Brazil – Day 4

So to Day 4.  Day 4 was much more touristy in flavour, but finished on a really motivational note.  We got to see some beautiful mountain views, experienced pain at Sao Paulo market and saw the Portugese language museum.  We finished the day with dinner preceded by a really amazing visit to an organisation called Eletrocooperativa … you want to know what I saw in the morning don’t you?  Well, when we woke up (roused by the gentle neighing of the horses next door), we went outside, and saw …

   

Cool huh?  As I've mentioned before, we were so lucky!! We then had a lovely breakfast at Paulo’s house, followed by a coach ride back to Sao Paulo.  Paulo also gave us T-Shirts for our FC Schwanke team photo (also below).  I haven’t told you what that’s all about yet.  We were messing around giving ourselves Brazilian footballer’s names.  I am Smitinho for example.  We then set about sorting an entire Brazilian football team including all the people on the quest in various guises.  At breakfast Tooteldinho was stripped of the captaincy and I gratefully accepted the responsibility.  Where did we get the name from I hear you cry??  It was the name of a company on a crane in the Embraer plant.  Anyway, we took the photograph in matching T-shirts.  As you can see, we were flanked by the 2 young pianists from the night before.

 

On the way home we were treated to something else special.  As well as a much needed toilet stop in Campos do Jordão (something I really needed as a result of an unwelcome clogging up brought about by lovely Brazilian cuisine – I needed fibre), we were driving down the mountain and our debrief was interrupted by this …

  

Stunning … On arrival back at the hotel we rechecked in, I discovered that I’d forgotten to repack my underwear and was the cause of much hilarity in efforts to get it back.  I am more grateful to Ella than she might realise for her help in that area.  My underwear was eventually returned I’m pleased to say.  Anyway, after that unnecessary episode, we went to Sao Paulo market and ate lunch.  In midst of which we were curious as to the little chilli things on the table.  See if you can see what’s happening here …

 

After lunch and a visit to the Portugese language museum, we visited an organisation called Eletrocooperativa.  This is an organisation that is aimed at encouraging people in using technology to give themselves more opportunity.  This can be through sound, video etc.  An amazing place where we got to think in a variety of ways and express ourselves.  The organisation describes itself as an education social network for sustainable development, cultural production and income distribution.  It provides an online platform where videos, songs and radio shows can be published.  This can encourage people to buy and pay for these songs and generate a ‘self-sustainability’ using the Internet as a platform.  Here are a couple of videos …

We got to share our thoughts about past, present and future of education (again, in a variety of ways) before a debrief session where we all shared thoughts via the microphone, to a background of Bob Marley and repetition of the words “We are the future” thanks to Darren and Reinaldo Pamplona (from Eletrocooperativa).  A somewhat surreal, but amazing experience.  So, what did I get out of it?  Mainly – I was intrigued by the need for variety and giving people a voice.  I need to make sure that’s apparent in all my lessons.  Students should be able to use all the technology available and use it to express themselves.  It was a seriously moving experience, and people were able to express a number of different feelings.  it’s not the sort of thing I’m normally that comfortable with, but I relaxed a bit and said what I thought.  This was largely about the need to get that heart and enthusiasm back in teaching (maybe just for me personally, but it’s certainly something I was starting to get a handle on in my adventures)!

 

We went for dinner after that, and I then discovered that replacing the word meerkat with other words (as in comparetheBATHROOM.com) was more funny that it should be!!

Most important thing from Day 4 – Continued reminders about the need for heart, and also the need for relevance and use of technology – to allow students to express themselves.  Being publicly vulnerable and open was also an interesting feeling – not one that I’m used to!!