AmSoc Forum March 2012

8/2/2019 AmSoc Forum March 2012

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Monthly Newsletter

March 2012

www.AmSoc.com.brForum

The Teen Issue

Page 6: Send your teen of to one ofthese fab summer camps and theywill actually learn something.

Teens in SP

Page 10: There is much morefor teens to do in So Paulo thanhanging out at the mall.

Page 16: Our columnist Maureenwonders what life with a teen will

be like in Brazil.

Teen Parties

The American Society of So Paulo promotes friendship by organizingsocial, cultural and athletic events forits diverse membership; encouragesintegration with the Brazilian society;

and supports the American traditionsof education, philanthropy andvolunteerism.

Our Mission

The Teen Issue

Save the dateSave the date

Upcoming AmSoc events

Ma 17th - St. Patcks Day Evet

Ap 21st - Voutee Day

Ap 21st - Aua Basketba Champoshp

Ap 25th - AGM

May 11th - Aua Gaa

Summer Camps

Save the date! Saturday, March 17th isSt. Patricks Day!

This year AmSoc is taking a newapproach to St. Patricks Day and we will be having a private house party in thehome of one of our board members wholives in Jardins.

No more standing in line for an hour toget into a packed pub where you cannoteven hear the person next to you, let alonereach the bar to buy a drink!

So join us for this fun occasion whereyou are sure to have a great time. Youmust be a member of good standing ofAmSoc or be with an AmSoc member toget in. Space is limited so reserve today.

Call the AmSoc ofce at 5182-2074 toreserve. Price per person is R$50 whichincludes munchies and... of course, greenbeer!!

St. Patricks Day Party

Save the date: AmSoc Annual Gala

(see more about the Gala on page 3)


2/16

T h e beginning ofthis new yearnds us verybusy planningm a n yA m e r i c a nS o c i e t yevents in theu p c o m i n gmonths.

Plans areunderway for a spectacular St.Patricks Day party in a privatehome and this year we are kickingoff what is sure to become amuch-anticipated yearly event:the AmSoc Annual Gala.

We were inspired by thesuccess of our 60th anniversary party in 2010, which receiveda lot of great feedback fromthose who attended (nearly 500people).

The board is putting in a lotof work to make sure the Gala,which will be a charity dinnerdance with a live and silentauction, is a great success.

Our board members areworking on marketing andcommunications, corporatesponsorships, tickets sales,logistics and budget. Its truly ateam effort led by board memberKevin May (read Kevins bio inthis issue of the Forum).

A portion of the proceedsgenerated by the Gala willgo to the Maria Helen DrexelAssociation, one of the charitiesthat AmSoc supports. Theorganization provides housingand a family environment forabout 70 at-risk children, withthe goal of helping help themreintegrate into their family andcommunity (Read more about

Helen Drexel on page 10).So get ready to come dance

the night away with us! The Galawill be at the Buffet Torres onMay 11 with dinner, dancing, andfantastic auction items.

Ticket sales will begin soonand we expect to surpass the 60thEvent total of 479 guests. Getyour tables organized and ticketssoon as space is limited.

In other news we will be havingour Annual General meeting

in April. In addition to thetraditional formalities of electingofcers and Board members, wewill have a cocktail receptionwhich is a wonderful opportunityto meet other AmSoc members.

I hope to see you there!

Abraos,Joe

Presidents Corner

ByJoe Sherman,AmSoc president

Forum March2

Lynn Cordeiro, editor and layoutErnest White II, staff writer

Forum is printed by EGB.(http://www.egb.com.br)

Views expressed inForum donot necessarily reect 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 04713-001 So Paulo, SP

Tel: (11) 5182-2074 Fax: (11) 5182-9155

[email protected]

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

A

boutForum

ByJennier Showers , AmSoc Vice-President

The Eric Poliak Selection Committee issoliciting award nominations from the generalAmerican Society membership.

Nominations for the award can be sentdirectly to the AmSoc ofce, [email protected], or directly to me at [email protected]. Please place EricPoliak Nominee in the heading and includeyour name, the name of your nominee, and the

reasons you think the person is worthy of the2011 award. Please send us your nomination byApril 1, 2012.

The Eric Poliak Award was established in1985 with the following objectives:

1. To reward exceptional eorts-above and beyond normalvolunteerism-a sustained eort, which has beneted orenhanced the American Society membership in So Paulo

2. To oster community service eorts with the membershipo the American Society - among short term as well as long

term members.

3. To expand the horizons o those already interested involunteering.

4. To encourage diversication o activities and types oservices to all kinds o organizations and entities Eric Poliakwas a true example o volunteerism, active in Chapel School,Little League, the 4th o July celebrations, the FellowshipChurch and other Boards and Committees.

The Board o Governors established the award shortlyater Poliaks death, to be given to someone who has renewedhis legacy, exceptional eorts above and beyond normal

volunteerism.

Erik Poliak Award


3/16

The American Societyof So Paulo

Forum 32012

This will be a night to remember!Calling all AmSoc members andfriends of members and actually , theentire expat community (and friends)

in So Paulo. We areexcited to announce themost prestigious event ofthe seasonthe AmericanSociety Annual Gala, aformal charity dinner danceto be held on Friday , May11, 2012 at the beautifulBuffet Torres in Moema. It

will be an evening of fun,friendship, laughter andlots of dancing.

We know we are well in advanceof the date but tickets sell quickly. Toreserve yours, you can do one of thefollowing::

1. Contact the AmSoc ofce at 5182-2074 for a ticket seller near you

2. Visit www.americansocietygala.com to buy your ticket online (thisoption will be available March 15)

3. Fill out the enclosed order formand reserve your table with the AmSoc

ofce and make a direct deposit in thebank account of the American Society

Which ever way you choose, wewant to see you there. You wont wantto miss it!

Buy Your Tickets!

Benefciary Selected

American Society is pleasedto announce that the Maria HelenDrexel Association will be the primary beneciary of this yearsannual charity gala! The association,founded in 1973, provides housingand a family environment for childrenwho have experienced abandonment,homelessness, neglect and abuse, withthe goal of helping them reintegrateinto their family and community.

Close to 70 children call one of theassociations seven houses home.Each home is assigned a HouseMom who fullls typical parentingresponsibilities such as taking childrento medical appointments and meetingwith teachers. And over 80 volunteers

donate their time to provide counseling,help with eldtrips, organize parties,host before/after school programs, and

more.

The association is currently raisingfunds to expand the space at itsBrooklin headquarters used for all of its programming needs, include tutoring,therapy and educational activities. Wehope we can count on you to help!Reserve your seats for our Annual Galataking place May 11th by purchasingyour tickets today! Together we cansupport this valuable organization andhelp improve the lives of the childrenit serves.

