amsoc forum february 2010

8/14/2019 AmSoc Forum February 2010

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Monthly Newsletter

February 2010

www.amsoc.com.brFORUM

In This IssueIn This Issue

A wild 2009 orAmSoc sports

Page 6-7: Check out two pagesof recaps on all things sports forAmSoc in 2009, and see whatyou can expect from AmSocorganizers in 2010.

Get the kids into AmSocsports this month

Page 5: Little League signups willbe held this month. A variety ofports are a great way for AmSoc

kids to spend their weekends.

Page 9: An estimated 1.5 milliondogs and cats are living in SaoPaulos streets. The overwhelmingpet population is something youcan help solve.

Have your pet spayed

or neutered

Art in theunderpass

Page 16: Sue Banman Sileci shareshe details on her personalized

our of some of Sao Paulos mostoriginal, creative local artwork. Ahint: Alleyways.

Carnaval 2010 in So Paulo: last-minute ideas or AmSoc amilies

February in Brazil means one thingto the native population: Carnaval.Work will stop, music will blare and

vacations be they long or short are

considered a must. For AmSoc membersnew to the holiday, there are plenty ofways for you to experience the traditionalfun here in the city, or by taking a shortdrive across the state.

Carnaval officially begins this yearon Feb. 13 and runs through Feb. 17,but celebrations and personal vacationsoften start before or last long past thoseset dates.

Sao Paulos International NewcomersClub has put together an all-inclusive

Carnaval experience package for Saturday,Feb. 13, at R$275 per person for INCmembers and R$295 for non-members.

The night would start with grouptransportation making pickups at a fewchoice spots around 8 pm that night (spotsto be determined shortly before the 13th).

The INC group will enter Sao PaulosSambadrome together, and have escortswith them from an affiliated tourist agencyat all times to help make their way through

the Sambadrome, and answer questionsthroughout the Carnaval parade. Drinksduring the event are included.

Members of the group also do nothave to wait until the events end to leavetogether. Individuals or families canleave at any time, and with the help ofthe groups coordinator a driver will bearranged to take them back to their homeor apartment. All the transportation willbe done by a private, secure group ofdrivers.

Spots for the group were limited as oflate January, so if interested call 2501-8038,or e-mail [email protected] as soon as possible. Payment for ticketswill need to be made immediately into theINCs bank account.

Sao Paulos Tourism(Continued on page 8)

The American Society of So Paulopromotes friendship by organizingsocial, cultural and athletic events for

ts diverse membership; encouragesntegration with the Brazilian society;and supports the American traditionsof education, philanthropy andvolunteerism.

Our Mission


2/16

Name: Brian Ni-colopoulosOrig in , TimeHere: Chicago,Ill. I have beenh e r e f o r t w oyears.Profess ion: Iw o r k f o r C HRobinson Brasil,

an American multinational companyin the area of Logistics.Why So Paulo?: I originally camethrough Sao Paulo not knowing muchabout the city at all, just as a tourist. Ireally liked the big city feel,the hustleand bustle, the restaurants, nightlife,sun and diversity.Best thing so far: Other than myamazing girlfriend, I love the warmweather, the beach, Brazilian cultureand futebol.

Early frustrations: I can remembertaking the bus for the first time witha sheet of paper to show the cobradorwhere I needed to get off, and of coursehe forgot to tell me when to get off.Needless to say it was a mess trying toget back. I have various similar storieslike this to look back on and smileabout now, but at the time they werequite annoying and sometimes scary.Have saudade for anything backhome?: Of course my family andfriends are what I miss the most while

living here. Also Chicago style deepdish pizza, Wrigley Field and havinga car. I do like the pizza in Sao Paulo,but there is nothing like biting into ahuge thick deep dish slice of pizza.The toppings are all put on the top ofthe pizza and two pieces are enoughto fulfill your appetite for a meal.Progress with Portuguese: Mygirlfriend says I am fluent, butI think I am far from fluent! Igenerally understand pretty well

but when it comes to speaking Ia m i m p r o v i n g d a y b y d a y .Favourite place to hang out: : I loveIbirapuera Park, Shopping Malls, VilaMadalena bars and the movie theaters.

NewcomerprofleThe Presidents Corner

The end of summer breakhere in Brazilmeans schooli s b a c k i nsess ion andthe AmericanSociety is backwith regularactivities and

opportunities.We look forward to seeing you atan upcoming event. Several of youreaders are new to town and wewelcome you.

Beginning life here can beintimidating atfirst; getting connectedwith people and new communities isessential and we are honored thatyou have decided to join us herein the American Society. To all ofyou who are new, all who have just

returned to So Paulo and to all whomake So Paulo your home, weextend our bem-vindo and lookforward to seeing you engaged in thecommunity in the months ahead.

You might ask, how could I getengaged in the community? In theAmerican Society we like to thinkabout this as applying our HelpingHands.

Helping Hands in AmSoc is first ofall a class of membership that applies50 percent of your membership fee

to help make a lasting differencein the lives of children in our 10carefully screened orphanages.

By Tim Scott, AmSoc president

Bob Moser, editorSimon Tharby, staff writer

141 Preview,layoutAna Claudia Teixeira,editorial

assistant

Forum is printed by Intergraf.(www.intergraf.com.br)

Views expressed in Forum donot necessarily reflect those ofthe American Society board ofgovernors, members, or staff.

Forum reserves the right to editcontent for brevity and/or clarity.

The American Society of So Paulo

Rua da Paz, 1431 n 04713-001 So Paulo, SPTel: (11) 5182-2074 n Fax: (11) 5182-9155

[email protected]

Forum is published monthly, withthe exception of January and July, by

Abo

utForum

FORUM February2

Secondly, Helping Hands is partof the American Societys mission,encouraging you and me to supportour philanthropic work, led by ourCommunity Action Committee.Finally, Helping Hands is the attitudeof volunteerism that helps makeAmSoc a great organization.

Besides the bountiful opportunitiesto support our Community Action

Committee, there are many waysto apply your Helping Hands. Howabout Little League? On Saturdaymornings during the school year,AmSoc sponsors childrens sports(baseball, basketball, soccer). Weneed fun-loving coaches to begin thenew season in February.

