Forum
Monthly Newsletter
Save the date
Upcoming AmSoc events
March 17th - St. Patricks Happy Hour
April 17th - Easter Party for children
May 5th - 2011 Annual General Meeting
May 14th - AMSOC Team Tennis Tournament
July 2nd - 4th of July celebration
See page 9
The Parenting Issue
Barbies and Brigadeiro
Page 4: Been invited to your
first Brazilian children’s birthday
party and don’t know what to
expect? Brace yourself!
Outsource parenting
Page 6: Surprised by seeing
kids run around a restaurant at
10pm? Read one parent’s view
on adapting her kids schedule.
TCK revisited
Page 7: A personal account of
growing up in both the US and
Brazil. What do you say if people
ask you where you are from?
Our Mission
The American Society of São Paulo
promotes friendship by organizing
social, cultural and athletic events for
its diverse membership; encourages
integration with the Brazilian society;
and supports the American traditions
of education, philanthropy and
volunteerism.
St. Patrick’s Day Happy Hour
Come join fellow Amsoc
members and friends for an evening
of music and fun to celebrate St.
Patrick’s Day.
When: Thursday, March 17th
Where: All Black Irish Pub - Rua
Oscar Freire, 163, Jardins
Get there before 8:00 p.m. and
enjoy the Amsoc special R$ 25,00
cover charge (regular price that night
will be R$ 35,00 for women and R$
60,00 for men) which includes a
welcome drink, the music of 3 Irish
bands and plenty of fun!
Volunteer Day April 9th
How do you create the perfect Saturday
in São Paulo? On April 9th, come spend
a few hours playing games, swimming,
cooking out, and sharing quality time with
some of São Paulo’s most underprivileged
children at the Second Annual Volunteer
Day at the U.S. Consulate.
The Community Action Committee
(CAC) of the American Society is
looking for volunteers of all ages to make
this year’s Volunteer Day a success.
You can choose to participate in the
activity you like the most: tennis, soccer,
swimming, playing games, face painting,
crafts, cooking lunch, etc. Families can
participate together, and kids are welcome
to come and help.
The children who will come to play
on Volunteer Day do not have access
to safe, green space to run around, or
clean swimming pools to cool off on
these hot summer days. The joy they
receive from getting exercise outdoors
in a safe environment with their friends
is priceless. They will have a chance to
relax and let down their guard for a while,
March 2011
www.amsoc.com.br
and you as a volunteer can help give them
that important down time that they need.
If you have been thinking about how
you can become more involved in your
local community here in São Paulo, you
are like most of us. We all want to do
our part to make a positive impact during
our time in Brazil. Finding our niche
and reaching a bit beyond our everyday
routines can be challenging. During
Volunteer Day, we will have information
on the ten locations where the American
Society is doing non-profit work, and
most importantly how you can become
involved.
You can sign up for Volunteer Day
shifts from 10:30-1:30 and from 1:00-4:00
by contacting the CAC’s new Volunteer
Coordinator Guadalupe Alas (phone and
email here). We also need donations of
snacks, drinks, hamburgers, hotdogs, and
baked goods, or you can sponsor lunch
for a child for just R$10.
Thank you in advance for your
involvement. We are looking forward to
fabulous day!
 The President’s Corner
A few years
ago, a friend of
mine asked me
if I had ever
considered
joining the Board
of Governors of
The American
Society of São
Paulo. She
encouraged me
By Tim Scott, AmSoc president
to think about it
and then to enthusiastically jump in!
“It will be fun”, she said. Well, turns
out she was right. The past few years
as a member of the Board have been
fun and beneficial in unexpected ways.
From working with Little League, to
playing softball, helping with Angel
Party, relaxing at a happy hour, to
celebrating Fourth of July parties;
American Society is an organization
that gives a lot to those who join in.
As I write to you now, I’m in the
middle of a house scattered with
cardboard boxes, wrapping paper,
suitcases and people packing up all
our life’s possessions into one 40 foot
shipping container. In March, we will
be moving out of our home in Brazil
and back to the USA. Brazil has
been our home for the past four and
a half years and here we will leave
some of our heart and take many
beautiful memories. Mostly we will
miss the richness and diversity of the
community of people in which we
lived.
Forum is published monthly, with
the exception of January and July, by
About Forum
The American Society of São Paulo
Rua da Paz, 1431 04713-001 São Paulo, SP
Tel: (11) 5182-2074 Fax: (11) 5182-9155
forum@amsoc.com.br
2 Forum
My move has come some months
earlier than expected. The normal term
as president of The American Society
continues until May, when we host our
Annual General Meeting. Thus for the
remaining two months of my term, the
current vice-president, Joe Sherman,
will assume the presidency. I welcome
Joe and thank him for his willingness
to step into the job and for his past
two years of support and help as a
fellow officer with me. I would also
like to thank all the Board Members
and Celina Sampio, our office manger,
for their work and support. I also like
to express thanks from Amsoc to the
team at the US Consulate in São Paulo;
whose ongoing support has been so
important to Amsoc.
As always, if you have questions
or comments on American Society,
or would like to join us as a Board
member, please contact me or any of
our officers. We have various social,
philanthropic and sports activities that
would benefit from your involvement.
Plus, while your support as a volunteer
makes a difference in the lives of those
in our community, your support also
makes a difference in your own life.
Abraços, Tim
Lynn Cordeiro, editor and layout
Channtal Fleischfresser,
staff writer
Forum is printed by EGB.
(http://www.egb.com.br)
Views expressed in Forum do
not necessarily reflect those of
the American Society board of
governors, members, or staff.
Forum reserves the right to edit
content for brevity and/or clarity.
March

Welcome to our new members
Please welcome the following New Members who joined us at the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011. We are very grateful
for their support, and that of all our members! WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SÃO PAULO!
Your Membership Committee
NAME
Suzanne & Adriano FERREIRA
Bryan D. & Fabiana GORAK
L. John & Jean D. GRIFFITH
Maureen K. & Vinicius J. ALVES
Erik & Vivian JOSPA
Michelle MARRELLO
Devin P. WARD
Erica & Brian WINTER
Consular Report of Birth Abroad Certificate (CRBA)
The Consular Report of Birth
Abroad (CRBA) moratorium is
finally over! The Department of State
has totally revamped the look of the
CRBA that we issue to our youngest
American citizens. The following
long-awaited improvements include
advanced security features which will
significantly lessen the possibility of
fraud and stolen identities.
As of February 09, 2011, ACS São
Paulo will continue to authenticate the
citizenship of children born overseas
to U.S. citizen parents, but the CRBAs
will be printed at our passport agencies
in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and
New Orleans, Louisiana.
CRBA processing will be much like
2011
MEMBERSHIP TYPE CITIZENSHIP
Family American
Family American
Family Patron American
Family Patron American
Family Patron American
Junior American
Patron American
Family American
that of passport processing. CRBAs will
arrive at your residence approximately
10- 12 days after your visit to the ACS
office. By centralizing production
and eliminating the distribution of
controlled blank CRBA Certificate
stock throughout the world, we expect
to ensure uniform quality and lessen
the possibility of fraud.
Unfortunately, American Citizen
Services in São Paulo will no longer
be able to provide same day service,
since the CRBA will now be printed in
the United States. We believe this will
not significantly inconvenience our
customers, since the CRBA Certificate
is an optional citizenship document,
not a travel document, and the benefits
The American Society
of São Paulo
COMPANY OR PROFESSION
General Motors
Graham Packaging
Sitron
Graded School
Aon
of the new security features outweigh
any minor inconvenience caused by
the longer processing time. CRBA
applicants with urgent travel needs do
not need to wait to receive their CRBA
to apply for a passport. Applicants
with urgent travel needs will be issued
emergency passports at our Embassies
and Consulates.
We will no longer issue the DS-1350
Certification of Report of Birth Abroad.
Instead, the Department will simply
provide new FS-240s in response to
requests for additional, replacement, or
amended CRBAs.
In case you have specific inquiries
about your case, please email us at
acssaopaulo@state.gov
Forum 3
 Barbies and Brigadeiro
By Megan Farrell

