FORUM

Monthly Newsletter
February 2010
www.amsoc.com.br

In This Issue Carnaval 2010 in São Paulo: last-

Get the kids into AmSoc minute ideas for AmSoc families
sports this month

Page 5: Little League signups will
be held this month. A variety of
sports are a great way for AmSoc
kids to spend their weekends.
A wild 2009 for
AmSoc sports
Page 6-7: Check out two pages
of recaps on all things sports for
AmSoc in 2009, and see what
you can expect from AmSoc
organizers in 2010.
Have your pet spayed
or neutered
Page 9: An estimated 1.5 million
dogs and cats are living in Sao
Paulo’s streets. The overwhelming
pet population is something you
can help solve.
F
ebruary in Brazil means one thing
to the native population: Carnaval.
Work will stop, music will blare and
vacations – be they long or short – are
considered a must. For AmSoc members
new to the holiday, there are plenty of
ways for you to experience the traditional
fun here in the city, or by taking a short
drive across the state.
Carnaval officially begins this year
on Feb. 13 and runs through Feb. 17,
but celebrations and personal vacations
often start before or last long past those
set dates.
Sao Paulo’s International Newcomers
Club has put together an all-inclusive
Carnaval experience package for Saturday,
Feb. 13, at R$275 per person for INC
members and R$295 for non-members.
The night would start with group
transportation making pickups at a few
choice spots around 8 pm that night (spots
to be determined shortly before the 13th).
The INC group will enter Sao Paulo’s
Sambadrome together, and have escorts
with them from an affiliated tourist agency
at all times to help make their way through
the Sambadrome, and answer questions
throughout the Carnaval parade. Drinks
during the event are included.
Members of the group also do not
have to wait until the event’s end to leave
together. Individuals or families can
leave at any time, and with the help of
the group’s coordinator a driver will be
arranged to take them back to their home
or apartment. All the transportation will
be done by a private, secure group of
drivers.
Spots for the group were limited as of
late January, so if interested call 2501-8038,
or e-mail vpevents@newcomers-sp.com.
br as soon as possible. Payment for tickets
will need to be made immediately into the
INC’s bank account.
Sao Paulo’s Tourism(Continued on page 8)

Art in the
underpass
Page 16: Sue Banman Sileci shares
the details on her personalized
tour of some of Sao Paulo’s most
original, creative local artwork. A
hint: Alleyways.

Our Mission
The American Society of São Paulo
promotes friendship by organizing
social, cultural and athletic events for
its diverse membership; encourages
integration with the Brazilian society;
and supports the American traditions
of education, philanthropy and
volunteerism.

The President’s Corner
The end of
summer break
here in Brazil
means school
is back in
session and
the American
Society is back
with regular
activities and
By Tim Scott, AmSoc president
opportunities.
We look forward to seeing you at
an upcoming event. Several of you
readers are new to town and we
welcome you.
Beginning life here can be
intimidating at first; getting connected
with people and new communities is
essential and we are honored that
you have decided to join us here
in the American Society. To all of
you who are new, all who have just
returned to São Paulo and to all who
make São Paulo your home, we
extend our “bem-vindo” and look
forward to seeing you engaged in the
community in the months ahead.
You might ask, “how could I get
engaged in the community?” In the
American Society we like to think
about this as applying our Helping
Hands.
Helping Hands in AmSoc is first of
all a class of membership that applies
50 percent of your membership fee
to help make a lasting difference
in the lives of children in our 10
carefully screened orphanages.
Forum is published monthly, with
the exception of January and July, by
About Forum
The American Society of São Paulo
Rua da Paz, 1431 n 04713-001 São Paulo, SP
Tel: (11) 5182-2074 n Fax: (11) 5182-9155
forum@amsoc.com.br
2 FORUM
Secondly, Helping Hands is part
of the American Society’s mission,
encouraging you and me to support
our philanthropic work, led by our
Community Action Committee.
Finally, Helping Hands is the attitude
of volunteerism that helps make
AmSoc a great organization.
Besides the bountiful opportunities
to support our Community Action
Committee, there are many ways
to apply your Helping Hands. How
about Little League? On Saturday
mornings during the school year,
AmSoc sponsors children’s sports
(baseball, basketball, soccer). We
need fun-loving coaches to begin the
new season in February.
How about helping with our
Cultural or Social Committees? The
American Society regularly hosts
social and cultural activities. We have
enthusiastic committee chairmen
in place, but do need your Helping
Hands for support, working to create
quality events for the enjoyment of
our members.
The American Society seeks to
engage our membership in quality
events and philanthropic work
that builds a spirit of community,
friendship and support. We count on
your Helping Hands to join in with
the activities I’ve listed above. Let us
know of your interests by contacting
the AmSoc office.
Welcome to 2010! This is sure to
be a year full of opportunity.
Bob Moser, editor
Simon Tharby, staff writer
141 Preview, layout
Ana Claudia Teixeira, editorial
assistant
Forum is printed by Intergraf.
(www.intergraf.com.br)
Views expressed in Forum do
not necessarily reflect those of
the American Society board of
governors, members, or staff.
Forum reserves the right to edit
content for brevity and/or clarity.
Newcomer
profile
Name: Brian Ni-
colopoulos
Origin, Time
Here: Chicago,
Ill. I have been
here for two
years.
Profession: I
work for CH
Robinson Brasil,
an American multinational company
in the area of Logistics.
Why São Paulo?: I originally came
through Sao Paulo not knowing much
about the city at all, just as a tourist. I
really liked the big city feel,the hustle
and bustle, the restaurants, nightlife,
sun and diversity.
Best thing so far: Other than my
amazing girlfriend, I love the warm
weather, the beach, Brazilian culture
and futebol.
Early frustrations: I can remember
taking the bus for the first time with
a sheet of paper to show the cobrador
where I needed to get off, and of course
he forgot to tell me when to get off.
Needless to say it was a mess trying to
get back. I have various similar stories
like this to look back on and smile
about now, but at the time they were
quite annoying and sometimes scary.
Have saudade for anything back
home?: Of course my family and
friends are what I miss the most while
living here. Also Chicago style deep
dish pizza, Wrigley Field and having
a car. I do like the pizza in Sao Paulo,
but there is nothing like biting into a
huge thick deep dish slice of pizza.
The toppings are all put on the top of
the pizza and two pieces are enough
to fulfill your appetite for a meal.
Progress with Portuguese: My
girlfriend says I am fluent, but
I think I am far from fluent! I
generally understand pretty well
but when it comes to speaking I
a m i m p r o v i n g d a y b y d a y.
Favourite place to hang out: : I love
Ibirapuera Park, Shopping Malls, Vila
Madalena bars and the movie theaters.
February
 The American Society
of São Paulo

December AmSoc Eggnog Party a great time for all

The AmSoc Social Committee

is working hard to set up a
wonderful year of activities in 2010.
Members can learn more about the
Valentine’s Dinner on Feb. 14,
and the St. Patrick’s Day Party
in March by calling 5182-2074.