How about helping with ourCultural or Social Committees? TheAmerican Society regularly hostssocial and cultural activities. We have

enthusiastic committee chairmenin place, but do need your HelpingHands for support, working to createquality events for the enjoyment ofour members.

The American Society seeks toengage our membership in qualityevents and philanthropic workthat builds a spirit of community,friendship and support. We count onyour Helping Hands to join in withthe activities Ive listed above. Let usknow of your interests by contacting

the AmSoc office.Welcome to 2010! This is sure to

be a year full of opportunity.


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4/16

If you are a U.S. citizen or residentalien, the rules for filing your U.S. in-dividual income tax return are generallythe same whether you live in the UnitedStates or abroad. The U.S. InternalRevenue Code requires all Americans,citizens or resident aliens, living in theUnited States or abroad, to file U.S.income tax returns.

Understanding the filing require-

mentsIf you are a U.S. citizen or resident

alien and you live abroad, you are sub-ject to tax on your worldwide income.However, if you meet certain require-ments under Section 911 of the Code,you may qualify to exclude a certainamount of your foreign earned income(up to US$91,400 for 2009), plus acertain amount of your qualified foreignhousing costs. In addition, Section 901allows taxpayers to take either a credit

or a deduction for foreign income taxespaid.Although Section 911 has been re-

vised several times, the regulations haveconsistently required that a Federal indi-vidual income tax return be filed even if,due to the use of foreign earned incomeand housing exclusions or the foreigntax credit, there is no tax liability.

You must also file a return if you oweany other taxes (such as AlternativeMinimum Tax), or Self-EmploymentTax (if you had net earnings from self-

employment of at least US$400)In addition, even if you do not oth-

erwise have to file a return, you shouldfile one to get a refund of any Federalincome tax withheld or other credits.

When to fileThe 2009 return is generally due

April 15, 2010.An automatic two-month extension

of time to file until June 15, 2010 isgranted to file the 2009 return if, on thedue date of the return, you live outside

the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and your taxhome is outside the U.S. and PuertoRico.

The automatic two-month extensionalso applies to paying the tax. Howev-

Tax time in Brazil and the U.S. What ex-patsliving abroad need to know

FORUM4

By Marcelo Calvoso, managing partner o Duncan & Associates

er, interest ischarged onany unpaidtax from theregular duedate (April15 , 2010)unti l i t ispaid.

A d d i -

tional ex-tensions oftime to file

1) An au-tomatic six-month ex-tension (un-til October15, 2010) isgranted if you file Form 4868 by the regular duedate of the return (April 15, 2010).

The same form should befi

led by theextended due date of June 15, 2010 toget an additional automatic four-monthextension (until October 15, 2010) to theprevious two-month extension.

2) In addition to the six-month exten-sion, taxpayers who are outside U.S. canrequest a discretionary two-month addi-tional extension to file (until December15, 2010). To request this extension,you must send the IRS a letter by theextended due date of October 15, 2010,explaining the reasons why you need the

additional two months.3) File Form 2350 by April 15, 2010

(or June 15, 2010 if you qualify for theprevious automatic two-month exten-sion) to ask for an extension of time tofile if you need the time to meet eitherthe bona-fide residence test or the physi-cal presence test in order to qualify forthe foreign earned income exclusionand/or foreign housing exclusion.

Keep in mind that unlike the originalautomatic two-month extension to June

15, none of these additional extensionsextend the time to pay your incometax. Instead, they give you extra timeto file, but interest will be charged onany unpaid tax from the original due

date of the return (April 15, 2010) andlate payment penalty from the extended

due date of payment (June 15, 2010),until it is paid.Finally, make sure that you under-

stand and comply with your Brazilianincome tax obligations. If you are aPermanent Resident (RNE holder) orhold a Temporary Work Permit, youshould file a 2009 Brazilian individualincome tax return reporting your world-wide income and declaration of assets.If you moved to Brazil during 2009, aPart-Year return may be required.

The 2009 Brazilian return is due

April 30, 2010, and no extension of timeto file or pay the tax is available.

In addition, you are also required tofile a Foreign Assets Report with theBrazilian Central Bank, if on December31, 2009, you had investments and/or fixed assets outside Brazil with ag-gregate value of US$100,000 or more.The due date to file this report is yet tobe determined.

Marcelo Calvoso, managing partnerof Duncan & Associates, in Sao Paulo,

specializes in individual income taxpreparation and consulting, with longtime experience preparing U.S. Fed-eral income tax returns. Contact him at5572-5411, or [email protected]

February


5/16

The American Societyof So Paulo

Welcome back AmSoc families, it istime for Little League season to start upin So Paulo. Different from the LittleLeague you might know back home, ouractivities are not restricted to baseballand do not include arduous trips in thecar or extended weekend travel forstressed out parents.

As with most activities in Brazil,our program is a little more laid back.

Little league here is sponsored and runby the American Society and offersclasses for your young ones in soccer,softball, basketball, tennis, and baseball(if interest is sufficient we may comeup with a tag-style version of AmericanFootball as well).

Activities are generally held onSaturday mornings at either Gradedor Chapel schools depending on theiravailability and run in two time slots,allowing your young ones to participate

in two sports if they so desire. Practicesare run from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and

The 2010 Burns Supper, set for Feb.6 at the Clube Nacional, will be aneven bigger event than last yearsvery successful 250th anniversaryof Rabbi Burns birth. The Burns

Supper is a traditional Scottish eventheld every year across the world closeto Jan. 25, the date of Burns birthday.It celebrates the life and works ofRobert Burns, Scotlands greatestpoet. Burns was born in Ayrshire onJan. 25, 1759, and died at the earlyage of 37 years, following life longhealth problems

Through his poetry and songwriting he helped keep the flame ofpatriotism burning in Scotland during

a diffi

cult period. At the time of hisdeath he was a very popular figure inScotland.

Tickets are R$ 180 and R$150.Reservations and details of Scottishdance practices to brush up yourfavorite dances (not mandatory forthe feint of heart!) can be found atwww.standrews.com.br.

Little League signups andBBQ set or Feb. 6

Scottish BurnsSupper theplace to be onFeb. 6

then from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Schedules are distributed at registrationand will also be available on the AmSocWeb site.