The Associations Mission

To protect, promote and guarantee the ull rightso children and adolescents, and their reintegrationinto amily and community.

For more information about the Maria Helen Drexel Association visitwww.helendrexel.org.br.

Dance the Night Away at the AmSoc Annual Gala


4/16

Forum March4

Board ProfleBy Kevin D. May

I was anAir Force brat, sowe movedaround alot when Iwas young,w h i c hsowed theseeds forthe restless/

adventurousdrive whichult imatelyled me here.

After nishing my MBA, I spentten years in nancial sales travelingto and from Brazil starting in 1995. I joined the Latin American arm of anAmerican service franchise, helpingwith expansions efforts in the region,and moved to So Paulo in 2006.

I never really considered myself anexpat here, at least not in the traditional

sense. I had already come to grips withthe minor irritations of daily life andquickly became fully engaged in thetremendous aspects of living in Brazilthat appealed to me.

Most people think of soccer and beaches when they think of Brazil, but the variety of leisure activities inSo Paulo and Brazil are limitless. I particularly enjoy dining out, teamsports and mountain and freshwatergetaways.

So when I moved here, I just asked

myself, what do I want to do thisweekend? What do I want to for thenext feriado?

My rst encounter with TheAmerican Society t well into that lineof thinking. I hadnt played softball ina long time and a buddy of mine invitedme to play for his team in an AmSocsoftball tourney. That invite opened thedoor to a host of other sporting events.

I have since played in many AmSocsoftball, football, golf and basketballtourneys and have had a great time.

In 2009, I went back to the US fora few months to help my sister andher husband reorganize their business

and to contemplate my next adventure.During the six months that I was there,I came to the realization that SoPaulo had become home for me. Mylargest professional network and socialnetworks are here, and I have to admitthat I was more than a little, ummm,homesick.

So in June of 2010, I packed my bags, came back down to So Paulo,and focused my efforts on nding

my next opportunity. The decision panned out. Another buddy of mine,an ex-President of AmSoc, made tworecommendations:

The rst was that I get involved inthe Board of Governors of AmSoc,and the second was to refer me to alocal private equity rm that neededsomeone to join the executive ranks ofone of their portfolio companies.

Both recommendations have led togood result. I am in a good position professionally, both challenged and

rewarded for my contribution. I havealso found myself at home within theAmSoc Board of Governors.

AmSoc is many things to many people. For me it was sports. Forothers it is a social venue. For yetothers it is an opportunity to give backto the local community. When I joinedthe board, I had two focuses. The rstwas to understand what our aspirationsare. The second was to see how I couldhelp realize them.

In October last year, several of

the board members got together fora brainstorming session to explorewhat events we might hold that would provide the greatest benet to theAmSoc community.

We came to the realization that, of allthe events that we have held over thepast 60 years, the ones that have beenthe most successful and that have bestenabled us to attend the various aspectsof the AmSoc mission have been ourgala events.

The electricity in that meeting was palpable. We realized that there wasa latent demand that we had beenoverlooking, that we had a tremendous

opportunity to benet the AmSoccommunity, contribute meaningfullyto our charitable endeavors here and,in the process, have a lot of fun. I hadhad a few glasses of red wine and,in a moment of perspiration, boldlysuggested that if we took the decisionto host a gala event, that I would behappy to spearhead the effort.

The rest is future history. The eventwill include drinks and dinner, a live

and silent auction and dancing to oneof So Paulos best DJs, and part ofthe proceeds will go to the AssociaoMaria Helen Drexel, one of the charitiessupported by AmSoc.

This years gala event is scheduledfor May 11, the Friday before MothersDay. (Moms, you deserve this event.Dads, moms deserve this event.) Ticketswill be going on sale in March, and Iencourage everyone to lock their tablesin quickly, given limited capacity.

Also, if you want to get involved

in the planning and execution of theevent, drop me a quick e-mail at [email protected].

Anyway, I love Brazil. I love being an American in Brazil. AmSocaspires to help Americans take fulladvantage of their stay here and worksto give back to our host communityin a meaningful way. I encourageour AmSoc constituency to embracethese aspirations and to activelyengage in helping us dene how wecan collectively best realize these

aspirations.


5/16


2012 Forum 5

Welcome to our New MembersWelcome the following New Members who joined us recently. We are very grateful for your support!

Name:

Birgit Wingert RungeOrigin, time here:Born and raised in Germany, in the areaclose to Cologne, where I also studiedand met my husband. With him I spentalmost 2 years in Madison/Wisconsin,working at the university. We moved back to Germany to the Palatinateregion (lots of great wine!) in 1994,started raising a couple of children, andthe whole family came to So Paulothree years ago.

Why So Paulo:The South America headquarters of the

company my husband worksfor are located in So Paulo,and they asked him to comehere and help building a newteam.

Best things so ar:All the great people I met,whether Brazilian or not; thewonderful food; and the greattravel opportunities both insideand outside of Brazil. We havealready visited the Pantanal,Iguau, lots of beautiful beaches, the Easter Island,Machu Picchu, Galapagos,and Patagonia

Early rustrations:

Make that ongoing frustrations thetime it takes to get your documents, thetrafc, and the frequent black-outs inmy areaHave saudade or anything back home?:Santo Amaro (where I live) is full ofpeople with German roots, youre ableto get virtually every food item youlong for. So the only saudade we haveis for family and friends back home.Progress with Portuguese:Could be better after all this time, butusually I get what people say and canmake myself understood. As long as I

dont have to talk on the phone, that is.Favorite place to hang out:The neighbourhood parks like BurleMarx, or Clube Castelo in Interlagos lovely, green, quiet, you completely

forget in what a huge city youre in

New Member Profle

NAME MEMBERSHIP TYPE CITIZENSHIP COMPANY OR PROFESSION

Luis Fernando & Roberta BARROS Family Patron American Accerty - American Express Company

Richard & Deborah BROWN Family American

Stephanie FERTINEL Junior American RAF Arquitetura

Birgit I. W. RUNGE Family German


6/16

Forum March6

Battling Summer Sloths:

Cool Camp Options For Your Teens!By Kristina L. Dooley

As the second half of the schoolyear unfolds, many adolescents beginenvisioning what their summer willconsist of: Wii marathons, iCarly reruns,and trips to the mall. If this doesntsound like the ideal way for your childto spend their two and a half months

of freedom, then now is a great timeto consider some residential summerprogram options.