Having children in São Paulo means conducted, there are obligations that 1. Sweet Table
you will probably be exposed to a social MUST be abided by. The design of the Sweet Table is on
circuit that you may not have expected the same level of importance for the
– the Brazilian children’s birthday In planning my daughter’s party, I birthday party as is the set design for a
party. Even if you do not have children, attempted to side step a few of these. Broadway performance. It consists of
you will most likely at some point be I received reactions such as “Well, hundreds of sweets, strategically placed
invited to one of these events. If this alright, if you don’t want to have a around the other decorations. But most
invitation does materialize, you should beautiful party for your daughter, that importantly NO ONE TOUCHES the
be ready, for it may be much different might work,” as well as the straight sweet table until after the birthday
than what you are accustomed to. forward, “That’s not how we do it candles have been blown out. No one.
There are That means you. An
three ways a interesting objective
child’s birthday is when you have fifty
orchestrated here or more little children
in São Paulo. running around wild
and free.
1. A company is Two critical
hired to put it on components of the
at the parents’ party exist on the Sweet
choice of location. Table for the extent of
This can range the event:
from a team of
five or six to play 2. Brigadeiro
music, games A Brigadeiro is a
and pass out hot condensed milk based,
dogs, cheese balls, chocolate candy found
cheese bread, at each and every
cheese puffs, birthday party. There
cheese on a stick, are often other sweets
etc., to a team of on the table as well,
twenty plus with like Beijinho de Coco
walkie-talkie (also condensed milk
headsets that will based) and Flor de
organize the multi-room activities here in Brazil.” My responses included Moça (also condensed milk based)
of your mansion and provide valet various versions of “But why can’t I and Copinho de Moça (also condensed
parking. have an American birthday party?” milk based). However, apparently, if
Finally, my Brazilian husband put Brazilian guests walk into your party
2. It is held at one of the hundreds of it in terms that I could understand. and see that there are no Brigadeiro on
locations specifically designed for Expectations. He explained that people that Sweet Table… well, forget it. They
children’s birthday parties, known as expected certain things at a child’s walk right back out without even an
“buffet infantils.” birthday party, and if these things “Ola.” (And you as a foreigner should
weren’t there, then the guests would be feel obliged to do the same.)
3. You do the whole thing yourself. unhappy. They might even stuff their
This was my choice for my 3-year-old gifts back into their Gucci bags and slip 3. Dolls
daughter’s party. This option is only out the back before the cake was cut. Do not be alarmed when you
possible if you have Brazilian relatives Being a firm believer that managing encounter, standing amongst the sweets,
and/or friends to help you. And right expectations is the key to making the large collection of Barbie-style
off the bat, they will tell you that the practically anything successful, I gave dolls staring at you (for boys birthdays
shady excuses for birthday parties in. it’s foam creatures). I have witnessed
you’ve produced thus far will not fly in The following outlines what to first-hand, as well as in pictures, scenes
their country. expect when you attend (or if you are with armies of dolls covering birthday
brave enough to conduct) a child’s Sweet Tables that would make a child’s
Regardless of how the event is birthday party in São Paulo. head spin. Sometimes it can be overkill.

4 Forum March
 The American Society
of São Paulo

But alas, it is an important element
in completing whatever the birthday
party theme is for the child.
Aside from the Sweet Table,
there are a few more prerequisites
that ensure a birthday party doesn’t
disappoint.
4. Equipment
The Brazilian birthday party
doesn’t rely on the children to be
amused by a simple Piñata or by
smacking each other in the face
with balloons and blowouts. Nope.
It involves providing some type of
physical-activity equipment. Jumpy
castles, ball pits, trampolines…
If you have children, this is most
excellent because by the time your
child has spent an entire evening
jumping and eating sugar, he or she
will instantly fall into a 10 to 12
hour coma the minute his or her little
head hits the pillow. Buffet infantils
are even better as it often includes
multi-levels of child entertainment.
An invitation to one of these parties
means your kid will sleep well for
nights to come.
5. Entertainers
In a country where couples rarely
entertain their children at home on
their own, why would they want to
do so at a party? While the nannies
are off eating hot dogs and drinking
Guarana, the party entertainers
guarantee that the kids, the ones
not risking their lives on jumping
apparatus, remain occupied.
6. Mini Hot Dogs
If you haven’t acquired a taste for
mini hot dogs yet, you may want to
stop for a bite before you arrive at
your party destination. This is such
a critical element of the party, I
shudder to think what might happen
if mini hot dogs are not an option
on the menu. The movie Children of
the Corn comes to mind.
With all of this activity, you may
be wondering, “How on earth do
these productions end?” The finale
involves the child being paraded
around, in a costume, as everyone
chants a Brazilian, ritualistic
sounding version of Happy
Birthday. He or she is then dropped
behind the cake, with parents in
tow, bearing the wide, terrified eyes
of someone about to be sacrificed.
He or she is coaxed into blowing
out the candles and everyone makes
a mad dash to grab… you guessed
it… Brigadeiro.
So when the time comes, go out
and get yourself an overpriced toy,
warm up your appetite for sugar
and cheese, and have a great time
knowing you are well prepared for
what you will find.
Megan Farrell-Fuchsloch relocated
to São Paulo in July of 2010 with
her husband and daughter Sophia.
Most recently, Megan was a Senior
Director with the Merrill Lynch
Global Research and Economics
group in New York City. Currently,
Megan keeps busy with her
daughter and documenting her
Brazilian adventures on her website
Born Again Brazilian (www.
bornagainbrazilian.com).

