Jan. 20-25

This week was an interesting week. The realization of the host family visits remained in the background all week. Excitement, apprehension, how much English do they speak, what do I plan for, how old will they be, what will the living quarters be like are all questions going through the students mind. But before the host family visit they finished classes with Prof Peres

and started classes with Prof Shirota. Prof Shirota is focusing on resources economics. Monday evening we were scheduled to play basketball. A few students played basketball but a bulk of us played sand volleyball. We played volley for two full hours in 90 degree weather. I think we played 7 games and there were a few of us that even though we switched teams we won all seven games. Needless to say we were exhausted and it was a long walk back to the hotel but we all had a great time.

Thursday was a full day and by Friday morning everyone was feeling exhausted. Prof Shirota tried very hard to keep everyone involved but the students had a difficult time hanging in there with him. Thursday was our service day. There is a service coop organization in Piracicaba (MUCCAP) that for many years has built houses at a very low cost, selecting families from those who apply for the project. MUCCAP has completed well over 400 homes. AZP has painted 35 houses since we started with MUCCAP and we added two more houses to the list today. We broke off into two groups. The second house, which I was assigned to, was on a hill and the foundation of the inside of the house was falling off the hill. The whole inside had to be rebuilt with new foundation and in order for that to happen another room had to be built into the hill for better support. No one in MUCCAP had foundation background so they put an ad in the paper for someone to volunteer to help and they immediately had someone respond. He made this rebuild a possibility for this very grateful family. These houses are in a very poor part of Piracicaba. We worked together really well painting both the inside and outside of the house including doors and windows. We stayed on task but also had fun creating memories of the experience. Our house was featured in the local newspaper.

The students worked very hard to complete both houses. The families are overwhelmed with the effort and MUCCAP and the families are very appreciative of our efforts. Thank you AZP. The mother and three daughters were there all day with us as we completed the projected. You can see them in the first picture. You can also see a before and after of the outside of the house.

We returned to the hotel, had a couple of hours to relax and then off we went to the host family dinner. Each student prepared their introduction in Portuguese telling their name, where they were from, what they were studying, people in the family and what they like about Brazil. This year before we got started we connected to a classroom at OSU in Columbus via skype where AZP members who had already been to Brazil were located along with Dr. Martin, our Associate Dean. AZP awarded Cristina with the LH Newcomb Leadership and Service Award which is a recognition AZP grants each year to a person who has provided exceptional support and leadership to AZP. The members determine the recipient and usually present it at our annual banquet in March but we felt presenting the award while we are in Brazil with the host families present would be the most meaningful for Cristina. Cristina was surprised and touched. With a little technology difficulty but overall success the students in Columbus could hear the award given and then see Cristina afterwards plus everyone in Brazil could see the people in Columbus as well as be present for Cristina as she received the award. Dr. Martin said a few words on behalf of the College. I was with Cristina last night and she still is talking about it. It was also neat that her two adult sons were present and could share the recognition with their mom. In the picture below you can see Cristina, her plaque, and the people in the classroom in Columbus in the background.

The pictures below are just a sample of the students and their host families. You can find a picture of each student presenting his/her introduction and then the family on my facebook page.

Friday Shirota taught four hours in the morning and then two hours in the afternoon. Then he met with each group of students on their group project. For the group project the students are expected to do during week two the students were asked to break into groups of their choice and submit to Shirota three topics which they would be interested in researching, why the choice of topics and resources related to each topic. Then on Friday he met with each group to assign the topic and give the groups feedback. This way no group is doing the same topic plus the students are doing research in an area in which they are interested. The presentations will be made the last couple of days we are in Brazil. Friday evening the students left with their host families at 7:00 pm for a great weekend. Based on Thursday night's experience with the families, the students are thoroughly amazed at the placements and how perceptive Cristina is between reading the biographies and having the students in class just five times. There are two pictures below taken while the students were waiting for their host families.

The students are due back at 7:00 pm on Sunday and at 7:30 pm we will do a debriefing of the weekend with them so don't expect to hear from them before 9:00 pm our time.