Wednesday, November 25, 2009
This is our last blog for this trip. Sorry it has been a bit short and sweet! Tomorrow we are off to Foz do Iguaçu, on the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, for a couple of days holiday before we fly home at the weekend.
Today we have been to the Municipal Fruit and Veg market - so different to back home, with sacks of nuts, spices and fruit of all kinds. We saw 6 different types of banana - Val was amazed that we only have one, back in the UK.
We have done more tidying up at Casa Branca - well, Carl has done most of it. And he has done some DIY jobs too, making some of the french windows secure.
This evening we have met with the Brazilian Trustees, to keep them up to date, and to get to know them better.
Today we have been to the Municipal Fruit and Veg market - so different to back home, with sacks of nuts, spices and fruit of all kinds. We saw 6 different types of banana - Val was amazed that we only have one, back in the UK.
We have done more tidying up at Casa Branca - well, Carl has done most of it. And he has done some DIY jobs too, making some of the french windows secure.
This evening we have met with the Brazilian Trustees, to keep them up to date, and to get to know them better.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thought we ought to send you a few photos, now that all of our electronic bits and pieces are working again.We've had a lovely time in the Vila Centre today.
Amanda insisted that Kate sat next to her, while they waited for their meal to be served!
The children played a game which was a bit like musical chairs. Each child had a number, and their were two teams, with chairs set out opposite one another.
Karem called out a number and the children with that number had to leave their own chair and rush to the opposite team - however the remaining children had to try to stop them sitting down. There was much falling off chairs and much noise and laughter!
The story corner is always a popular spot, both for reading and games. We have bought some more of these mats this week so that we can have a comfortable corner in the other room too.
Some of the girls wanted to pose for a photo
in the play area.
Some of them were very good at handstands, too!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
We have had awful problems with the internet connection, off completely all of Saturday, and only just restored now (6,45pm) on Sunday. It makes us realise how dependant we have become on all the information available to us on-line. So pictures above, of Juliana, Thais and Jhonathon were taken on Thursday, but this is the first chance we have had to send them..
However, we have been busy in other ways. Carl has made a really good start on cutting back the hedge and the climbers at the front of Casa Branca. He has two banana trees which will need a bit of pruning back as well, otherwise it will be difficult to get into the garage.
Kate spent some time clearing out some rooms at the back of the house which aren't being used at present.
Yesterday we met with two of the Brazilian trustees after lunch, Meirie (pronounced Mary) and Georges. Georges and Carl looked at a couple of DIY jobs that will need doing, and Georges has volunteered his help.
Val took us for a wonderful meal yesterday evening at a restaurant that serves traditional Brazilian food.
Today was Marathon Day. We were up with the lark, ready for Carl to set off from the town centre for his 10km run. He stands to make about 2000GBP in sponsorship. He did the run in 1hr 4min, which he was extremely happy with. The sun was shining, and by the time he finished, it was really hot.
Then we went to the "Hippy Fair" - a craft fair which takes up a fairly sizeable area in the town centre each week. Lots of craft stalls with all sorts of local handiwork. We had only made one purchase when the heavens opened. We got soaked to the skin, and the rain was so heavy and prolonged, that the stallholders packed up. So that was the end of that.
Internet permitting, we will try to post another entry on the blog tomorrow.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday Evening 20.11.09
Sorry it has taken a while to do this first blog. We had trouble with the internet connection.
We had an excellent journey here. The temperature has been very high - about 35 degrees until this afternoon. Now it is about 22 degrees and very pleasant.
On thursday we spent the morning with Val, catching up to date with the news here and discussing jobs that will need to be done. Then we helped her with a big shopping trip to get food for the centre in the Vila. We provide 100 children with a meal on every weekday, so you can imagine how full the trolleys were with enough food for a month! Val usually does this on her own.