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2011 Forum 5
 The Brazilian Outsource Parenting model
By Elizabeth Hayes
There is something about child-
rearing in Brazil that intrigues an
American expat like myself. Having
moved here from L.A., where the only
thing organic about raising children is
the food, I couldn’t believe the freedom
children have here. I had been living
in L.A. only a couple of years and had
subscribed to the strict regimens and
schedules often imposed by schedule
wielding moms. A typical day for a
school-aged child in L.A. would be:
- Wake up no later than 7 a.m.
- School by 8 a.m., home by 2:30 or 3
p.m.
- Sports activity or gym until 5 p.m.
- Dinner by 5:30 p.m.
- Homework immediately following
dinner
- Bath immediately after homework
- Bed
This schedule is rigid, except
for scheduled play dates or therapy
sessions.
It is exhausting to run on this
schedule, but having adopted some form
of it as an L.A. mom, I developed the
endurance to manage two children with
little help. I conformed to it because
it’s what the seemingly successful
moms did and what society seemed to
expect of me. Even if you had help, in
the United States, or at least in L.A.,
you only had it if you worked full-time,
or needed the extra help to keep up with
your children’s hectic schedules. There
was always the implied judgment that
if you were a stay-at-home mom, that
was your job and having help of any
kind meant that you weren’t doing your
job properly.
When we moved here about 18
months ago, I was appalled by the lack
of discipline and boundaries children
6 Forum
appeared to have. Our baba thought it
was strange I put my children to bed by
7 p.m. every night. While some children
were having snacks, mine were sitting
down to dinner. I refused to let them
participate in some activities that might
throw off their schedule. My two-
year-old daughter would get invited
to birthday parties that went from 6 to
10 p.m. I couldn’t comprehend why
something as simple as a set bedtime
seemed incomprehensible to Brazilian
parents.
While I remain a firm believer in
being there for your children, now
having been in Brazil for a year and a
half, having the extra help has made me
a much more sane parent. Rather than
have to track every waking moment
in my children’s lives (and yes, they
only get busier as they get older), I can
outsource some of the more tedious
tasks that were reserved for me in my
not-so-distant life in L.A. While I
hear the complaints about how some
expats feel that this level of outsourced
parenting only adds to the untamed
behavior of many Brazilian children
who do not understand the word “no”,
at least my children have never really
like the word anyhow. Besides, what
I have observed about Brazilian babas
is how kindly they speak to treat the
children. While “no” may rarely be
used, they have other ways of saying
it that I find is more compassionate
and kind than the harsh “no’s” we are
accustomed to in America.
There is also something to be said
for how Brazilian society as a whole
treats children compared to U.S.
society. Whenever we travel to back to
the United States, inevitably there is an
incident that affirms why I’d rather be in
Brazil with my children. It never ceases
to disappoint me how poorly children
are often treated in the United States.
Usually they are completely ignored in
restaurants, or literally walked over by
people who do not bother to see them.
It has been a pleasant change to be in a
country where children are seen as real
beings with personalities and opinions.
One of my greatest teachers once said
that you can determine the state of a
country by how it treats its children. I
can’t help but agree with her.
What every child wants and needs
is unconditional love and acceptance.
Parenting styles differ from country
to country, person to person. It’s up
to us as parents to determine how we
can give this to our children and what
values we want to share most with
them. I’m grateful for my time here in
Brazil. While I may still be a bit of a
disciplinarian with my children when it
comes to sleep schedules, adapting to
the Brazilian culture has made me less
neurotic about scheduling and sleep
than I used to be.
When I look at my friends in L.A., I
can see how the deep need to schedule
our children is in part a by-product
of the fear we experience as parents.
We care so much about being able to
provide a happy and safe environment
for our children in all areas of their
lives. But this can be almost self-
defeating if we’re imposing rather than
listening to our children. Being here in
Brazil has taught me to connect better
with my children, being attuned to their
needs and their rhythms. I feel we have
the benefit of taking all the positives
of each culture and broadening the
perspectives of our children, making
them well-rounded and self-governing
individuals.
Elizabeth Hayes currently resides in
São Paulo with her lawyer husband and
two small children. She is a seasoned
expat and spiritual adviser practicing
Soul Memory Discovery, a spiritual
healing modality that uses the power
of words to identify and release issues
that limit our lives. She has clients
all over the world. She has recently
launched her blog, “Spiritual Heeling”
(www.spiritualheeling.com), where she
shares her experiences as a new-age
spiritual advisor, seasoned expat and
shoe lover.
March

