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.