Chris celebrated his 21st birthday several times J. We went out the night of January 16th into the 17th and then had a cake for him in class.
On Wednesday we visited a Case IH plant in Piracicaba which makes coffee and sugar cane harvesters and sprayers. Pictures were not allowed most of the time so what we saw is not necessarily depicted. We were able to see the equipment. The sugar cane harvester is pretty amazing. Brazil is the largest producer of sugar cane. What is important to know is that In Brazil by 2014 all sugar cane production is to be done by machine. One new machine will replace 90 people. The topography of the land will determine if production can be done by machine or must continue to be done by hand. The estimate is that 90% of the sugar cane production will be done by machine. What is Brazil going to do with all the displaced people who depend on their income from sugar cane? The economy must be growing to absorb these workers.
Wednesday evening the students celebrated Stephanie Verhoff’s birthday by going to Andre’s house and having hotdogs and beverages. I did not go. There are times when I think its best for students to experience the social culture without me being there. Also, I am just getting too old to go out every night How could that happen?
Wednesday afternoon we visited Coplacana which is one of the largest cooperatives in Brazil. We visited the biofuel facility and their recycling facility. We observed soybeans being made into soybean meal and then oil. The oil will then be converted to energy. In the pictures you can see the soybean meal and then oil being produced. The facility is not approved yet to take that last step from oil to energy so they sell the oil as they wait for approval.
Coplacana is also very proud of their recycling facility. Brazil is very conscious of the concept of recycling. You see it everywhere. While we were there the President of Coplacana stopped by. All farmers are required to recycle all chemical containers. You can see the truck loaded in the background with compressed plastic containers. You can also see the gift we gave to the Coplacana administrator who handled our tour.
The family stay has always been a highlight of the trip for most students. On Wednesday night the students met their host family. We had a splendid dinner together. The pictures show the students as they arrived. You can sense the nervousness and see the pieces of paper on which they have their introductions written. Each student introduced themselves in Portuguese and then was matched with their family and then sat with them for dinner and conversation. You can see some of the students introductions and then their family member coming up to greet them and take them to their seat. I am sure each student took lots of pictures of their home stay so ask them about what they did and what they observed about the family. The culture of the family is much different in Brazil than the U.S.
Thursday we visited the ESALQ dairy farm and learned the techniques and processes used and then listened to a post doc’s research on grasses.
Students and families always ask what I do over the weekend while the students are gone. It is always different each year. Friday night I went to the formal commencement party after the actual graduation ceremony. Graduates, family members, students and faculty were invited. About 300 students graduated. It did not start until 11:00 pm and probably went on until 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning. The entertainment was unique. I am not sure I can even describe the group. Tons of food was served, lots were dancing but mostly students, some parents. I don’t think we could pull off anything like this in the U.S. I did work most of the rest of the weekend including answering e-mails and quarters to semester conversion.
The last picture is taken out my window from Antonio’s. If you look close the Piracicaba soccer stadium is on the right. It was full for the first soccer game of the season. A big game and one of the best teams in the league were the visitors. Some of the students actually went to the game. It was loud and it ended in a tie. The smoke to the left was fireworks that were set off at one point I think before the game.
This week will be the last of the classes, tomorrow we will visit the largest dairy farm in Brazil in Tapiratiba and then a coffee cooperative in Cooxupe, and the written exam will be Thursday afternoon. We will leave for the long trip Thursday evening.
Take care,
AZP Class 13
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