If youve got thefuture Paula Abdul or Nicole Scherzingerliving under your roof,then the Grier Schools(www.bestcamp.org)Summer IntensiveDance Program could be a great option forthem. Girls ages 12-17

will spend several hourseach day during thePennsylvania schools3-week program, heldJune 24-July 13, learning ballet and jazz technique, choreography for performance, and exploring severaldance styles. In addition to danceinstruction, participants will also havethe opportunity to enjoy traditionalcamp activities such as swimming,outdoor sports, and creative writing.

For those parents who regularly catchtheir young one reading by ashlightunder the covers at midnight, you maywant to consider the Summer Session atthe Cardigan Mountain School (www.

Cardigan.org) in New Hampshire. Witha wide array of academic offerings,your bookworm will probably enjoyclasses such as Literary Luminariesand Grammar Gurus. Girls and boys ingrades three through nine can chooseto participate in either a 3-week (June

23-July 14) or 6-week session (June23-August 2) at Cardigan. In addition

to the academiccomponent, SummerSession participantswill also participate infun weekend trips andafternoon recreationalactivities.

Boys and girls ages7-17 with learningdifferences or attentionissues, such as ADD/

ADHD or Dyslexia,will benet from thesummer programoffered by the Linden

Hill School (www.LindenHS.org)in Massachusetts. Held July 8-28,the Linden Hill program combinesacademic coursework with recreationalactivities such as shing, hiking andmini-golf. The academic componentof the program focuses on maintainingskills developed during the school year,not on remediation, and is intended to

provide participants an opportunity to prevent regression over the summermonths.

If your son or daughter is enteringgrades 6-9 and has a passion foradventure, New HampshiresWhite Mountain School ClimbingCamp (www.WhiteMountain.org) might just be the placefor them. From beginner toadvanced, participants willlearn the fundamentals of rockclimbing, gear placement, andanchor building from certiedAmerican Mountain GuidesAssociation (AMGA) instructors.

Offering one or two-week sessions inJuly, this camp is sure to be a hit withyour young thrill-seeker!

Any future Lionel Messi or SerenaWilliams will feel right at home participating in the Baylor Schools(www.BaylorSchool.org) Team BaylorSports Camp. Sports enthusiasts ages

8-13 can spend the week of June 24-29 on the Tennessee schools campustraining with experienced coaches insports including tennis, soccer, golf, andvolleyball. Team Baylor participantsrange in ability from novice to expertand, regardless of skill, will receiveindividualized instruction.

No matter what type of interests yourson or daughter has, there is most likelya residential summer program thatwould be a great t for them. An addedbonus to participating in programs like

those mentioned above is that, not onlywill they stay active during their timeoff of school, theyll be making greatfriends and creating lasting memoriesat the same time!

Kristina L. Dooley is the founderof Estrela Consulting, an Independent Educational Consulting frm helpingfamilies navigate the college, boarding school, and summer program searchprocesses. Kristina is a former AmSocmember now living in Mexico City andcan be reached via email at [email protected] or online at

www.EstrelaConsulting.com.


7/16


...and its easier than ever!

If you are an American Citizennow is the time to start planning forhow to go about voting in the U.S. primaries and in the November 4thgeneral election. The AmericanCitizen Services Unit at the U.S.Consulate General in SoPaulo is ready to assist

you with exercisingyour right to votein 2012.

We encourageall AmericanC i t i z e n sresiding inBrazil toregister assoon as possibleas primaryelections in manystates have already

begun.You can register and

request a ballot by completingthe Federal Post Card Applicationon the Federal Voting AssistancePrograms website (www.fvap.gov).

The application is accepted byall local election ofcials in all U.S.States and territories. Simply enterthe FVAP website, click your stateon the map, and let the online wizardwalk you through registering step-by-step.

Your legal state of residencefor voting purposes is generally thestate or territory you last resided inimmediately prior to your departurefrom the United States.

Recently enacted laws have madethe voting process easier by allowingfor online registration, delivery andreturn of ballots in many states. Totake advantage of electronic ballotdelivery, be sure to include your emailaddress when you register.

Even if November may seem faraway, registering now will allowenough time for election ofcialsto contact you and resolve any

problems.U.S. Citizens should also note that

the new absentee voting laws in effectfor the 2012 elections require you tocomplete a new Federal Post CardApplication online every year.

You will no longer automaticallyreceive ballots based on

a previous absenteerequest.

R e m e m b e r that your votecounts! ManyU.S. electionswithin the past tenyears havebeen decided by a marginof victory

of less than0.1%.All states are

required to countevery absentee ballot

as long as its valid andreaches local election ofcials by theabsentee ballot receipt deadline. Inthe event that you decide to mail inyour ballot, please keep in mind thetime it takes for international mail toarrive to your hometown.

You can also drop off your ballot atany U.S. Consulate or Embassy andwe will mail your ballot for you in the postage-paid envelope provided to

you online, or with pre-afxed U.S.postage. It can take a month or morefor mail from the U.S. ConsulateGeneral in So Paulo to arrive in theUnited States.

The U.S. Consulate General in SoPaulo is here to assist you. If you haveany questions about overseas votingplease contact U.S Consulate GeneralSo Paulos voting Assistance Ofcerat [email protected].

For any other questions regardingAmerican Citizen Services, pleasecontact [email protected] visit our website athttp://brazil.usembassy.gov/service.html

2010 Forum 72012

Consulate Corner:

Its Voting Time Again...


8/16

Forum March8

Fun or teensBy Melissa Harkin, AmSoc member

Ive written about a variety of thingshere in the Forum: best winter spots,places to escape from Carnaval, placesto enjoy Carnaval, culinary trips, etc.But what about the teens?

They want to have fun as well!They want to know what entertainmentoptions they have in this 22 millionpeople megacity.

Thats why I present you the fun listbelow!

Oh and, by the way, if you are anadult reading this article, please toss itover to your kids! Let them read it anddecide where they want to go! Theylllet you know as soon as its time to askfor money and a ride!