2010 FORUM 3
 Tax time in Brazil and the U.S. – What ex-pats
living abroad need to know
If you are a U.S. citizen or resident
alien, the rules for filing your U.S. in-
dividual income tax return are generally
the same whether you live in the United
States or abroad. The U.S. Internal
Revenue Code requires all Americans,
citizens or resident aliens, living in the
United States or abroad, to file U.S.
income tax returns.
Understanding the filing require-
ments
If 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 certain
amount of your foreign earned income
(up to US$91,400 for 2009), plus a
certain amount of your qualified foreign
housing costs. In addition, Section 901
allows taxpayers to take either a credit
or a deduction for foreign income taxes
paid.
Although Section 911 has been re-
vised several times, the regulations have
consistently required that a Federal indi-
vidual income tax return be filed even if,
due to the use of foreign earned income
and housing exclusions or the foreign
tax credit, there is no tax liability.
You must also file a return if you owe
any other taxes (such as Alternative
Minimum Tax), or Self-Employment
Tax (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 should
file one to get a refund of any Federal
income tax withheld or other credits.
When to file
The 2009 return is generally due
April 15, 2010.
An automatic two-month extension
of time to file until June 15, 2010 is
granted to file the 2009 return if, on the
due date of the return, you live outside
the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and your tax
home is outside the U.S. and Puerto
Rico.
The automatic two-month extension
also applies to paying the tax. Howev-
4 FORUM
By Marcelo Calvoso, managing partner of Duncan & Associates
er, interest is
charged on
any unpaid
tax from the
regular due
date (April
15, 2010)
until it is
paid.
Addi-
tional ex-
tensions of
time to file
1) An au-
tomatic six-
month ex-
tension (un-
til October
15, 2010) is
granted if
you file Form 4868 by the regular due
date of the return (April 15, 2010).
The same form should be filed by the
extended due date of June 15, 2010 to
get an additional automatic four-month
extension (until October 15, 2010) to the
previous two-month extension.
2) In addition to the six-month exten-
sion, taxpayers who are outside U.S. can
request a discretionary two-month addi-
tional extension to file (until December
15, 2010). To request this extension,
you must send the IRS a letter by the
extended 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 the
previous automatic two-month exten-
sion) to ask for an extension of time to
file if you need the time to meet either
the bona-fide residence test or the physi-
cal presence test in order to qualify for
the foreign earned income exclusion
and/or foreign housing exclusion.
Keep in mind that unlike the original
automatic two-month extension to June
15, none of these additional extensions
extend the time to pay your income
tax. Instead, they give you extra time
to file, but interest will be charged on
any unpaid tax from the original due
date of the return (April 15, 2010) and
late 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 Brazilian
income tax obligations. If you are a
Permanent Resident (RNE holder) or
hold a Temporary Work Permit, you
should file a 2009 Brazilian individual
income tax return reporting your world-
wide income and declaration of assets.
If you moved to Brazil during 2009, a
Part-Year return may be required.
The 2009 Brazilian return is due
April 30, 2010, and no extension of time
to file or pay the tax is available.
In addition, you are also required to
file a “Foreign Assets Report” with the
Brazilian Central Bank, if on December
31, 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 to
be determined.
Marcelo Calvoso, managing partner
of Duncan & Associates, in Sao Paulo,
specializes in individual income tax
preparation and consulting, with long
time experience preparing U.S. Fed-
eral income tax returns. Contact him at
5572-5411, or mcalvoso@uol.com.br
February

Little League signups and
BBQ set for Feb. 6
Welcome back AmSoc families, it is
time for Little League season to start up
in São Paulo. Different from the Little
League you might know back home, our
activities are not restricted to baseball
and do not include arduous trips in the
car or extended weekend travel for
stressed out parents.
As with most activities in Brazil,
our program is a little more laid back.
Little league here is sponsored and run
by the American Society and offers
classes for your young ones in soccer,
softball, basketball, tennis, and baseball
(if interest is sufficient we may come
up with a tag-style version of American
Football as well).
Activities are generally held on
Saturday mornings at either Graded
or Chapel schools depending on their
availability and run in two time slots,
allowing your young ones to participate
in two sports if they so desire. Practices
are run from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and
The ende-of-season awards day is just one of the unique, confidence-building features for children at
AmSoc Little league.
2010
then from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Schedules are distributed at registration
and will also be available on the AmSoc
Web site.
Kids are expected to be kids and
we very much try to emphasize the
fun aspects of the game and work on
fundamentals while at Little League.
Scrimmages will be held at the end
of each session but the whole effort is
supposed to be fun for the coaches and
kids. We generally have more than 100
participants and your kids are welcome
to come out and participate.
Registration is Feb. 6, and we will be
having open registration for little league
as well as a BBQ (churrasco style) at
Graded School (Giovanni Gronchi,
4710) from 10 a.m to 12 p.m. You can
register at this time.
You can contact Little League
Coordinator Benton Kirk with further
questions or doubts at Benton.Kirk@
adm.com or call (11)9381-7056.
The American Society
of São Paulo
Scottish Burns
Supper the
place to be on
Feb. 6
The 2010 Burns Supper, set for Feb.
6 at the Clube Nacional, will be an
even bigger event than last year’s
very successful 250th anniversary
of Rabbi Burns’ birth. The Burns
Supper is a traditional Scottish event
held every year across the world close
to Jan. 25, the date of Burns’ birthday.
It celebrates the life and works of
Robert Burns, Scotland’s greatest
poet. Burns was born in Ayrshire on
Jan. 25, 1759, and died at the early
age of 37 years, following life long
health problems
Through his poetry and song
writing he helped keep the flame of
patriotism burning in Scotland during
a difficult period. At the time of his
death he was a very popular figure in
Scotland.
Tickets are R$ 180 and R$150.
Reservations and details of Scottish
dance practices to brush up your
favorite dances (not mandatory for
the feint of heart!) can be found at
www.standrews.com.br.
FORUM 5

