Sito Santa Monica
One of the benefits of my job at EA is traveling. Although at times it doesn't feel like a benefit leaving Joe and Sierra for nearly a week at a time, it actually is. I have been able to visit some places in Brazil that I wouldn't otherwise have gone. This past week, 12 middle school teachers took 43 middle school students to a sito (ranch) outside of Rio for the Middle School Leadership Conference. The teachers arrived Tuesday evening, settled into our cabins, and held a philisophical round table discussion over wine and cheese and Greek salad. I continue to be impressed by my colleagues. The thinking that goes into what they do in the classroom and with kids is beyond impressive. It is so refreshing to be able to acquire new perspective and insight.

Wednesday we teachers participated in several experiential education activities. Team building, communication building, and active learning was the key to our success, and we spent many hours talking about the importance of experience in learning. The day was followed by a second night of wine and cheese and discussion. Jason, shown here "thinking" on the rock, is our resident philosopher. This man is in continual inquiry. The kids feel his challenge and embrace it as do the faculty. He accepts nearly nothing without question and never approaches it in a threatening manner. He has an inviting method to questioning theory of knowledge. The students arrived on Thursday morning, excited and ready for their adventures. The days involved more experiential education activities led by teachers and always followed with thoughtful processing with the kids and lots of fun and games. We took a hike through the woods, walked a river, tossed baloons representing our leadership goals, helping each other keep their goals in the air, relied on one another while blindfolded, danced, and laughed.

The weather was perfect. Warm and sunny during the day (thankfully no rain since all of the activities were outdoors) and cool at night for comfortable sleeping. This bamboo was next to the river outside the faculty cabin. The morning light was so pretty hitting a section of the bamboo. When the wind blew, the stalks knocked against eachother in such a musical way. It is refreshing to exit the city at times and enjoy the peaceful quiet of nature. And the foliage in this country is unbelievable. I have never in my life enjoyed plants as much as I do here. Every time I turn around there is another bush, flower, tree that impresses me.

