Election

We just had election in Brazil, and it beats me how some people still have not learned the lesson. Voting represents changing! It is the most effective way to tell people who rule the public offices that we are the ones who are actually in charge here and most of all, that we are alert! I was especially disappointed in Juiz de Fora where Margarida lost with such a small difference for someone who has had his chance to make the city and the county better. I had the privilege of having her as a professor at the federal university of Juiz de Fora. Later on she was the dean and she was ready to make things better in the city as well.
I will have my voting card transfered to Bananal, SP, where I live now and I will keep thinking about politics as a main tool to be heard and to reinforce that we are the ones in charge.
And I have to say that I`m happy to be following this historical war between democrats and republicans in the US. From the conventions I had a hunch that Obama was the one ready and willing from the heart to be president. It turns out my hunch was right because he moved crowds, not only with his ability of speech, but with common sense and true respect for people. The replucican party seemed desperate with all their attacks all the step of the way, and that is not a way to win an election. we`ve got to discuss ideas and doable goals, not people. Last july I attended a Colloquium sponsered by the American embassy and I had the privilege to have two amazing professors during the lectures and discussions, Brenda Flannagan and Katherine Charron. One of them sent the letter below to make it clear people out there do want to change with Obama.

"I Didn't Vote For Obama" by Kentucky Scott.Monday, October 20, 2008

I'm a middle-class white guy living in Jacksonville , Florida . I've got a wife and two kids. Because the kids had no school today, I took a vacation day from work, and took the kids downtown to vote early. Fifty-nine minutes later, two smiling children and I proudly sported "I Voted" stickers. But I didn't vote for Obama. I voted for my ancestors, who believed in the promise of this country and came with nothing as immigrants. I voted for my parents, who taught in the public schools for decades. I voted for Steve, an acquaintance of mine from Kentucky . (Killed by an IED two years ago in Iraq ). I voted for Shawn, another who's been to Iraq twice, and Afghanistan once, and who'll be going back to Afghanistan again soon -- and whose family earned eleven bucks a month too much to qualify for food stamps when the war started. I voted for April, the only African-American girl in my high school -- it was years before it> occurred to me how different her experience of our school must have been. I voted for my college friends who are Christian, Jewish, Mormon, and yes -- Muslim. I voted for my grandfathers, who worked> hard in factories and died too young. I voted for the plumber who>worked on my house, because I want him to get a REAL tax break. I voted for four little angels from Birmingham . I voted for a bunch of dead white men who, although personally flawed, were willing to pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, and used a time of great crisis to expand freedom rather than suspend it. I voted for all those people and more, and I voted for all of you, too. But mostly, I voted selfishly: I voted for two little kids, one who has ballet in an hour, and one who has baseball practice at the same time. I voted for a world where they can be confident that their government will represent the best that is in this country, and that will in turn demand the best of them. I voted for a government that will be respected in the world. I voted for an economy that will reward work above guile. I voted for everything I believe in. Sure, I filled in the circle next to the name Obama, but it wasn't him I was voting for -- it was every single one of> us, and those I love most of all." YES, WE CAN!!!> THIS IS OUR TIME!!!> OBAMA '08

Celebration!

I have to thank all my friends and family for the great help and guidance throughout the years. Most of all I have to thank my students for the magic flow of the teaching-learning process with all the insights they have given and the motivation to keep me moving ahead, researching, studying!!!

I scored the first position in Bananal exam and I'm very excited. I was the first in the rank not only for the English teaching position, but among all candidates in different areas. It was my first government exam and a pretty cool experience!

I also took a public translator exam in Belo Horizonte and I am looking forward to checking my score in July. It was a tough one, around 70 candidates for each opening. I gave it a shot, let's wait and see!!!

I also signed up for another literary contest, this time one concerning education, the art of teaching and learning. I just mailed my work and we will have to see that too.

Besides all that, I have to celebrate the magic of having the most precious and beautiful daughter, someone that cheers me up every step I take and gives strength and inspiration to climb the highest and less traveled mountains! She just started swimming lessons and she is all excited about her new adventures in the pool. I also have to be thankful for all my dear students at school who make me happy each day I go to work to share what I have learned so far. they are unique and amazing too. Finally, I have to cherish the joy of having a wonderful family. "A sabedoria da vida não está em fazer aquilo que se gosta, mas em gostar daquilo que se faz." (Leonardo da Vinci)

Let us all be cool and be happy to celebrate life every step of the way!!!

Choices in Life

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I... I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference"
( Robert Frost,1916)

2008 Honor Society

Congratulations for excellent oral and grammar skills!!! Way to go!! You passed with flying colors!!!
The names are not presented according to the score, but they are organized according to the classes and levels.
1. Leonardo Gussem
2. Rafael Hayashi
3. Lara Borges
4. Luiza Raffide
5. Eduardo Cotrim
6. Paula Leal
7. Mariana Castro
8. Aline Barreto
9. Nathália Barbosa
10. Pedro Oliveira
11. Gabriela Penedo
12. Gabriel Ferreira
13. Marina Gussem
14. Sarah Santos
15. Bruna Carrara
16. Luiza Naves
17. Adriana Saar

Thank you for your excellent performance in oral and written tests!!!