Adult Softball saw the Cougars post 10-1 record,
take home second AmSoc title in a row.
Last year´s AmSoc Adult Softball
Championships were held on two
Saturdays, Oct. 24 and Dec. 5, in Ibuina
where the Brazilian national baseball
team trains and plays its home games.
Both dates included eight teams playing
about 3-4 games each in an abbreviated
round-robin schedule starting around
9:30 a.m. and going until around 4 p.m.,
including a BBQ each time that started
6 FORUM
at noon.
The Oct. 24 mini-round robin games
provided the seeding for Dec. 5.,
whereby two groups of four teams
were organized to play each other first,
followed by the first and second place
finishers of each group to play in the
semi-finals: i.e., the winner of Group A
played the second place team in Group
B, etc.
In the end, after each team had played
three games lasting more than four
SPORTS
hours on two different Saturdays, the
defending champs Cougars proved too
strong for the Diamond Runners, led by
the consummate athlete (and promoter)
John Norwood, and his feisty group of
players mainly from the U.S. Consulate.
The Cougars completed a stellar 2009
season of 10-1, only losing to a tough
Hamada team in April in the finals of the
First Annual Charity Softball Classic.
The MVP of the Championship was
Howard Anderson.
February
 The American Society
of São Paulo

Highlights from AmSoc´s year of adult sports

The American Society of Sao Where the Brazilian national Nov. 7, 2009: David’s Tennis and
Paulo completed an active year for baseball team trains and plays its Squash Club, in Santo Amaro, hosted
competitive adult (team) sports, home games. The results were: AmSoc´s 2009 Tennis Open
covering a variety of modalities: where 29 players joined
a flag football tournament in 1ST ROUND WINS LOSSES
in: 22 men and 7 women.
February, charity softball classic Everyone was paired to
in April, a friendly baseball game play doubles matches of
in July, a golf challenge in August, 1. Cougars 3 0 six games each. From 10
softball tournament in October, a.m. to 4 p.m. all played six
tennis tournament in November and matches in total, mostly
the softball tournament finals in 2. AmSoc 3 0 with different partners.
December. Below is a summary of Women’s category: 1st
these events. 3. Consulate 2 1 Ann Marie Drysdale, 2nd
And in 2010, AmSoc plans to follow Andrea Pagliusoand 3rd
this schedule and even add more tennis Kristina Dooley.
and golf to the schedule, so stayed 4. GM 1 2 Men’s category: 1st
tuned for the announcements! Rodrigo Drysdale, 2nd
Jan. 31, 2009: The Annual Abacaxi 5. Hamada 0 2 Ricardo Rubeiz and 3rd
Bowl took place at Graded School on Zack Henry
Jan. 31 where more than 80 players and Dec. 5, 2009: The
25 spectators enjoyed the activities. 6. SMAB 0 2 2nd and Final Round
The winner was PACA School, the of the 2009 Softball
defending champion, a team taht has 7. Devilz 0 2 Championship results
amassed six championships in the was held and the final
past 10 years. results of the two-day
April 4, 2009: At the Brasilian 8. PACA 0 0 tournament were:
Baseball Federation´s Sports complex,
the American Society hosted its first
Charity Softball Classic whereby more 2009 Softball
than R$5,000 was donated to one of Winning
Championships
AmSoc´s 11 charities. The winner
was a newcomer to the American
softball events, Hamada, a Japanese Team Wins Losses Pct.
team that regularly plays both softball
(fast & slow pitch) and baseball in the
mutinous tournaments in Sao Paulo. 1. Cougars 8 0 100% Champion
From that date a new bonding had
taken place, because Hamada has 2. AmSoc 5 1 83%
not only been an active participant in
AmSoc softball tournaments, but has
invited AmSoc to play baseball on 3. Consulate 4 3 57%
their over-35 and over-40 teams.
July 4, 2009: Again at the Brasilian
Baseball Federation´s Sports complex, 4. Hamada 2 4 33%
this time the American Society
challenged the experienced Hamada 5. PACA 1 2 33%
in a 7-inning baseball game, and only
lost 15-11.
Aug. 21, 2009: The 4th Challenge 6. GM 2 5 29%
Golf Cup was held at the Terras de
Sao Jose Golf Club in Itu, where the
Americans (57) defeated the Scots (56). 7. SMAB 1 5 17%
Oct. 24, 2009: The 1st Round of
the 2009 Softball Championship was 8. Devilz 0 6 0%
held in Ibuina,

