Nossa viagem à Pentecoste! (Our trip to Pentecoste!)

We arrived to the interior, Pentecoste, with our friend Carol around dusk. In all, it took us about two and a half hours to get there. Immediately we were introduced to Jorge, also known as "mayor" of the interior, who soon became our guide. He was very nice and showed us a school for young children called EPC Ombreira, where we put our duffels and backpacks. The school is right alongside the lake of Pentecoste with an insane number of lush trees. Also, there is a community garden that grows different vegetables like onions, chives, and lettuce, in addition to mad frogs. Soon, after seeing these things, Jorge took us around the neighborhood where we met EVERYONE, no, seriously though. Hence the title of "mayor." Everybody was open to meeting us, taking time out of their day to introduce themselves and put their kickin' it on pause.

Then we dipped and rode on some motocicletas, which was AMAZING. We spent most of the afternoon at a newly built school, where the term "APRENDIZAGEM COOPERATIVA" (Cooperative Learning) is very present. Here students study for the Vestibular together in small groups, for the test is extremely extensive, including numerous aspects of study and thus notoriously difficult. That day they were studying history (some Greek history, specifically) and we bounced amongst different study groups, introducing ourselves, where we are from, and our majors. We talked about the differences in teaching structure between the U.S. and Brazil (lectures vs. collective learning), as well as the process to enter the universities (holistic application process vs. one major exam). It was interesting to hear that they thought our college application process was more intense, while we totally thought the opposite. We also talked about race relations in Brazil, particularly in the context of a college scene. Almost everyone thought that Daniel looked like Barack Obama, including the "mayor!"

So then we dipped again, on motocicletas again to a churrascaria, where we (Jorge, Carol and us) had some bomb ass food: feijão (rice and beans), lots of beef, chicken and pork, some noodles, beer and coke. After totally stuffing ourselves, we dipped to the Forró spot, where we attempted (after many cervejas, of course) to dance to traditional Forró music, consisting of three cute old men playing a banjo, guitar, accordian, and a triangle for some songs. It was LEGIT.

After holding up the bus for 10 minutes, we grabbed our bags from the EPC Ombreira and took a midnight express to the casa da avó (Carol's grandmother's house). We awoke the next morning and had a bomb ass breakfast, thanks to the avó. Carol took us to the first school of PRECE, where we met young students taking an English class. We all sat down and talked about U.S. pop culture, different kinds of movies, music, and artists. Alicia got uncomfortably hit on, really hard, and Badal attempted to imitate Michael Jackson's "Beat It"—both in front of the entire class. For closing, the students all sang "Bring Back My Bonnie To Me," which for whatever reason ends with Bonnie being dead....awkward. Definitely do not remember that part when we were younger!
 

After leaving the school, we went to see their computer lab across the big, dirt road, which is also open to the community. It consists of 11 computers, pretty good internet connection, and a wonderful forró remix of Beyonce's "Halo!" (Didn't see that one coming, huh?) All but one computer, which was donated by the government, were obtained from other sources. After talking a bit in the computer lab, Carol took us to the library (in the same building) where Daniel was reunited with his sixth grade class book, "A More Perfect Union," say WHHHAAATT?! So random. Thank you, Brazil.

We talked to Carol for a while about the school system here: children only do half days (although some are petitioning to change this to full days), homeschooling is illegal, as well as skipping grades! In terms of the university system, we learned that even if you pass the entrance exam, the prices of books for some majors is so expensive, some students cannot choose these majors. In addition, the university does not offer students scholarships or any type of grants before the students arrive there. So, unlike in the U.S. where you know (for the most part) how much you will be expected to contribute, here, it does not work that way. You can petition for scholarships when you arrive at the university but even then, it is not guaranteed that you will receive them. On a final and positive note, PRECE has outstanding statistics of 25% of their students passing the entrance exam to attend the federal universities!

Yea, PRECE is doOOPPE.

Tchau!!

Daniel Badal e Alicia Facada.

Undergrads from the USA visit PRECE

The undergrads Daniel Badal (Psychology – Occidental College) and Alicia Facada (Sociology – Occidental College) have been visiting PRECE since April 6th, 2010. They were introduced to us by SIT Program – School for International Training, which is represented by the NGO World Learning from Brazil.
The objective of the program is to provide students with discussions about Social Justice, Economic Development and Culture.
Since 2007, PRECE has received in average two students per year through this program. They generally spend about five days visiting our Cooperative Popular Schools, interviewing our students; that includes our monitors, facilitators and coordinators.




A pictury with the matriarch of the Andrade family in Cipó:

A poem from summer 2008

Dust on My Feet

 I have the echoes of Ceara in my ears—

Songs of praise and hope lifted to God in her churches

Roosters crowing a responsive reading at dawn

A cacophony of busses, cars, motorbikes and burros

A morning melody of cow and goat bells

Students repeating words strange to their ears

 Loudspeakers reaching out for votes

Shared prayers from a circle of women.

I have the smells of Ceara in my nose –

Of the freshest-squeezed orange juice

Of salty air at the beach

Of diesel fumes from trucks and busses

Of starfruit blossoms promising ripe fruit

I savor new tastes of Ceara as well –

The passionate tang of maracuja

Sweet fruits at breakfast

Lemon birthday cake

The ever present rice and beans

The bread and cup of communion shared with new Christians

 A cup of sugarless tea with a sweet promise

I have visions of Ceara in my memory –

Of people filling the streets day and night

Of family laughing at their meal

The faces of students concentrating

The frailest elderly and beaming children

Cooperative movements for the survival of poor families

And for a better life from higher education.

I feel the touch of Ceara also –

The strong tropical sun and cooling winds

In crowded cars so all can go

In the embrace of generous hugs and snuggling children

In the jarring, jolting motion travelling rain-damaged roads

In the clasp of hands from new-found friends

In the gentle sway of a hammock’s cocoon

In the dripping waters of baptism.

I have the dust of Ceara on my feet –

From the federal university

Passing through the streets of Colonia and Itambe

From gardens in Ombreira

From the dirt floors of a most humble home

From playing ball with boys and girls

I don’t want the dust to wash away

for it reminds me of the love of Ceara that fills my heart –

Arising from shared faith

Nurtured by ideas and dream and worries shared

Tended by patience with poor Portuguese

Enriched by acceptance as a sister

Amazed by overflowing hospitality

Encircled by the love of a gracious, 
generous God who has given this gift.

The dust on my feet goes with me

But a piece of my heart stays behind.

Kitch Shatzer

revkitch@hotmail.com