Don't you just love a quiz? My friend Tammy is great for these, and I haven't played along lately, so here goes...
1. WHAT CURSE WORD DO YOU USE THE MOST?
I don't curse much, but sometimes it feels really good to throw out a strong effinheimer.
2. DO YOU OWN AN IPOD?
Recently bought the 30 MB video ipod. Still don't know how to actually upload video to it successfully and found out there is now one with 180 MB! How much music does one person really need?
3. WHAT PERSON ON YOUR TOP 8 DO YOU TALK TO THE MOST?
Would have to be Joe.
4. WHAT TIME IS YOUR ALARM CLOCK SET TO?
5:45 and then I hit snooze 3 times, actually getting out of be around 6:10.
6. DO YOU WEAR FLIP-FLOPS WHEN IT'S COLD?
Cold? I live in Rio; it doesn't get cold here. I LIVE in flip flops.
7. WOULD YOU RATHER TAKE THE PICTURE OR BE IN THE PICTURE?
It seems I take most of our pictures, but I love to see myself in them too.
8. WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Perfect Stranger with Hallie Barry--very good.
9. DO ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS HAVE CHILDREN?
Some do and some don't.
10. HAS ANYONE EVER CALLED YOU LAZY?
Probably, but never to my face.
11. DO YOU EVER TAKE MEDICATION TO HELP YOU FALL ASLEEP?
No, I am usually able to fall asleep without medicinal intervention.
12. WHAT CD IS CURRENTLY IN YOUR CD PLAYER?
Don't have a CD player...use the ipod or computer
13. DO YOU PREFER REGULAR OR CHOCOLATE MILK?
I don't care for or drink milk at all.
14. HAS ANYONE TOLD YOU A SECRET THIS WEEK?
Yes, Suzanne did while we were traveling with the kids, but I can't tell you what it is because it's a secret.
15. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD STARBUCKS?
I don't drink Starbucks; while in the states, I prefer Caribou
16. CAN YOU WHISTLE?
Oh, yeah, my mom taught us how when we were children. First you put a soda cracker in your mouth, chew a little, and blow!
17. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Eyes
18. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE TALK ABOUT YOU BEHIND YOUR BACK?
Only good things, I’m sure…
19. DID YOU WATCH CARTOONS AS A CHILD?
I loved the Smurfs
20. WHAT MOVIE DO YOU KNOW EVERY LINE TO?
I can't even remember the ending of movies let alone any line. I could watch the same movie over and over and still be surprised.
23. DO YOU OWN ANY BAND T-SHIRTS?
No, and I don't think I ever have.
24. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SALAD DRESSING?
Blue Cheese.
25. IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU?
I would like to say yes since I am married.
26. DO YOU DO YOUR OWN DISHES?
Sometimes
27. EVER CRY IN PUBLIC?
Does in the movie theater count as "in public". Otherwise, if I get laughing so hard I cry, I often do that in public.
28. ARE YOU ON A DESKTOP COMPUTER OR A LAP TOP?
Lap top
29. ARE YOU CURRENTLY WANTING ANY PIERCINGS OR TATTOOS?
I don't think so.
30. WHATS THE WEATHER LIKE?
Sun is shinin, the weather is sweet, makes me want to move my dancin feet.
31. WOULD YOU EVER DATE ANYONE COVERED IN TATTOOS?
I don't think so
32. WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THIS?
Sat on the veranda and drank coffee
33. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SLEPT ON THE FLOOR?
I was tempted to this week due to the awful beds at the camp we were at with the kids, but I didn't.
34. HOW MANY HOURS OF SLEEP DO YOU NEED TO FUNCTION?
Sleep? There's a regular amount of hours per night we're supposed to get to function? Maybe that's my problem.
35. DO YOU EAT BREAKFAST DAILY?
Yes and it's my favorite part of the day as Sierra and I have breakfast together at school every day.
36. ARE YOUR DAYS FULL AND FAST PACED?
Full yes, fast paced? Nothing is fast paced in Brazil.
37. DO YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE CALORIES IN THE PACKAGE/BOX?
never
38. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
probably too often
39. HOW OLD WILL YOU BE TURNING ON YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY?
35
40. ARE YOU PICKY ABOUT SPELLING AND GRAMMAR?
Depends on the medium, I don't worry too much in informal emails or IM conversations. If it's a document for work--VERY!!! And I love to catch errors in newspapers. The Mpls Star and Tribune is great for this! After all, I am an English teacher.
41. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO SIX FLAGS?
no
43. DO YOU GET ALONG BETTER WITH THE SAME SEX OR THE OPPOSITE SEX?
I don't know. I have both male and female friends.
44. DO YOU LIKE MUSTARD?
Especially on a corn dog
45. DO YOU SLEEP ON YOUR SIDE, STOMACH or BACK?
I think my back and side
46. DO YOU WATCH THE NEWS?
NO! I read the news from select papers online.
47. HOW DID YOU GET ONE OF YOUR SCARS?
I have a scar on my right ankle from where my mom tied my booty too tight when I was a baby.
48. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU MAD?
Telemar--the phone company
49. DO YOU LIKE ANYBODY?
Of course, I like a whole bunch of people!!
50. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU PURCHASED?
I can't even remember...I haven't bought anything lately.

Festa de Anniversario do Brasileiro para Sierra

Although Sierra's birthday was 3 weeks ago, we celebrated last night with a full blown Brazilian-style birthday party. You invite the entire grade! and the invited guests often show up with siblings, cousins, neighbors, parents, grandparents, etc. You get the picture. Good thing we go to a relatively small school. There are 63 kids in Sierra's grade, counting Sierra.
Here is a shot of Sierra first checking out the decorations in the party room. I had a bit of a scare Tuesday afternoon when I received an instant message from Joe telling me they were setting up the party for High School Musical. Although Sierra loves the film, she had surely said, "Mom, High School Musical is so last year." I picked up inflatable guitars and microphones in the states 2 weeks ago to accent a Rock and Roll theme. Somehow, lost in translation I supposed, the party coordinator heard High School Musical. By the time we realized the error, it was too late to correct. Luckily for all involved, Sierra was not to be alarmed or bothered by the mistake. She simply shrugged her shoulders and said, "It's fine. No problem." Resilience is a beautiful thing.