2010 FORUM 7
 Carnaval 2010 in Sao Paulo: last-minute ideas
for AmSoc families
(Continued from cover page) office says that a
special section at the Sambadrome,
Section G, has been designated for
international tourists and non-natives,
with interpreters on hand and bilingual
specialists available to explain the
details and history of Brazilian Carnaval
to first-time viewers.
Carnaval in the “countryside” is
often a very different type of party from
the one you’ll see on television taking
NAME
Monica Schmitt FREYRE
Ernest JEAN-LOUIS and family
Romero TAVARES and family
Magda KELLY and family
Andrew Douglas LOPEMAN
Debbie HIRST
8 FORUM
over Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and http://carnaval.catanduva.sp.gov.br/.
northeastern cities like Salvador. The Itu – About 108 km west of Sao
following are a handful of small, rural Paulo, learn more at www.itu.com.br/
cities in Sao Paulo state well-known for turismo/guia.asp
their traditional, family-oriented and
very “G-rated” Carnaval experiences
that you could drive to from Sao Paulo
and back in a day.
Themed groups parade through the
city’s streets tossing candy and toys as
spectators stand just feet away, offering
a very personal, interactive
Carnaval experience that you
may not find in the big city
spectacles. These parades are
almost always free as well.
The following are a few
New members
small towns in Sao Paulo
state known for their friendly
Carnaval traditions:
from November,
São José dos Campos –
One of the most important
industrial and research centers
December
in South America, this small, We want to acknowledge all our new
fairly affluent city lies about members from November and December.
80 km east of Sao Paulo. In addition, the age limit for the recently
Vista Alegre do Alto – created “Junior” level membership has
About 378 km northwest of been raised from 25 to 30. Please help
Sao Paulo. AmSoc recruit new, young members in
Ariranha – 344 km northwest Sao Paulo by promoting this low-cost,
of Sao Paulo. entry-level “Junior” category.
Catanduva – About 390 km For these newcomers, welcome to our
from Sao Paulo, learn more at family. There are plenty of great AmSoc
events set in February to kick off 2010.
COMPANY OR
MEMBERSHIP TYPE CITIZENSHIP
PROFESSION
Family Brazilian n/a
Costa & Cambui Ass.
Family Patron American
Imobiliária
Helping Hands Brazilian Ernst & Young
Family Patron Amer.-Braz. n/a
Junior American Caterpillar
Single (renewal) American n/a

Pet overpopulation in Sao Paulo should
be a concern for all
The cat and dog overpopulation problem
is serious in Sao Paulo. While official
statistics do not exist, it is estimated
that there are approximately 1.5 mil-
lion dogs and cats living on the streets
of the city.
It may not be so obvious in some
of the nicer neighborhoods of town,
but as soon as you get a little closer to
the periferia, it becomes impossible to
ignore. Abandoned or homeless animals
are not the only ones that suffer. Errant
animals can cause car accidents, and
cats and dogs can carry diseases that
are communicable to humans, the most
serious of which being rabies.
The World Health Organization
(WHO) declared in 1992 that without
canine population control one cannot
control rabies. Therefore, while it is
certainly a humane goal to end canine
overpopulation, it is also urgent for
public health authorities.
Sao Paulo and Brazil are not the only
places where pet overpopulation prob-
lems exist. Even in the United States it
is estimated that 4 million healthy cats
and dogs are euthanized each year in
shelters around the country. The prob-
lem is multi-faceted, and the solution
includes educational programs as well
as sterilization projects.
Statistical studies indicate that in
order to fully control a population, you
need to achieve a 70 percent sterilization
rate of the animals within a particular
community. Once you reach the 70
percent threshold, the probability that an
unsterilized female comes into contact
with an unsterilized male is sufficiently
small, and the population stops grow-
ing. The challenge is how to achieve
that level.
Animal population cannot be control-
led by simply picking up the animals
and killing them. If it is possible for an
animal to survive on the streets (and in
countries such as Brazil, where garbage
and other sources of animal nutrition
are readily available on the streets), as
soon as you remove one animal from
the location, another one will move
in to take its place, and animals will
continue having litters until the feeding
capacity of the region is met. As long
as it’s possible for animals to survive in
the streets, there will be animals in the
streets. In the United States, the general
trend in reduction of street animals oc-
curred simultaneous to the introduction
of organized garbage collection pro-
grams, so there was no longer a readily
accessible source of sustenance for the
street 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 been
adopted in a number of communities,
with varying degrees of success. There
is a particular surgical technique that
facilitates this type of program (the
incision is quite small and often times
the only sutures are internal, meaning
that the animal does not have to be kept
overnight in the clinic or return for any
follow-up care). This allows for the sur-
gery to be quicker, and less expensive.
Unfortunately there are not a lot of
veterinarians 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 particular
skillset that not all veterinarians have.
The city of Sao Paulo has encouraged
clinics to offer sterilization services,
The American Society
of São Paulo
By Debbie Hirst, AmSoc member
specifically by promoting a program
where clinics (and now NGOs) can
become qualified to offer free surgeries
to clients, and in return the city pays the
clinics a fixed price for each surgery. The
program requires anyone who is inter-
ested in taking advantage of the offer to
go in person to the Centro de Controle
de Zoonoses in Santana to register. For
a city as large as Sao Paulo, and with a
population as poor, this becomes prob-
lematic because many people simply
do not have the means to get to Santana
in order sign up for the program. It is a
good start however.
While high-volume low-cost sterili-
zation surgeries may be relatively new
in Sao Paulo (within the last 10 years),
there have been similar programs in
other countries (most notably the U.S.)
for several decades. By and large, the
evidence has shown that even with
aggressive surgical sterilization pro-
grams, it is very difficult to get to a
point where you are no longer killing
unwanted animals. Most likely, addi-
tional solutions will need to be found.
One of these is chemical sterilization,
via an injection and not a surgery. Some
products already exist and are being
used in various countries. In Brazil a
product exists for male dogs. The benefit
to this type of sterilization is that you
don’t need to do it in a clinic, it is much
less expensive than a surgery, and you
can achieve a very high volume in a
short time, therefore facilitating getting
to the required 70 percent sterilized level
which will achieve effective population
control. The product is new, however,
and is not being widely used yet.
Two good sources of information on
the topic and where you can adopt a cat
and 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 reached
at www.cpna.com.br, or 5631 0713.
Learn more about injectable sterilants
at www.infertile.com.br.
FORUM 9
 10 unforgettable Brazilian dishes you’ve
never heard of
You’ve most certainly heard of, or
have even tasted, churrasco (barbecue)
and feijoada (a complex meal that
includes a stew of black beans with
pork and several side dishes, includ-
ing rice, collard greans, peeled orange,
cassava flour, red pepper sauce and
our national distilled liquor, cachaça).
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 amazing
windows to Brazilian culture. For
links with recipes, find this story
repeated at http://deepbrazil.com :
1.Barreado – Typical of the coast of
the southern state of Paraná, it probably
originates from the Portuguese Azores
islands. This meat stew served with rice
is prepared in a very peculiar way. It is
cooked in a clay pot for around 20 hours
– the time needed for the meat fibers to be
dissolved in a thick sauce. The pot is lay-
ered with banana leaves and its outside is
covered with hardened manioc flour paste,
in other to avoid letting the heat escape.
2.Cuscuz – Despite having the same
origin as the Moroccan couscous, it looks
and tastes very different. In São Paulo,
where I come from, it is made with corn
flour, olives, tomatoes, eggs, peas, sar-
dines and has the look of a decorated cake.
3. Tacacá – This numbing yellowish
cassava soup includes goma (a cassava-
based transparent gluey substance) , dried
shrimp and jambu, a plant that causes a
weird anesthesia effect on the mouth. Very
hot, it is served in a cuia, a bowl made of
a local fruit. Omnipresent in Manaus, it
is typical of most of the Amazon region.
4. Moqueca capixaba – A hearty fish
stew with tomatoes, onions, pepper and
10 FORUM
By Regina Scharf, guest contributor
pes at home! I found a few books
on Brazilian cooking published in
English , 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
bell peppers. It has a side dish of fish pu- – The Art of Brazilian Cookery
ree. Typical of the state of Espírito Santo. (Hippocrene International Cookbook
5. Pato no Tucupi – This duck dish Classics)
is made with tucupi, a broth of scalded If you try any of these recipes, please,
cassava and the same jambu used in ta- tell me how it worked out. And bom
cacá, which means it also has that weird apetite!
numbing effect. It is typical of Belém, by
the Atlantic coast of the Amazon region. Regina Scharf is a Brazilian-born free-
6. Buchada – This one is not for lance journalist who writes for various
the faint of heart. Made with the billy news outlets in Sao Paulo, and blogs in
goat’s internal organs, that are cooked English at http://deepbrazil.com.
and used to stuff the animal’s stomach.
7.Tutu à mineira – This is one ex-
ample of the very traditional cuisine
of the state of Minas Gerais. It is a
cooked black bean puree mixed with
cassava flour. It is served with boiled
eggs, sausages, rice and collard greens
8. Canjica – This porridge made of
white corn, milk, cinnamon and sugar
is particularly popular in June, during
the big festivals for Saint Peter, Saint
John and Saint Anthony (festas juninas).
9. Acarajé – You cannot visit Bahia and
miss the acarajé. Originally from Nigeria,
this cake made of peeled black-eyed peas
is deep fried in palm oil (dendê). It is split
in half and stuffed with shrimp, cashews
and different pastes, namely vatapá.
10. Brigadeiro – This huge hit is
always welcome at children’s birthday
parties. It is a type of chocolate truffle
covered with chocolate sparkles, named
after Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes, an air
force brigadier that was a candidate in two
presidential campaigns in the late 1940s.
Good luck in case you try this reci-
February

