy, Heather and Nola looked great harvesting the crops. His has beautiful native horses - small harty animals like the Quarter Horse. We also met a real gaucho along the way. We also met with and toured the CAMILA. A cooperative for regional farmers. Very well organized and helpful to their members. We presented to the Rotary Club in their hall. Beautifully decorated with Rotary tableclothes and dishes. They Mayor of Lagoa Vermelha presented us with certificates with a poem. He is a Rotary members. Again, our host families were wonderful and we felt at home.

May 26 & 27, 2007 - Today we moved on to Vacaria where we were greeted by many, many Rotary club members and had our picture taken under the Rotary wheel at the entrance to the town. What a welcoming group. We had a bar-b-q and then went to our host homes. We then visited an apple packing company. Apples and other fruits are a major industry of Vacaria. We then visited a fire station and learned about a unique Rotary fundraiser for the fire department - Bomba Amiga (Freind Pump). Local gas stations have special pumps that when you fill up at Bomba Amiga pump one cent is added per litre and this money goes to the Rotary club to support the fire station. They were able to buy new and important life saving equipment with this money. Do you think this would work in Canada? We then had a most moving experience at a home for seniors and disabled adults supported by the Club. This project provides a home and social programs for these adults who have been abandoned by their families. This was a very special experience for us. A most needed facility. We made our presentation at a most elegant meeting and dinner. We were presented with two works of art from local artists.

May 27, 2007 The next day we went to the Mother´s Club where women and their children learned crafts and were able to exchange their work for Rotary dollars to buy necessary food for their families. We visited the Cathedral and had a chicken bar-b-q with our hosts and the local Scouts. After this great morning in Vacaria our hosts drove us up and around the mountains to Caxias do Sul. More about this wonderful city and the 6 host clubs in our next posting.

Thanks for the comments

Hi all, bom noite

Thanks for all the comments on our blog and our travels. We have been so busy - now in Loagoa Vermelha (Red Lagoon). We are trying to get more pictures out of our cameras and into the blog. Keep tuned - we will figure it out!

Your GSE team.

Such a wonderful country - Brazil

Bom dia!

How can we describe what we have seen and what we have done? Brazil is beautiful but the people of Brazil are even more beautiful. So warm and welcoming.

This is what we have done since arriving (at 1:00 am):

Thursday, May 17 - Drove from Porto Alegre to Soladade to Passo Fundo (see posts below) and met our families. Had our first Bar-B-Q in Soladade and then in Passo Fundo - but always different meats and dishes. While in Soladade we visited Lodi Preciouos Rocks.

Friday, May 18 - Toured Passo Fundo University - very large and beautiful, Embrapa government wheat research centre, Kuhn Metasa farm implement plant, and a new - to open in one month - BS Bios a biodiesel plant. We then attended the opening of District 4700 Rotary Conference where we were introduced and after attended a cocktail party - and fell into bed at our host homes.

Saturday, May 19 - went to the Passo Fundo farmer´s market where we tasted local fruits, went back to the Conference were we met local artists and musicians and then lunch - a Bar-B-Q. In the afternoon we watched the gaùcho´s dance to traditional music that told a story. We made our presentation to the Rotary 4700 Conference - it was very well recieved - and we spoke as much Portugese as we could. We then changed into our black dresses and we went to the ball. Wonderful food and music and dancing the samba and all other dances. We danced well into the night(morning) and closed the place with la´bamba.

Sunday, May 20 - we toured the town of Passo Fundo by foot, beautiful architecture and flowers and trees. We met a local crafts person who is making very unique shawls from an old technique. We bought many to bring home to Canada. Then went to a local Rotarian´s home where we had Bar-B-Q. Most homes have a Bar-B-Q pit with skewers. After lunch we went to the top of very new hotel with a view of Passo Fundo and drove through the area to see the houses - both wealthy and needs - but all kept well and the people were busy. Then we went shopping for Brazilian shoes so our feet would be "happy!" We also picked up toys and supplies and visited a local orphanage for older children, Lars Emiliano Lopes where we met the children and very dedicated staff and director. At the end of the day each went home and had a dinner with their host families. A wonderful end to a busy visit in Passo Fundo.

Monday, May 21 - we were picked up by wonderful Rotary Members and driven a short distance, about 70 km, to Getulio Vargas. What a day! We visited a farmers co-operative where they are working together to store and market crops, then lunch - Italian - and then off to the Federal School of Agriculture where we visited with faculty and students, toured their dairy barns, touched our first Pinheiro tree - a tree that only grows in Brazil. We then visited a new up-and-coming university - IDEAU - and met the president. We quickly changed our clothes at Rotarian´s homes - so kind - and then went to a Rotary dinner. They had delayed "Mother´s Day" until we arrived! A wonderful evening - dinner, our presentation with so many questions we were so happy to answer. Then roses and tributes to mothers - and future mothers with roses from a Rotarian florist. We also tasted our first Pinha - the fruit of the Pinheiro tree - toasted. An amazing taste. We then drove to Erechim - about 50 km - and settled into a small and friendly hotel, Alphaville Hotel- at 1:30 am. Another wonderful and full day.

