D5220 GSE Team in Brazil

Today will be our last day in Boa Vista (probably). We had some free time while here, in part due to heavy rain canceling the first day's events. Boa Vista is an remote, safe, clean, well organized city of about 200,000. The Rotary club meets on Saturday's to make it easier for members to take extension courses in the University which, apparently, many of them do. We have done a little shopping here, toured the city, toured a nearby horse breeding ranch, and the water treatment plant. Saturday night we joined birthday party where we met many of the local Rotarians.

We are all staying at Fernando Quintella's house (the GSE coordinator for the district). Although he is in Manaus preparing for the Conference, his wife Daisy, is taking good care of us. She is a something of an old hippy. A follower of guru Sai Baba while still embracing her catholic devotions. She's very... very... very... very nice.

Yesterday we rode up to the Venezuelan border where the terrain shifts from forest to palm-treed savannah, and then to mountains. Spent the day across the border, touring the small city and taking pictures of views over the Venezuelan ´Gran Sabana´ (Great Savannah). Arriving in a Spanish speaking country I realized that I am now unable to speak Spanish without using at least two Portuguese words in every sentence, but at least they are still easier for me to understand than the Brazilians.

Few Brazilians we have met speak much English, so I have done the bulk of the translating. Everyone thinks I'm doing a great job, but of course none of them speak enough of both languages to realize how much I'm making up as I go along.

Today we will meet with the Rotary club in an activity to delivery food to poor. It should be very interesting. Tonight we will return to Manaus in an overnight 10 hour bus ride. Fortunately the buses are very comfortable here.

The team is doing a great job. Everyone is keeping a journal and commenting on what will (and especially what won't) get into our presentation for the clubs back home. All the team members are

speaking at least a little Portuguese.

We had some kinks in our presentation to work out, but I think we are ready for a large audience at the District Conference. Our presentation is in the form of a Game Show, where I am the host and the team members are contestants answering questions about the district. The format is livelier than what they are used to seeing from GSE teams and breaks up each team member's part into small, easy to deliver speeches. The clubs have really enjoyed the presentation.

Rona has been able to get in some shopping, and the guys are keeping up on sports via the internet. Sharks are up 3-0 over the Avalanche. Goalie Evgeni Nabokov is hot. Could be the Sharks year!

We are greatly enjoying the trip, and everyone is aware that this is something we will remember and treasure for the rest of our lives.

John Crane

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Rotary District 5220 - Serving California's Central Valley and Mother Lode