Soon the end will come

Sadly, we are coming to the end of this wonderful journey called the Group Study Exchange. Each of us has been changed by the experience. We have learned how Rotarians open their hearts and their homes to make our experience of their country and traditions unforgetable. In some ways, we become more like our hosts, mimicking the things we like best about them - their easy ways, their ability to enjoy the moment and all that it holds, their manner of making friends from strangers. In very important ways, they become role models for us.

As I prepare to return home, I can not help but think of the many tasks that wait for me. There is the kitchen at Bela Amor that needs replacing and I must find a club to help. There is also the mammogram machine that must be purchased for the community of Bezarro. And, we should definately try to find a way to help ease the sadness of the orphans in Caruaru.

There is no way we can ever thank the people of District 4500 for all that they have given us. But we can join with them in their projects and their hopes for the millions of Brazilians who need Rotary to make their lives more bearable.

One of the best things about the GSE experience is that you never know what will happen next. But, day after day there are wonderful things to see and do. In the pictures you can see Chip doing artwork with orphans in the orphanage. I was able to visit a drug treatment program, also pictured. We have been to a prison, a lovely old country home, a passion play in the largest out door theater in the world, a nunnery, contruction sites, a pottery, and the list goes on and on.

Each day is a miracle of discovery.

Partnerships for Projects

Each of the clubs that we have visited have had wonderful ongoing projects as well as ideas for future projects. I think that working with any of these clubs, each of which has demonstrated generousity and kindness, would be a great experience. There are opportunities for working to expand the services to physically and mentally disabled children (pictured above), water filters, a mammogram machine, etc. Any club in District 6290 that is interested in partnering with a club in Brazil should contact me at vrspringlake@yahoo.com.

Are we supposed to be working?

Although this trip has been almost non-stop learning, there has been a lot of fun involved. We took a boat to Fire Island in the middle of the Rio Sao Francisco and just relaxed.

The visit to the workshop of the man who makes the masks for carneval in Caruaru was an amazing and unexpected treat. There will be no way we can possibly thank the Rotarians of District 4500 for their many kindnesses.

Petrolina

The Brazilian Rotarians have made every effort to show us points of professional interest as well as doing everything possible to make sure we have a great time. We all enjoyed the trip to Vila Rotary, a low income housing development built by the Rotary clubs of Petrolina. It is for the families who used to live on the village garbage dump and who survived on the garbage.

The houses are on plots of land which the families use to raise vegetables. Chip was especially interested as creating options for low income housing is his profession.

Matt has had some highlights as well. The visit to the agricultural research center provided insight into the sophistocated approach being taken by Brazil to maximize the crop production in the vast semi-arid land that makes up almost 50% of the country.

Day 1, Recife

District Governor Eduardo Queiroz, shown above with his wife Oneide (on the far right, with team leader Ginny Ryan center) sends his greetings to District 2690, and especially to District Governor Bob Gandolfi. Their kindness to and concern for the GSE team from District 6290 have been beyond any of our expectations.

I am beginning to believe that the only thing more beautiful than Brazil is the Brazilians. We arrived in Recife, having traveled for 24 hours, dirty and tired. District Governor Eduardo and his wife, Oneide, were among those who came to the airport to welcome us. They brought us to a lovely hotel on the Atlantic, with rooms overlooking the ocean, to rest up for the adventure ahead. Again, the rooms were provided by the kindness of a Rotarian, Miguel Franciso, the owner.

Many wonderful experiences have been planned and each team member has many events planned just to address his or her specific interests. But the Brazilians started our adventure with a tour of Olinda and Recife, forts and churches from the 15th century, wonderful food and a personal, private tour of the new soccer stadium for the Santa Rosa soccer team.

It has been a generous and much appreciated introduction to this beautiful country. The whole team is overwhelmed with experiences beyond anything any of us expected.

Preparations

Ed Kaminski, in the yellow shirt in the center of the group picture, is coordinating the exchange of the teams between District 6290 and Brazil. He also works with the Rotary exchange students, and managed to bring all of the students from Brazil to several of our GSE meetings. The Brazilian students were invaluable in helping our team translate into Portuguese our brochure, the captions on our PowerPoint presentation, and the video greeting from our District Governor. In the photo, upper right, Tammy helps Chip with his presentation.