History

Yesterday was a day of history. We visited the Sítio do Picapau Amarelo ("Yellow Woodpecker Ranch"), which was the old farm of a famous writer of children´s literature named Monteiro Lobato. He was a rich part of Taubate´s history and through his writings created a successful yet cunning way to educate and entertain children for years. One of the characters was a black servant and cook named Tia Nastácia ("Aunt Anastacia"). I bring her up to point out that while we were there, the guide informed us that May 13th, 1888 was the day slaves in Brazil were legally emancipated by Princess Isabel. So our visit was on the 122nd anniversary of emancipation. How exciting! But it doesn´t stop there. Afterwards we were taken to the Museum of Natural History, where we met Dr. Herculano Alvarenga who showed us all the exhibits from dinasours to now. What´s even more interesting is that he, himself, actually restored a lot of the artifacts found in this fairly new museum (only 6 years old). And to top off our day we made our last presentation in Taubate to an all female Rotary Club., where my host mom is the secretary. Can´t wait to see what the conference has to offer us tonight. Ate São Lourenço!

~Candace~

Bem vindo a Taubaté

Well, things are great here in Brazil. We are staying busy, but enjoying every ounce of culture and vocation we come across. So far, I have visited the Brazilian "IRS" and the locality side of things; both the tax and legislative areas. Interesting enough, they have the three part system here as well. Federal, State and Local. However, income is only taxed from the Federal level and the percentage of tax is much higher than our own. Sales tax is included in the price, which is a nice feature, but the average person doesn´t know how much they are paying. Above is a picture of the Receita Federal do São Jose dos Campos. They are working on educating o povo (the people) about why they should pay taxes and how the money is distributed. They also have a "transparency" website which shows the expenses and where the tax dollars go. This was a great visit. Piggybacking off of that was today´s visit to the Receita Federal do Taubaté (Above second picture). The delegate pictured next to me gave a good insight into the Brazilian tax system and was pleased to answer our questions. I would like to thank both Receita´s as well as the Cámara Municipão do São Jose dos Campos, the Municipão of São Jose dos Campos and the Municipão da Caraguatatuba for allowing me to view their fiscal system here in Brazil. Até logo.

~Candace~

Working 9 to 5....

Busy busy busy! On Thursday when we arrived in Caraguatatuba or Caragua as it is called by the people that live here, I had a professional visit. As a clinical research coordinator, my job description encompasses many different areas of science and medicine which can be a little confusing when I try to describe it to people. Well, I could not have had a more perfect professional visit!

I was taken to meet the Secretary of the Public Health Department of the city. Essentially, he is the medical director of the free clinic where the citizens go to be treated. Health care here is covered by the government and each state is allocated money to run their own programs. While I was there I met one of the neurologists on staff. The three of us, along with my guide serving as an interpreter, had a rousing conversation about preventative medicine, research and what we call universal health care. I was able to gain some interesting insight. Then I found out that the directors wife was also a doctor that co-owned a nearby clinical laboratory. I was taken there and she and I discussed specimen collection, turn around time and instramentation. Good nerdy lab stuff. Excellent! I was completely in my element. Its amazing how much you can talk about even with a language challenge.

Speaking of language, my Portugese is still in development stage. Realistically, it will most likely only upgrade to dial-up speed. Maybe one day Ill make it to Fios speed. The good thing about having been to several different countries previously is that I have figured out how to understand a conversation even if I cant reply. This experience has inspired me to really give a go at learning Spanish and to get back to practicing my Japanese upon return. Now, if I could only figure out how to change the settings on this computer so that I could use an apostrophe and question marks. Oh well. Beijo, chao chao!

-April

First Week!

This first week in Brazil has been most rewarding! I have met some very enthusiastic scientists and teachers who look forward to some continued communication (via internet/webcam).

