just a moment for fun -

passed to me from Sarah Lulu at http://serendipitylulu.blogspot.com/
normally don't do this but because I like this girl from down under will give you my answers.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your hair? flat
3. Your mother? American
4. Your father? deceased
5. Your favorite food? Tex Mex
6. Your dream last night? confusing
7. Your favorite drink? dram buie
8. Your dream/goal? survival
9. What room are you in? myoffice
10. Your hobby? Photography.
11. Your fear? aloneness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive
13. Where were you last night? blogging
14. Something you aren’t? patient
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. Wish list item? writing
17. Where did you grow up? Arizona
18. Last thing you did? cooked
19. What are you wearing? shorts
20. Your TV? widescreen
21. Your pets? dog
22. Your friends? distant
23. Your life? lost
24. Your mood? Relaxed.
25. Missing someone? Yes.
26. Vehicle? Audi
27. Something you’re not wearing? bra
28. Your favorite store? Macy's
29. Your favorite color? turquoise
30. When was the last time you laughed? breakfast
31. Last time you cried? August
32. Your best friend? daughter
33. One place that I go over and over? past
34. One person who emails me regularly? daughter
35. Favorite place to eat? Itahy

GYM Brasil – Gymnastics Festival, Nova Friburgo

I have been meaning to put up a post about a surprise, very pleasant surprise, that we attended two weekends ago. Camillo and I were invited to join Tatiana (She was my Portuguese instructor now a friend here in Friburgo) to go and watch her partner, Paulista, in a display of gymnastics by a group in which he instructs and participates. We have known this couple for maybe 5 years. I have known that he goes to do demonstrations with this group the full 5 years. I know that he has gone to Europe and to the USA and often participates in local competitions but I never taken the time to really know enough about what he does.

We went in separate cars incase we got tired and wanted to leave early. We had NO CLUE! We stayed to the very last minute and can’t wait for the next invitation.

This demonstration opened like a mini Olympics. There were 25 groups - 700 people in all. They all marched out onto the gymnasium floor, each group in individually colored uniforms, each caring a flag that represented their group. The National anthem was played to a Brasilian flag rising from the floor to high above the heads of the participants as they assembled on the floor. As in all Brasilian meetings, they sang 3 or 4 versus of the anthem. Even I had a lump in the throat. All these young people, so proud to be there, so proud to represent Brasil and their towns. These groups represented the states of Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso do Sul, and one group had come all the way from Chile. Only INEC, Paulista’s group was from Friburgo. (Featured in the Green and yellow uniforms.)

The tournament included displays of acrobatic, aerobic, rhythmic, trampoline gymnastics and solo. There were also presentations of folklore dancing. I couldn’t find the age groups represented but I think there were some from around 3 years old to 70. I kept saying I should be out there…..

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It was apparent that all these children and the adults had worked very hard. They took pride in doing the routines just right. They all received medals and some groups - including Nova Friburgo’s INEC - are classified and able to take part in the Gymnaestrada Mundial in Switzerland in 2011. As of yet, there are no plans for presenting at the Olympics in 2016.

Some of the other groups.

I was sorry that some of the photo were not optimum, I was up in the bleachers, using telephoto and no flash, I took 200 thousand-gazillion photos but can’t show you all of them…. I kept thinking this is the best of our children – our future.

If you like there are videos of INEC ( Paulista's presentations) on YouTube. here are the links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZFC6DdqdhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB8zMgGqylM&feature=related ( this one is not called ECOAR, but TEKOA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZzpOO8BPyg

My Town Friday shoot-out - Skylines

Is it really Friday again? Is it really November of 2009? Time is no longer real for me, the days, weeks, months just seem to flow one into the other….

Back to Skylines – this has always been a favorite photo topic for me. Chimneys and rooftops and church steeples fill my travel folders. Do you really want Rio or Nova Friburgo, because I can show you Italy, or Norway or a Monastery in France instead?

But I will stick to my task and see what I have for Rio de Janeiro that can help you see, to understand this city. Looking out from the barrio of Santa Teresa, above the central area of downtown Rio, lets you see the mixture of buildings left from the 1800s that is the historic Lapa, surrounded by the (unimaginative) high-rise offices that were build mainly in the 1970s.

Standing on the same high hill and taking a 180 degree turn and you can look out the barrios of Gloria and Flamengo that are separated from Santa Teresa by a favela. The favela has a look of Blight that it is to the city, doesn’t it?

But if you focus your eyes (and camera) up, away from this most unpleasant sight you find beautiful church steeples, and colors of the sea and mountains that surround Rio and they take your breath away.

Weekend plans

Camillo and I are off to Bahia again today. We will spend the weekend on an island off the coast of Salvador. I am hoping for some photos to share at the first of the week. As this is at a private beach house, we are not anticipating Internet connection until we go into the city late Monday afternoon. 'Ya'all have a great weekend, ya hear.'

