Forum

Monthly Newsletter
May 2009
www.amsoc.com.br

In This Issue AmSoc members, businesses

Answers aplenty
at new Web site for
donate their time, energy By Kim Beecheno,
staff writer

foreigners
In a country like Brazil where the disparity Mckenzie, who recently began tutoring
Page 5: New Web site AngloInfo São of wealth is one of the highest in the world a young girl at Lar Tia Edna, a home for
Paulo offers factual, researched, hard-to-
find answers to common questions for and charitable and non-governmental foster children founded by an American
newcomers to SP, like ‘What does it take organizations often receive little help, missionary more than 30 years ago.
to open a darn bank account here?’ volunteering, teaching and giving your “I enjoy it immensely, it’s so rewarding
time to help others can be even more re- to help someone advance themselves. Pay
R$68,000 already in warding than donating money – for both it forward, I say.”
the bank the volunteer and the person in need. AmSoc donates money and helps coor-
“Everyone should volunteer at home or dinate volunteer programs at 10 different
Page 7: The AmSoc Corporate
abroad,” said AmSoc member Elisabeth local charities like Lar (Continued on page 8)
Donations Drive is off to a promising
start. Read here what the fundraising
goal is for 2009, and how your
company can help AmSoc succeed.

Ex-pat women
support one another
Page 13: A local psychologist has helped
launch São Paulo’s first ‘Girl Friends
Group,’ a popular free-form meeting
concept in the U.S. that is allowing
local women to share the joys and
difficulties of living abroad.

What drives
Brazilians’
materialistic tastes?
Page 16: Columnist Sue Banman
Sileci ponders why Brazilian-made
goods tend to draw more interest from
foreigners than Brazilian shoppers
themselves.
Teenage girls enjoy a group dance class at Grupo Primavera, a non-profit children’s center in Campinas.

Members wanted to participate at AGM on May 12

The AmSoc Annual General Meeting will
take place on May 12t from 8-10 p.m. at
the Consul General’s House, a perfect op-
portunity to meet many of the Consulate
staff and the Consul General as well as
old and new friends.
It will take the form of a cocktail party
where the Executive Committee and
Board of Governors will be elected for the
coming year. There will be a presentation
of the activities of the Society’s various
committees, and wine and hors d’oeuvres
will be served after the meeting.
Spaces are limited, but all members are
encouraged to attend to support AmSoc.
The event is free to attend, but members
are asked to please RSVP to the invita-
tion letters which have been sent out to all
members by calling the office at 5182-2074.
Identification in the form of a passport or
RNE card will be checked at the door.