Angel Party leader fills calendar Adopt a pet
with volunteerism
Eileen Tasso first
heard about the
Vi l a A c a l a n t o
Orphanage
two years ago,
through some
friends who were
volunteering
there. Since then,
she has worked as
a liaison for Vila
Acalanto on AmSoc’s Community
Action Committee.
This role involves staying in
contact with the orphanage, and
assessing and helping to meet its
needs. AmSoc’s role in the provision
of new flooring is one recent example
of practical support she coordinated.
Tasso, also responsible for recruiting
volunteers, was eager to point out
they are looking for more people
now.
The most rewarding aspect of
this work is the time she spends
each week with the children there.
“They are just so lonely,” Tasso
explained. “They are just so happy
to see you.”
2010
The American Society
of São Paulo
Coordinating the AmSoc Angel
Party was the highlight of Eileen’s
year. This remarkable event is the
largest on AmSoc’s calendar, and
entertained 220 orphans from 10
different organizations (see December
Forum for more details). Organizing EVERY MONTH AMSOC MEMBERS TELL THE
this event included, to name but a FORUM ABOUT SAMPA PETS IN NEED OF A
few aspects, the many corporate
GOOD HOME . C HECK OUT THIS MONTH ’ S
sponsors and other agencies and their
FEATURE DOG:
respective donations and services,
220 gift bag and cash sponsors, and NAME: GIRL (MENINA)
the 190 volunteers who helped on the AGE: 2 MONTHS
day. The party was a major success COLOR: BLACK AND TAN
for Tasso as a coordinator, though she SEX: FEMALE
was keen to emphasize, “It wasn’t FLEAS: NONE
just me – I had a committee!” Her TICKS: NONE
favorite memory of this day? “Giving SIZE: MEDIUM
(the children) gifts – they never get KILOS: WE HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE...
anything.”
FARTS: NO
Besides her current liaison role,
Tasso has volunteered for the Viva HOUSEBROKEN: NOT YET
Jovem AmSoc project, teaching HOBBIES: NONE YET
English to teenagers. She also helps VACCINES: YES
out at her son’s school, recently NEUTERED: SPAYED
advising on the ‘Walk for Humanity’, QUIRKS: TOO YOUNG TO TELL
a fund-raising event for the ‘Habitat INJURIES: NONE
for Humanity’ scheme, which builds FOUND: IN FRONT OF A UNIVERSITY WITH
homes for the less fortunate. MOM, BROTHERS AND SISTERS
ABILITY TO WALK ON A LEASH: WE HAVE
TO WAIT ON THAT
LEVEL OF PERFECT GOODNESS FOR A NICE
FAMILY: REALLY HIGH!!!
COST TO YOU: NOTHING, JUST LOVE!!!
APPLICATIONS: BEING ACCEPTED AT CAROL.
KLIASS@UOL.COM.BR
FORUM 11
 I love you, man!
By Bert Frost, former AmSoc president
I attended a Brazilian birthday party
this weekend. I enjoy hanging out
with my Brazilian friends. We talked
about the ancillary items like traffic,
food and the latest type of gripe each
suffer regardless of nationality.
As the evening grew longer and the
crowd thinner, we hit on subjects of the
heart. A child’s illness, lack of sleep
and aging (being at a birthday party,
I guess that is natural). Attending
the party were mostly Brazilians, a
number of Europeans and the token
Gringos (my wife and me). As I
watched the party progress, I was
made aware of a cultural nuance. The
culture of hugs. I am an American
from the central part of the U.S. The
only guy I hugged were my fellow
football players after a big score. I
hardly remember hugging my dad.
We shake hands to this day. “Hi dad,
how are you?” Hand shake. “Fine
son, how about those Cowboys?” I
always mean to convey warmth with
a handshake, but am uncomfortable
with the emotional expression of a
firm hug.
Not our Brazilian friends. They are
huggers. Back to the party. I observed
five types of hugs/greetings during my
male bonding moment. They are:
1. “Glad to have you here, we are
friends” hug – This is the hug where
you shake hands with the right hand
and use the left hand to pat the guy on
the shoulder. A nice gesture, kind-of-a
semi-formal greeting. Comfortable for
the cold Europeans and Americans.
Actually, the Germans were calling
their comrades “Heir Doctor” and
were even more formal and stiff in the
handshake. Even less emotion than
my dad and me.
2. “I like you, we are good friends”
hug -- This is the greeting where
you place your right arm over the
guys shoulder and pat the guys
tummy while talking. I have to admit
the first time I received this warm
greeting I was hoping it only lasted
a few seconds. Now I am a regular
passer of the Tummy Pat greeting.
12 FORUM
Individual or Groups
This is also the greeting you receive
when someone invites to you to a
churrasco at his house for the tenth
COURSE WHERE
time. Another Brazilian way of Company
English
communicating friendship is to invite Spanish Home
you to a churrasco at the persons Portuguese University
home. It may happen and it may ANY TIME !
not. But the fact that an invitation is
extended means you are an ok guy www.englishintheoffice.com.br
and your Brazilian friend considers relationship@englishintheoffice.com.br
Phone: 011 – 50443859
spending a Sunday afternoon with
you.
3. “Kissing a woman other than
your wife” – Whether an introduction
or encountering a friend, a male-to-
female greeting is a gentle kiss on one
or both cheeks. The problem starts
when you return to the U.S. and you
are so used to this greeting that you
bend forward to kiss when you see
a female friend. Not a good idea to
continue this cultural greeting when
in the U.S. or in the office.
4. “Woman friend greeting a female
friend” – Kiss the air, do not kiss the
face. It might mess-up the make-up.
5. “I like you so much I will give
you a bear-hug” hug – This is the
greeting you receive when you are
a great friend and the wine has been
flowing. When we were leaving the
above mentioned birthday party, I was
on the receiving end of a great big bear
hug. We hugged, patted each others’
backs and then rocked back and forth
for a special effect. I was ok with
that. Then we told each other what
good friends were are and wished
each other health and life for many
years to come. The heebee geebees
only started to flow when I was close
enough to smell his breath. I wanted
to exclaim, as in the old Budweiser
commercial “I love you, man!”
The Brazilians are wonderful
and expressive. Whether emotions
are flying over a traffic incident, a
disagreement or appreciating true
friendship, they let it all hang out. We
can learn a few lessons from them.
This column has been reprinted
from a previous Forum issue.
February

