2014
Page 10: What the foreign media outlets are reporting about the state of the affairs for the 2014 World Cup.
Yoga
Page 16: Our columnist Maureen tells you how and where to do Yoga.
Our Mission
The American Society of So 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.
Presidents Corner
April marks the end of our terms as Governors of the American Society of So Paulo and I would like to thank members of the Board, as well as the many By Joe Sherman, volunteers that we AmSoc president have working on our committees for jobs well done this past year. We will be having our Annual General Meeting on the 25th. There will be changes in the Executive Committee (officers) for next year. Jennifer Showers will be leaving the Board as the Vice President to take on new family responsibilities and Jacques Vaney will continue on the Board but no longer as Treasurer. Thanks Jennifer for your help on the Membership Committee, and Jacques for your overall contribution on the Executive Committee. I have asked Ruth Hollard to be next years Vice-President, Richard Wegman to handle the Treasury and Frank Pierce to be the Secretary of the Board. These officer positions, as well as Board members up for election, will be presented at the AGM for approval. You will be receiving the proxy in the mail in case you cannot attend the meeting. We will also be proposing a change to the by-laws, to reduce the Board from 24 to 20 members. At our last Board meeting there was a consensus that 20 governors is an adequate number for the Board, and a more manageable number for our meetings. I also feel that a smaller Board will improve the commitment of the governors. I would like to welcome new Board member Nadja Venezian. Nadja is a 30 year resident of So Paulo, and an artist. Nadja will be helping us with our cultural events. You can read her profile on page 4. I am also happy to inform you that our corporate sponsorship effort is off to a great start this year! On a general note - It is amazing how times change. In the past Brazil was characterized by high inflation and a weak currency, the cost of living was cheap. Today the topic at most social gatherings is how expensive things are in Brazil. Articles on flights to the U.S. totally booked with Brazilians filling up suitcases with electronics, clothes, even laundry soap and diapers. Amazing! I am just finishing a book that I would like to recommend: The River of Doubt by Candice Millard. The book is about Theodore Roosevelts and Candido Rondons trip down one of the Amazon Rivers tributaries in 1914. This wasnt your typical tourist trip! The AGM will be at the new Consul Generals residence, hope to see you there. Abraos, Joe
Lynn Cordeiro, editor and layout Ernest White II, 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.
About Forum
The American Society of So Paulo Rua da Paz, 1431 04713-001 So Paulo, SP Tel: (11) 5182-2074 Fax: (11) 5182-9155 email the editor: mail@falaphoto.com
Forum
April
2012
Forum
Board Profile
By Nadja Venezian Hard to believe Ive been in Brazil for 30 years! I remember arriving here in 1981 as a newly wed with my Brazilian husband, Roberto, who I had met a year and a half earlier in Paris. At first, I had trouble adjusting to the Brazilian culture but over the years Ive come to love it and have even become a Brazilian citizen. We have two grown children Stephanie, who lives in Paris and Leonardo, who lives here in Brazil. Im a award-winning sculptor and create figurative and abstract works in bronze and resin. My works are in private collections all over the world and have been in galleries in several different countries. For the past year, Ive been advertising on google ad words and am getting calls and emails from all over Brazil for commissioned works. This year a dream of many years is coming to fruition: Im starting to create installations and public art. To see my work, please visit my site: www.nadjavenezian.com.br I grew up near the beach in Sea Cliff, New York and graduated with a degree in Psychology for Lycoming College, Pennsylvania. After many adventures, including living and skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado for a year, I moved to San Francisco and worked in sales, sales training and management. Im relatively new to the AmSoc board, having participated in exactly one meeting so far. Im looking forward to the Gala event in May and am cochair of the committee to get donations for the live and silent auctions. So, if you have any connections (at hotels, restaurants, gyms, stores or any other aspect of the service industry) who would like to donate their services to a worthwhile cause, please let me know. (art@nadjavenezian.com.br). Ive been a member of Community Assistance Commitee since its inception and am the liaison with Casa Limiar. I work to empower them and give them ideas to decrease their dependence on CAC and start tapping their own fundraising skills. Casa Limiar appreciates the generosity of AmSoc and immensely enjoys participating in the Angel Party and Volunteer Day. Ive always enjoyed AmSoc events and am looking for forward to being active on the board. I feel like this is a way of giving back to both the American and Brazilian communities. I want to get involved with the organization of informal AmSoc get-togethers, which I think will give AmSoc more of a community feeling. My hope is that you participate too!
