Jan. 16 - We boarded the bus bright and early to head to Sao Paulo. Our schedule for the day was adjusted from what was on the agenda. We started out at Natura which is a very well known cosmetic and perfume producer nationwide. We were at their headquarters facility so it had rooms for training conferences and an auditorium. The students marveled at the resources available for the employees. At the facility there was a day care center, clinic with doctors and nurses, bank, several places to eat, exercise facility, swimming pools, recreation center and soccer stadium. They rotated work stations throughout the day so each person knew each task on their production line and they took time regularly to exercise and stretch to keep employees motivated and focused. They produced cream, lipsticks, cosmetics, oils, perfumes, shampoos, conditioners and suntan lotion. They had three lipstick machines which produced 3000-6000 tubes of lipstick an hour depending on age of machine. I think it was in perfume area where they had three machines: one was currently being used, one was being cleaned and one was waiting for the next product because they couldn't mix oils. It takes two to four years to launch a new product. They sold their product through consultants and online. I believe they employed 3600 consultants. No pictures were allowed in the factory.
We ate lunch at the mall and our next stop was Mahler Technology which produced everything inside and outside the engine block as well as HVAC and radiators. They had 65,000 employees and 10 tech centers. Their biggest users are FORD and GM but they worked with several American and foreign companies. The facility was set up with high security so business partners knew that their new products and concepts were secure. They also had several services available for their employees. Again pictures could not be taken inside the facility.
Both Natura and Mahler were located outside of Sao Paulo isolated from other businesses and residential areas.
We went back to the hotel, rested a little bit and then got ready for our evening including samba school and the history of Carnival. No matter how much I answered questions about what the evening would be like or past AZP'ers talked about this experience it really isn't understood until it actually happens and students return to the hotel exhausted yet invigorated about Brazilian culture and the meaning of Carnival and the passion that Brazilians have about Carnival. It is an experience they will remember forever and not many Americans can say they actually participated with a state winning neighborhood's Carnival presentation. Let me see if I can describe the evening and then you can ask further questions of the students. We got to the location about 7:15 pm. We had a tour of the building which included history of Carnival, costumes, choosing a theme, their theme for this year , a brief samba lesson, some of the women dancing in their costumes and also two Brazilian girls that I have watched grow up over the years helping demonstrate the samba. There are 3600 people who participate in this production and they actually practice every Friday night from April until February so they have it exactly choreographed for the competition. Some of the sections practice more often than once a week. The passion you see in these people is just amazing. At this point we are taken out into the outskirts of the town and the roads are blocked so that they can practice marching/dancing/singing, the choreographed program. We watch them go by us and then we join in and actually dance and sing with them all the way back to the building where we started. We dance and sing continually my guess for about an hour. The Brazilians are so welcoming and treat us just like we belong and help us with the motions and dancing. They also make sure we are kept as a group and no one enters into our group who doesn't belong, very protective. We then end up back where we started and dance for a while longer until we are so hot, sweaty, and exhausted that we are ready to go back to the hotel for some much needed sleep. A very full day.
Saturday included a relaxful morning walking through the Sao Paulo zoo. We had a little over two hours to visit with the animals. It was a hot day but we were there first thing in the morning so many were out and could be seen. Since the soil is so red many of the animals that roll and lie in the soil also are red. In comparison to the U.S. zoos the animals are actually closer to you and in some cases have larger spaces. The also was a traveling dinosaur exhibit we were able to visit.
We went to the mall for lunch and then visited the OSU Gateway in Brazil. Over the past years OSU has stepped up their presence in some international countries with the purpose of increasing undergraduate and graduate students studying, researching and interning internationally but also students from those countries coming to OSU as well as increasing research, outreach and alumni activities also. We started with a Gateway in China, then India and in 2014 we opened a Gateway in Brazil located in Sao Paulo. I wanted the students to become aware of the Gateway and the support available to them should they want to return to Brazil in some capacity. It was a great visit with Luke Barbara, the Gateway Director. You also should know that Columbus just recently announced Curitiba as it's sister city. Curitiba is the capital city of the state of Parana and is well known for its sustainability.
We went back to the hotel, had a little bit of free time to rest and then we got ready for dinner at the mall and the students went out dancing and mingling with other young Brazilians. One of the brothers from a host family met them there and he brought some friends with him.
Today, Sunday, it was rough getting up and on the bus at 8:30 am. For some it was a short night. We went into the old part of Sao Paulo and Tony was able to see where his great grandfather lived and he was able to attend services at the church his grandfather attended. It was near the square we go for what the Brazilians call the "Hippie Market". The Hippie Market is where handmade gifts and souvenirs can purchased at relatively good prices and bartering is an option. It is booth after booth of jewelry, clothing, gem stones, leather goods, shoes/sandals, purses, Brazilian souvenirs, lace, woven items, paintings, wood cooking utensils, etc. It is a great spot for the students to buy gifts to bring home. They had two and half hours this morning to browse and shop.
Lunch was at Bol Preto Grill, a typical Brazilian Churrasco with all you can eat salad, cuts of meat and salmon . There is a salad bar with a variety of salad items, fruit, vegetables and cheeses. Then on the table small plates of tomatoes, shrimp (raw and deep fried), rice, french fries, fried bananas, some type of fish and lettuce. Then continually until we all stop eating cuts of meat, salmon and pasta are served by waiters moving around the table. Cuts of beef, pork, lamb and chicken are included. Shirota stops eating usually the night before so he has lots of space to dig in at the meal. He usually always challenges the students as to who can eat the most. The students enjoyed the meal and slept the two hours back to Antonio's Palace. I think they welcomed being back to their home away from home. Reading, journaling and working on project ideas was on their list of things to do Sunday night to prepare for classes on Monday.