Growing up as TCK: a personal view
By Channtal Fleischfresser, staff writer
Back in September, Jami Mabile
Oakley wrote an article about Third
Culture Kids (TCK) and the challenge of
living in a culture that is different from
where you or your parents grew up. As
a Third Culture Kid myself, I thought
I’d share some of my experiences –
both good and bad – of growing up in a
country that was not my own.
I was born in São Paulo to Brazilian
parents, and while I grew up speaking
both English and Portuguese, I was
well on my way to becoming a regular
Brazilian like everyone else. When
I was seven and a half, my dad’s job
transferred him to New York, so my
mother, father, grandmother, brother
and I moved to Scarsdale, NY, a few
miles outside of Manhattan. We were
English speakers, but culturally very
much Brazilian.
Naturally, we missed many social
cues, and some cultural do’s and don’ts
had to be learned the hard way. My first
summer in Scarsdale, I took a walk
with my grandmother. It was hot, so of
course, I took my shirt off. Within hours
the gossip had spread like wildfire, and
we heard that the little foreign girl had
been walking around town half-naked.
(Years later, my older, culturally-
assimilated self would remember the
incident with a mortified cringe.)
My brother Chris, a year younger
than me, was invited to a birthday party
shortly after we arrived in Scarsdale. He
showed up in a bowtie and suspenders.
My mother thought he looked adorable.
Later that night, Chris meekly asked
my mother if he could wear something
else to his next party.
But we were kids, and we adapted
quickly. Within a year I had no accent
in English (still a source of confusion
for people I meet even today). Soon
my brother, who was six when we
moved, barely spoke Portuguese –
he interacted with my Portuguese-
speaking grandmother only in “yesses”
and “nos.” From that day on, my
parents started speaking Portuguese to
us instead of English.
2010
2011
After a few years, when people
asked my parents where we were from,
the standard answer was not “we are
Brazilian,” but the more remote “we
are originally from Brazil.” As our
two-year stay stretched to three, then
five, then eight, the possibility of us
ever returning to Brazil was entirely
off my radar, and my connection to the
country disappeared accordingly.
But then, the summer I turned
sixteen, my family moved back to
Brazil. (Note: this is an unfortunate age
to move.) By then, I was your average
American teenager. In more than eight
years I had been back to Brazil only
twice for short visits. I had adopted
American notions of privacy, personal
space, and political correctness. Having
spoken Portuguese only to my parents
for most of my life, my vocabulary was
littered with 1980s slang, something
my classmates did not let me forget.
Upon ‘re-entry’ I once again missed
many social cues. In one of my life’s
more embarrassing moments, I showed
up to a fifteen-year-old girl’s birthday
party in a wetsuit. In my defense, I
(clearly) mistook the ‘under-the-sea’
theme for a costume party. So I wore a
costume. My mistake became evident
when my classmates showed up in
floor-length gowns – with seashells
embroidered into the lining.
I finished high school here in São
Paulo, but at 18 I once again switched
continents and went back to the East
Coast for college – where I fit in
immediately. Even though there were
plenty of Brazilians at my school, my
closest friends to this day are American
and lived on my freshman year hall.
After college, I remained close with
my friends but never stayed in the
same place for too long. Following
an unsuccessful two-month stint in
Durango, CO, I lived in Boston for two
years and New York for another two
and a half. Since none of these places
were ‘home,’ I had nothing holding me
down in any of them.
I moved back to São Paulo after
The American Society
of São Paulo
nearly 10 years away in December
2009. I’d always felt a desire to come
back to Brazil. Although I spent well
over half my life in the U.S., my whole
family was here, and I had never felt
entirely at home in the States. I was
tired of feeling uprooted and finally
wanted to live somewhere I could
really call home.
But even now, having been back for
more than a year, often I still feel like
an American with a Brazilian passport.
Sometimes I wish I had an accent in
English, if only to avoid confusion
when English speakers refuse to believe
that I am actually Brazilian.
Back in the U.S., I was the go-
to person for trivia and pop culture
references. I was a walking Internet
Movie Database. Now I always lose
at trivia. I don’t recognize the people
staring up at me in Caras magazine. I
had an hour-long conversation about
journalism with a famous Brazilian
news anchor and only later found out
who he was. And when I go to karaoke,
it’s only fun when they play American
songs, because most of the Brazilian
ones are lost on me.
My brother and I are very aware to
this day that although this is our country,
we don’t quite fit in. He came back at
14 and never left, while I spent another
10 years in the U.S. after High School.
Yet English still comes easier to him
than Portuguese, and his entire lexicon
of childhood cultural references comes
from American cartoons, songs, and TV
shows. We don’t know the old songs
that everyone else knows, and when
conversations turn to “you remember
when we used to…” it usually means
that no, we won’t remember.
I can speak for most Third Culture
Kids in saying that we will most likely
never feel completely at home in any
one country. But on the flip side, we
have two countries to call our own, and
that’s more than most people can say.
How can that be a bad thing?
Forum 7
 The Community Action Committee needs your help!
How can you help?
The orphanages, day care centers and
educational programs that the American
Society sponsors have similar general
needs. These are on-going and require
a dedicated time every week or every
month, but getting to know these kids
makes it all worth while. Some of the
general things a volunteer could do
include:
- Teaching English on a regular basis to
children and teenagers.
- Giving one-on-one classes to kids
struggling in different subjects in
school.
- Volunteering your skills as a
psychologist to help at-risk youth.
- Teaching life skills (sewing on
buttons, balancing a checkbook, using
a computer, cooking) to teenagers.
- Offering an internship or entry-
level job to kids graduating from the
orphanages and moving out on their
own.
- Caring for babies and toddlers.
- Taking children on outings.
If you’d like more information on
volunteering at one of the institutions
that the American Society helps
support, contact Guadalupe Alas at
lupealas@hotmail.com
Specific needs change every month.
This month, our institutions urgently
need these things:
Associação Maria Helen Drexel Baby
clothes, blankets, milk and accessories
for six newly arrived babies.
SPACE Donations towards school
uniforms for the new school year at
R$120 per child
Mission ABBA Interior paint to cover
70 square meters (or four bedrooms).
Masculine colors or white preferred.
Vivenda da Criança: Exterior paint
for use in the remodeling of the
professional center; 15 new computers
for the computer center.
Casa Limiar Perishable food: meat, fruit
and vegetables on a one-time or regular
basis.
Projeto Sol Industrial freezer; industrial
dishwasher; tables and benches for
children to use at meals; art supplies
(paper, colored pencils and such).
If you can help with any of these
specific needs, contact Eileen Tasso at
eileentasso@gmail.com

CAC thanks....
The American Society would like to
thank everyone who donated milk in
December to help the new babies at
Casa Limiar, one of the organizations
that the Community Action Committee
helps support. Our goal was to send
Casa Limiar 100 cans of milk, enough
to feed the babies for two months. When
the campaign ended, we were able to
donate 190 cans of milk, diapers, baby
clothes and enough cash to buy milk
for two more months when the stock
ran out. Our community went above
and beyond the call of duty, yet again.
Thank you!
Our current campaign, set to close
March 3, will donate “baby stuff”
for the six new babies at Associação
Maria Helen Drexel. If you have new
or used baby clothes, blankets, sheets,
strollers and car seats or would like to
go shopping for soap, shampoo, NAN
baby formula, bottles, pacifiers or other
items, please contact Sue Banman Sileci
at sue@sileci.com for information on
drop off points. Nadia Venezian, Eileen Tasso and one of Casa Limiar’s new babies

8 Forum March
 The American Society
of São Paulo

Save the date! INC Gala

April 17th - Easter Party for children April 16th
11.30am - 1.30pm at Chapel School. There will be sandwiches, soft drinks &
water, and cupcakes and Easter egg hunting in the yard Come and celebrate the International
Newcomers Club 50th Anniversary.
May 5th - 2011 Annual General Meeting
To mark this ‘golden chapter’ of
Save the date to our Annual General Meeting that will happen on May 5th INC, and to celebrate all the friendships
from 8pm to 10pm at the Consuls Residence. forged during their first 50 years in
We will have the opportunity to celebrate our achievements, present the São Paulo, INC is hosting a 50th
plans for the coming year and socialize. Anniversary Gala Event and would
Remember, this is an event catered only for members so if you have a guest like to invite all Amsoc members and
you would like to introduce to our community, this would be a wonderful their friends.
occasion to invite them to join in our club. “Light up the Golden Night” is the
In order to better serve and for security reasons we ask you to call the theme for the event which will take
office 5182 2074 by April 5th to reserve your invitation. We apologise in place at the beautifully peaceful and
advance that no exceptions to this can be made. If you have not registered leafy Hípico Club in Santo Amaro.
previously you will not be allowed to join the event for security reasons. Situated in the bustling zona sul of
São Paulo, the Hípico Club’s unique
May 14th - AMSOC Team Tennis Tournament landscape of tranquil gardens and
woodland is an unexpected delight.
The 2011 AmSoc Tennis tournament will be open to any players of all Founded in 1935 as an exclusive
levels. The format of the competition is a team format and we will have a equestrian club, the beautifully restored
BBQ lunch as well as prizes. buildings blend in harmoniously with
Entry deadline: May 6th. You will need to submit your name, address, the rainforest landscape which is also
telephone, email, estimated tennis level, avg. # of times you play per month, home to many birds.
and shirt size. There will be no need to form your own teams. We will do that A must-see for any ex-pats living in
based on the entries received. Price and location have yet to be determined. São Paulo, the peaceful setting of the
Should last most of the day on Saturday. Hípico Club has earned it a reputation
as very ‘chic’ amongst local Paulistas.
July 2nd - 4th of July celebration As a much sought-after and popular
venue, it plays host to many weddings
One of our favorite annual events is the July 4th celebration. If we were in and special events. “Light Up the
the United States we’d probably have burgers and dogs, with some fun and Golden Night” offers the chance to
games maybe a few fireworks at night just to lighten things up a bit. WELL, dress up, dine and dance with friends
you’re in luck; AMSOC will host our Independence Day Celebration this year and colleagues in a famous São Paulo
on July 2nd (because the 4th is Monday). location. And a perfect opportunity to
This is a “MEMBERS ONLY” event for all families and singles. YES, we’ll make new friends from all over the
have Burgers and Dogs, Rock N Roll music, jumping games for the kids, live world too.
auction for the adults, FREE beer and great Carparinhas provide by our U.S.
Marines for sale. So, plan to attend, set the date aside for an afternoon filled Save the date of 16th April 2011 in
with great Friends, Food and Fun. The location will be announced in our May your calendars now.
issue of the FORUM, so be on the look out. OH Yes, each families entrance
fee is a dish to pass that complements Burgers & Dogs or a dessert to die for… Tickets can be purchased individually
which will you bring? or in tables of 8. Prices and further
details will be released shortly.