Kids are expected to be kids andwe very much try to emphasize thefun aspects of the game and work onfundamentals while at Little League.Scrimmages will be held at the endof each session but the whole effort is

supposed to be fun for the coaches andkids. We generally have more than 100participants and your kids are welcometo come out and participate.

Registration is Feb. 6, and we will behaving open registration for little leagueas well as a BBQ (churrasco style) atGraded School (Giovanni Gronchi,4710) from 10 a.m to 12 p.m. You canregister at this time.

You can contact Little LeagueCoordinator Benton Kirk with further

questions or doubts at [email protected] or call (11)9381-7056.

FORUM 5010

The ende-o-season awards day is just one o the unique, confdence-building eatures or children atAmSoc Little league.


6/16FORUM6

Adult Sotball saw the Cougars post 10-1 record,take home second AmSoc title in a row.

Last years AmSoc Adult SoftballChampionships were held on twoSaturdays, Oct. 24 and Dec. 5, in Ibuinawhere the Brazilian national baseballteam trains and plays its home games.Both dates included eight teams playingabout 3-4 games each in an abbreviatedround-robin schedule starting around9:30 a.m. and going until around 4 p.m.,including a BBQ each time that started

February

at noon.The Oct. 24 mini-round robin games

provided the seeding for Dec. 5.,whereby two groups of four teamswere organized to play each other first,followed by the first and second placefinishers of each group to play in thesemi-finals: i.e., the winner of Group Aplayed the second place team in GroupB, etc.

In the end, after each team had playedthree games lasting more than four

hours on two different Saturdays, thedefending champs Cougars proved toostrong for the Diamond Runners, led bythe consummate athlete (and promoter)John Norwood, and his feisty group ofplayers mainly from the U.S. Consulate.The Cougars completed a stellar 2009season of 10-1, only losing to a toughHamada team in April in thefinals of theFirst Annual Charity Softball Classic.

The MVP of the Championship wasHoward Anderson.

SPORTS


7/16


FORUM 7

The American Society of SaoPaulo completed an active year forcompetitive adult (team) sports,covering a variety of modalities:a flag football tournament inFebruary, charity softball classicin April, a friendly baseball gamein July, a golf challenge in August,softball tournament in October,tennis tournament in November andthe softball tournament finals inDecember. Below is a summary ofthese events.

And in 2010, AmSoc plans to followthis schedule and even add more tennisand golf to the schedule, so stayedtuned for the announcements!

Jan. 31, 2009: The Annual AbacaxiBowl took place at Graded School onJan. 31 where more than 80 players and25 spectators enjoyed the activities.The winner was PACA School, thedefending champion, a team taht hasamassed six championships in thepast 10 years.

April 4, 2009: At the BrasilianBaseball Federations Sports complex,the American Society hosted its firstCharity Softball Classic whereby morethan R$5,000 was donated to one ofAmSocs 11 charities. The winnerwas a newcomer to the Americansoftball events, Hamada, a Japaneseteam that regularly plays both softball(fast & slow pitch) and baseball in themutinous tournaments in Sao Paulo.From that date a new bonding hadtaken place, because Hamada has

not only been an active participant inAmSoc softball tournaments, but hasinvited AmSoc to play baseball ontheir over-35 and over-40 teams.

July 4, 2009: Again at the BrasilianBaseball Federations Sports complex,this time the American Societychallenged the experienced Hamadain a 7-inning baseball game, and onlylost 15-11.

Aug. 21, 2009: The 4th ChallengeGolf Cup was held at the Terras de

Sao Jose Golf Club in Itu, where theAmericans (57) defeated the Scots (56).Oct. 24, 2009: The 1st Round of

the 2009 Softball Championship washeld in Ibuina,

Highlights rom AmSocs year o adult sports

010

Where the Brazilian nationalbaseball team trains and plays itshome games. The results were:

2009 Softball

ChampionshipsWinning

Team Wins Losses Pct.

1. Cougars 8 0 100% Champion

2. AmSoc 5 1 83%

3. Consulate 4 3 57%

4. Hamada 2 4 33%

5. PACA 1 2 33%

6. GM 2 5 29%

7. SMAB 1 5 17%

8. Devilz 0 6 0%

Nov. 7, 2009: Davids Tennis andSquash Club, in Santo Amaro, hostedAmSocs 2009 Tennis Open

where 29 players joinedin: 22 men and 7 women.Everyone was paired toplay doubles matches ofsix games each. From 10a.m. to 4 p.m. all played sixmatches in total, mostlywith different partners.

Womens category: 1stAnn Marie Drysdale, 2nd

Andrea Pagliusoand 3rdKristina Dooley.

Mens category: 1stRodrigo Drysdale, 2ndRicardo Rubeiz and 3rdZack Henry

Dec. 5, 2009: The2nd and Final Roundof the 2009 SoftballChampionship resultswas held and the finalresults of the two-day

tournament were:

1ST ROUND WINS LOSSES

1. Cougars 3 0

2. AmSoc 3 0

3. Consulate 2 1

4. GM 1 2

5. Hamada 0 2

6. SMAB 0 2

7. Devilz 0 2

8. PACA 0 0


8/16FORUM8

NAME MEMBERSHIP TYPE CITIZENSHIPCOMPANY OR

PROFESSION

Monica Schmitt FREYRE Family Brazilian n/a

Ernest JEAN-LOUIS and family Family Patron AmericanCosta & Cambui Ass.

Imobiliria

Romero TAVARES and family Helping Hands Brazilian Ernst & Young

Magda KELLY and family Family Patron Amer.-Braz. n/a

Andrew Douglas LOPEMAN Junior American Caterpillar

Debbie HIRST Single (renewal) American n/a

We want to acknowledge all our newmembers from November and December.In addition, the age limit for the recentlycreated Junior level membership hasbeen raised from 25 to 30. Please helpAmSoc recruit new, young members inSao Paulo by promoting this low-cost,entry-level Junior category.

For these newcomers, welcome to ourfamily. There are plenty of great AmSocevents set in February to kick off 2010.

New membersrom November,December

office says that aspecial section at the Sambadrome,Section G, has been designated forinternational tourists and non-natives,with interpreters on hand and bilingualspecialists available to explain thedetails and history of Brazilian Carnavalto first-time viewers.

