Strike and a Toucan

I am an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) at the Federal University of Tocantins (my state). The 31 students in my group are all teaching at Federal Universities and the Federal Universities of Brazil have gone on STRIKE. Yep, Strike. If you remember from an earlier post, our first workshop was moved because it was scheduled for April 27^th, the day of the paralisação.  That day there was a freeze on teaching as a warning to the Brazilian government that they would strike if their demands weren’t met. They weren’t and as of May 17^th, one by one the universities began to stop.  At first this didn’t really affect everyone all that much. Classes were still being taught, students were still coming to campus, but as time goes on UFT has begun to look like a ghost town.

So what are we doing since we’re not teaching classes. Well, I’ve spent a lot of time working on our program blog. If you wana check it out, here’s the link : http://etauft.blogspot.com.br/ If you’re reading from the states, I’m pretty sure it works with or without the “.br” Starting today, every Wednesday I’ll be making a blog post about American holidays, traditions, and adding assignments that the students can do and I can correct. I’m also trying to meet with the students in random locations throughout the city to practice in an informal conversational setting. My first attempt was a fail. I said I’d be somewhere at 21:00 or 9 p.m. I waited till 9:45 cuz I know South Americans have a tendency to be late. At about 10:15 I was informed that students were waiting for me. Le sigh. So, next week I’m going to try these English Round Tables twice, take a book with me,lol, and let you know how they go.

We’ve visited a couple of our students’ estagios.  That just means their student teaching internships. There’s this literary fair going on this weekend: music, poetry, workshops. Michol and I have helped plan a 4 hour seminar tomorrow and will be presenting there. Our guitar teacher is playing tomorrow night as well.  Also, Michol and I are going to an American Camp this weekend. This school here called CNA is hosting it. Michol and I attended an Aloha Party they had last month so next week’s post will have pictures from both of those events!

In addition to working, cleaning, working out, getting stuff re-fixed,lol, I’ve also had the chance to travel a little. The pictures below are from our trip to Uberlandia. There was a Portuguese language congress in Uberlandia complete with a free luxury bus ride. Obviously, Michol and I went,lol. The picture below is the bus but I posted it because everyday we were there is was someone's birthday!

We stayed with the lovelies Maria and Olivia. They are ETAs at UFU (Federal University of Uberlandia) I didn't really get to know them that well at our conference in Sao Paulo this February so it was GREAT getting to know them. They are the sweetest and I can't wait to see them and the other ETAs in August.

 Part of their job there is to attend English classes for the elderly. It was so cute! The classes are offered as part of the university. They're free although you can only participate for a year I think. Either way I had a great time and the lady in the very middle of the picture was cool. She's 80 something and has a great grandson in the states but he doesn't speak Portuguese. That part made me sad but she's well traveled. They were doing an exercise about NYC and where they'd like to visit and she was like "I've been to all these places,lol, and asked me and I'm like yeah... I've never been to New York,lol)

Then it happened. When I least expected it. I was at the university attending a class Maria and Olivia help teach when I heard this really large noise in the tree. Olivia's like... It's a toucan. Seriously? Yep. I know I need some culture cuz I definitely thought, "He doesn't really look like the one on the box,lol" But I was SO excited.

So now you understand why I started my post with the strike

(they want better working conditions, higher salaries, and restructuring)

Lastly, a photo from a restaurant/bar with some students. We stayed there for hours and not one song of sertanejo (the pop country on 24/7 in Araguaina). It was nice to change the station for a while.

So there you have it. I'm gonna try to be better about putting events and such up here, but if you're ever curious you know how to reach me. Till next time