As you know we arrived in Brazil safe and sound. For the most part, the trip was uneventful. Everyone’s luggage arrived with us except for one piece, and it was mine, so the students were ready to go once we landed. Danielle was the one student who had not flown before and she did just fine.
We met our Brazilian contacts at the airport once we got through customs. Dr. Ricardo Shirota is the in country coordinator and he has two undergraduate student interns, Ana Vitoria and Andre who help him. The two students stay with the group most of the time we are in country. They assist with planning the program but also integrating the AZP group into the country both socially and culturally and assist with translation of the language. Shirota completed is PhD in Agricultural Economics at OSU so he has a strong commitment to OSU and our students.
It was a two hour ride by bus from Sao Paulo to Piracicaba. We stopped for lunch on the way so the students were able to immediately experience the food of Brazil. We stopped at a restaurant (truck stop style) with a buffet. Like most Brazilian restaurants the food is weighed by the kilo. You will have to ask them about the food. Once we arrived at Antonio’s Palace the students moved into their rooms, cleaned up and then we headed on a campus tour.
Then we went on a city tour and ate supper at a nice style buffet where they were able to experience even different foods. We also surprised Tyler with a birthday celebration for his 20th birthday where we learned about the Brazilian custom of cutting the cake. Tyler had to cut the cake Brazilian style and he gave the first piece to Shirota. Sleep came early that night.
Thursday (yesterday) we began the formal classes with a welcome and then Cristina offered the first lesson on survival Portuguese while I went to the bank to convert the students’ money, so they had Brazilian reals for lunch. The students were asked to introduce themselves and they learned some food items. For the days we are in classes, it is a real adjustment for the Buckeyes. A typical Brazilian college day goes from 8:00 am-6:00 pm with the same instructor all morning and then either the same in the afternoon or a different instructor. There is a two hour break for lunch. U.S. students usually do not have the same subject for that long of a period of time. Prof Pedro Mello presented all afternoon. His focus is on Brazilian Economics. Last night the group went out for a nice dinner and learned more about each other, tried Brazilian pizza, learned more about the student interns. One of Ana Vitoria’s friends also joined us for supper. Today Prof. Mello is discussing the importance of being a BRIC Country.
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