Marina - Salvador, Bahia, Brasil

(I have 20 minutes for comments on 'landscapes' then I am out of here - catch everyone else on Monday and Tuesday. )

‘My Town’ Friday Shoot-out / Park Landscapes

In the Ipanema / Leblon region of Rio de Janeiro the streets are lined with large trees. During the different ‘seasons’ in Rio these trees bloom, fruit and have subtle changes in leaf colors that lend a park like feeling on the very streets where you walk. There are also praças (plaza or parks) large and small, some take up complete city blocks and others fit snuggly into street crossings and unused, hidden corners. About 10 years ago, a few of the larger praças were enclosed in high fences that are closed at night keeping out the homeless and other unpleasant activities, and leaving these areas (relatively) clean and accessible to the locals for sitting in the sun, playing chess or just enjoying the feel of natural surroundings during the day.

On the north side of the lagoa is a small but interesting park called the Parque da Catacumba. Once a favela that wound itself up the hills, spilling over into Botafogo – the home of thousands that supplied labor in the expensive high-rise buildings sprouting along the beach and around the lagoa. The name of the parque comes from the Indian burial grounds that lie beneath the remnants of the favela.

By tearing down the slum and moving all the families to city built housing on the outskirts of the city, the Prefecture has made the area a beautiful place to walk (easy climb) the quiet trails. [the sentence left unsaid – leaving the area nice for the rich – yes I think this drastic and unfair, but can’t help enjoying the park nonetheless.] Once you enter the park and start the climb to the top, you become surrounded by natural vegetation and only at one point can you look out and see the area of Ipanema crowding the shore on the other side of the lagoa.

Today I have an appointment

Camillo and I are in Rio for this week. Usually when we come into the city it is because Camillo has appointments and I am not an enthusiast of staying alone in our (super) quiet house on the hill, so I come. You have to remember that these appointments of his are not for doctors or other things you would imagine an 83 year old would need but to talk to company/area managers/geophysicist of oil companies here in Brasil.

And this week isn't any different. This week while he is thinking and planning and making presentations on the computer I also have a plan..... Well it is simple and not time consuming and definitely not something I have to prepare for - other than a good shower and putting on cloths a little more formal than gym cloths - but I have an appointment.

This morning I am going around the corner - literally - to talk with the coordinator of the Britannia School of English. They offer a course that certifies English teachers. The CELTA.

I have been told I can teach English Second Language (ESL) because I am a native speaker, but I have my doubts. How does a bookkeeper/auditor, office manager, and mother experience help you teach English? Trying to learn Portuguese gives me empathy, but what do I know about teaching methods and process? I don't even know if my natural temperament is good for teaching. I am pretty much a, 'I'll show you 3 times, and if you don't get by then...' type of person. In other words impatient. I know I can 'be there' and 'collect the check' but can I teach. Camillo thinks I am just trying to come with reason why I won't do this but I know myself quite well and I have not been sure that teaching is for me.

This course is also R$3600.00. Hummmm. At today's exchange rate that is US$2055.00 and some change. For one month in the classroom. I can take one year towards a master in Linguistic at the University of Houston for the same US dollars. Course I am not in Houston I am in Rio SO this is my option. This is really the issue here. I feel this is my only option if I want to work, to do SOMETHING in Brasil. My Portuguese is so limited that I am limited. But after my meltdown a few weeks ago I know I need to try to pursue something.... Okay, today I at least talk to someone about taking a step. wish me luck.

Friday Shoot Out - Classics of childhood

Oops, I went to bed last night not remembering that today was Friday.... I've spent so many days lying on the sofa under doctors care and under the influence of drugs that I didn't realize the amount of time going by. Am feeling better, today I went to the gym, made it through a spinning class, bought groceries and ran home to look through my archives for something representing childhood - making memories in Nova Friburgo.

Brasillians over all are family oriented. The ones with small children eat at restaurant that cater to the children, have play yards and special menus and no one minds if after the meal the little ones run up and down the rows of tables, being watched over by the waiters and the other diners.

We no longer have little ones here in Brasil. We have 3 grandchildren remaining here now but one is married and the other two - the twins - are 17 with friends and activities that keep them from visiting with Vovo and Vovó. So all my fotos are of other peoples children enjoying what Nova Friburgo has to offer. (I am also limited in my knowledge of what little one do here)

Up in the hills above the city the children play football, I am sorry, soccer out in the streets, and they are more than happy to pose for a Gringa with a camera as long as she lets them look at the photo on the view screen after.

On Saturdays and Sundays down in the praça below, there are pony cart rides and ponies with and without guides, and there are often clowns, and games, and ice cream for kids of all ages to enjoy.

and for those just a little bigger and braver there is cable car ride up to the peek above the city. There you can find a bowling alley, video games (uck!) and hamburgers (uck uck!). And if really, really brave you can take the cable car to the very top and see a 360 degree view of the mountains surrounding Friburgo.