Aqurio de So PauloConsidered a reerence in animal treatment

and exhibition, the So Paulo Aquarium is thelargest aquarium in Latin America, establishedin 2006 with 9 thousand square meters and 2million liters o water. The only theme aquariumin Brazil, this complex makes kids eel as i they

were immersed in the environment, with morethan 3 thousand animals rom approximately300 species. http://www.aquariodeSopaulo.com.br/english/

Cia. FragmentosHow about learning some acrobatics and

circus arts? Cia. Fragmentos opens the doorsto a magical universe. They oer a un andentertaining circus course, teaching how toreap the benets o a healthy lie thru art.http://www.ciaragmentos.com.br/servico.htm

Cidade das AbelhasWho thought bees could be un? Well, Cidade

das Abelhas did! Explore the ascinating andwonderul world o bees. Among the variousun options they oer, theres the Arbelhismo:On top o a giant bee with ten dierent bridgesand dierent levels o diculty, childrenvisualize the adventure that lies ahead: circulartubes o 5 and 16 meters, slides, jump beds,a toy bee house, hiking, swings, and severalother activities.

http://www.cidadedasabelhas.com.br/

Love BlankieLaunched by businesswoman and designerFernanda Egydio, Love Blankie is the rst sewingschool o So Paulo or children. The spaceoers courses in sewing machines or children,divided into three stages - basic, intermediateand advanced - with weekly classes o onehour and a hal. The atmosphere o the placeinspires, with abrics, ribbons and trimmingsin sight. At registration, each student receivesa personalized sewing basket, with linens,needles, thimble, scissors, pins, measurementtape and other items used during the course. In

each class, a dierent design is developed, andthe child can take home the piece produced.Among the creations made by students arepatchwork aprons, shirts customized withbows, dress dolls and pillows.http://www.loveblankie.com.br/

Ski Mountain ParkEven without an

ounce o snow the parkhas an area or skiingand snowboarding,with two lanes made

o polyethylene pins -a kind o fuy rubber.There is also treeclimbing and archery.www.skipark.com.br

Zooparque AtibaiaEagles, rhinos,

wolves and ottersare among the 1,400animals spread over500,000 square meterso private park located 90 kilometers rom SoPaulo. Among the ecosystems reproduced atthe park are an Arican savannah and Braziliancerrado. www.zooparque.com.br

Instituto ButantanIts worth spending at least two hours

enjoying the entire complex. Snakes romaround the world, spiders, rogs, lizards andscorpions surprise visitors in the BiologicalMuseum. In the snake area, besides seeingthe reptiles outdoors, children can touchsome non-venomous species (ater 2:30pm,under the supervision o monitors). The morescientically inspired one can have un at theMuseum o Microbiology, examining bacteria

and ungi through machines o magnication.www.butantan.gov.br

ZoolgicoSince its inauguration in 1958, the park

ell into the good graces o amilies rom SoPaulo. In its 825,000 square meters you cansee 3,500 animals, including mammals, birds,reptiles and amphibians. Giraes, leopards,chimpanzees and hippos are the kids avorites.I suggest you buy a map at the entrance.http://www.zoologico.com.br

So, in this city that offers so much ofnightlife and ne dining, let alone all ofthe day-to-day common forms of adultappeasement, hand the reigns over tothe kids during this part of the summer,and have some of that quality timewe all seem to miss out on in our busy

mega-city lives.Happy kids = happier homes!


9/16


Forum 9

ByJohn Kennedy, AmSoc board member

Sports review: Abacaxi Bowl 2012

On February 4th at the GradedSchool in Morumbi, the AmericanSociety hosted its 14th annual AbacaxiBowl. Nine teams participated andapproximately 150 players andspectators enjoyed the activities,which started at 10am and ended at5pm.

The format for this ag footballtournament was like last years wherewe had 3 Groups of 3 teams play each

other, with each Group having onestrong team (last years top 3 nisher),one weak team (a new entrant) andone average team. The rst and secondplace teams of each Group resultingfrom the round robin play advance.Of these six teams, four teams play ina Wild Card round while the top tworecords receive byes.

The surprise of the tournamentthis year was another rst timeentry of a Brazilian team, called OldSchool, because it is led and QBd

by American Kevin May, an AmSocBoard member. They unfortunatelyplayed the two-time Champs Cougarstwice, rst in the round robin losing20-6 and then in the nals 16-6.

The playoff games were all closelycontested, whereby each Wild Card

game could have gone either way.For example, in the PACA-Old

School game, PACA lost in theclosing minutes due to a controversialcall by the referee who disallowed agame wining TD reception because afoot was out of the end zone (too badwe didnt have BAND Sports lmingthis year for a TV replay!).

Then in the Chapel-Carcamanosgame, time ran out with Chapel

threatening to score the game winneron the 1 foot line!Old School and the Cougars went

on to win the next seminal gameseach by less than 1 TD score toadvance to the Finals!

In the end, it was the Cougarsagain who walked off with the title, becoming the second team to bea three-peat champion along withPACA Schools six championships.

The tournament star and MVPcame from the Cougar team: Casey

Frost, an American they recruitedfrom the Corinthians Club team ofthe So Paulo tackle football leagueto play QB in place of their leader andlast years QB Chris Harshberger.

The tournaments game results areas follows:

Results W L Net Pt. Diff.

1. Cougars 4 - 0 +44

2. Old School (ex-Locos) 3 - 2 + 2

3. Devilz 2 1 +18

4. Carcamanos 2 2 +43

5. Chapel School 1 - 2 +16

6. PACA School 1 2 + 7

7. Graded School 0 2 - 10

8. US Consulate 0 2 - 14

9. AmSoc 0 2 - 54


10/16

Forum March10

Teen Time in So PauloBy Ernest White II, Sta Writer

So Paulo is known for offeringunlimited diversion to adults in theform of 24-hour nightlife, and to smallchildren through interactive museumsand attractions. But what about the agegroup thats the hardest to please, thatis discovering the world at the sametime proclaiming to be over it? Whatis there for teenagers to do in the city?

Outdoorsy types

Believe it or not, So Paulo is dottedwith parks of all sizes, offering anynumber of opportunities for teenagersto get a little sun, some fresh(er) air,and some exercise. The most obviousplace is Parque do Ibirapuera, the citysanswer to New Yorks Central Park,and host to a clutch of impressivemuseums that teenagers will probablythink arent all that impressive. Yet thecovered promenade connecting severalof the museums serves as a veritable

skateboard park, where youngins candash back and forth attempting stuntsto their hearts content. The park hostssix different bike and jogging trails,and bicycles can be rented at the parksmain kiosk. For teenagers interestedin Brazils national sport, weekendmornings mean capoeira sessions heldon the grass that are open to the publicand welcome beginners. Other close-incity parks with excellent biking optionsinclude vast, newish Parque Villa-Lobos in Alto de Pinheiros, Parque doPovo in Jardim Paulistano, and Parquedo Carmo in Zona Leste.