Bullying in the new millennium
By Mike Whipple, vice-consul, American Citizen Services, U.S. Consulate in Sao Paulo
Whether a child lives in a small town
in Iowa or a megalopolis like São
Paulo, chances are he will eventually
have to deal with a bully. While bullies
have always existed, the advent of
our new connected world has given
rise to a new breed of bully. Unlike
a traditional bully, a “cyberbully”
employs technology to cause harm.
Cyberbullying is bullying through
the use of technology. Cyberbullying
can be much more destructive than
traditional bullying because there is
no escape for the victim. In the past,
if there were a fight on the playground,
after the fight, the kids would go
home and that would be the end of it.
Home used to be a child’s sanctuary
from bullies. Now, the fight is likely
to show up on YouTube for the rest
of the world to see. Cyberbullies are
not limited to harassing their victims
in person. They can send annoying
or threatening emails, texts or instant
messages (IMs). A cyberbully can also
invade a victim’s social networking
site and post derogatory comments
or embarrassing pictures. From a
victim’s perspective, it can seem like
the cyberbully is everywhere.
Some parents who are not very tech-
savvy might feel helpless assisting a
child dealing with a cyberbully. It’s
easy for a parent to get overwhelmed
with today’s technology. It may be
easier to keep in mind that what kids
do hasn’t changed, only how they do
it has. Children used to pass notes
in class, now they text. Teens used
to buy records and CDs, now they
simply download their music. Many
kids used to write in journals or
diaries, now they blog. Kids are doing
pretty much the same thing, just with
different methods. Cyberbullies are
no different. A cyberbully is simply
a bully using technology to harm his
victim instead of force.
Cyberbullies employ multiple
techniques in order to bully their
chosen victims. Some bullies will post
embarrassing pictures without consent.
More troubling is when a cyberbully
2010
The American Society
of São Paulo
steals a password to assume another’s involved in the child’s life. It’s ok to
identity. Cyberbullies also often be nosy, ask questions, find out what
inundate their victims with threatening they’re doing and stay engaged.
or harassing emails, IMs or texts. The information in this article
The National Center for Missing was adapted from a presentation
and Exploited Children (NCMEC) created by The National Center for
recommends that if parents are Missing and Exploited Children. This
concerned that their child may be a organization has some wonderful
victim of this type of bullying, they resources available for parents, young
should look for the following signs. If children, tweens and teens. For
a child goes from using his computer more information, check out its Web
and cell phone constantly to not using sites atwww.netsmartz.org and www.
them at all, it could be a sign that he missingkids.com.
is afraid to use them. Acting nervous
when receiving emails, IMs or texts
is also an indicator. Also, seeming
to be uneasy about going to school
Don’t forget
and withdrawing from family and
friends could be symptoms of a bigger
problem.
BOTH
NCMEC suggests several steps to
take to deal with this problem. First, Valentine’s
if the child is in imminent danger,
contact the authorities (police, school)
immediately. If the threat does not
days this year
warrant that type of action, parents
should instruct their child not to While most of the world, including the
respond to incoming messages from U.S., celebrates Valentine’s Day on Feb.
the bully. However, save all messages 14, the holiday’s equivalent in Brazil
in case they are required at a future won’t show up on your calendar until
date. Most social sites allow a user to June 12.
block or ban certain individuals from “Dia dos Namorados” is, to put it
making contact. This option should lightly, a big deal in Brazil on June 12,
be employed. These sites often have with the exchange of candies, flowers
privacy filters that should be utilized as and gifts between couples a standard
well. It also might be prudent to create tradition. Hotels and restaurants fill their
a new account. Finally, the parent and reservation books months in advance.
child should report the cyberbullying Just a friendly tip from your AmSoc
to school officials. Forum staff, it may be beneficial to do
NCMEC also offers advice to something special on both dates.
families to help minimize the escalation
of this type of bullying. It suggests
establishing clear rules for internet
usage. These rules can include which
sites the children are permitted to
frequent, to whom they may “talk” and
how much time they may spend online.
It is also advised to keep the computer
in a common room. Parents also
need to remind their children of the
importance of keeping their passwords
secure. And, by far, the most important
action a parent can undertake is to be
FORUM 13