We went bird watching yesterday in Ubatuba, and the ornithologist, Carlos Rizzo, looks forward to creating a virtual database with me, where we would blog our native bird sightings and bird calls :). This man is such a giver to the community as he has started a class for blind children! I'm so excited to work with him in the future. His website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlosrizzo

Yesterday, we also visited a Sea Turtle hospital/reservation project, TAMAR. In the past 6 years, it has become an international project with many industrial partners. What a fantastic success story! http://www.projectotamar.org.br/

Speaking portuguese is quite challenging but we seem to be impressing the locals with our comprehension and efforts to communicate in the native tongue. We are receiving such warm welcomes "Bom Vindo" and excellent hospitality. We have visited 6 cities so far... Sao Paulo, Sao Jose dos Campos, Campos do Jordao, Caraguatatuba, Sao Sebastiao, and Ubatuba. Off to a new one tomorrow, Taubate!
-Constance

We have been in Caraguatatuba for a few days. Still been a hectic schedule seeing cities and Rotary clubs. We have been to Sao Sabastiao and Ubatuba on this visit. All the hosting clubs have been great and have given us an amazing experience to remember. 

We have visited a marine museum for the local area and were given the tour by a founding member of the museum and the founder of most of the artifacts that are within the museum. After the tour he presented each of us with a personal copy of the book he authored about the history of Sao Sabastiao and the founding of the museum.

We have also been to Ubatuba and went bird watching, went for a swim at a waterfall, went to a turtle rehabilitation facility ("The Tamar Project"), and to the beach for a little relaxing. The Tamar project rehabilitates sea turtles that were injured and if they cannot rehabilitate them they house them there.

We are being overwhelmed by the experience and absorbing as much information as possible. Keep checking in for further updates.

AHHHHHHHH, a moment to rest. So It is day 6 of the tour in Brazil and things have been moving at a whirlwind pace. To catch you up just a little, I have had two professional visits. One Monday and one today. Monday's was at the Military Police headquarters and training facility, followed by the COI, and finished up at the Fire Post. This was a great tour and my tour guide was a past GSE member to Seattle and Vancouver. I was able to see the training facility for the police which, as it turns out is even where the firefighters start out. All of the services here are military and all personnel start out in police academy for eight months and then four months of fire school. I was able to see the police band, the helicopter services, and then got a nice ride in the back seat of the police car to the COI. This is where the police have a unit that monitors the happenings of the city and controls traffic flow and other operations. Then off to the fire post for lunch, and a great tour of the fire post. Seeing the dispatch center, the training facilities, and meeting the man in charge. Then off to see the fire units. That was very interesting. 

Today, some of the same but, in a different city. All the cities within Sao Paulo are under the same command. That is 39 cities but, each have a different commander for the stations. Today I was introduced to the crew in Guaratatuba. A fun bunch to meet that is doing alot to help the community children by providing a structured learning environment and teaching first aid, ropes, fire extinguishment, and many other skills to the children in the community on a daily basis. I was very impressed.

Off to another activity, sorry for the posts being far apart but, the experiences keep coming in and we are on the move frequently. Check back often for more updates.

Miracle in the Park

Yesterday after we met the mayor os Sao Jose dos Campos, (yes we met the mayor!) we had some free time so we went to the park. Laura, the daughter of our of our host families, served as our tour guide and driver. Thank you Laura, we owe you big!

At the park we walked, did some chin ups on the pull up bars, played in the sand, played on the swings and did sit ups on the sit up bench. It was a much needed relaxation period. So we´re going to leave and someone says something about a phone and I realize that mine is not in my pocket. Mild panic.

We look back thru the park while we walk to the car because Candace said something about seeing a phone on the seat. We get to the car and search. No phone. Increased panic.

Then we walk back thru the park retracing out steps. On on our way back to the car for the final time and I say, ok God I need a miracle, like now. No lie, we walk back up to the sit up bench and I look down and when I look up and an older gentleman hands me my phone. Score one for God coming thru!!!!

So now what was about to turn into a drink of frustration became a drink of celebration. Whew! Things not to do in a foreign country: #1 lose your phone! Happy ending, yay! On to Cataguatatuba!