Carl has done some tidying up in the garden today, and we have been to the childrens centre in the favela. Many of the children remembered us from last year, and came up to give us a hug. We also met Rudi, the new teacher who started earlier this year. It is very good that we have a good male role model for the boys at the centre - very many of whom don't have a father at home.
We will get organised tomorrow and try to add some pictures to the blog.
Sorry it has taken a while to do this first blog. We had trouble with the internet connection.
We had an excellent journey here. The temperature has been very high - about 35 degrees until this afternoon. Now it is about 22 degrees and very pleasant.
On thursday we spent the morning with Val, catching up to date with the news here and discussing jobs that will need to be done. Then we helped her with a big shopping trip to get food for the centre in the Vila. We provide 100 children with a meal on every weekday, so you can imagine how full the trolleys were with enough food for a month! Val usually does this on her own.
Carl has done some tidying up in the garden today, and we have been to the childrens centre in the favela. Many of the children remembered us from last year, and came up to give us a hug. We also met Rudi, the new teacher who started earlier this year. It is very good that we have a good male role model for the boys at the centre - very many of whom don't have a father at home.
We will get organised tomorrow and try to add some pictures to the blog.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
on wednesday afternoon we went to another favela, where we provide football training for about 30 boys on wednesday afternoons and saturday mornings, around 3 hours each time.
the coach, luis-claudio, and his assistant paulo were ´over the moon´ to be given the kit which we brought with us to give them, and they quickly prepared for a six-a-side game, which turned into 9-a-side as more boys arrived.
it was cold and wet there, so a few didn´t make it yesterday.
you can see that the goalkeeper has no shoes or boots - that is how he plays - many of the boys had no shoes or boots to wear, and the grass isn´t exactly wembley, as you can see. this piece of land has been ´cleared´ and two sets of goalposts erected. they would love to be able to level the ground (which floods when it rains hard) and keep it clear, with good grass ...
also the ball in the picture is the only ball they have to train and play with - for 30 youngsters!
becky has kindly bought a pair of gloves for the keeper, he is so thrilled to have them.
the feeling of achievement in bringing sport to these kids, who live in poverty and have nothing, and the look on their faces when they are presented with the equipment to help and encourage them, is amazing!
no trip to curitiba is complete without a visit to waldo´s burger bar, it´s the best!!
margaret holds court at the vila centre on wednesday morning, before tucking into a burger at waldo´s burger bar!!!
here is the promised picture of the new hairstyle, with the ´cabeleireiras´ !
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
We paid a quick visit to the fruit and veg market for a drink and some provisions, and later went off to eat at the ´Divino Mestre`charruscaria, where we managed a very pleasant meal!
Then we came back to Casa Branca to sample ´pinhao´which had been cooked for us (they are a bit like chestnuts) - and Tais and Gaby turned the sitting room into a hair salon for re-arranging Margaret´s hairstyle!! (picture to follow later!!)
Becky and Margaret spent Tuesday at the Vila Centre, working with Priscila, Karem, Dani and Rudy.
After the morning session, they enjoyed lunch of spaghetti bolognese cooked by Karem, before repeating it all again for the children who come in the afternoon.
Up to 100 children come in every day, normally more make it in the afternoon - when they get up/remember to come/have something to wear.
A long and exciting game of Uno was held, while the children loved getting hold of Becký´s camera and taking pictures of themselves with her!
Then it was down to the hard work of making decorations for the ´festa juninho´party next week
This family attends the Vila centre every afternoon - except the little boy on the left, who is still too young to come. Mother and Granny sort rubbish in their garden all day long, after Dad has brought it back from the city centre. They stand in front of their house. There are six children in this family.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
On Monday Becky, Bruna and Lucas cleaned and re-built the ´casinha´ - the little house - in which bruna just loves to play all kinds of imaginitive games ...
and completed it very quickly ...
most of the other children went to CAPSI, while tais did her homework at the table .....
darci cooked lunch of chicken, beans and rice ....
while our other team member washed, scrubbed and cleaned furniture for putting into casa branca.