H ousing
Furnished Apartment for Rent
Vila Nova Conceição. São Paulo’s best
place to live. Near Ibirapuera Park.
Modern building with sports facilities,
heated swimming pool, three bedrooms
(one suite), a living room with terrace,
complete kitchen, maid’s bedroom and
bathroom, big service area, two parking
spaces. Fully furnished with all appliances.
Telephone included. Call Alex or Eliane at
(11) 3849-7085 or (11) 8635-7788, or send
an e-mail to alex@caboverde.com.br.
Ubatuba Beach Rental
AmSoc member rents charming bungalow
or luxurious villa in high-security gated
community. Large sweeping yard,
incredible ocean view, complete privacy.
Available weekends or weekly. www.
ubatubaescape.com.
S ervices
American-Licensed
Clinical Psychologist
Heloisa Garman, Psy.D. U.S. Licensed
Clinical Psychologist (covered by
U.S. health insurance). Bilingual, with
extensive private practice in Chicago
and former therapist at the Family
Institute at Northwestern University.
Treats individuals, couples, and families.
Specialized in anxiety, depression, cultural
issues, and adjustment disorders. Call Dr.
Garman at (11) 7179-9723 or 3898-2330
or send an e-mail to hcbgarman@aol.
com.
American-Licensed Expat
Psychologist
Richard Morhaime, Psy.D. offers
skilled psychotherapy for children
and adults. He also provides complete
diagnostic evaluations in English for
children with academic or behavioral
difficulties, featuring individualized
recommendations for school and home.
For more information, contact Dr.
Morhaime at 5538-0099 or 9669-8057
or visit www.expatpsychologist.com.
14 FORUM
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 or longer term therapy
offered depending on your needs, goals
and expectations. Services: individual,
couples, child/adolescent. Certified
to conduct Adoption Home Study for
American Citizens. Contact: Pamela Wax,
MSW/LCSW at 5051-5988 or 9656-2106.
Located in Moema.
American Psychologist
Services for Expats
Sukie Miller Ph.D. early director of Esalen,
former Board Member Jung Institute San
Francisco, 35 years experience private
practice as coach, psycho-therapist with
adults and couples in eclectic approach to
personal/professional growth, woman’s’
issues, adjustment São Paulo, goal setting,
dream work, anxiety. Call Dr. Miller at 11-
9823-8730. email sukiemiller@gmail.com.
Argos Dog Kennel
Traveling? What about your dog? Argos
Kennel Hotel 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 freedom of a spacious garden. Fetch
and carry service. English and French
spoken. Call Jean or Christine at (11)
4661-1430 or (11) 9687-1815 or send an
e-mail to jean.chris@uol.com.br. Embu
Guaçu, São Paulo.
Domestic Help
American Society family relocating
to USA. Want position for Lindaura
Aparaecido Neto 7406-0334, wonderful
cook, laundress and household cleaner, of
7 years. Excels at all 3 services. Her hours
are 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
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 are
also welcome (all subjects). Call Fernando
Knijnik at (11) 2533-3965 or 9134-6700.
Personal Trainer
I will come to your home, office, or work-
out facility and create an exercise/fitness
program tailored to your health concerns,
fitness goals, and schedule. For adults and
children, individuals or groups. Sessions
in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. For
more information please contact Daniela
Franco at (11) 9739-6191 or dsf29@hot-
mail.com
Psychotherapist for Ex-Pats
Serving Adults, Children, and Families
(also couples) struggling with all adjust-
ment issues. Specializing in issues of
divorce, separation, and reconciliation.
Many years experience with drug/ alcohol
issues. USA-licensed as MFT. Jungian An-
alyst experienced in Sandtray, Dreamwork
(groups also), and Cognitive/ Behavioral
therapy. Please call/ email Matthew: 7734
5793 or mvanlokeren@yahoo.com for a
free initial consultation.
Selling Up
Go with a pro! We have been selling
household goods for families, individu-
als, and companies for 17 years in São
Paulo and nine in Brasilia for embassies.
We have hundreds of pre-selected clients
wanting to buy from you, safe and sound!
Send an e-mail to meredithsales@zaquie.
com or zaquie@zaquie.com or call (11)
5908-1144 or (61) 9211-1819. Ask for Ms.
Zaquie Meredith.
Taylor Real Estate
Luxury spacious houses, apartments and
penthouses Sales and rentals. Ten years
experience with expatriates. Furnished
and unfurnished. Trilingual Real Estate
agents. References from consulates and
multinationals. Photos sent by email. Re-
location Service. Consult the site: www.
taylorimoveis.com. E Mail - taylor@tay-
lorimoveis.com Phone: 5511 3079 8888
and 5511 8774 5100 (Maria Elisa)
February
 The American Society
CALENDAR of São Paulo

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

February 2010 IMPORTANT DATES: 13-16 Carnival / 14 Valentine’s Day (in USA) / 17 Ash Wednesday

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

AmSoc Little League Check out our Web site for more information:
6 Saturday
Sign-Up & Churrasco www.amsoc.com.br

Burns Supper at the

6 Saturday For more information visit www.standrews.com.br
Clube Nacional

Visit www.amsoc.com.br to learn more, or call the office at

6 Saturday Abacaxi Bowl
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

Vancouver 2010 Olympic

12 Friday For more information visit www.vancouver2010.com
Games start

Check out the story in this Forum. For more information

13-16 Sat - Tue Carnival
about Brazilian Carnival visit www.justbrazil.org

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

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

28 Sunday
Church sampacommunity.com

At Morumbi Stadium. Visit www.ticketmaster.com.br for

2 March Coldplay in concert
availability.

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

A classified of up to 50 words costs R$40 for AmSoc members

Classified
Place a

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

5182-2074 from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., or send an e-mail to
amsoc1@americansociety.com.br.

