AZP Jan 6-9, 2014

On January 6 we had a practice run in that everyone arrived at the airport on time, half the group got checked in and then our flight was cancelled due to equipment. What a let down!! So we had to get our luggage back and rebook our flights for next day, which luckily were available. The airlines kindly put four of us up at the Embassy Suites and the rest of the students went back to OSU or home with their parents. Tuesday, at 0 degrees outside, we tried it all again. Holding our breath all luggage was checked in, we said good bye to our supporters and went through security.

Other than leaving Dallas late and arriving in Sao Paulo late on the 8th the trip went smoothly. All our luggage made it and that is what's important. We met Henrique and Juliana at the airport in Sao Paulo and loaded the bus for the trip to Piracicaba which takes about two hours. It was about 90 degrees so it was a shock to the system but the bus is wonderful and very accommodating. With Sau Paulo being one of the largest cities in the world, the students could see the buildings, hotels, housing and economic development as we drove through the city. We stopped for lunch on the way and the students had their first experience at a Brazilian buffet. What is interesting is that food is weighed and paid for by the kilo. The students begin to get an idea of the cost of food and how expensive or inexpensive it can be depending on how much they eat. We arrived at Antonnio's Palace, received our room assignments, took our luggage to the rooms and had a half hour before leaving for the campus tour. ESALQ is part of the University of Sao Paulo system. The University of Sao Paulo enrolls about 80,000 and there are 3500 students enrolled at ESALQ. This is the students summer break. We did a short tour of campus learning about the trees on campus as well as familarizing us to the buildings. Below is a picture in front of the University Administration Building, a monument for Luiz de Queriroz and his wife who donated the land for ESALQ and looking at Brazil Tree.

After the tour we headed back to Antonnio's for a quick clean up before supper and we went to a nice buffet as the last stop of the evening.

January 9 we had an introduction to the program, greeting from the Dean, conversion of some money, Dr. Pedro Mello taught two lectures and Cristina started us with our Portuguese Survival lessons. The picture below is of Cristina and Juliana with the class. The students always have lots of fun with Cristina.

We went out to dinner tonight as one group and ordered off the menu and got to try some new foods yet again. I think everyone is pretty tired tonight and ready to get some much needed sleep.