Carnaval in the countryside isoften a very different type of party from

the one youll see on television taking

Carnaval 2010 in Sao Paulo: last-minute ideasor AmSoc amilies

(Continued from cover page) over Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro andnortheastern cities like Salvador. Thefollowing are a handful of small, ruralcities in Sao Paulo state well-known fortheir traditional, family-oriented andvery G-rated Carnaval experiencesthat you could drive to from Sao Pauloand back in a day.

Themed groups parade through thecitys streets tossing candy and toys as

spectators stand just feet away, offeringa very personal, interactiveCarnaval experience that youmay not find in the big cityspectacles. These parades arealmost always free as well.

The following are a fewsmall towns in Sao Paulostate known for their friendlyCarnaval traditions:

So Jos dos Campos One of the most important

industrial and research centersin South America, this small,fairly affluent city lies about80 km east of Sao Paulo.

Vista Alegre do Alto About 378 km northwest ofSao Paulo.

Ariranha 344 km northwestof Sao Paulo.

Catanduva About 390 kmfrom Sao Paulo, learn more at

http://carnaval.catanduva.sp.gov.br/.Itu About 108 km west of Sao

Paulo, learn more at www.itu.com.br/turismo/guia.asp


9/16


The cat and dog overpopulation problemis serious in Sao Paulo. While officialstatistics do not exist, it is estimatedthat there are approximately 1.5 mil-lion dogs and cats living on the streetsof the city.

It may not be so obvious in someof the nicer neighborhoods of town,but as soon as you get a little closer tothe periferia, it becomes impossible to

ignore. Abandoned or homeless animalsare not the only ones that suffer. Errantanimals can cause car accidents, andcats and dogs can carry diseases thatare communicable to humans, the mostserious of which being rabies.

The World Health Organization(WHO) declared in 1992 that withoutcanine population control one cannotcontrol rabies. Therefore, while it iscertainly a humane goal to end canineoverpopulation, it is also urgent for

public health authorities.Sao Paulo and Brazil are not the onlyplaces where pet overpopulation prob-lems exist. Even in the United States itis estimated that 4 million healthy catsand dogs are euthanized each year inshelters around the country. The prob-lem is multi-faceted, and the solutionincludes educational programs as wellas sterilization projects.

Statistical studies indicate that inorder to fully control a population, youneed to achieve a 70 percent sterilization

rate of the animals within a particularcommunity. Once you reach the 70percent threshold, the probability that anunsterilized female comes into contactwith an unsterilized male is sufficientlysmall, and the population stops grow-ing. The challenge is how to achievethat level.

Animal population cannot be control-led by simply picking up the animalsand killing them. If it is possible for ananimal to survive on the streets (and in

countries such as Brazil, where garbageand other sources of animal nutritionare readily available on the streets), assoon as you remove one animal fromthe location, another one will move

in to take its place, and animals willcontinue having litters until the feedingcapacity of the region is met. As longas its possible for animals to survive in

the streets, there will be animals in thestreets. In the United States, the generaltrend in reduction of street animals oc-curred simultaneous to the introductionof organized garbage collection pro-grams, so there was no longer a readilyaccessible source of sustenance for thestreet animals.

The traditional approach to steriliza-tion has been surgical. For the last sev-eral decades a strategy of high-volume,low-cost sterilization programs has beenadopted in a number of communities,

with varying degrees of success. Thereis a particular surgical technique thatfacilitates this type of program (theincision is quite small and often timesthe only sutures are internal, meaningthat the animal does not have to be keptovernight in the clinic or return for anyfollow-up care). This allows for the sur-gery to be quicker, and less expensive.

Unfortunately there are not a lot ofveterinarians who are interested in be-coming adept at the technique required

to perform high volume low cost surger-ies, and it does in fact require a particularskillset that not all veterinarians have.

The city of Sao Paulo has encouragedclinics to offer sterilization services,

specifically by promoting a programwhere clinics (and now NGOs) canbecome qualified to offer free surgeriesto clients, and in return the city pays theclinics afixed price for each surgery. Theprogram requires anyone who is inter-ested in taking advantage of the offer togo in person to the Centro de Controlede Zoonoses in Santana to register. Fora city as large as Sao Paulo, and with a

population as poor, this becomes prob-lematic because many people simplydo not have the means to get to Santanain order sign up for the program. It is agood start however.

While high-volume low-cost sterili-zation surgeries may be relatively newin Sao Paulo (within the last 10 years),there have been similar programs inother countries (most notably the U.S.)for several decades. By and large, theevidence has shown that even with

aggressive surgical sterilization pro-grams, it is very difficult to get to apoint where you are no longer killingunwanted animals. Most likely, addi-tional solutions will need to be found.

One of these is chemical sterilization,via an injection and not a surgery. Someproducts already exist and are beingused in various countries. In Brazil aproduct exists for male dogs. The benefitto this type of sterilization is that youdont need to do it in a clinic, it is muchless expensive than a surgery, and you

can achieve a very high volume in ashort time, therefore facilitating gettingto the required 70 percent sterilized levelwhich will achieve effective populationcontrol. The product is new, however,and is not being widely used yet.

Two good sources of information onthe topic and where you can adopt a catand dog if you are interested are www.arcabrasil.org.br and www.instituton-inarosa.org.br.

Hirst is the owner of spay/neuter

clinic Centro de Planejamento de Na-talidade Animal, which can be reachedat www.cpna.com.br, or 5631 0713.

Learn more about injectable sterilantsat www.infertile.com.br.

FORUM 9

Pet overpopulation in Sao Paulo shouldbe a concern or all By Debbie Hirst, AmSoc member


10/16

Youve most certainly heard of, orhave even tasted, churrasco (barbecue)and feijoada (a complex meal thatincludes a stew of black beans withpork and several side dishes, includ-ing rice, collard greans, peeled orange,cassava flour, red pepper sauce andour national distilled liquor, cachaa).

Now, can you tell me what a bucha-da de bode is? Or pato no tucupi?

Here I list 10 classics, not neces-sarily easy to digest, but amazingwindows to Brazilian culture. Forlinks with recipes, find this storyrepeated at http://deepbrazil.com :

1.Barreado Typical of the coast ofthe southern state of Paran, it probablyoriginates from the Portuguese Azoresislands. This meat stew served with riceis prepared in a very peculiar way. It iscooked in a clay pot for around 20 hours the time needed for the meatfibers to be

dissolved in a thick sauce. The pot is lay-ered with banana leaves and its outside iscovered with hardened maniocflour paste,in other to avoid letting the heat escape.