Forum
April
Dominowski Duncan
Michael Michelle
Andrea Shaun
American Australian
Fonseca
Amaury
Elisa
Family Membership
Brazilian
Germani
Federico
Tracy
Family Membership
American /Argentine
Hrinak
Donna
Frans
Family Membership
American
Boeing
Ishihara Lahaye
Amelia Kathy
Brazilian American
Medeiros
Roberto
Anna Letcia
Family Membership
American /Brazilian
Qualcomm
Miller
Clinton
Danielle
Family Membership
American
Real English
Navarrete Sekles
Alex Flavia
Marie-Louise Renard
HSBC
Smith
Jeffrey
American
2012
Forum
Soccer in So Paulo
By Will Arredondo, AmSoc member If you have ever had your early Sunday evening activity distracted by a sudden eruption of cheering, car honking and all types of boisterous street revelry, chances are an exciting soccer match has come to a riveting close. Paulistanos, like most Brazilians, are crazy about soccer and when a local match is underway, its almost impossible not to know whats going on! Soccer, as you probably already guessed, is by far the most popular sport in Brazil and many of the worlds best players are from this great soccer nation. Brazil will be home to the 2014 World Cup and So Paulo is proud to be hosting the opening match for the worlds greatest sporting event. But while rooting for the national team is a national past time, rooting for your favorite local teams is where the rivalry really begins. So heres a primer on the soccer scene in So Paulo soccer so you wont be left out of the revelry come next street celebration! The Paulisto, is the intrastate professional soccer league. A total of twenty teams represent series A (1st division) and each team plays against each other as well as teams in other states. The season typically lasts from January to April and the biggest rivalries are between the four most wellknown Brazilian teams (Corinthians, Palmeiras, Santos and So Paulo). Just as popular is the national league competition known as Brasileiro. The season runs from May to December of the same year, with teams playing 38 matches each, totalling 380 matches in the season. So between the Paulisto, Brasilero, smaller tournaments, international competition and friendly scrimmages, professional soccer is a truly year-round affair! Corinthians, affectionately known as Timo (big team), is the most popular of the top 4. By far the wealthiest, it was also was the first club to make room for poor players and the second soccer club in the Brazil to accept black athletes on the team. Corinthians has won the Paulisto a record 26 times, the Brasileiro five times, and even reached the quarterfinals of Pan-American tournaments Copa Sudamericana, Copa Conmebol and the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores. Corinthians plays their home games at Pacaembu Stadium, which holds up to 40,199 spectators and is home to the renowned Museum of Soccer. In 2013, Corinthians will move to their new home at New Corinthians Stadium, a 65K-seater in the Zona Leste neighborhood of Itaquera, which will also serve as host for the opening ceremonies and So Paulo matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Palmeiras is Corinthians archrival and is almost as popular with almost 17 million supporters, including a large number of Brazilians of Italian ancestry. It was founded in 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name in 1942. The team has won 10 national competitions, a record in the country. The clubs most important titles have been the 8 national league titles and 2 national cups. In 1999, the team was declared Champion of the Century, an extremely prestigious honor. Palmeiras home stadium is Estadio Palestra Italia in Perdizes, with a 27K capacity and which is currently under construction until 2013. So Paulo Futebol Clube, or simpy So Paulo is Brazils most internationally lauded team and third in South America, with 11 international titles. They play in a white shirt with two horizontal stripes (one red and one black), and white shorts and socks. They are the third most popular soccer club in Brazil, with over 15 million supporters. So Paulos home ground is the 67,428-seater at Morumbi soccer stadium in So Paulo. And finally, Santos Futebol Clube is the defending Paulista and South American champion hailing from the namesake port city of Santos. Nationally, the club has won nineteen Paulisto titles, one Copa do Brasil, and a joint record of eight Brazilian championships. Santos is the home team of Neymar, Brazils 20 year old star sensation and Brazils greatest hope for an unprecedented sixth World Cup championship title. The young offensive player is already compared to former stars Ronaldo and Pele. Last year, Neymar won the highly coveted MVP award Craque Brasileiro and also turned down lucrative offers from the top major European ball clubs to remain with Santos and play with the national team through 2014. There are many other great teams with great rivalries and with loyal fan bases and impressive histories, however since we cant name them all here, why not go take the family out and learn more about them by visiting the Museum of Soccer? Located behind Pacaembu stadium, its a great crash course into Brazils soccer fever history! Happy sightseeing! Goooool!