During the night, Animasom entertained kids with games and dances and mayhem/running wild through the complex. I can't even begin to explain how relaxing this makes the party for the parents. The last birthday party I had for Sierra involved me organizing pin the tail on the donkey, drop the clothespin in the bucket, pop the balloon with your butt and other various children's party games. By the end of that party, I was so tired from entertaining that I didn't have the energy to clean the house. Not here! Animasom are like rented "moms". They do it all while the parents mingle, eat, enjoy a beverage and watch the kids play.
Sierra LOVED being the birthday girl because she "got whatever I wanted." By definition, this means that they played whatever game Sierra wanted to play. And didn't play whatever game Sierra didn't want to play. She thought this was GREAT. They played hide and seek, had a scavenger hunt, mixed some flour and eggs to "bake a cake", and danced the night away.
The 70 plus inflatable guitars and microphones I purchased for the party decorations and party favors in the states surely paid off. Judging by the group of kids here dancing with blue guitars amid fog--they were a success. In this picture they're pretending to play the guitars; at other times, they made great "whackers" in mock boxing matches.




One thing I love about parties in Brazil is the element of inviting our friends too. With hired entertainers, the parents have the chance to mingle, so inviting adult friends too is a feasible option. Here is a shot of me with some friends from work: Vania, Suzanne, me, Luiz, Ana, and Rodrigo.







Near the end of the party, everyone gathered around the decorated cake table to sing happy birthday and wish the birthday girl good luck in the coming year. It is tradition for the family to surround the birthday girl behind the cake while friends and family sing from the other side of the table. Since we have a multi-national, multi lingual group of friends we sing happy birthday in both English and Portuguese before making a wish and blowing out the candle.




The party was an event. Sierra had a special "new" outfit for the occasion. Her friends from both school and home arrived with smiles and congratulations; she was princess for the night. The sparkle in her eyes throughout the party was bright enough to light all of Rio de Janeiro, and my heart ached with happiness watching her enjoy her day. To show the kind of child I am blessed with rearing, I will share the note I found upon returning home from work today:

ESL...English as a Second Language

I have taken on a new endeavor. Last April, I started inquiring about the possibility of offering an ESL course, free of charge, for the workers at Escola Americana. There are many departments at school. Aside from the teaching and administrative staff, who all speak fluent English, we have security, custodians, cafeteria, drivers, and maintenance staff. Most of the "staff" at EA do not speak fluent English. Most of these employees travel an hour to an hour and half one way each day to work at EA. Most of these employees would bend over backwards for any request made of him/her. All of these employees greet me and Sierra with a warm smile day in and day out.

After much planning and coordinating with the head of Human Resources and each dept. supervisor, we decided that Wednesday from 4:05-5:00 would be the best time to offer the course. Mid-August, I sent a reminder email about the course to the head of HR, and the names of participants started filtering into my email inbox from department supervisors. The end result=25 willing and able-bodied Adult English as a Second Language students.

The secondary ESL teacher, Luiza, and the middle school writing teacher, Suzanne, comitted to assisting me in this endeavor, so we met (over beers at a local boteco) last Wednesday to plan our course of action!

Today was our first class!! It was basic. For anyone who hasn't taken on the challenge of learning a second language, it may seem strange that you need to spend 30 minutes practicing: "My name is Sara. What is your name?" and another 25 minutes singing the ABC's. Or, that doing both of these activities contained the most fun had by many all day.

The students left, mouths in full grin, exlaiming, "Thank you!! Thank you!!" and Luiza, Suzanne and I couldn't contain our excitement. As we rested to plan what to do next Wednesday, another middle school teacher entered the room ecstatic saying, "They were so excited! They had so much fun!" All of the students passed her room on their way from my classroom following our first lesson, and she overheard their glee. Her closing comment was, "Please let me know if you want or need more help because I want to help!"

Generosity IS contagious! And I have yet to think of the proper word to describe witnessing the excitement within a person when they are learning for the sake of learning!

I could also add that doing something for the sake of doing it,minus monetary compensation, is so rewarding that it makes me wonder what the world would be like if we weren't all forced to be driven by the power of the dollar or our salary or our living expenses...

Pizza Anyone?

A very funny story from today...
I was teaching my last class of the day, and Joe came in with a box of brigadeiros (a traditional Brazilian candy present at all parties) for me to share with the middle school faculty at our meeting after school. The box looked like a cardboard pizza box. Since I was teaching, Joe walked in without talking to me, set the box on my back cabinet, and left. As he walked out the classroom door, he said, "I'll see you later, I love you." I replied, "ok, I love you."
Once gone, my student looked at me and said, "Ms. Sara, that was kind of unethical." I said, "What?" The student replied, "You just told the pizza guy you love him!" Nearing hysterical laughter, I replied, "oh, Thomaz, that's not pizza it's brigadeiros and that's my husband!"