The AmSoc Blog

From the March issue of Forum

By Kim Beecheno, staff writer

Nilva Moreira Neves Pereira didn’t have an easy childhood.

Born into a poor family in Correntina, she grew up selling fruit and cereal in the market square. After moving around and battling health problems, she returned to Correntina, where her father helped her mount a small clothes stall in the market.

It was then that she heard of CrediAmigo, the state-run Banco do Nordeste’s microcredit program, which now supports 340,000 poor Brazilian entrepreneurs like Nilva with loans, providing the capital they need to get their business up and running.

Antonia Pereira of Anamari, Brazil, rises at 7 a.m. most days and works until sunset, embroidering fabric for dresses and bedsheets. Now 59, she runs a small but successful sewing business from her home. Initial capital of U.S.$150 helped her buy a variety of colored thread for more complex designs. With subsequent loans, she bought her first electric sewing machine. (Photo provided by www.accion.org)

Today, after borrowing eight loans, Nilva owns three shops selling shoes and domestic products. Her children are at university, and one of them is studying to become a doctor. For someone who admits she never had a hope of studying, Nilva is proud of the life she’s built.

“I’m not rich, but I have a good life now,” she said. “I borrowed the money and invested it in goods. My husband didn’t believe that such a small sum would help, but he supported me.”   (more…)

From the March issue of Forum

By Bill Hinchberger, AmSoc member

Several countries claim slivers of the Amazon basin, but Brazil controls the lion’s share. Most visitors seek nature, birds and wildlife, but about 20 million people inhabit the region, and cultural tourism offers a rich compliment to ecotourism.

Famed Theatro da Paz (Peace Theater) in the city of Belém is considered the most important cultural house in northern Brazil. (Photo provided by Companhia Paraense de Turismo)

States of the Amazon
The Brazilian Amazon is comprised of six states in their entirety and parts of three others. Most visitors arrive in one of the two major cities, Manaus and Belém, and strike out from there into the jungle. Acre – Set in the extreme western end of northern Brazil the state of Acre is best known as home of rubber-tapper, labor leader and eco-martyr Chico Mendes and his protégé, former Brazilian Environmental Minister Marina Silva. About 85 percent of Acre’s original forest remains intact. Its topography is mostly flat, except for the Serra do Divisor highlands near the Peruvian border. That park unites the biodiversity of the Amazon and the Andes. (more…)

From the March issue of Forum

By Marlene Chumo Rubeiz, AmSoc president

As all of you are experiencing, life really begins again in Brazil after Carnival.

The American Society is now in full swing too, and John Kennedy had more than 100 participants for his Abacaxi Bowl in early February. Unfortunately, our Valentine’s Day party did not get off the ground because all the possible places where we could have had the party were already booked by December. But the interest was great, so it will be on the calendar for next year, with planning way ahead this time. (more…)

From the March issue of Forum

This dog is living in a small cage in a local veterinarian’s office, until you agree to let him into your home.

Temporary name: Preto
Age: 11 months
Color: See name above
Sex: Male
Kilos: 15
Neutered: No, but please get it done
Found: In the street, lightly injured from being hit by a car
Condition now: Just groovy, if a little scratched up
Fleas: None
Ticks: He was covered in them but Dr. Miriam took care of that
Goofiness: High
Cuteness: High
Ability to pose for a nice picture: Low (photo above was attempt no. 20)
Desire to lick your face: High
Cost to you: The sale continues – free
Applications: Please send résumé to sue@sileci.com

Katleen Felix Ranger

From the March issue of Forum

Name, age: Katleen Felix Ranger, 38
Origin, time here: I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, but had lived in New York for the past six years. I have been here since August 2008, though my husband was working here since January 2008. My two children and I moved here later because they had to finish school.
Profession: I’m a financial manager, and spent about 15 years of my life in corporate finance. I’ve always been a community activist, working with entrepreneurs who wanted to start businesses in the community. Most recently, I decided to put more time into microfinance, so I am director of projects now for remittances for the largest microfinance institution in Haiti.
Why São Paulo?: My husband works for a multi-national alcohol distributor, and he’s covering Latin America from São Paulo.
Best thing so far: We enjoy going outside on the weekends, and we discovered a farm resort in the countryside. This little place saved my life, because the kids have things to do and we can go on horse rides or go to the pool. The countryside has been my best find. In São Paulo, what I really enjoy are the people. They are really alive and fun to be with. The first time I went to an (AmSoc event) was the Halloween Party, and I met so many people there.
Early frustrations: The bureaucracy, all the paperwork we have to do, there’s so many things you think you could do alone, but you end up using a despachante.
Have saudade for anything back home?: It doesn´t feel like Christmas without snow.
Progress with Portuguese: Portuguese is coming back to me (she spent time at age 17 in Porte Alegre). We chose a Brazilian bilingual school for the kids, and I’m able to deal with the administration well, so things are not so bad.
Favorite place to hang out: On a rainy day with the kids, you have to find places indoors. The movie theater at Shopping Morumbi is one place we like to go. And a restaurant there, called A La Table, has fresh pasta every hour that is really, really good.

From the March issue of Forum

By Maya Johnson, AmSoc member

I love my husband Herminio. I really do. He’s intelligent, caring, a wonderful father and very handsome.

Just don’t ask me to go anywhere near his feet.

A lifetime of soccer playing and general life as a guy have left them, well, nasty. Black, broken toenails, calluses and fungus. When it’s time to cuddle up, I make sure my toes are on one side of the bed and his on the other.

That’s why when a friend offered me the gift of a free pedicure at her favorite foot spa, I thought of my dear hubby. I wanted to see what this podiatrist was really made of. (more…)

From the March issue of Forum

By Elizabeth Sunday, vice consul, American Citizen Services, U.S. Consulate General São Paulo

Earthquake – tsunamis – hurricanes.

What would you do if you were caught in such a disaster? Who would look for you? It would be truly difficult if they didn’t know you were there. Luckily, registration at the U.S. Consulate makes your presence and whereabouts known. Not only does registering let us know where we can locate you in case of an emergency, it also allows us to send warnings of impending danger. (more…)

From the March issue of Forum

By Kim Beecheno, staff writer

Art lovers and those interested in something a little different can now spend time getting to know some of Brazil’s most famous artists before boarding their plane at Guarulhos International Airport.

Brazilian impressionist Luiz Pinto

Carlos Labbate Martins, owner of the Art Factory Gallery in Jardim Paulista, has been working in conjunction with Guarulhos Airport to exhibit the artwork of a well-known Brazilian artist every month in the airports’ Cultural Space – the corridor between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 on the first floor of Departures. Martins believes the airport is an ideal place for these exhibitions.

(more…)