Forum
April
2010 2012
Forum
Forum
April
Tournament details
Agenda: March 26 REGISTRATION OPEN (8 Team limit) April 13 DEADLINE to Register (entry on first come first serve basis) April 21 1-DAY Tournament 8:30 9:45 - Warm-ups 9:45 10am - Welcome and Rules clarified 10am 5pm - GAMES of 5x5 Sandwiches and soft drinks will be sold by AMSOC. Participants may also bring their own food and drinks. Where: The GRADED School Avenida Pres. Giovanni Gronchi, 4710 (in Morumbi) Rules: 5 on 5 Play: Unlimited players/team, BUT minimum is 7 per team to avoid injury default Standard basketball rules, with one referee policing each game 2 halves of 12 minute each (5 minute halftime break) 1 time-out per half Format: 2 groups of 4 teams play a round robin within their group First place teams in the group get a bye into the semi-finals Second place teams in each group play each other to get to the semis The rest are eliminated Awards: Winning Team receives: basketball shirts and their name on AmSocs trophy Best player of the Tournament will be voted on and receive a MVP trophy Jerseys: Required to bring TWO Jerseys (one WHITE and another any dark COLOR) Teams can make their Team jerseys, and must be WHITE and COLORED: Can BUY basketball shirts at Decathalon or t-shirts at Magic T-shirt Costs: Player: AMSOC member = R$ 20 Non-AMSOC member = R$30 Registration: Individual or Team Captains MUST email John Kennedy the following: Names of each player Payment confirmation (for Teams, Captains make 1 deposit for your Team) Payments: either check/cash to John Kennedy OR a deposit to AMSOC, then email the receipt/comprovante to John. Banco Itau, Agency 1608 Account number 35.493-0 CNPJ: 62113261/0001-75
2012
Forum
With barely 26 months remaining in the run-up to the 2014 FIFA (Fdration Internationale de Football Association) World Cup soccer competition, Brazil has begun to face criticism in the international press for what appears to be a slow and not-quite-organized preparation process. The Cup is scheduled to open with a match in So Paulos still-unfinished Corinthians Stadium on June 12th, closing with the final game at Rio de Janeiros storied Maracan Stadium on July 13th. Five years after having been awarded the competitionincidentally, Brazil ended up being the only candidate in the running for host country, in accordance with FIFAs rotating continent policyinfrastructure and stadium construction projects are behind schedule and over budget, the sale of alcohol in stadiums is still unresolved, communities of the poor are being relocated under controversial circumstances, and the once-powerful head of Brazilian soccer resigned amid heated criticism and serious allegations of corruption. Brazils press corp isnt the only media body keeping up with the developments; print, broadcast, and online media from New York to New Delhi are tuned in to what has become a real-life telenovela. The status of construction projects new and refurbished stadiums, new and refurbished airport terminals, new and expanded rail linkshas been in the international headlines regularly since at least 2010, when Abu Dhabis The National, among other outlets, openly questioned Brazils readiness to host the Cup:
10
Forum
April
2012
Forum
11
Your passport is fresh and awaiting new stamps. Your bags are packed. Youve put a hold on your mail, arranged for someone to water your plants and picked up a set of travelsized toiletries for your carry-on. Youre definitely ready to travel. Maybe youre looking forward to eating exotic cuisine, adventures in foreign countries, visits to historical landmarks. Youre probably not, however, expecting to be the victim of a tourist scam. In 2011, more than 250 million turistis worldwide traveled overseas. To a seasoned scam artist, thats a lot of potential victims! The best way to avoid falling victim to a crime is to use your head. Be aware of your surroundings, trust your gut, take appropriate precautions and keep your wits about you. Traveling is supposed to be fun. Going on vacation doesnt have to be a scary or paranoia-inducing experience. The idea is to travel smart and know what (or who) to avoid. So lets get you acquainted with some of the worlds
12
Forum
April
Sundays
Conveniently located on Rua Carlos Sampaio, 107 Bela Vista Just a block and a half from the Brigadeiro Metro station on the Avenida Paulista
2012
Forum
13
ClAssifiEDs
H ousing