Forum does not check all of the advertisers appearing in this

Our Readers
A Note to

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

thoroughly check prices and services prior to finalizing any
service or purchase agreement.

2010 FORUM 15
Alleyways, underpasses hide
gorgeous art worth your time
I love this city. I love
it so much I’ve even
done presentations
on why I love it. But
every time I think no
one loves São Paulo
like I do, I meet
someone even more
passionate about it.
While showing
By Sue Banman Sileci, some friends the
AmSoc member
Gaudi House in
Paraisópolis two weeks ago, I met Flavia
Liz Di Paolo, a full-time professional tour
guide and fanatic about this city. Within
minutes of meeting each other, Flavia was
figuring out what my interests were and
suggesting places to visit. I’d never been to
any of them and, sadly, never even heard of
a few of them.
And so, in honor of São Paulo’s 456th
birthday in January, I treated myself to
one of Flavia’s personalized tours. It was
hard to decide what to spend an afternoon
doing. She knew so much about this
place. A general city tour? The history of
my neighborhood? Architecture? A tour
for children? Famous designers? Bird
watching? Exclusive jewelry?
In the end, we decided to spend a few
hours investigating São Paulo’s street art
culture. Why not? I occasionally make
clunky bracelets using my own beads and
run-over bolts and screws I’ve picked up
while walking the dogs. Paulistano street
artists like Os Gemeos are making it big
around the world, painting castles and
showing their work in New York galleries.
Fellowship Community Church
The Welcome Place since 1921
Phone (11) 3253-7609
Sunday’s
Conveniently located on Rua Carlos Sampaio, 107 – Bela Vista
Just a block and a half from the Brigadeiro Metro station on the Avenida Paulista
Till Feb. 5, MASP is having an exhibit of
street art and, of course, many parts of town
are covered in graffiti.
To be clear, this isn’t pichação. You know
the spray-painted lettering and symbols
that covers this city? That’s pichação. By
“graffiti”, Brazilians mean the bits and
pieces of art we all see in random corners of
the city – stenciled women, wildly distorted
animals and swirly flowers on corners,
telephone poles and doors. We went to see
graffiti.
Flavia’s tour, which included door-to-
door service in her car, started as soon as we
left my garage. She pointed out every major
or minor landmark along the way to our first
appointment, with savory bits of history and
trivia. With so much information, I tried to
take notes but gave up, hoping to remember
a fraction of it.
Our first stop was in Perdizes, at the
home of Jaime Prades, one of São Paulo’s
original street artists. Early in the 1980s,
Prades and other artists were among the
first to transform Vila Madelena’s gray walls
into street museums, risking jail, police
harassment and other unpleasantness to
express themselves. Now nearly 50, with
teenage daughters, a home with a swimming
pool and a cluttered atelier, Prades is more
formally employed, having created a cast
of exuberant characters called the Absurdos
for the Playland amusement parks. He still
paints here and there in his neighborhood,
but, besides the Absurdos, Prades’ main
artistic focus right now is artificial trees
made from recycled furniture and bits of
lumber. He’ll soon install a forest of them
www.fellowship.com.br
09:00 am - Walking in Faith Classes (English and Portuguese)
10:30 am – Worship Service (English only)
06:00 pm – Culto em português
at the SESC Itaquera. Why? “I can’t do
anything else,” he said.
Flavia then drove me to Vila Madelena
where we met one of the directors of
the Cidade Escola Aprendiz, an after-
school program for more than 1,000
children focusing on art, culture, education,
communication, technology and community
action. Escola Aprendiz takes care of a
strange little alley between Rua Padre João
Gonçalves and Rua Belmiro Braga. This
alley features section upon section of art,
owned by no one and everyone at the same
time. Street artists choose a spot and paint
their murals. This, along with the Beco de
Batman (Batman’s Alley) on Rua Gonçalo
Afonso and Rua Harmonia features some of
the best example of São Paulo’s graffiti –
painted, sprayed and air brushed, layer upon
layer, changing every six months or so.
On a subsequent trip to Batman’s Alley,
I met a young artist, Tche, who was in the
process of repainting one his walls. It was a
Sunday afternoon and, like most artists, he
has a day job. Tche works with road signs.
When I asked if this was how he normally
spent his weekends, he responded, “Yeah,
what else can I do? Look at this empty
wall.”
Hot and tired, Flavia and I had a glass of
juice at a local bar before moving on to our
last stop, Choque Cultural, an art gallery in
Vila Madalena that showcases underground
artists not (yet) known to the general public.
If you’re interested in taking home a piece
of São Paulo’s weird and wild, Choque
Cultural offers a chance to do it.
I felt a little embarrassed for not already
knowing what Flavia taught me that
afternoon. But then, she has a degree in the
history of São Paulo, for heaven’s sake, has
lived here all her life and shows this city
to the likes of the governor of Minnesota,
Austrian TV stations covering the Pope’s
visit and Poland’s Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
And any of us. Flavia speaks six languages
and charges R$100 an hour for a four-hour
tour. Split that with three friends that can fit
in her car with you and there’s a whole lot
of São Paulo for your buck. I plan to call her
again. After all, I do love this city.
Contact Flavia Liz Di Paolo
Tel: 8119-3903 / 3032-2692
flavializ@uniqueinsp.com
www.uniqueinsp.com