For a little high adventure, the

regional parks anchoring theextremities of So Paulo providemiles of exhilarating hikingtrails. The Parque Estadual daCantareira, bordering the city tothe north, features stunning viewsof the skyline from a 3,300-foot-high rocky perch, called PedraGrande (Big Rock), set amongstthe verdant green of the Atlantic

forest. Even more challenging isthe trail up to the Pico do Jaragu the highest point in the city at nearly4,000 feet which gives kids a goodworkout as well as the opportunity toglimpse a forest monkey or two. On theopposite end of town, near Morumbi,the lush foliage of Parque Burle Marxis slowly reclaiming an uninhabitedmansion built for by a Brazilianmillionaire for an Austrian princess inthe 1950s, a nod to the ostentation ofthe glitterati and a good way to start a

serious conversation with your teensabout the eetingness of celebrity inthe Twitter era (or not). Lastly, far tothe citys south lies the Represa deGuarapiranga, a dam and 16.5 squaremile reservoir with lakeside beaches forsunning and soccer, plus an ecologicalpark focusing on the protection of localAtlantic forest wildlife.

On the inside track

For more indoor-oriented activities,

So Paulos got many more optionsfor your teens than just hundreds ofshopping malls. From rock climbingand bowling to go karts and videogames, the city has dozens ofamusement centers that are safe fromthe elements and engaging for eventhe most jaded adolescent. Adventuresportswear and equipment emporiumCasa de Pedra operates what they callthe largest rock climbing gym in Brazil.Located near Perdizes (gua Brancato be exact), Casa de Pedra features46-foot-high walls, top-rope climbing(climbers are attached to a secure ropesuspended from the top of the wall),

and bouldering (scrambling over largeobstacles and up walls no higher than13 feet), offering lessons for beginnersand challenging courses so you candrive the kiddies up the wall for achange. 90 Graus Escalada Esportiva,near Congonhas Airport, is another nerock climbing gym.

If rock climbing isntexhilarating enough, how about going

for a little speed at one of the citys go-kart racetracks. Kartin, in Jaguar, is anall-purpose amusement center, with anexciting if loud - indoor go-kart track,foosball tables, and video games, makingit the perfect place for a 13th or 14thbirthday party. Other go-kart tracks inthe area include Kartdromo Premium-Interlagos, a stones throw away fromthe citys Formula 1 race course, andthe Kartdromo Internacional GranjaViana in the nearby town of Cotia.

Another favorite American

teenage pastime: bowling (calledboliche in Portuguese). So Paulohas dozens of bowling alleys scatteredacross the city, with lessons for beginners and prizes for the winners.Some of the more family-friendly bowling alleys in town include StrikeBowling in Interlagos, Villa Bowlingin Vila Olmpia, Tiger Bowling inBom Retiro, and Bowling Station inVila Prudente. Most of these venuesfeature restaurants, video games, andpool tables, and as bowling is typically

a group activity, youll get the chanceto show the next generation just what abad bowling mamma-jamma you wereback in the day.

Park and ride

When it comes to thrill rides,its not kids stuff at the citys bigamusement parks. Playcenter, nestledin the industrial district of Barra Funda,hurtles park visitors through the air onheaving metal roller coasters such asthe Looping Star and the Boomerang.Even bigger, and much more of aDisney-style theme park than an inland


11/16


2012 Forum 11

amusement pier, Hopi Hari offersteenagers a physical and social thrill,as thousands of young people descendon the park on the weekend. Looney

Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny,Donald Duck, and Porky Pig animatethe atmosphere and thrill rides like theMontezum (Latin Americas biggestwooden roller coaster) and the Katapul(a looping coaster) make a trip out toHopi (72 km from So Paulo) a day-long affair.

A recognizable Florida importis the Wetn Wild water park (Wetchiein local parlance), located in nearbyItapeva (72 km). When the weatherswarm, the teeny-boppers can splash

around in the Wave Lagoon, or take onone of the ripping water slides, like theaptly-named Kamikaze.

Good sports

Like any metropolis worthits trafc jams and smog, So Paulohas a clutch of sports teams mostlysoccer that compete against oneanother and other cities amid a raucous,carnivalesque atmosphere better-suitedto older teens. So Paulo Futebol Clube

at the Estdio do Morumbi, Palmeirasand Corinthians at Estdio doPacaembu, and Portuguesa in Canind(Zona Norte) are each gearing up foranother season of cross-town rivalryand footloose action. The Brazilianchampionship season runs from May20th until December, while the ladiesBrazil Cup starts March 3rd and endsMay 12th, so youve got plenty oftime to get out to a ball game. Dontforget to check out the popular Museudo Futebol, with its fascinating, in-

depth look into The Beautiful Game,located within Pacaembu.

Other spectator sports in towninclude mens and womens volleyballand basketball at the Ginsio doIbirapuera. For participatory events,and to put a Brazilian spin on things literally teenagers can participate incapoeira classes at most local gyms, but if you want a more authenticexperience for your young capoeirista,head down to Angoleiro Sim Sinh inPerdizes or Grupo Cordo de Ouro inSanta Ceclia. Soon, your teenagersllhave a fuller activity schedule than youwill.

TEEN ACTIVITIES IN SO PAULO

Basketball (Spectator)Federao Paulista de Volleyball, R. Frei Caneca

1407, Bela Vista, tel. (11) 2112-1900www.pb.com.br

Bowling- Bowling Station, R. do Oranato 440, VilaPrudente, tel. (11) 2272-8000www.bowlingstation.com.br- Strike Bowling, Shopping Interlagos, Av.Interlagos 2255, Interlagos, tel. (11) 5562-9085, www.strikebowling.com.br- Tiger Bowling, Rua Srgio Toms 204, BomRetiro, tel. (11) 3338-2435www.tigerboliche.com.br

- Villa Bowling, Shopping Vila Olmpia, R.Olimpadas 360, tel. (11) 3047-3687www.villabowling.com.br

Camps- NR: www.nr.com.br/- Peraltas: http://www.peraltas.com.br/index/- guias da Serra: http://www.aguiasdaserra.com.br/

Capoeira (Participatory)- Centro de Capoeira Angola Angoleiro SimSinh, Rua Turiau 1172, Perdizes, tel. (11)

3673-0688, www.angoleirosimsinho.org.br- Grupo Cordo de Ouro, R. Jesuno Pascoal 44,Santa Ceclia, tel. (11) 3223 5357www.grupocordaodeouro.com.br

Days Out- Fazenda do Chocolate (Chocolate Farm-chocolate, handicrat, horseback riding , animals,coee, http://www.azendadochocolate.com.br/azendadochocolate/Bem-vindos.html- Brotas: Ecotourism and extreme sportshttp://www.brotas.com.br/- Hotel Fazenda Quatro Estaes

http://www.hotelazenda4estacoes.com.br/index2.php

Go-Kart Tracks/Activity Centers- Kartin, Av. Jaguar 1133, Jaguar, tel. (11)3716-0070, www.kartin.com.br- Kartdromo Internacional Granja Viana, R. Dr.Tomas Sepe 443, Jardim da Glria, Cotia, tel.(11) 4702-5055, www.kartgranjaviana.com.br- Kartdromo Premium-Interlagos, Av. JacintoJlio, Porto 9, Interlagos, tel. (11) 5666-8072www.premiuminterlagos.com.br