Tuesday, May 21 - we were reunited with our friends who picked us up at the airport - Marlei and Linor. Erechim is a very modern city. We visited a local university - URI - with many programs and with students from elementary, high school, technical programs, Bachelor and Masters programs. We visited a lab doing reaserach on biodiesel and the by-products. We went to a beautiful restaurant for lunch and then had a very needed rest. Later in the afternoon we visted Rei Verde - a manufacturer of a type of "green tea" made from the Erva Mate bush. This is a very traditional drink - chimarrao - that is prepared in a cuia and drunk through a bomba (a metal straw that filters the tea). It is a shared drink that is a little bitter but very refreshing. We then went to a bus factory where they manufactured every kind of bus from small shuttles to very large high deck touring buses. This is a major industry in Erechim. After another short rest we attended a Rotary dinner for all four clubs in Erechim at their local "Friendship House" that was build by the clubs and where they meet. We made our presentation for the third time - again so very well received with lots of questions, hugs and kisses after. We exchanged banners. Another amazing day.

It is now May 23 - our first week in Brazil - and we are off to new adventures today!

Ann & Heather-Anne

Busy in Brazil

Hello All!

We have been very busy in Brazil. We started from Porta Alegre on Thursday, May 17. We had lunch with very lively Rotarians in Soledade - our first Brazilian BarBQ.

Then on to Passo Fundo. A very beautiful drive through the mountains. Our kind escorts were Linor & Marlie who explained the trees, towns and all the sights.

We stopped a Lodi Prescious Stones in Soledade - just amazing

variety of stones - we did our first shopping in Brazil.

Then on to Passo Fundo to meet our "families". We were warmly greeted. A true Rotarian tradition.

We settled in and then went to another Brazilian BarBQ cooked by the men from the three Passo Fundo Clubs - we are learning how to EAT in District 4700!

And Drink- a special drink - Chimarro, that Heather-Anne is enjoying (don´t worry its a herbal tea!).

On Friday we visited Universidade de Passo Fundo. They have the most beautiful campus with 20,000 students taking programs for 1, 2, and 3 year diplomas, 4 year Bachelor degrees, Masters and one PhD program. A truely multi level true university with an emphasis on applying learning in service to their community and country.

More later - we have to go get ready for our presentation to the District 4700 Conference.

Wish us luck.

Your GSE Team

DAY 1

Hello everyone! Brazil and its people are beautiful! We arrived safe and sound after a small luggage scare... yes, we thought one of my bags was lost! No worries... the Lord provides!


As Ann mentioned we had a late night, but spirts are high as the warm hearts of Brazilans are energizing. We left Porto Alegre in the choas of morning rush hour traffic. We were traveling in a van with our two hosts and two drivers- one to drive and one to stick his head out the window to provide direction. Kristian, now that you have mastered driving in Pairs, I´d say Brazil is your next challenge!

My introduction to Brazil actually began yesterday on the flight over. From New York to Sao Paulo I was seated beside a lovely young couple, Marcelo and Sabrina. They are Brazilan, but currently live in New York. They were traveling to Brazil to introduce their families to their two month old son, Nicholas. These two individuals are extremely bright and have a deep passion for their mother country. Marcelo in particular has a vision for Brazil and insightful opinions on the reason for its current state of affairs. I will reflect on and share with you the conversation I had with Marcelo and Sabrina when I have more time to chat. On the flight from Sao Paulo to Porto Alegre I chatted with Fabiano. His family farms 4000 hectares! They produce rice, soybean, cattle and have 300 sheep- all started by his great grandfather of Italian decent. Members of his family do not `do the work.` It is simply an investment. He works off farm as a business consultant. He is missing all the fun!

Back to today.... we traveled inland from the port city of Porto Alegre to Passo Fundo. Miles and miles of slums could be seen on our way out of the city. We then traveled through the `sleepy cities`(bedroom communities) of Porto Alegre. Soon after the view quickly became very rural. Subsistance agriculture was observed. The landscape was lush, green, and exotic mountains and valleys with lots of rivers. Stunning! Ceramic crafters and small garden centres dotted the road side. By the way... the roads are in terrific shape. I have to say better than Nova Scotia Roads! Min

We are in Brazil

Your GSE team has arrived in Brazil. Great - but long flight. We were me met very late - or should I say very early in the morning - 1:00 a.m. in Porto Alegre. We were warmly greeted by Isabella, Linor and Marlei. A nice thing - where we are, in South eastern Brazil, which has the same time zone as the Maritimes so no jet lag.

We have taken lots of pictures but are not able to post them yet.

We are off to Passo Fundo today.