2.Cuscuz Despite having the sameorigin as the Moroccan couscous, it looksand tastes very different. In So Paulo,where I come from, it is made with cornflour, olives, tomatoes, eggs, peas, sar-dines and has the look of a decorated cake.

3. Tacac This numbing yellowishcassava soup includes goma (a cassava-based transparent gluey substance) , driedshrimp and jambu, a plant that causes aweird anesthesia effect on the mouth. Very

hot, it is served in a cuia, a bowl made ofa local fruit. Omnipresent in Manaus, itis typical of most of the Amazon region.

4. Moqueca capixaba A hearty fishstew with tomatoes, onions, pepper and

10 unorgettable Brazilian dishes youvenever heard o By Regina Schar, guest contributor

bell peppers. It has a side dish offish pu-ree. Typical of the state of Esprito Santo.

5. Pato no Tucupi This duck dish

is made with tucupi, a broth of scaldedcassava and the same jambu used in ta-cac, which means it also has that weirdnumbing effect. It is typical of Belm, bythe Atlantic coast of the Amazon region.

6. Buchada This one is not forthe faint of heart. Made with the billygoats internal organs, that are cookedand used to stuff the animals stomach.

7.Tutu mineira This is one ex-ample of the very traditional cuisineof the state of Minas Gerais. It is a

cooked black bean puree mixed withcassava flour. It is served with boiledeggs, sausages, rice and collard greens

8. Canjica This porridge made ofwhite corn, milk, cinnamon and sugaris particularly popular in June, duringthe big festivals for Saint Peter, SaintJohn and Saint Anthony (festas juninas).

9. Acaraj You cannot visit Bahia andmiss the acaraj. Originally from Nigeria,this cake made of peeled black-eyed peasis deep fried in palm oil (dend). It is splitin half and stuffed with shrimp, cashews

and different pastes, namely vatap.

10. Brigadeiro This huge hit isalways welcome at childrens birthdayparties. It is a type of chocolate truffle

covered with chocolate sparkles, namedafter Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes, an airforce brigadier that was a candidate in twopresidential campaigns in the late 1940s.

Good luck in case you try this reci-

pes at home! I found a few bookson Brazilian cooking published inEnglish , in case you feel adventur-ous. These two seem above average:

Eat Smart in Brazil: How to Deci-pher the Menu, Know the Market Foods& Embark on a Tasting Adventure, and

The Art of Brazilian Cookery(Hippocrene International CookbookClassics)

If you try any of these recipes, please,tell me how it worked out. And bomapetite!

Regina Scharf is a Brazilian-born free-lance journalist who writes for variousnews outlets in Sao Paulo, and blogs in

English at http://deepbrazil.com.

FORUM10 February


11/16


Eileen Tasso firstheard about theVila AcalantoO r p h a n a g etwo years ago,through somefriends who werev o l u n t e e r i n gthere. Since then,she has worked as

a liaison for VilaAcalanto on AmSocs CommunityAction Committee.

This role involves staying incontact with the orphanage, andassessing and helping to meet itsneeds. AmSocs role in the provisionof new flooring is one recent exampleof practical support she coordinated.Tasso, also responsible for recruitingvolunteers, was eager to point outthey are looking for more people

now.The most rewarding aspect ofthis work is the time she spendseach week with the children there.They are just so lonely, Tassoexplained. They are just so happyto see you.

Angel Party leader flls calendarwith volunteerism

FORUM 11

Coordinating the AmSoc AngelParty was the highlight of Eileensyear. This remarkable event is thelargest on AmSocs calendar, andentertained 220 orphans from 10different organizations (see DecemberForum for more details). Organizingthis event included, to name but afew aspects, the many corporatesponsors and other agencies and their

respective donations and services,220 gift bag and cash sponsors, andthe 190 volunteers who helped on theday. The party was a major successfor Tasso as a coordinator, though shewas keen to emphasize, It wasnt just me I had a committee! Herfavorite memory of this day? Giving(the children) gifts they never getanything.

Besides her current liaison role,Tasso has volunteered for the Viva

Jovem AmSoc project, teachingEnglish to teenagers. She also helpsout at her sons school, recentlyadvising on the Walk for Humanity,a fund-raising event for the Habitatfor Humanity scheme, which buildshomes for the less fortunate.

010

EVERYMONTH AMSOCMEMBERS TELL THE

FORUMABOUT SAMPA PETSINNEED OFA

GOODHOME. CHECK OUT THISMONTHS

FEATURE

DOG

:NAME: GIRL (MENINA)

AGE: 2 MONTHS

COLOR: BLACKANDTAN

SEX: FEMALE

FLEAS:NONE

TICKS:NONE

SIZE: MEDIUM

KILOS: WEHAVETOWAITTOSEE...

FARTS: NO

HOUSEBROKEN: NOTYET

HOBBIES: NONEYET

VACCINES:YES

NEUTERED: SPAYED

QUIRKS: TOOYOUNGTOTELL

INJURIES:NONE

FOUND: INFRONTOFAUNIVERSITYWITH

MOM, BROTHERSANDSISTERS

ABILITYTOWALKONALEASH:WEHAVE

TOWAITONTHAT

LEVELOFPERFECTGOODNESSFORANICE

FAMILY: REALLYHIGH!!!

COST TO YOU: NOTHING, JUST LOVE!!!

APPLICATIONS: [email protected]

Adopt a pet


12/16

I love you, man!ByBert Frost, ormer AmSoc president

I attended a Brazilian birthday partythis weekend. I enjoy hanging outwith my Brazilian friends. We talkedabout the ancillary items like traffic,food and the latest type of gripe eachsuffer regardless of nationality.

As the evening grew longer and thecrowd thinner, we hit on subjects of theheart. A childs illness, lack of sleepand aging (being at a birthday party,I guess that is natural). Attending

the party were mostly Brazilians, anumber of Europeans and the tokenGringos (my wife and me). As Iwatched the party progress, I wasmade aware of a cultural nuance. Theculture of hugs. I am an Americanfrom the central part of the U.S. Theonly guy I hugged were my fellowfootball players after a big score. Ihardly remember hugging my dad.We shake hands to this day. Hi dad,how are you? Hand shake. Fine

son, how about those Cowboys? Ialways mean to convey warmth witha handshake, but am uncomfortablewith the emotional expression of afirm hug.