Museums- Museu Paulista da UPS or Museu do IpirangaYou can visit the museum and skateboard

outside, but only i you have a crash helmet,gloves, knee and elbow guardshttp://www.mp.usp.br/- Museu do Futebol

www.museudoutebol.org.br- Museo do Ipiranga, also has a great parkoutside- Catavento Cultural (touch a real meteorite,get to know the inside o the human body,understand how a power generator workshttp://www.cataventocultural.org.br/home.asp

Parks- Parque Burle Marx, R. Dona Helena Pereirade Morais 200, Panamby, tel. (11) 3746-7631,www.parqueburlemarx.com.br- Parque do Carmo, Av. Aonso Sampaio Souza

951, Itaquera, tel. (11) 6748-0010Parque do Ibirapuera, Av. Pedro lvares Cabral,Ibirapuera, tel. (11) 5574-5177- Parque do Povo, Av. Henrique Chamma 590,Itaim Bibi, tel. (11) 3078-6869- Parque Estadual da Cantareira, R. do Horto1799, Horto Florestal, tel. (11) 2203-0115,www.ambiente.sp.gov.br- Parque Villa Lobos - Av. Proessor FonsecaRodrigues, 2.001 - Alto dos Pinheiros:Orchids house, sports eld, play ground, gymor adults. For rent: bikes, rollers, skates.www.ambiente.sp.gov.br/parquevillalobos/index.

php- Represa de Guarapiranga, Estrada da Riviera3286, Riviera Paulista

Rock Climbing Gyms- 90 Graus Escalada Esportiva, R. Joo PedroCardoso 107, Aeroporto, tel. (11) 5034-8775,www.90graus.com.br- Casa de Pedra, R. Venncio Aires 31, guaBranca, tel. (11) 3875-1521,www.casadepedra.com.br

Soccer (Spectator)

- Corinthians, Estdio do Pacaembu, PraaCharles Miller 1, Pacaembu, www.corinthians.com.br- So Paulo Futebol Clube, Estdio do Morumbi,Praa Roberto Gomes Pedrosa 1, Morumbi- Palmeiras, Estdio do Pacaembu, Praa CharlesMiller 1, Pacaembu, www.palmeiras.com.br- Museu do Futebol, Estdio do Pacaembu,Praa Charles Miller 1, Pacaembu, tel. (11)3664-3848www.museudoutebol.org.br

Volleyball (Spectator)Federao Paulista de Volleyball, R. AblioSoares 1370, Paraso, tel. (11) 3053-9560,www.pv.com.br


12/16

Forum March12

Volunteer Day

April 21stThose who joined us for the

pancake breakfast on February 5thwere not disappointed!

Stacks and stacks of homemadeblueberry and plain pancakes wereserved, with toppings such as AuntJemima syrup (imported fromthe USA just for the occasion),delicious fruit toppings, whippedcream, and even chocolate whipped

cream!The coffee, tea, orange juiceand grape juice all went quickly.What a great way to kick off LittleLeague and show our support forthe Abacaxi Bowl which was heldat the same time.

Thanks to the volunteers whoworked the event and to theAmSoc members who supportedus by coming out and eating thesedelicious pancakes!

Pancake

BreakastHow do you create the perfect

Saturday in So Paulo? On April21st, come spend a few hours playinggames, swimming, cooking out, andsharing quality time with some of SoPaulos most underprivileged childrenat the Third Annual Volunteer Day atthe U.S. Consulate.

T h eC o m m u n i t y

A c t i o nC o m m i t t e e(CAC) of theA m e r i c a nSociety islooking forvolunteers ofall ages to makethis yearsVolunteer Daya success.

You can choose to participate inthe activity you like the most: tennis,

soccer, swimming, playing games, face painting, crafts, cooking lunch, etc.Families can participate together, andkids are welcome to come and help.

The children who will come to playon Volunteer Day do not have accessto safe, green space to run around, orclean swimming pools to cool off onthese hot summer days.

The joy they receive from gettingexercise outdoors in a safe environmentwith their friends is priceless. Theywill have a chance to relax and let

down their guard for a while, and you

as a volunteer can help give them thatimportant down time that they need.

If you have been thinking about howyou can become more involved in yourlocal community here in So Paulo,you are like most of us.

We all want to do our part to makea positive impact during our time in

Brazil. Findingour niche and

reaching a bit beyondour everydayroutines can bechallenging.

D u r i n gVolunteer Day,we will havei n f o r m a t i o non the tenlocations where

the American Society is doing non-prot work, and most importantly how

you can become involved.You can sign up for Volunteer Day

shifts from 10:30-1:30 and from 1:00-4:00 by contacting the CACs newVolunteer Coordinator Silvana [email protected].

We also need donations of snacks,drinks, hamburgers, hotdogs, andbaked goods, or you can sponsor lunchfor a child for just R$10.

Thank you in advance for yourinvolvement. We are looking forwardto a fabulous day!


13/16


Fellowship Community ChurchThe Welcome Place since 1921

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

Sundays09:00 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 staon on the Avenida Paulista

2012 Forum 13

Register now or the 2012 AGM

On Wednesday, April 25th, theAmerican Society will host theirAnnual General Meeting (AGM) ata venue to be conrmed.

The reception will start at 8 p.m.with cocktails and refreshments.After the meeting a social hour willfollow. The AGM allows membersto meet each other, and to talk tothose on the board as well. It is awonderful opportunity to share yourideas with those who are responsible

for running the Society and planningits events.

The important task of boardelections is also a part of everyAGM. Members of the Board ofGovernors serve two year terms andat each meeting half of these termsexpire and must be lled.

For long-timers and recentarrivals, the AGM is one of the bestways to keep in touch with and learnabout what the American Society isdoing. Its also a great way to make

contact with people who want to

improve our localcommunity.In order to

participate in theAGM, you must bean AmSoc member.If you wish to participate, it isessential that youRSVP by April 19th,as spaces are limitedand the deadline will be strictly enforced.

To reserve yourspace please [email protected] or (11)5182-2074. Also, be sure to bringyour passport or RNE to the meeting,as identication will be checked atthe door.


14/16

English and French spoken. Call Jean or Christiane at(11) 4661-1430 or (11) 7230-3369 or send an e-mail

to Jean. [email protected]. Embu Guau, SP.

American-Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Heloisa Garman, Psy.D. U.S.-licensed Clinical

Psychologist (covered by U.S. health insurance). Bi-

lingual, with extensive private practice in Chicagoand former therapist at the Family Institute at North-western Uni. Treats individuals, couples, and families.