Trouble with our newsletter? INC hopes you and your friends and
colleagues can join what will be a very
We have been getting reports that some members are not receiving our fun and memorable evening at one of
email newsletter. If this is happening to you please check your spam box São Paulo’s most beautiful locations.
and mark the newsletter as ‘safe’. If you have done this and you are still
not receiving the newsletter please contact the AmSoc office for help. Please contact gala50@newcomers-sp.
com.br for more information.

2011 Forum 9
 The AmSoc Abacaxi Bowl 2011 results
from the desk of John Kennedy, Director of AMSOC Athletics

two seeds then in the finals losing by 7 points.

getting byes The Carcamanos also were impressive
and the other and convincing in their victories over
four teams 6-time Champions PACA and a very
playing in a strong US Consulate team to get to the
Wild Card finals.
round. But the star performances again
A n d were with a well-schooled and athletic
unique to Cougar team, led by Chris Harshberger,
past Abacaxi their long-time captain who always
B o w l s , seems to find a way to be in final,
this year whether it be a football, softball, and
saw a TV basketball tournament. This year’s
crew from tournament MVP was divided between
Bandsports Cougar newcomer Adam Seale and
on the field regular Mike Miller.
filming the
games and Results w-l
conducting
interviews. 1. Cougars 5-0
On February 5th at the Graded Led by their US football color
School in Morumbi, the American commentator, Silvio Santos, his 2. Carcamanos 4-2
Society hosted its 13th annual Abacaxi intention was to have three minutes of
Bowl. Nine teams participated the Abacaxi Bowl as a special highlight 3. Palmeiras Locomotives 2–1
and approximately 200 players and during the Super Bowl the following
spectators enjoyed the activities, which day, depicting how the American 4. US Consulate 2–1
started at 10am and ended at 5pm. The community in Sa Paulo celebrates the
Cougars defended their crown and Super Bowl. But at the last minute 5. PACA 1–2
became the third multiple winner along the 3 minutes got squeezed out and
with PACA school’s six championships was eventually aired on the following 6. Devilz 1–2
and Chapel school’s two. Tuesday night at 845pm.
This year our format was different The surprise of the tournament this 7. AMSOC 0-2
than in the past because we first had 3 year was another first time entry of a
groups of 3 teams play each other. Then Brazilian team, the Carcamanos. They 8. Graded 0–2
only the first and second place teams played the Cougars twice, first in the
of each group advanced, with the first round robin losing be 2 points, and 9. GM 0–2

Fellowship Community Church

The Welcome Place since 1921
Phone (11) 3253-7609 www.fellowship.com.br

09:00 am - Walking in Faith Classes (English and Portuguese)

Sunday’s 10:30 am – Worship Service (English only)

06:00 pm – Culto em português

Conveniently located on Rua Carlos Sampaio, 107 – Bela Vista

Just a block and a half from the Brigadeiro Metro station on the Avenida Paulista