Not our Brazilian friends. They arehuggers. Back to the party. I observedfive types of hugs/greetings during mymale bonding moment. They are:

1. Glad to have you here, we arefriends hug This is the hug whereyou shake hands with the right handand use the left hand to pat the guy on

the shoulder. A nice gesture, kind-of-asemi-formal greeting. Comfortable forthe cold Europeans and Americans.Actually, the Germans were callingtheir comrades Heir Doctor andwere even more formal and stiff in thehandshake. Even less emotion thanmy dad and me.

2. I like you, we are good friendshug -- This is the greeting whereyou place your right arm over theguys shoulder and pat the guys

tummy while talking. I have to admitthe first time I received this warmgreeting I was hoping it only lasteda few seconds. Now I am a regularpasser of the Tummy Pat greeting.

FORUM12 February

This is also the greeting you receivewhen someone invites to you to achurrasco at his house for the tenthtime. Another Brazilian way ofcommunicating friendship is to inviteyou to a churrasco at the personshome. It may happen and it maynot. But the fact that an invitation isextended means you are an ok guyand your Brazilian friend considersspending a Sunday afternoon with

you.3. Kissing a woman other than

your wife Whether an introductionor encountering a friend, a male-to-female greeting is a gentle kiss on oneor both cheeks. The problem startswhen you return to the U.S. and youare so used to this greeting that youbend forward to kiss when you seea female friend. Not a good idea tocontinue this cultural greeting whenin the U.S. or in the office.

4. Woman friend greeting a femalefriend Kiss the air, do not kiss theface. It might mess-up the make-up.

5. I like you so much I will giveyou a bear-hug hug This is thegreeting you receive when you area great friend and the wine has beenflowing. When we were leaving theabove mentioned birthday party, I wason the receiving end of a great big bearhug. We hugged, patted each othersbacks and then rocked back and forthfor a special effect. I was ok with

that. Then we told each other whatgood friends were are and wishedeach other health and life for manyyears to come. The heebee geebeesonly started to flow when I was closeenough to smell his breath. I wantedto exclaim, as in the old Budweisercommercial I love you, man!

The Brazilians are wonderfuland expressive. Whether emotionsare flying over a traffic incident, adisagreement or appreciating true

friendship, they let it all hang out. Wecan learn a few lessons from them.

This column has been reprintedfrom a previous Forum issue.

IndividualorGroups

WHERE

CompanyHomeUniversity

ANY TIME !

www.englishintheoffice.com.brrelationship@englishintheoffice.com.br

Phone: 011 50443859

COURSE

EnglishSpanishPortuguese


13/16


Bullying in the new millennium

Dont orgetBOTHValentines

days this year

Whether a child lives in a small townin Iowa or a megalopolis like SoPaulo, chances are he will eventuallyhave to deal with a bully. While bullieshave always existed, the advent ofour new connected world has givenrise to a new breed of bully. Unlikea traditional bully, a cyberbullyemploys technology to cause harm.

Cyberbullying is bullying throughthe use of technology. Cyberbullying

can be much more destructive thantraditional bullying because there isno escape for the victim. In the past,if there were a fight on the playground,after the fight, the kids would gohome and that would be the end of it.Home used to be a childs sanctuaryfrom bullies. Now, the fight is likelyto show up on YouTube for the restof the world to see. Cyberbullies arenot limited to harassing their victimsin person. They can send annoying

or threatening emails, texts or instantmessages (IMs). A cyberbully can alsoinvade a victims social networkingsite and post derogatory commentsor embarrassing pictures. From avictims perspective, it can seem likethe cyberbully is everywhere.

Some parents who are not very tech-savvy might feel helpless assisting achild dealing with a cyberbully. Itseasy for a parent to get overwhelmedwith todays technology. It may beeasier to keep in mind that what kids

do hasnt changed, only how they doit has. Children used to pass notesin class, now they text. Teens usedto buy records and CDs, now theysimply download their music. Manykids used to write in journals ordiaries, now they blog. Kids are doingpretty much the same thing, just withdifferent methods. Cyberbullies areno different. A cyberbully is simplya bully using technology to harm hisvictim instead of force.

Cyberbullies employ multipletechniques in order to bully theirchosen victims. Some bullies will postembarrassing pictures without consent.More troubling is when a cyberbully

While most of the world, including theU.S., celebrates Valentines Day on Feb.14, the holidays equivalent in Brazilwont show up on your calendar untilJune 12.

Dia dos Namorados is, to put itlightly, a big deal in Brazil on June 12,with the exchange of candies, flowersand gifts between couples a standardtradition. Hotels and restaurants fill their

reservation books months in advance.Just a friendly tip from your AmSoc

Forum staff, it may be beneficial to dosomething special on both dates.

ByMike Whipple, vice-consul, American Citizen Services, U.S. Consulate in Sao Paulo

steals a password to assume anothersidentity. Cyberbullies also ofteninundate their victims with threateningor harassing emails, IMs or texts.

The National Center for Missingand Exploited Children (NCMEC)recommends that if parents areconcerned that their child may be avictim of this type of bullying, theyshould look for the following signs. Ifa child goes from using his computer

and cell phone constantly to not usingthem at all, it could be a sign that heis afraid to use them. Acting nervouswhen receiving emails, IMs or textsis also an indicator. Also, seemingto be uneasy about going to schooland withdrawing from family andfriends could be symptoms of a biggerproblem.

NCMEC suggests several steps totake to deal with this problem. First,if the child is in imminent danger,

contact the authorities (police, school)immediately. If the threat does notwarrant that type of action, parentsshould instruct their child not torespond to incoming messages fromthe bully. However, save all messagesin case they are required at a futuredate. Most social sites allow a user toblock or ban certain individuals frommaking contact. This option shouldbe employed. These sites often haveprivacyfilters that should be utilized aswell. It also might be prudent to create

a new account. Finally, the parent andchild should report the cyberbullyingto school officials.