Vila Nova Conceio So Paulos best place to live. Near Ibirapuera Park. Modern building, with all Sports facilities, heated swimming pool, gym, play room, barbecue, multi purpose sports court. Three bedrooms (1 suite), living room with terrace, complete kitchen,maids bedroom and bath, big service area, two parking spaces. Fully furnished,with allappliances. Call Ana Beatriz or Eliane Phone (011) 3849.7085 or (011) 96266229-mail to: anabeatriz@caboverde.com.br Looking for apartments Looking for furnished, fully equipped apartments in So Paulo. Offer management, promotion, purchasing, remodeling and decoration services for your property. We will rent your flat to foreign tourists & executives visiting the city looking for alternative accommodations. Highly experienced specialized international group. Contact: Paola B. de Estrada 92102201, paola@apartmentssp.com or www.apartmentssp.com Rent or Own Sunny Apartment in So Paulo Sunny, ample apartment just a stones throw from the Graded School. Two-story apartment measuring approximately 300 square meters, with two large living rooms; four bedrooms (two suites and a suite americano); a separate TV room/office; large kitchen with brand new cabinetry; and ample rea de servio. Building includes heated pool, exercise room, playground. Each apartment has a depsito and three parking spaces. The full apartment was lovingly refurbished in 2010; the owners are now unexpectedly returning to the United States. Sale Price: R$770 thousand. Rental: R$6,500 per month. Email us at morumbiapartment@gmail.com
S ervices
Qualified Learning Specialist Success in school leads to success in life. Areas of expertise include in-home support for academics, behavior modification, and intensive preparation for SSAT, PSAT, SAT, TOEFL, TOIEC, IGCSE, and IB Diploma Programme. References furnished upon request. Dr. Wendy M. Smith can be reached at: 3885.7256 [office] or 9236.5267 [mobile]. Math and Science Tutor Teacher with 25-plus years of experience, tutors Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Science for all levels, including but not limited to the IB, IGCSE, SAT-I & II, ACT, AP and Brazilian vestibular. Elementary and middle school students are also welcome (all subjects). Currently St. Francis School, formerly Chapel and Graded. Call Fernando Knijnik at (11) 9134-6700. Selling Up Go with a pro! We have been selling household goods for families, individuals, and companies for more than 20 years in So Paulo and Brasilia for embassies. We have hundreds of preselected clients wanting to buy from you, safe and sound! Send an e-mail to meredithsales@ zaquie.com or zaquie@zaquie.com or call (11) 5908-1144 or (11) 7997-8808. Ask for Ms. Zaquie Meredith. 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. Argos Dog Kennel Traveling? What about your dog? Argos 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. English and French spoken. Call Jean or Christiane at (11) 4661-1430 or (11) 7230-3369 or send an e-mail to Jean. chris@uol.com.br. Embu Guau, SP.
For Sale - 2008 GM Zafira Expression 2.0 Flex engine automatic (mint condition), ABS, airbag, alarm, on board computer, cruise control, digital air conditioner, power steering, antivandalism insulfilm protection. 7 seats, 78.000 KM, single owner, all maintenance done at dealer, new brakes, tires, oil change with filter, kept in covered garage. Price R$ 41.000,00. Please contact Eileen Tasso 11-5644-5482 (h) American-Licensed Clinical Psychologist Heloisa Garman, Psy.D. U.S.-licensed Clinical Psychologist (covered by U.S. health insurance). Bilingual, with extensive private practice in Chicago and former therapist at the Family Institute at Northwestern Uni. Treats individuals, couples, and families. Specialized in anxiety, depression, cultural issues, and adjustment disorders. Call Dr. Garman at (11)7179-9723 or 3898-2330 or send an e-mail to hcbgarman@aol.com. American-Licensed Expat Psychologist Richard Morhaime, Psy.D., offers skilled psychotherapy for children and adults. He also provides complete diagnostic 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.br American-Licensed Psychotherapist In this busy and ever-changing world, people often feel stressed and overwhelmed with no place to turn. Psychotherapy/counseling can provide a safe place to receive professional guidance and support. Brief or longer-term therapy offered depending on your needs, goals and expectations. Services: individual, couples, child/adolescent. Certified to conduct Adoption Home Study for American Citizens. Contact: Pamela Wax, MSW/LCSW at 5051-5988 or 9656-2106 or send an e-mail to pamwax@gmail.com. Located in Moema.
Forum does not check all of the advertisers appearing in this newsletter. We urge you to use these services; however, thoroughly check prices and services prior to finalizing any service or purchase agreement. A classified of up to 350 characters costs R$60 for AmSoc members and R$80 for non-members. To place a classified please call (11) 5182-2074 from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., or send an e-mail to AmSoc1@ americansociety.com.br.