10 Forum March

Kids activities in and around SP
By Channtal Fleischfresser, staff writer
São Paulo may sometimes seem like
not the most child-friendly of places,
but in and around this sprawling city,
there is truly something for everyone.
If you are looking for new and exciting
activities for your family, here are
some options that are worth
checking out.
At the Zôo Safari,
formerly known as Simba
Safari, you can drive your
car through a wildlife
reserve that is home to 380
animals and 42 different
species. Fun for children
and adults, it is the only
safari of its kind in Latin
America. The zoo is located
at Avenida do Cursino, 6338
in Ipiranga, and it is open
Tuesdays thru Sundays.
For slightly older kids,
the Playcenter, located
along Marginal do Tietê, is
an accessible amusement
park with in the city limits. The
park is open Friday thru Sunday and
features 35 rides. Through April 10,
tickets purchased online receive a 30%
discount.
The Museu Catavento is a great
place for kids to learn about science
and society, with interactive activities
recommended for children ages 6 and
up. Located at Parque Dom Pedro II
in the Centro, the museum displays
2011
allow children to interact with science:
in one section, they can turn a handle
to illuminate a miniature city with the
help of a miniature hydroelectric plant.
The Museu Catavento is open Tuesday
thru Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you are looking to get out of the
city for the day, Bichomania, in Cotia, is
a great weekend option. A few minutes
outside of São Paulo, kids can ride
carriages, horses, and greet a variety
of animals, including sheep, parrots,
owls, monkeys, deer, and alpacas.
Bichomania is open from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Also near Cotia, the Cidade das
Abelhas teaches kids aged 2 thru 8 all
The American Society
of São Paulo
about bees. Kids can crawl into a tunnel
shaped like a giant bee, travel through
tubes, slides, trampolines, swings, and
other attractions. The park also has
several installations that teach young
kids about apiculture. The Cidade das
Abelhas is located on the
Estrada da Ressaca, km7, near
Embu das Artes and Cotia,
and is open from 8:30 a.m.
thru 5 p.m. from Tuesday thru
Sunday.
If your kids are interested
in the theatre, Sampa Online’s
Guia Cultural Infantil has a
section dedicated to plays and
musicals for children. Thru
July 23, Little Red Riding
Hood is playing at the Teatro
Ruth Escobar on Saturdays at
4 p.m. Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs is showing thru
July 24, at the Teatro Maria
Della Costa on Sundays at
5:40 p.m. And parents and
kids can enjoy a musical version of
the Three Little Pigs at the Teatro Bibi
Ferreira (Saturdays and Sundays at 3
p.m.) until June 30.
For more information on these and
other child-friendly activities, the
Guia Quatro Rodas publishes a guide
to traveling with your kids, called
“Viagens com as Crianças,” with
suggestions of more than 200 places to
take your family.
Forum 11
 Travel in Brazil: Poços de Caldas
By Melissa Sabella Harkin, AmSoc member
Are you looking for a fun and
relaxing family getaway? Or maybe a
place to go on a romantic trip?
Picking the right place to holiday with
the family is always a tricky thing.
The parents foot the bill and make the
bookings, but there is a strong little
lobby group prancing around the house
and driving us crazy with demands
such as a swimming pool, a nearby
beach, etc.
A place for a romantic weekend is
also quite difficult to find. Usually you
can find romantic packages offered by
hotels, but nothing really stands out
about their location. So it is always
difficult to find a place that is suitable
for all purposes. A place that offers
fun and relaxing activities for all ages.
A place where parents can keep their
sanity while on vacation with the little
ones and where couples can keep the
love in the air.
Keeping all this in mind, as well as
the fact that, sometimes, all you have
is a short break such as a four-day
window, I suggest you go to Poços de
Caldas, in Minas Gerais State. Poços de
Caldas is a city in south-western Minas
Gerais state, with thermal waters, a
variety of touristic attractions and lots
of history.
The story of Poços de Caldas began
to be written from the discovery of
its primary fountains and wellsprings
in the seventeenth century, found
at the bottom of a volcano from 85
million years ago. The rare water with
healing powers was responsible for the
prosperity of the city.
The ban on gambling in 1946, and
the invention of antibiotics had a
strong impact on tourism in the county.
Hydrotherapy was no longer the most
effective way to treat diseases for which
it was indicated. And the casinos were
closed. The economy suffered a great
shock, but soon found its way back
when it joined the “ciclo da lua-de-
mel” (honeymoon route), in the 1950s,
when it became fashionable to spend
the honeymoon in the city. A romantic
12 Forum
status that is kept until nowadays. In
2006, the municipality invested to
increase the flow of tourists, exploring
other beautiful attractions available
in the area, for people of all ages and
tastes, such as eco-tourism, romantic,
cultural and adventurous activities and
extreme sports.
A considerable part of economic
activities in the city revolves around
tourism, thanks to the fame of its mineral
water springs used in various therapies.
Being about 260 km from the city of
São Paulo and 169 km from Campinas,
468 km from Belo Horizonte and 470
km from the city of Rio de Janeiro,
the flow of tourists from these centers
is significant, and it helps move local
businesses and even the production
of handmade candies and decorative
objects in fused glass, similar (not only
in appearance but in quality as well) to
the ones from Murano, Italy.
The city is very well taken care of,
with several green areas, among parks,
squares, gardens and São Domingos
Mountain, which has trails for walking.
The sulphurous water is the main
attraction and can be consumed in
several fountains and at the Thermas
Antônio Carlos. There is an aerial
tram to get to the Statue of Christ the
Redeemer (1,686 mts.). At the top
of the mountain there is a great view
of the city and the nearby mountains
as well as a group of professional
paragliders that can take you flying
above the natural beauties of the area.
The city also offers options such as a
Japanese tea garden, a theme park,
museums, theaters, and other cultural
events, the most important being
the yearly Music in the Mountains
Festival that happens in July (Festival
Música nas Montanhas) http://www.
festivalmusicanasmontanhas.com.br
The city was Beija-Flor’ samba
theme of the 2006 Carnaval, from
Rio de Janeiro. One of the cultural
attractions of Poços de Caldas is the
Banda Municipal Maestro Azevedo,
listed in 2005 as artistic and cultural
patrimony of the city, the band performs
on Sundays in the square bandstand
since 1914 and couples dance all
over the square. Other cultural events
also attract tourists, especially the
Symphony of the Waters, Festa UAI,
National Book Fair, Flipoços, Julho
Fest, Jazz & Blues Festival and Enaf.
The city and its surroundings offer
great hotels and resorts but I suggest
you stay at the Palace Hotel. Opened
in 1929 and recently restored by the
Carlton Plaza Group. Important for its
history, participated in Brazil’s history
in the Old Republic and the New State.
Hosted and still hosts great names of
Brazilian society and history, such as
Rui Barbosa, Santos Dumont, Olavo
Bilac, Carmem Miranda and former
President Juscelino Kubitschek, as
well as distinguished heads of state
from various countries. The Palace
Hotel, Thermas Antonio Carlos and
Palace Casino are surrounded by parks,
gardens and historic landmarks.
The Palace Hotel stands out as a
special attraction to visitors of Poços
de Caldas, because of its tradition,
elegance, grandeur and architectural
beauty.
Two seasons are typically more
defined: winter from April to
September, with lower temperatures
and lower rainfall (average temperature
15°C and total rainfall of 315mm) and
summer from October to March with
higher temperatures and increased
precipitation (average temperature
21°C and total rainfall of 1430mm).
The average annual rainfall is 1.695mm
and the average temperature is 17.6°C.
The absolute minimum and maximum
temperatures recorded were -6°C and
35°C, respectively.
More info at:
http://www.pocosdecaldas.mg.gov.br
http://www.brasilturismo.com/mg/
pocosdecaldas/
March

Things we missed:
Music classes in English
What we were missing: Music classes
for children in English
What we found: Kindermusik
Kindermusik is a method of early
childhood education in music and
movement. It combines the early
learning music methods of Carl Orff,
Zoltan Kodaly and Suzuki method with
early childhood development research.
The Kindermusik philosophy is
founded on the following fundamental
beliefs: every parent is the child’s
most important teacher, every child
is musical, the home is the most
important learning environment,
music nurtures a child’s cognitive,
emotional, social, language, and
physical development.
What to expect:
-Variety of music. Musical diversity
builds strong neural networks in
a baby’s forming mind, which is
why each Kindermusik semester
contains an array of styles, sounds,
and genres.
-Instrument play. Age-appropriate
experiences with child-safe
instruments enhances a sense of
rhythm and steady beat, develops a
keen awareness of the distinguishing
qualities of sound, and encourages
spontaneity and creativity.
-Dance. A classroom full of baby
and adult pairs dancing together
helps a little body develop the muscle
2011
The American Society
of São Paulo
strength needed to crawl and walk
and helps a little heart to fall in love
with the sheer joy of responding to
music.
-Together time. A Kindermusik
class is truly the essence of “quality
time,” offering you a place to create
special memories with your child,
gain new insights into your child’s
development, and nurture your child’s
natural love of music.
-Expert advice. A Kindermusik
educator explains “what-to-watch-
for” every step of the way and how
each activity enhances your child’s
complete development
Classes are 30-45 minutes once a
week and run from 4wks to 16 wks
depending on the time of year. Prices
range from 40-50 R per class with
Home materials included.
For more info contact
ww.singspeakmove.com
‘Things we missed’ introduces
products and services that are new
or were hard to find in Brazil. If you
have an idea for a product or service
that could be featured please write to
forum@amsoc.com.br
Please note that Forum is not
endorsing these products and services
and does not take any responsibility
for quality and/or performance or
lack thereof.
Forum 13