NCMEC also offers advice tofamilies to help minimize the escalationof this type of bullying. It suggestsestablishing clear rules for internetusage. These rules can include whichsites the children are permitted tofrequent, to whom they may talk andhow much time they may spend online.It is also advised to keep the computer

in a common room. Parents alsoneed to remind their children of theimportance of keeping their passwordssecure. And, by far, the most importantaction a parent can undertake is to be

FORUM 13010

involved in the childs life. Its ok tobe nosy, ask questions, find out whattheyre doing and stay engaged.

The information in this articlewas adapted from a presentationcreated by The National Center for

Missing and Exploited Children. Thisorganization has some wonderfulresources available for parents, youngchildren, tweens and teens. Formore information, check out its Web

sites atwww.netsmartz.org and www.missingkids.com.


14/16

20-years experience, tutors Math, Phys-ics, Chemistry, and Science for all levels,including but not limited to the IB, IGCSE,SAT-I & II, AP and Brazilian vestibular.Elementary and middle school students arealso welcome (all subjects). Call FernandoKnijnik at (11) 2533-3965 or 9134-6700.

Personal Trainer

I will come to your home, office, or work-out facility and create an exercise/fitnessprogram tailored to your health concerns,fitness goals, and schedule. For adults andchildren, individuals or groups. Sessionsin English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Formore information please contact Daniela

Franco at (11) 9739-6191 or [email protected]

Psychotherapist for Ex-Pats

Serving Adults, Children, and Families(also couples) struggling with all adjust-ment issues. Specializing in issues ofdivorce, separation, and reconciliation.Many years experience with drug/ alcoholissues. USA-licensed as MFT. Jungian An-alyst experienced in Sandtray, Dreamwork

(groups also), and Cognitive/ Behavioraltherapy. Please call/ email Matthew: 77345793 or [email protected] for afree initial consultation.

Selling Up

Go with a pro! We have been sellinghousehold goods for families, individu-als, and companies for 17 years in SoPaulo and nine in Brasilia for embassies.We have hundreds of pre-selected clientswanting to buy from you, safe and sound!

Send an e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected] or call (11)5908-1144 or (61) 9211-1819. Ask for Ms.Zaquie Meredith.

Taylor Real Estate

Luxury spacious houses, apartments andpenthouses Sales and rentals. Ten yearsexperience with expatriates. Furnishedand unfurnished. Trilingual Real Estateagents. References from consulates and

multinationals. Photos sent by email. Re-location Service. Consult the site: www.taylorimoveis.com. E Mail - [email protected] Phone: 5511 3079 8888and 5511 8774 5100 (Maria Elisa)

American-Licensed

Psychotherapist

In this busy and ever-changing world,people often feel stressed and overwhelmedwith no place to turn. Psychotherapy/counseling can provide a safe placeto receive professional guidance andsupport. Brief or longer term therapyoffered depending on your needs, goalsand expectations. Services: individual,couples, child/adolescent. Certifiedto conduct Adoption Home Study forAmerican Citizens. Contact: Pamela Wax,MSW/LCSW at 5051-5988 or 9656-2106.Located in Moema.

American PsychologistServices for Expats

Sukie Miller Ph.D. early director of Esalen,former Board Member Jung Institute SanFrancisco, 35 years experience privatepractice as coach, psycho-therapist withadults and couples in eclectic approach topersonal/professional growth, womansissues, adjustment So Paulo, goal setting,dream work, anxiety. Call Dr. Miller at 11-9823-8730. email [email protected].

Argos Dog Kennel

Traveling? What about your dog? ArgosKennel Hotel could be his second homein the country. Food, water, and shelterwith lots of love and personal care. Nolonely kennel for him, but our home andthe freedom of a spacious garden. Fetchand carry service. English and Frenchspoken. Call Jean or Christine at (11)4661-1430 or (11) 9687-1815 or send ane-mail to [email protected]. Embu

Guau, So Paulo.

Domestic Help

American Society family relocatingto USA. Want position for LindauraAparaecido Neto 7406-0334, wonderfulcook, laundress and household cleaner, of7 years. Excels at all 3 services. Her hoursare 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Monday- Friday.Prepares all meals. Reasonable salary.For info. contact Stephen/Luciana Taber

3813-2793/8368-0599.

Math and Science Tutor

Former Graded and Chapel teacher, with

CLASSIFIEDS

FORUM14

Housing

Furnished Apartment for Rent

Vila Nova Conceio. So Paulos bestplace to live. Near Ibirapuera Park.Modern building with sports facilities,heated swimming pool, three bedrooms(one suite), a living room with terrace,complete kitchen, maids bedroom andbathroom, big service area, two parkingspaces. Fully furnished with all appliances.Telephone included. Call Alex or Eliane at(11) 3849-7085 or (11) 8635-7788, or sendan e-mail to [email protected].

Ubatuba Beach Rental

AmSoc member rents charming bungalowor luxurious villa in high-security gatedcommunity. Large sweeping yard,incredible ocean view, complete privacy.Available weekends or weekly. www.ubatubaescape.com.

American-Licensed

Clinical Psychologist

Heloisa Garman, Psy.D. U.S. LicensedClinical Psychologist (covered byU.S. health insurance). Bilingual, withextensive private practice in Chicagoand former therapist at the FamilyInstitute at Northwestern University.Treats individuals, couples, and families.Specialized in anxiety, depression, culturalissues, and adjustment disorders. Call Dr.Garman at (11) 7179-9723 or 3898-2330

or send an e-mail to [email protected].

American-Licensed Expat

Psychologist

Richard Morhaime, Psy.D. offersskilled psychotherapy for childrenand adults. He also provides completediagnostic evaluations in English forchildren with academic or behavioraldifficulties, featuring individualized

recommendations for school and home.For more information, contact Dr.Morhaime at 5538-0099 or 9669-8057or visit www.expatpsychologist.com.

Services

February


15/16


3 Wednesday INC Monthly Coffee For more information visit www.newcomers-sp.com.br

6 SaturdayAmSoc Little League

Sign-Up & Churrasco

Check out our Web site for more information:

www.amsoc.com.br

6 SaturdayBurns Supper at the

Clube NacionalFor more information visit www.standrews.com.br

6 Saturday Abacaxi BowlVisit www.amsoc.com.br to learn more, or call the office at

5182-2074 ASAP to learn how to sign up for the big game.