Specialized in anxiety, depression, cultural issues, andadjustment 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., offers skilled psychother-apy for children and adults. He also provides com -

plete diagnostic evaluations in English for childrenwith academic or behavioral difculties, featuring in-

dividualized recommendations for school and home.For more information, contact Dr. Morhaime at 5538-

0099 or 9669-8057 or visit

www.expatpsychologist.com.br

American-Licensed Psychotherapist

In this busy and ever-changing world, people often

feel stressed and overwhelmed with no place to turn.Psychotherapy/counseling can provide a safe place to

receive professional guidance and support. Brief orlonger-term therapy offered depending on your needs,goals and expectations. Services: individual, couples,

child/adolescent. Certied to conduct Adoption Home

Study for American Citizens. Contact: Pamela Wax,

MSW/LCSW at 5051-5988 or 9656-2106 or send an

e-mail to [email protected]. Located in Moema.

For Sale - 2008 GM Zafira Expression

2.0 Flex engine automatic (mint condition), ABS, air-

bag, alarm, on board computer, cruise control, digital

air conditioner, power steering, antivandalism insul-

lm protection. 7 seats, 78.000 KM, single owner,

all maintenance done at dealer, new brakes, tires, oil

change with lter, kept in covered garage. Price R$

41.000,00. Please contact Eileen Tasso 11-5644-5482

(h)

Jardim Europa

Unique opportunity, 200 square meters apartment,living with terrace and home theater with a wonder-ful view, three bedrooms, 1 suite, two parking spaces,

between Clube Pinheiros and Clube Hebraica, nearShopping Iguatemi.Cel phone: Janka 9144-7307.

Rent or Own Sunny Apartment in So Paulo

Sunny, ample apartment just a stones throw from theGraded School. Two-story apartment measuring ap-

proximately 300 square meters, with two large living

rooms; four bedrooms (two suites and a suite ameri-

cano); a separate TV room/ofce; large kitchen with

brand new cabinetry; and ample rea de servio.

Building includes heated pool, exercise room, play-ground. Each apartment has a depsito and three

parking spaces. The full apartment was lovingly re-furbished in 2010; the owners are now unexpectedly

returning to the United States. Sale Price: R$770

thousand. Rental: R$6,500 per month. Email us at

[email protected]

Math and Science Tutor

Teacher with 25-plus years of experience, tutors Math,

Physics, Chemistry, and Science for all levels, includ-ing but not limited to the IB, IGCSE, SAT-I & II, ACT,

AP and Brazilian vestibular. Elementary and middleschool students are also welcome (all subjects). Cur-rently St. Francis School, formerly Chapel and Grad-ed. Call Fernando Knijnik at (11) 9134-6700.

Selling Up

Go with a pro! We have been selling household goodsfor families, individuals, and companies for morethan 20 years in So Paulo and Brasilia for embas-

sies. We have hundreds of preselected clients wantingto buy from you, safe and sound! Send an e-mail to

[email protected] or [email protected] or

call (11) 5908-1144 or (11) 7997-8808. Ask for Ms.

Zaquie Meredith.

Personal Trainer

I will come to your home, ofce, or workout facil-

ity and create an exercise/tness program tailored to

your health concerns, tness goals, and schedule. For

adults and children, individuals or groups. Sessions inEnglish, Spanish, or Portuguese. For more informa-tion please contact Daniela Franco at (11) 9739-6191

or [email protected].

Argos Dog KennelTraveling? What about your dog? Argos Kennel Ho-

tel could be his second home in the country. Food,water, and shelter with lots of love and personal care.No lonely kennel for him, but our home and the free-dom of a spacious garden. Fetch and carry service.

ClASSifiEDS

Forum March14

Housing

Apartment for rent

Apt in Brooklin. Ideal for single manager. One mile

off Marginal Pinheiros. Totally renovated. Living

room, bedroom, designer kitchen, fully equipped air

conditioned ofce with built in tropical hardwood

furniture, desk, book case, shelves. 12th oor green

view. Garage without neighbors. Call for appointment

5042-2555.

House for sale in Alto da Boa Vista

Near the Swiss School. Bright and large living room

and dining room. TV room w/ replace. 4 large bed-

rooms suites w/ closets & Jacuzzi. Wine room. Laun-

dry. Pool. Barbecue & Pizza oven. Cannel. Gardenarea 700 m2. Garage for 6 cars / automatic gates.

Central heating - solar and electric. Built area 400 m2.

Spacious backyard 700 m2 w/ trees. Total area 1400

m2. Look for Mr. Amadeu or Mrs. Marilda at 5524-

1028 or 5524-1491.

Vila Nova ConceioSo Paulos best place to live.

Near Ibirapuera Park. Modern building, with all

Sports facilities, heated swimming pool, gym, play

room, barbecue, multi purpose sports court. Three

bedrooms (1 suite), living room with terrace, com-

plete kitchen,maids bedroom and bath, big service

area, two parking spaces. Fully furnished,with al-

lappliances. Call Ana Beatriz or Eliane Phone (011)

3849.7085 or (011) 9626-6229-mail to:

[email protected]

Looking for apartments

Looking for furnished, fully equipped apartments in

So Paulo. Offer management, promotion, purchasing,

remodeling and decoration services for your property.

We will rent your at to foreign tourists & executives

visiting the city looking for alternative accommoda-

tions. Highly experienced specialized international

group. Contact: Paola B. de Estrada 9210-2201,

[email protected] or www.apartmentssp.com

House in a charming condo

For rent / sale: Lovely house in Vila Amrica Condo-

minium. Located just a few minutes from shoppingcidade jardim and ponte morumbi. So Paulos best

place to live. 4 suites, Ofce, Adega, Outside gourmet

station, Air conditioning, 4 autos parking. Contact:

Roberta (11)8256-9543

A classied o up to 350 characters costsR$55 or AmSoc members and R$80 or

non-members. To place a classied pleasecall (11) 5182-2074 rom 8:30 a.m. until1 p.m., or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Plac

ea

Classifed

Forum does not check all o the advertisersappearing in this newsletter. We urge youto use these services; however, thoroughlycheck prices and services prior to nalizingany service or purchase agreement.

A

Noteto

OurReaders

Services


15/16


Enjoyed this publication?

Become an American Society Member and get a

free Forum subscription!

For more than 60 years The American Society of So Paulo has worked to establish a strong

network for expats living and working in So Paulo. Join Today!!!