H ousing
Elegant furnished house in
Tamboré
Beautiful recently professionally deco-
rated furnished house for rent. 600 m²
with 2,000 m² of land. Heated swim-
ming pool. Nice barbecue area and
outdoor porch. 4 suites, family room,
living, dinning, large kitchen, maids
room and 3 car garage. The House is
complete ready to live in for high level
executive. To see photos, visit
www.suzimoniz.com.br – Avenida
Marília,105. To visit the house, call
(11) 8179-3131.
Taylor Real Estate
Luxury spacious houses, apartments
and penthouses. Sales and rentals. Ten
years experience with expatriates. Fur-
nished and unfurnished. Trilingual Real
Estate agents. References from consul-
ates and multinationals. Photos sent by
email. Relocation Service. Consult the
site: www.taylorimoveis.com. Email
- taylor@taylorimoveis.com. Phone:
5511 3079 8888 and 5511 8774 5100
(Maria Elisa).
Looking for Apartments
Looking for furnished, fully equipped
apartments in São Paulo. Offer man-
agement, promotion, purchasing, re-
modeling and decoration services for
your property. We will rent your flat
to foreign tourists & executives visit-
ing the city looking for alternative ac-
commodations. Highly experienced
specialized international group. Con-
tact: Paola B. de Estrada 9210-2201,
paola@apartmentssp.com or
www.apartmentssp.com
Luxury Home in Morumbi
Next to the luxurious Shop. Cidade
Jardim, with total area of 785m², 03
floors, 12 car garage, 3 deposits and 2
maid rooms. Elevator, air condition-
ing installed, fitted kitchen installed, 4
suites with dressing room and full bath,
master suite with dressing rooms and
with separate Mr. and Mrs. bathrooms.
High quality materials, project by re-
nowned architect. Call at 7404-4122
14 Forum
Luxury Home in Cidade Jardim
At just 10 minutes from Av. Faria Lima,
with total area of 905m², 03 floors.,12
car garage, 4 deposits and 3 maid
rooms. Elevator, air conditioning in-
stalled, fitted kitchen installed, 4 suites
with dressing room and full bath, mas-
ter suite with dressing rooms and with
separate Mr. and Mrs. bathrooms. High
quality materials, project by renowned
architect. Call at 7404-4122
S ervices
Personal Trainer
I will come to your home, office, or
workout facility and create an exercise/
fitness program tailored to your health
concerns, fitness goals, and schedule.
For adults and children, individuals or
groups. Sessions in English, Spanish,
or Portuguese. For more information
please contact Daniela Franco at (11)
9739-6191 or dsf29@hotmail.com.
Selling Up
Go with a pro! We have been selling
household goods for families, indi-
viduals, and companies for more than
20 years in São Paulo and Brasilia for
embassies. We have hundreds of pre-
selected clients wanting to buy from
you, safe and sound! Send an e-mail
to meredithsales@zaquie.com or za-
quie@zaquie.com or call (11) 5908-
1144 or (11) 7997-8808. Ask for Ms.
Zaquie Meredith.
Argos Dog Kennel
Traveling? What about your dog? Ar-
gos Kennel Hotel could be his second
home in the country. Food, water, and
shelter with lots of love and personal
care. No lonely kennel for him, but our
home and the freedom of a spacious
garden. Fetch and carry service. Eng-
lish and French spoken. Call Jean or
Christiane at (11) 4661-1430 or (11)
7143-0837 or send an e-mail to jean.
chris@uol.com.br. Embu Guaçu, SP.
Math and Science Tutor
Former Graded and Chapel teacher,
with 25-years experience, tutors Math,
Physics, Chemistry, and Science for all
classifieds
levels, including but not limited to the
IB, IGCSE, SAT-I & II, AP and Brazil-
ian vestibular. Elementary and middle
school students are also welcome (all
subjects). Call Fernando Knijnik at
(11) 9134-6700.
Psychotherapist for Ex-Pats
Serving Adults, Children, and Fami-
lies (also couples) struggling with all
adjustment issues. Specializing in is-
sues of divorce, separation, and recon-
ciliation. Many years experience with
drug/ alcohol issues. USA licensed as
MFT. Jungian Analyst experienced in
Sandtray, Dreamwork (groups also),
and Cognitive/ Behavioral therapy.
Please call/ email Matthew: 7734 5793
or mattvanlokeren@yahoo.com for a
free initial consultation.
American-Licensed Expat
Psychologist
Richard Morhaime, Psy.D., offers
skilled psychotherapy for children and
adults. He also provides complete di-
agnostic evaluations in English for
children with academic or behavioral
difficulties, featuring individualized
recommendations for school and home.
For more information, contact Dr.
Morhaime at 5538-0099 or 9669-8057
or visit www.expatpsychologist.com.
American Psychologist
Services for Expats
Sukie Miller Ph.D. early director of
Esalen, former Board Member Jung
Institute San Francisco, 35 years ex-
perience private practice as coach,
psycho-therapist with adults and cou-
ples in eclectic approach to personal/
professional growth, woman’s’ issues,
adjustment to São Paulo, goal setting,
dream work, anxiety. Call Dr. Miller at
11- 9823-8730 email
sukiemiller@gmail.com.
American-Licensed
Psychotherapist
In this busy and ever-changing world,
people often feel stressed and over-
whelmed with no place to turn. Psycho-
therapy/counseling can provide a safe
place to receive professional guidance
and support. Brief or longer-term ther-
apy offered depending on your needs,
goals and expectations. Services: indi-
March
 The American Society
calendar of São Paulo

Learn more about this month’s AmSoc events (highlighted) at www.amsoc.com.br.

March 2011 Important Dates: 5-8 Carnival (BR), 9 Ash Wednesday (BR), 8 Int. Women’s Day, 17 Saint Patrick’s Day

INC Monthly Coffee & Vendors The first big bazaar of the year. Open to everybody with a large variety. It will be at the
2 Wednesday Day Scandinavian Church. For more information contact Birgit at monthlycoffees@newcomers-
sp.com.br

The cost of this Carnival trip is $R600 per person. It includes ticket for seats in section C
5 Saturday INC São Paulo Carnival Parade which is the tourist section with English speaking guides and transportation from meeting
spot to the Sambodromo. More details in www.newcomers-sp.com.br

14 Monday Scottish Country Dancing Club 1st Monday of every month at Drake’s Pub, in Brazilian British Centre at 8 pm. Please visit
http://www.standrews.com.br for more details.

16 Wednesday INC Red Rose For more information contact Birgit at monthlycoffees@newcomers-sp.com.br

17 Thursday St. Patrick’s Happy Hour See front page

19 Saturday INC Family Event For more information contact Birgit at monthlycoffees@newcomers-sp.com.br

30 Wednesday INC Monthly Luncheon For more information please contact luncheons@newcomers-sp.com.br or visit www.
newcomers-sp.com.br

vidual, couples, child/adolescent. Cer-
tified to conduct Adoption Home Study
for American Citizens. Contact: Pame-
la Wax, MSW/LCSW at 5051-5988 or
9656-2106. Located in Moema.
American-Licensed Clinical Psy-
chologist
Heloisa Garman, Psy.D. U.S.-licensed
Clinical Psychologist (covered by U.S.
health insurance). Bilingual, with ex-
tensive private practice in Chicago and
former therapist at the Family Institute
at Northwestern Uni. Treats individu-
als, couples, and families. Specialized
in anxiety, depression, cultural issues,
and adjustment disorders. Call Dr. Gar-
man at (11)7179-9723 or 3898-2330 or
send an e-mail to hcbgarman@aol.com.
Piano Class
Beginning music classes for piano or
keyboard. Special method for children
4 years and older, teenagers, adults and
Class is your house in Morumbi and
South Area. R$95 (reais) per class (50
minutes)
Certified Portuguese Professor
Private lessons or translations. Experi-
ence with beginners through proficient
speakers. Bachelors in Portuguese and
5 years of experience teaching foreign-
ers at a certified language school in
São Paulo. Available for home or office
visits and during nights and weekends.
References from clients of various
nationalities and levels. Call or email
Adonis Borges at (11) 7623-8005 or
adonis.oak@gmail.com
A classified of up to 350 characters costs
R$45 for AmSoc members and R$80 for
Need English Tutor
Eliza, my sister (4), and I would like to
use our English with a native speaker. I
would also like to learn how to read and
write in English. If you are interested
in tutoring once a week in Higienóp-
olis, please e-mail Joana, my Mom,
at joanacanedo@gmail.com. Thanks,
Thomas (6).
F or Sale
Chrysler Caravan for Sale
For sale by owner: 1998/99 caravan
with 106k KM. Great shape, power
windows, locks, mirrors, etc. Every-
thing works. 4x4 (AWD). New tires.
V6 engine. R$25k negotiable, also
accept U$D payable to US account.
Please send e-mail to Veronica Kirk
falconvero@hotmail.com for more
pictures or detailes.
Forum does not check all of the advertisers
Our Readers

