Projeto Axe Bahia

Visiting the projeto axe in Bahia was probably one of the most memorable experiences of my visit to Brazil. I was amazed at how happy, refreshed, and enthusiastic all of the children were. These children are mostly found on the streets of Salvador because they have run away from some type of abuse at home. I was expecting to see something sad and depressing, but instead discovered the beauty and strength that come from compassion and believing in someone. These children come from awful circumstances and are given hope, structure, and a sense of belonging. One of the most impressive things about this project is its focus on art, music, and dance as outlets for creative expression. Most of these children are running from something, and these creative expressions provide a safe avenue for them to travel. Rather than turning to drugs or the streets for survival, these children can creatively express themselves in a nurturing environment designed to help them prosper. I noticed that many of them just wanted to shake my hand and smile at me, and they beamed when we applauded their work. but they will never know how great their impact was on me. I will carry their smiles in my heart forever.

The past two days have been amazing. We are in Salvador, Brazil, and the culture is so different from   What  I experienced in Brasilia. Tonight we attended a Bale Folclorico da Bahia performance which was rooted in Afro-Brazilian dance and the worshipping of various Gods. Brasil has a history of slavery, yet the Afro-Brasilians have maintained a strong sense of pride and value of their culture. This is somewhat different from the United States. Overall, it was a moving experience that I will never forget. I realize now more than ever the diversity of cultures which make up Brazil, and how important it is to appreciate and respect these differences.

On Friday, I observed a German teacher's lesson to Portuguese speaking students. He invited me to observe his teaching techniques and provide feedback.  His first language is Portuguese, and he is quite fluent in German and English also. The class I observed was a German grammar lesson, and I was most impressed with his ability to use examples from Portuguese (his students' primary language), German, and English in order to help his students better understand the lesson's concepts. 

Tomorrow is my last day with Alessandra's students. I will help administer a few oral exams, and then I believe they are planning a small party so that I can try some of their favorite Brazilian recipes. 

I have experienced so many things working with Alessandra and her students. I am forever changed by their friendliness and eagerness to welcome me into their lives. I look forward to sharing all that I've learned about Brasilian people and culture with my own children, students, colleagues, family, and friends.

As I sit in my hotel room, I can hear several protestors outside in the park as numerous helicopters fill  the air. They sound as if they're right outside my window. I find it difficult to imagine that some of the the same warm, friendly, inviting people are so outraged and fed up with their government.

Today I toured another specialized public school similar to CIL, the CIEF is a school which specializes in physical education. A few of the activities include: swimming, track, weight training, and martial arts. Adults can also pay a small fee and workout there as well, and the rates are less expensive than local gyms. These specialized schools are different from U.S. schools because in the U.S, the extracurricular activities are part of the actual school, whereas in Brasil, a student must travel elsewhere (often times taking a public bus across the city) to engage in extracurricular activities. Also, a Brasilian student's options are more limited because they must travel outside of their local community, and this is often time consuming.

I spent the weekend experiencing many cultural things. I visited Pirenopolis Saturday. The art and food were amazing, and we hope to go again next weekend to see the waterfalls.

Alessandra's aunt hosted a barbecue Sunday, and I met most of her family. It was a wonderful experience, and her family was as warm and friendly as I expected. Many of them were interested in practicing their English, especially the children. Alessandra's young cousin, Isabel, is now pen pals with my daughter, and they are enjoying corresponding with one another across the miles.

I also went to a June Festival near the Ministry of Agriculture. It was similar to summertime fairs in Ohio except the music is completely different.

Alessandra's students are still quite busy with written exams, but it is interesting to see the differences in how they write and speak English compared to my students. I am most impressed by the Brazilian students because their English is impressive, and only a handful of my students are bilingual.

Visited the historic town of Perinopolis yesterday. This experience was incredible because it provided a distinct contrast to life in Brasilia. Until yesterday, I had only seen Brasilia which is an amazing city, but only a tiny portion of Brazilian culture. Perinopolis is full of Brazilian artists, food, and fashion. It also is home to gorgeous waterfalls.
 To make this experience even better, I met Alessandra's mother and son. As predicted, we instantly liked one another and got along like family. Even though we don't share the same language or culture, we laughed and enjoyed each others company very much. I know now more than ever that family and friendship are universal languages:)

I have spent the last few days meeting Alessandra's students and colleagues and helping her in the classroom. Again, my first impression is a strong one. The students are very friendly and eager to learn about high school in the U.S.

Alessandra is an excellent teacher. Her students love her and feel comfortable communicating with her, but they also know that she is their teacher, and a certain level of respect is required. Alessandra does a great job of striking a balance with this, and I admire her ability to do so because it is not an easy thing to manage with any teenager, regardless of the culture, country, etc... I find that Brazilian students are similar to American students in many ways, especially when it comes to social activities and using social media.

I am most impressed so far with how well the students speak English. Alessandra teaches various levels of conversational English. Her students range from first year English students to students with six years of English speaking experience. I can understand and speak quite easily with most of them and am impressed by this mainly because I cannot speak Portuguese although I am learning:)