There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.The other is as though everything is a miracle. ~Einstein

Happy Birthday to my beautiful and precious daughter! You make me strong to be a better person every day.

Our cool garden

We have to take good care of our garden in order to attract the birds, the butterflies and all the love we can share and feel.

Happy Teacher`s Day!!!

"Ensinar é um exercício de imortalidade. De alguma forma continuamos a viver naqueles cujos olhos aprenderam a ver o mundo pela magia da nossa palavra. O professor, assim, não morre jamais". (Rubem Alves)

Happy Birthday to the most precious dad and grandpa. You have a great soul, dad, someone who taught me to observe and listen to the birds, respecting the silence of our hearts. You are the best!

Negotiating the meaning of politics

Each one of us in a different path needs to figure out that we should work to become, and not to acquire. Politicians definitely forget this concept and completely ignore what is right and good for people they are supposed to protect and guide. I am a teacher who fights for a better world because children out there should have the right of a good education, no matter what. So how come we still find public libraries closed and people in charge with a reactive discourse as if none of this is their fault? How come art and culture in this country is still something aimed to the privileged ones? Why teachers and schools still have trouble connecting curriculum, life and culture? Why do people take things for granted and don't move a muscle to change the environment around them? Due to some personal issues I have been facing with loss and grieve, I have had my share of this twisted politics in Brazil and all over I guess. I was invited to work as a coordinator January 2009 in a public office, but quit May, 22. I was asked to stay a little longer in order to help things get settled. August 15 I gave a formal letter with all the itens that made me sick in this position. They put me on hold for 90 days and I can hardly wait to be back in the classroom. That's where all of us teachers make a difference, children and teenagers and young adults and even older citizens are better politicians than those who have a chair in public offices. So I want to be back to the place I belong and I never left because of my other two jobs teaching at my language school and the community college. We have to straighten things out and tell the world out there that we have had with all this wrongdoing. Enough is enough, people are alert and can tell the difference. It is not OK or normal for a pilot to cause an accident just because he or his company have hidden agendas, it is not OK for Congress to cover up bribes and hidden favors just to guarantee future elections and it is not OK for teachers and coordinators in small towns exchange favors with the mayor's office and connections, completely ignoring what is best for the children and the schools as a whole. I suggest these people grab Gabriel Chalita's book Os dez mandamentos da ética. Maybe this brilliant author, politician and educator would straighten things out at once and make people in public jobs more proactive and alert to ethics. It is also worth reading O segredo das quatro letras. For Gabriel Chalita, I have 2 words: thank you! Thank you for being there for the people you represent and respecting the true meaning of POLITICS!

Rancho Grande Project

I can only express my feelings with one word: congratulations! I'm very happy to see these kids together, working hard to make their school a better place. A place where there is no right and wrong, no black or white, but true and friendly atmosphere coomitted to look for answers, for change, for wisdom and all there is in the package. The thinking teacher is no longer perceives as someone who applies theories, but as someone who theorizes his or her own practice. And that is exactly what I saw today at Rancho Grande Party, from the signs designed by the kids and hanging from the roof to the characters welcoming the guests to this beautiful and unforgetful event. My special hug to all of you at this very special school. Whenever I go there, I have this strong feeling we share the beauty of the word education and social interaction. Keep up with the very good work my special friends Marcinho and Alan.

Reading Project Bananal, SP

O mundo tem a cor que a gente pinta!

Bananal is a magic spot for me and my family. We decided to move out here to be close to nature, the mountains, the waterfalls, the birds. We have met amazing friends and very nice people. On a day by day basis we do our share to make this city a better place, but sometimes it beats me how things are handled around here. It makes me sad to see people who have crazy mood shifts in such a beautiful and peaceful place, surrounded by green and history. It makes me sad to see teachers who seem to close their heart to people`s smile and friendly good mornings. It makes me sad to see people who still believe the world is divided by different people, different religion, different race. There is no such thing as this huge misunderstanding and I truly believe everyone will eventually figure this out. I mean, we are one big and cool community and we should respect and honor the amazing place we live, not pointing out differences, but offering our best smile to whoever crosses our road, at church, in the square or even in a shoe store. What is this deal of treating people in a bizarre way around here? For this issue I will fight every step of the way. For me, the world is open for true hearts and open-minded smiles and good mornings. I'm very sorry for those who have this kind of moody attitudes around here, but I'll never change my style and my true emotion when I run into friends. After all, I trust love and friendship, and no matter what, I believe in a better and fair place for all of us. I'm very proud my daughter does not have any sort of prejudice and has an open heart as well, respecting and saying hello to all. I wish wisdom and insights to everyone in town.

Dreams

It`s not so easy to fly high and fight for all our dreams out there, but we have to listen to our heart and reach each one of them! I wish you all a wonderful and blessed New Year.