Portuguese Class & the Portinari Musuem

Yesterday at Colegio Santa Ursula, the delegation took a class in beginner's Portuguese. Using a theme of candy and sweets, we learned basic nouns in both singular and plural forms, and basic verbs with the appropriate conjugations. We learned about "tu" and "voce" which both mean "you" as a second person pronoun. Apparently, "tu" is used in Portuguese from Portugal and also the southern part of Brazil. "Voce" is used more commonly in the rest of Brazil and uses the same verb conjugation as third person pronoun which also means one less conjugation to learn. Also, we got to eat the candy after class. Yay!

 

Getting ready for class

Marcio, one of the Portuguese teachers, is explaining the names
of the Brazilian candies.

UA delegation with Portuguese teachers Cris and Marcio

Lunchtime after Portuguese class with Francis, Courtney and Cindy

Johana, Mackenzie and Anel at lunch with Brazilian
students

Museu Casa de Portinari is in the city of Brodowski just outside of Riberao Preto and features the works of the painter Candido Portinari in the house in which he and his family lived. Portinari is one of the most important painters of Brazil with a wide range of frescos, oil paintings and drawings. One of his most famous paintings is Guerra e Paz (War and Peace) in the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The museum features frescos painted on the walls of his home by Portinari with a few painted by artist friends.

UA Delegation with host students listening to our tour guide

 

Portinari had a chapel built connected to the house for his aging mother.
He then painted frescos on all the walls with the faces of his family for each saint.

The Forbidden City

Yesterday afternoon, our China delegation visited The Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was built in the 15th century and was the imperial palace for centuries. In addition to serving as the home of emperors and their households, it was the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years.Today, the Forbidden City is in the center of modern Beijing and receives thousands of visitors each year. It was a thrill for all of us to visit this magnificent site and we are eager to learn more about the history and the secrets of The Forbidden City.

Lessons & Learning at Huaxia

On Thursday, we had a fantastic and busy morning at Huaxia, our sister school. Our students participated in a lesson about tea and the ritual of the tea ceremony in Chinese culture while our teachers attended classes and also presented lessons. Ms. Kane taught a math class while Ms. Smith gave a presentation about journalism at UA. It was great fun and we are learning so much with each day that we are here!

First Day at Colegio Santa Ursula

Our first day at our sister school was a beautiful sunny day in Riberao Preto. Our student delegates went to classes with their hosts, had lunch at the school's restaurant and took a tour of the school.



Statue of St. Ursula

Gifts for the delegation from Sister Helenice and
Colegio Santa Ursula

Sister Helenice is very popular with Iron Man
and the little ones.

After school, the host students had a get together for the delegation.

 

Summer Palace & The Great Wall

These last two days, our China delegation has visited some of the significant cultural and historical places in and around Beijing. First we visited the beautiful Summer Palace which served as a retreat for Empress Dowager Cixi in the late 19th century. And yesterday, after much anticipation, our delegation climbed the Great Wall of China! It was extremely challenging but thrilling for all!

Bonding at Broa: Day 2

Today was not as wet as predicted (YAY!) so we were outside all day with different activities.
The morning started with a lesson in the history and the mechanics of golf .

Starting off the day together!

Francis doing her best with a golf club that is as tall as she is

Oi from Broa!

The Instituto Fernando de Arruda Botelho manages and maintains the Criadouro Conservacionista at Broa. They help keep wild populations in Brazil from extinction by taking in injured animals, especially birds, and nursing them back to health for eventual release back to their natural habitat.



Gustavo, Perdona and Francis with a parakeet being
prepared for release in the next month or so.





Mr. Poellet and Graciela with two blue-and-yellow macaws

Courtney has a recurring frango (chicken) theme here in Brazil.
You should ask her about it.

 

Graciela, Anel, Sophia and Mackenzie
Bons momentos!

Finishing the very active day with a game of Canibal
Can you spot the Canibal?