Week 3

Week three was a busy week.  The students met Prof Caron who began teaching about the sociological impacts in Brazil and he also covered music and art of Brazil.

Monday evening we played basketball and soccer.  Lucas and Isadora joined us as well as a few other Brazilians.  It was 97 degrees outside and here we are playing basketball and soccer.  We had fun.  The students also submitted their group project topic requests

Tuesday was class all day and a free night.  Many of the students went out to dinner and socializing with the Brazilians.

Wednesday was to be our service day but it rained the night before and we couldn't paint so we had class all day with Shirota.  We will try again Friday for the Service day.

Wednesday evening the students met their host families.  It is always a stressful and anxious afternoon as the students finish preparing their introductions and worry about who they are matched with. Once they meet their host family and have supper with them the excitement takes over anxiousness and the students can't wait for the visit.  Below are a few pictures from the students introducing themselves.  After the dinner on the ride home the students all share the experiences with their families.  It's a late night but and the students are exhausted, but it is a good exhausted.

Thursday was a day of classes with Prof Caron.  Most of the students studied in the evening.  Their exam is coming up next week and each Professor has assigned readings and assignments that need to completed.  The students also got the approval for their group projects which will be presented after we return from our long trip.

Friday was our service day with a local NGO that builds houses for the poor in Piracicaba.  It is a small NGO that does much to positively impact the lives of families in Piracicaba.  For selected families they demolish the shack a build a new house in the same spot.  The family must be able to pay for half the house to show commitment for the program.  We had three houses that we were working on.  Most was painting the inside, outside and doors and windows so that the family could move in to their new home.  We divided into groups to tackle our assignments.  The first picture is a view from one of the rooms of the house our group painted.  The fifth picture is a view of the community.  It was a great day!!  We stopped for ice cream on the way back to Antonio's.  Once at Antonio's everyone showered and got ready for their host families.  One by one the students were picked up by their families.  I had a nice dinner near the river with Cristina and Shirota.

We made the Piracicaba paper.  Below is a pictures of the article!!