This week’s special guest was our Rotary Exchange Student, Pedro, who is enjoying living with President Chris and his family and engaging in the many family activities.
Pedro is from Sao Paulo, Brazil and is excited about his role as an ambassador for his country and his Rotary Club.
Brazil is the 5th largest country with 201M people. The language of Brazil is Portuguese while in the rest of South America it is Spanish. At one time, Spain and Portugal dominated the world, so South America was divided between the two countries, thus causing the continent to have two languages. Outside of Portugal, there are a handful of places in the world that speak Portuguese other than Brazil.
Pedro gave a number of facts about Brazil:
- Brazil has the largest national coastline on the Atlantic Ocean
- Rio De Janeiro had the first Rotary Club in Brazil
- The national drink is Guarana which is from a fruit that only grows in the Rain Forest
- The national alcoholic drink is Caipirinha
- The national dance is the Samba and Bosa Nova
- Brazil has won the soccer World Cup five times
- Art, both religious and modern, is appreciated
- Most of the Amazon Rain Forest is in Brazil
In 1960, Brazilia became the capital of Brazil. It is a city planned for its purpose. There is a beautiful cathedral and National Museum here and a man-made lake surrounding the city. The National Congress building is very modern.
Pedro spoke about the Brazilian Carnival. There is no school on that day, with dancing in the streets and parades.
Pedro is a member of the Interact Club in his home Rotary in Sao Paulo. He enjoys doing projects with the Rotarians there and was inspired when he met Rotary Exchange Students, wanting to become one himself.
Pedro talked about Sao Paulo:
- The biggest city in South America and the Southern Hemisphere
- Crowded with 12 M people
- It has museums about the national language, about the dictatorship, art, and a historic museum where the king and queen once lived
- It also has a cathedral, soccer stadium and the largest Japanese colony in the world
Pedro studied English since he was six years old, although he had not spoken it until he came as an Exchange Student.
President Chris presented Pedro with our Rotary flag.