Visit our website at www.amsoc.com.br and fill in our on-line form

or call the AmSoc office at 5182-2074

2012 Forum 15

CAlEnDAr

Learn more about this months AmSoc events (highlighted) at www.AmSoc.com.br.March 2012

Pinacoteca do Estado deSo Paulo The Panting Museum has a new collection o art. At Praa da Luz, 02 - Luz - Phone: 3324-1000.Open rom Tuesday to Sunday until 6pm. Tickets prices: R$ 6,00 and R$ 3,00. Free on Saturday.Students with ID card pay hal price. Children under 10 years and elderly over 60 years do notpay. Visit www.pinacoteca.org.br

Until April 22 Rome - The lives o Emperors

Temporary exhibition at MASP (Art Museum o SP) - Avenida Paulista, 1578. Open rom Tuesdayto Sunday rom 11 am to 6 pm. Tickets prices: R$ 15,00. Students with ID card pay hal price.Children under 10 years and elderly over 60 years do not pay. Visit www.masp.art.br

02 until 18 Friday The Addams Family(Musical Comedy)

The Addams Family has an original stor y. It is the nightmare o all parents. His youngestdaughter became a young woman, and to make matters worse, ell in love with a sweet andintelligent girl rom a traditional amily. Yes, Wandinha Addams, the last princess o darkness,has a boyriend normal, and or parents, Gomez and Mor ticia, this is an event that will turn

upside down the Addams house when they are orced to organize a dinner or the young andtheir parents. At Teatro Abril - Av. Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, 411. Tickets: www.ticketsorun.com.br

03 Saturday Button SoccerChampionship

It will be at Museu do Futebol (Estdio do Pacaembu). From 9 am to 5 pm. For adults andchildren. To do the registration send an email to [email protected] or call 3664-3855, until March 2dn. More inormation www.museudoutebol.org.br

07 Wednesday INC Monthly Coee &Bazaar

Time: 9h00 - 12h00, Location: Scandinavian Church

08 Thursday Symphony Orchestra o SoPaulo

Opening 2012 season o OSESP. Visit www.osesp.art.br to see the program.

10, 11, 17, 18 Saturdayand Sunday

Sponge Bob Square Pants(Bob Esponja)

A play or kids. At Credicard Hall - Av. Naes Unidas, 17955. More inormation and tickets: www.credicard.com.br/credicardhall

17 Saturday St. Patricks Happy Hour In a members home. See ront page.

29 Thursday Joe Cocker Show Joe Cocker has been claimed in the past 40 years as one o the most important artists o themusic world. At Via Funchal - R. Funchal, 65. Starts at 10 pm. To buy your ticket visit www.viaunchal.com.br

April 1st Sunday Easter Party or kids At Chapel School. There will be sandwiches, sot drinks, water, cupcakes and Easter egg huntingin the yard! Lets play together! For members: R$ 20/child, max R$ 50/amily. For non-members:R$ 30/child, max R$ 70/amily.


16/16

Teens: The Inside ScoopBy Maureen Kennedy Alves, AmSoc board member

My son, Thomas, just turned one in January.Now as many of you may remember, or maybe going through yourselves right now, oneseems to be the magic age when babies starttalking. And with that comes what may betheir favorite word: No.

People told us not to worry, that growingup in a bilingual home (I speak English,my husband Portuguese), Thomas probablywouldnt start talking until he was two. Butsure enough, like clockwork, right around his

rst birthday, the words (or semi-formationsthereof) started spilling. Mama, papa, agua,bi (for bird), bah (for bottle), and, of course,the most clearly pronounced of all no.

Take the other night, for example, when Itried to change his diaper after bathtime. Herolled over and took off crawling, repeatingno, no, no all the while. Finally, he sat on

his naked fanny, looked back at me with atriumphant smile and giggled in a way that Iswear meant to convey, Hah, I have beaten

you.And all I could think of while he was doing

this, was, Oh man, am I (and please pardonthe expression here) screwed.

You see, in retrospect, babyhood was easy.Sure, youre sleep deprived. And car ridesbecome like Dantes seventh circle of hell (atleast if you have a baby like mine who seemedto feel riding in a car was a form of physicaltorture). But personal opinions that differfrom my own? And free will? My goodness, Ithought, what am I in for?

I started wondering what it will be likewhen Thomas is a teenager and if he will be asstubborn an adolescent as I was. If my mother

said black, I said white. If she said up, I said

down. If she didnt let me go somewhere, Iwanted to know why, for what reason, and ifshe happened to know, thank you very much,that everybody else in the world would bethere.

That got me to thinking about what it wouldbe like to move to Brazil with an adolescent.The teenage years seem difcult enough to

navigate, let alone in place where you dontknow what the local customs are. Maybe yourchild is telling you that everyone else is doing

it (whatever it is), but how do you know?So, with that in mind, I polled my husband

and some other Brazilian friends to nd out a

little bit about teen social life in Brazil. Whatsdifferent down here from back at home? Andwhat can you expect? Heres what I foundout:

Quinze Anos Parties

Im sure youve heard of quinze anos the celebrated 15th birthday party that is

roughly the equivalent to the U.S. sweet

sixteen, but on a much larger scale. If yourehere long enough, chances are your teenagerwill be invited to one. These are huge festaswith at least a couple of hundred people,some parents, but mostly kids. And not just15-year-olds. Younger acquaintances are

invited (dont be shocked if your 13-year-old

receives an invitation), as are older friends up to college age (something to keep in mindif your 13-year-old does indeed receive that

invitation). The parties generally begin around9 pm and the dancing doesnt usually start

until midnight. So if your kid says nobody

leaves before midnight, well, its kind of true.

Generally alcohol is not served, but teenagersbeing teenagers, it usually nds its way in.

Matins

Dont let the name fool you this isnot an afternoon lm at the movie theater.

Matins are dance clubs for kids between theages of 12 and 17. They are usually held innightclubs that open their doors to the teenset in the late afternoon and early evening,

before the start of regular business hours. Sowhat goes on inside them? Well, in additionto dancing, Im told teen matins are a lotlike regular Brazilian baladas in that theresa whole lot of meeting and making out goingon. This is something you may want to thinkabout when your 12- or 13-year-old begs to

go, considering that kids up to 17 are allowed.Only non-alcoholic beverages are sold at the

bar.Makeup

One thing I noticed about Brazil rightaway was not only how made up women werewhen going out at night, but girls, too. At13, a big night for me was a little JohnsonsBaby Perfume, some Bonne Bell lip gloss andmaybe some pink eye shadow snuck from myolder sisters makeup bag. But here it is notuncommon for 12-year-olds to be fully made

up for a night out with friends. So if youryoung daughter starts getting into makeup,it doesnt say anything about the type ofcompany shes keeping. It just means shes,well, doing as the Romans.

Documents

AmSoc Forum March 2012