14
Forum
Place a Classified
April
CAlEnDAr
April 2012
01 Sunday
Until 30
Deadly (Theater)
11
Wednesday
INC Monthly Coffee & Bazaar 3 Doors Down Show INC Red Rose
12 18
Thursday Wednesday
20 21
Friday Saturday
21 & 22
21 & 22
25 25
Enjoyed this publication? Become an American Society Member and get a free Forum subscription!
For more than 60 years The American Society of So Paulo has worked to establish a strong network for expats living and working in So Paulo. Join Today!!! Visit our website at www.amsoc.com.br and fill in our on-line form or call the AmSoc office at 5182-2074
2012
Forum
15
Yoga in So Paulo
By Maureen Kennedy Alves, AmSoc board member Im not a betting kind of gal, but if I were, Id say chances are, that you, dear reader, have probably taken at least one yoga class in your life. And if not, you know someone who has. Your sister, maybe. Or your mother. Or your grandmother. Perhaps even your dog (yes, you read correctly, theres yoga for dogs). Today, millions of people in the West practice some form of yoga. And its no wonder. The list of benefits of yoga is inspiring: Increased muscle tone and flexibility. More strength and endurance. Improved posture. Lower blood pressure. More calm. Less stress. (Those last two might be particularly worth repeating considering life in So Paulo.) And thats just the tip of the iceberg. My own journey with yoga began about 15 years ago when I was drawn to a Bikram yoga class (the hot yoga that is now all the rage) by the studios ad that promised to melt the pudge. I wasnt overweight, but felt haunted by what Oprah had dubbed the muffin top. I was determined to send my love handles packing and Bikram, with its 90 minutes of sweat and hard core stretching, seemed to be just the solution. Two years later (with no sign of the pudge budging I might add, though that probably had more to do with my penchant for drinking beers with my friends than any type of yoga I was doing), I decided for many reasons that Bikram was no longer it for me. After experimenting with different types of classes, I settled happily into a long-term relationship with vinyasa yoga that led me to do a 200-hour teacher training in 2010. The teacher training was an eye opener for me. I had never thought about other peoples practice except maybe to compare myself to people next to me in class, silently begrudging those who appeared to be more flexible than me but the training changed all that. Over the course of many months, observing countless classes, I came to see that each student that walked through the door was already perfect and theres no reason to compare ourselves to others. I also saw that although yoga has many benefits, some people do poses over and over again in ways that can be harmful. Group yoga classes are great they are convenient, less expensive than private classes and full of good energy. The only downside is the teacher cannot give each student undivided attention throughout the class. And that means students can and do get injured, mostly from overstretching and repetitive strain. With some general commonsense guidelines, you can reduce your risk of being one of them. Forget about your neighbor. Remember what I wrote above about comparing myself to other people in class? Thats not yoga thats ego and it will only cause you pain. And not just emotional pain. The desire to be as good as the person next to you can make you push yourself beyond your limits, opening yourself up to injury. Accept your body and where you are today. Its your journey, not your neighbors. Focus on your breathing. Its easy to check out when youre on the mat, thinking about what youre going to make for dinner or what you should have said to that jerk who cut you off in traffic. Paying attention to your breath keeps you present, grounded, and mindful of your body. It will help you see if youre gripping anywhere in your body or overexerting yourself (your breath should always be even). Listen to your body. Sure, yoga isnt always comfortable: your leg may shake while youre holding a pose or you may feel what Jane Fonda so perfectly coined the burn. But yoga shouldnt hurt. If you feel any kind of pain in your body, gently back out of the pose and take a rest. Do not try to power your way through it. Start with a non-flow class. When I first started vinyasa yoga, I was lost. The class was listed as beginner/intermediate, but everyone was flowing in and out of poses like dancers. I tried to keep up, but had no clue what I was doing, which made me ripe for an injury. If youre starting out, try a slow moving class like a Level I Iyengar, which focuses on basic alignment. Leave the Power Flow classes for when you have more experience. Where to practice in So Paulo There are literally countless studios in the city, practically in every neighborhood. Below are a couple of my favorites: Yoga Flow - yogaflow.com.br This studio in Vila Nova Conceio offers all types of yoga for all different levels. Many of the teachers speak English, too, and are happy to help if you cant understand what theyre saying. I love Iyengar I/II with Sandra and Renata. Be Yoga - Beyoga.com.br Okay, I actually havent been to this studio yet, but I took some Anusara yoga classes from one of the owners, Greta, an American, at a different studio several years ago and loved it. Be Yoga is in Itaim.