appearing in this newsletter. We urge you

Classified

A Note to

senior citizens. Classes in Portuguese or

Place a

non-members. To place a classified please to use these services; however, thoroughly

English. Contact: Suely Azevedo, 8456- call (11) 5182-2074 from 8:30 a.m. until check prices and services prior to finalizing
5365 – 49 year old music teacher with 1 p.m., or send an e-mail to amsoc1@ any service or purchase agreement.
30+ years of successful experience! americansociety.com.br.

2011 Forum 15

Senhora, your baby is freezing to death
By Natasha de Carvalho
In Brazil it is very common for total
strangers to advise you that your child
is dying of discomfort, hunger, or some
other woeful act of motherly negligence.
And top on the list of the Brazilian busy-
body’s preoccupations is whether or not
your child is cold.
Most conversations of this kind start
with lavish praise for your infant: “What
a cutie”, “The most beautiful thing in the
world”, “Is it your first?”. You nod and
smile with pride. Then, “He needs socks
on!”
Usually, it isn’t malicious. It derives
from a very sincere adoration and concern
that Brazilians have for children. (In what
other country could you take a toddler to
a smart restaurant for dinner and let him
wander the floor chatting to all the other
diners without generating a single bad
vibe?)
Sometimes however, it oversteps the
mark. On one 18 degree day, a man informed
me that the supermarket vegetable aisle
was not the place for my poor cold baby.
(Said baby was fully clothed, socks aside,
and gurgling.) I politely replied ‘I think
he’s OK’ and inched the pushchair closer
to the overpriced imported grapes. At this
point the man started screaming at me in
disgust. He had been a pediatrician for 20
years and apparently had never witnessed
such irresponsible parenting.
My stock reply in such situation is
“Where I come from, this temperature
would be mid-summer”. Gives me the
upper hand, don’t you agree?
In my opinion, there is no circumstance
which disqualifies a day from the ice-
cream or lolly-consuming calendar. Here
in Brazil, you do not eat ice cream, let
alone go out to the park, if it rains. You
certainly do not eat ice cream if you
have a cold for you will surely catch
pneumonia and probably die. You don’t
give your children iced drinks or let them
hang around the house naked or let them
swim in months without ‘r’ in the name,
all for the same reason. I have witnessed
more cross-cultural couples bickering
over these matters than anything else.
During winter time at temperatures of
around 23-degrees celsius people here
are donning their novelty jumpers and
gloves. My children are still going to the
beach to play in the sand, drinking apple
juice on the rocks and watching TV in
their birthday suits.
One weekend last winter I let them
swim in a pool. Admittedly, they were
in wetsuits, but still, it was cold. On the
Monday, Little Bear got a temperature.
By Tuesday it was really high. He didn’t
go to school for the whole week. On
Saturday he was diagnosed at the hospital
with bronchial pneumonia, and I’m
wondering if maybe the Brazilians know
something after all.
He didn’t eat for 5 days, the poor little
mite. Finally, today he got his appetite
back, and what did he want? An Ice Lolly.
And did he get it? Of course he did. Just
don’t tell anyone.
Babies, bumps and queue-jumps
It’s about time I got another baby.
Not because I adore the sticky lickle
munchkins, but because I need a legit
way to barge queues.
In Brazil, if you are pregnant or with a
small child, you do not have to wait in line.
Not for anything, anywhere, ever. At the
post-office, the supermarket or passing
through customs, checking-in, checking-
out or cashing a cheque. You can simply
waltz straight to the front of the line, or,
in many places, to the dedicated express
desk exclusively for priority citizens.
And it’s not like this is just some kind
of unwritten rule in a chivalrous society.
This is a fully blown “priority law” that
is posted on sign-posts everywhere, and
which also applies to the elderly, the sick
and the handicapped. Accordingly, for
the past four years, I have pretty much
skipped to the front of every line I have
encountered.
It takes some getting used to. I didn’t
dare skip any queues until I was visibly
pregnant with my first born, even although
it’s during those first few invisible weeks
when you really need the ‘get out of here
without throwing-up’ card. But once
I’d done it a few times I became quite
confident. So confident, in fact, that over
the past few years I have had quite a few
near fist-fights while asserting my legal
rights.
With my second baby I started jumping
BECOMING BRAZILIAN
to the front right from the start of the
pregnancy, and more than a few times I
was challenged by check-out girls. One
told me I had to be 5 months pregnant
to get priority, which is simply not true.
Another told me I needed to carry proof
of pregnancy. Really? She wants me
to hand over a positive pee-stick with a
credit card? There is also a general belief
that people have to be on their own to
benefit from the priority pass, which is
also not the case. (I’m talking about the
legal standpoint not the ethical one!)
But the real altercations occur within
the blessed ranks of priority citizens
themselves. You see, the law doesn’t
make it very clear who gets priority if
there is an old woman, a pregnant woman
and a handicapped woman in the same
line;
“Hey I”m dying”
“Out of my way, my waters just broke”
“Can’t you see, I have no legs?”
Once, swear to god, I was hit by an old
lady during one of these type of ridiculous
arguments, and I was holding a 2 month
old infant. Of course I think the living
dead are the clear winners in the priority
stakes, but I also think that whoever
is skipping the queue should at least
offer a vaguely apologetic smile at the
other people waiting. On this particular
occasion I was waiting to change the
baby’s nappy in an aircraft loo when a
Brazilian granny pushed past, head down
to avoid eye contact, and slammed the
door in my face. When she came out and
I commented on her rudeness, she started
screaming and hitting me. Goes to show
that you can legislate, but you can’t force
good manners on anyone.
Anyway, my Little Dove is almost
two, going on sixteen, and I definitely
can’t consider her a ‘crianca de colo’
(‘lap baby’) anymore. Suddenly she’s
lost her value as an expediator of tedious
chores like the post-office, bank and
federal police. But I love the sticky lickle
munchkin anyway.
Natasha is a freelance writer and
has her own blog about the trials and
tribulations of adapting to life in Brazil
http://becomebrazilian.blogspot.com/