10 Wednesday INC Red Rose For more information visit www.newcomers-sp.com.br

11 Thursday CIWS Lunch For more information visit www.ciws.com.br

12 FridayVancouver 2010 Olympic

Games startFor more information visit www.vancouver2010.com

13-16 Sat - Tue Carnival Check out the story in this Forum. For more informationabout Brazilian Carnival visit www.justbrazil.org

24 Wednesday INC Monthly Luncheon For more information visit www.newcomers-sp.com.br

28 SundaySampa Community

Church

Visit any Sunday at 10:55 a.m. Directions at www.

sampacommunity.com

2 March Coldplay in concertAt Morumbi Stadium. Visit www.ticketmaster.com.br for

availability.

4 March NOFX in concert At SESC Santana. Visit www.sescsp.org.br to learn more.

FORUM 15

CALENDAR

For more information about this months AmSoc events (highlighted), visit www.amsoc.com.br.

IMPORTANT DATES: 13-16 Carnival /14Valentines Day (in USA) /17 Ash Wednesday

A classifed o up to 50 words costs R$40 or AmSoc members

and R$75 or non-members. To place a classifed please call (11)

5182-2074 rom 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., or send an e-mail to

[email protected].

Placea

Classifed

Forum does not check all o the advertisers appearing in this

newsletter. We urge you to use these services; however,

thoroughly check prices and services prior to fnalizing any

service or purchase agreement.A

Noteto

OurReader

s

February 2010

010


16/16

I love this city. I loveit so much Ive evendone presentationson why I love it. Butevery time I think noone loves So Paulolike I do, I meetsomeone even morepassionate about it.

While showing

some friends theGaudi House in

Paraispolis two weeks ago, I met FlaviaLiz Di Paolo, a full-time professional tourguide and fanatic about this city. Withinminutes of meeting each other, Flavia wasfiguring out what my interests were anduggesting places to visit. Id never been to

any of them and, sadly, never even heard ofa few of them.

And so, in honor of So Paulos 456thbirthday in January, I treated myself to

one of Flavias personalized tours. It washard to decide what to spend an afternoondoing. She knew so much about thisplace. A general city tour? The history ofmy neighborhood? Architecture? A tourfor children? Famous designers? Birdwatching? Exclusive jewelry?

In the end, we decided to spend a fewhours investigating So Paulos street artculture. Why not? I occasionally makeclunky bracelets using my own beads andun-over bolts and screws Ive picked up

while walking the dogs. Paulistano street

artists like Os Gemeos are making it bigaround the world, painting castles andhowing their work in New York galleries.

Alleyways, underpasses hide

gorgeous art worth your timeTill Feb. 5, MASP is having an exhibit ofstreet art and, of course, many parts of townare covered in graffiti.

To be clear, this isnt pichao. You knowthe spray-painted lettering and symbolsthat covers this city? Thats pichao. Bygraffiti, Brazilians mean the bits andpieces of art we all see in random corners ofthe city stenciled women, wildly distortedanimals and swirly flowers on corners,

telephone poles and doors. We went to seegraffiti.

Flavias tour, which included door-to-door service in her car, started as soon as weleft my garage. She pointed out every majoror minor landmark along the way to ourfirstappointment, with savory bits of history andtrivia. With so much information, I tried totake notes but gave up, hoping to remembera fraction of it.

Our first stop was in Perdizes, at thehome of Jaime Prades, one of So Paulos

original street artists. Early in the 1980s,Prades and other artists were among thefirst to transform Vila Madelenas gray wallsinto street museums, risking jail, policeharassment and other unpleasantness toexpress themselves. Now nearly 50, withteenage daughters, a home with a swimmingpool and a cluttered atelier, Prades is moreformally employed, having created a castof exuberant characters called the Absurdosfor the Playland amusement parks. He stillpaints here and there in his neighborhood,but, besides the Absurdos, Prades main

artistic focus right now is artificial treesmade from recycled furniture and bits oflumber. Hell soon install a forest of them

at the SESC Itaquera. Why? I cant doanything else, he said.

Flavia then drove me to Vila Madelenawhere we met one of the directors ofthe Cidade Escola Aprendiz, an after-school program for more than 1,000children focusing on art, culture, education,communication, technology and communityaction. Escola Aprendiz takes care of astrange little alley between Rua Padre JooGonalves and Rua Belmiro Braga. Thisalley features section upon section of art,owned by no one and everyone at the sametime. Street artists choose a spot and painttheir murals. This, along with the Beco deBatman (Batmans Alley) on Rua GonaloAfonso and Rua Harmonia features some of

the best example of So Paulos graffiti painted, sprayed and air brushed, layer uponlayer, changing every six months or so.

On a subsequent trip to Batmans Alley,I met a young artist, Tche, who was in theprocess of repainting one his walls. It was aSunday afternoon and, like most artists, hehas a day job. Tche works with road signs.When I asked if this was how he normallyspent his weekends, he responded, Yeah,what else can I do? Look at this emptywall.

Hot and tired, Flavia and I had a glass ofjuice at a local bar before moving on to ourlast stop, Choque Cultural, an art gallery inVila Madalena that showcases undergroundartists not (yet) known to the general public.If youre interested in taking home a pieceof So Paulos weird and wild, ChoqueCultural offers a chance to do it.

I felt a little embarrassed for not alreadyknowing what Flavia taught me thatafternoon. But then, she has a degree in thehistory of So Paulo, for heavens sake, haslived here all her life and shows this city

to the likes of the governor of Minnesota,Austrian TV stations covering the Popesvisit and Polands Minister of ForeignAffairs.

And any of us. Flavia speaks six languagesand charges R$100 an hour for a four-hourtour. Split that with three friends that can fitin her car with you and theres a whole lotof So Paulo for your buck. I plan to call heragain. After all, I do love this city.

Contact Flavia Liz Di Paolo

Tel: 8119-3903 / 3032-2692

[email protected]

www.uniqueinsp.com

y Sue Banman Sileci,mSoc member

Fellowship Community ChurchThe Welcome Place since 1921

Phone (11) 3253-7609 www.fellowship.com.br

Sundays

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

10:30 am Worship Service (English only)

06:00 pm Culto em portugus

Conveniently located on Rua Carlos Sampaio, 107 Bela Vista

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

amsoc forum february 2010

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