Outgoing President’s
Letter
May is a nostal-
gic month for me.
This is the month
that I will turn
over the office of
AmSoc presiden-
cy at the Annual
By Marlene Chumo General Meeting.
Rubeiz, AmSoc president According to our
bylaws, officers
may be elected and re-elected once,
completing a two-year term maxi-
mum. They may not serve in the
same position for more than two
years. Governors are also elected for
two-year terms and can be re-elected
without any limit. Each year, half of
the Board comes up for re-election.
I am extremely pleased to present
for election to the presidency Tim
Scott. He has served on the Board
for nearly two years and has done
an exemplary job organizing our
Little League Sports program for
children. He is an executive of
Caterpillar, father of Graded School
children ,and husband to Lydia, a
supporter and active member of the
community. They have close ties to
the ex-pat community and are known
as a happy dedicated family. His
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
chosen vice president, Joe Sherman,
is a long-time active member of
AmSoc. Jacques Vaney will continue
as treasurer and Mark Abrams will
take on the job of Secretary.
The two years as president of
AmSoc will remain in my heart
as very special years. I thoroughly
enjoyed my work. I must mention
the support and untiring patience of
my husband, Ricardo, who was and
is always there for me. Being guided
by Celina Sampaio, our AmSoc
manager, guaranteed that nothing
was forgotten. My vice president,
Mark Abrams, was really my co-
president and must be singled out for
his dedication to AmSoc. Working
together with him and the whole
Board, as well as our membership
in general was a tremendously
gratifying experience.
I hope that the increased attendance
at activities, increased membership
and inclusion of new activities are
signs that AmSoc members were
satisfied with our work.
I thank you all for your support of
this great organization, and please
know that I will always be ready to
help whenever called upon.
Bob Moser, editor
Kim Beecheno, staff writer
Rita Ferreira, layout
Thais Adorno, editorial assistant
Forum is printed by Tom Artes.
(www.tomartes.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: Zack Henry
Origin, time here:
Brooklyn, NYC, now
in São Paulo for one
year
Profession: I own a
boutique investment
advisory shop. I play
the midfield between Brazilian companies
looking for capital and foreign investors
looking to place capital.
Why São Paulo?: My wife is from Rio, so
we came to Brazil. … But essentially one
of the key angles of my job is networking,
and this (SP) is the place to be. A number
of my friends in Rio have been obligated
to move to São Paulo to work. Businesses
have migrated to São Paulo, it has become
the banking capital, financial capital.
Best thing so far: I came down here for
about once a quarter for about six years, so
I’m not exactly new here. The neighbor-
hood where we live, Vila Nova Conceição,
it’s nice discovering there is kind of an
island of serenity in the concrete jungle
that is São Paulo.
Early frustrations: Just learning to play
by a different set of rules, which means
basically there are no rules, or nobody will
enforce the rules. I’ve lived in a number
of different countries, and you know, in
most of those I kind of felt like I fit in
with the U.S. mentality and background,
but here I feel like it’s more of a free-for-
all. There’s a lack of order here, there are
rules but they are clouded, because the
enforcement is weak.
Have saudade for anything back
home?: Just my friends and family,
because they’re not here, and I can find
most other things I have back here in São
Paulo, but not them.
Progress with Portuguese: I’ve spo-
ken fluently for some time, though I’ve
tweaked it and gained a higher degree of
fluency.
Favorite place to hang out: Just the
neighborhood boteco, an informal restau-
rant/bar. It’s a laid back, fun-loving envi-
ronment, generally good mix of people.
Recommend a newly-relocated ex-pat for
this column by e-mailing forum@amsoc.
com.br
May
 The American Society
of São Paulo

Renew now, get 16 months for price of 12

By Richard Wegman, AmSoc board member

With the membership contest having Name membership type citizenship company or profession
ended in February, AmSoc members and Robert SCHATZMAN Family Patron American Ernst&Young
newcomers to the organization will be
encouraged over the coming months to Denis DE CASTRO Family Brazilian University of Vermont
take advantage of this latest offer to save Pete LAWLIS Family Irish/Finnish General Motors
on membership fees. Ian COKE Family English
The AmSoc calendar year officially Lisa Ann ALFARO Family American
starts in August, which is the deadline
Matthew Scott FILER Family American Caterpillar - MGE
for renewing a membership. Tradition-
ally the push for renewal has come in Marcos ZAGURY Family Brazilian Private Law Office
May or June, before the heavy vacation Diego GONZALEZ Family American Marsh Inc.
month of July. Oswaldo Guerra SCHMIDT Family Brazilian Estrutura Investimentos
But this year, members and newcomers Jose E. FUXA Family Patron American Eli Lilly do Brasil Ltda
who pay their membership fees now will
Richard POLLARD Family British
be covered through August 2010. That
means a possible 16 months for the price Jennifer TRAN Family Brazilian Nokia Siemens
Networks
of 12 (if you renew now in April).
Call the AmSoc office at 5182-2074 Tatiana MARTINEZ Family American Cisco
to learn more. Carlos H CHRISTENSEN Family Argentinean
To the right you will find a list of our Charles Gully Frewen Family Brazilian/British Wood 4 Life Part. Ltda.
newest AmSoc members. Please go out WEBSTER
of your way to make them feel welcome Rodrigo RIVERA Family Brazilian/Ameri- Calyon Bank -
at upcoming events. can Newedge USA
Zach HENRY Family American Carcará Partners
Gian Battista SERRA Single Italian
Caroleana Obrien MATTOS Family American Mercedes Emilio Ltd.
Chris CORCORAN Helping Hands American Boyden Global
Executive Search
Mathew SVETICH Single American KPMG
Juan O. A. ADORNO Family Brazilian Clinica Neurologica e
Neurocirurgica
Mary Ann B. DURHAM Single Patron American U.S. Consulate
Douglas Campbell SMITH Family Patron American Microsoft
AmSoc held a very successful Cocktail Party for
corporate donors, and AmSoc helping hands and Marcio BERG Single Brazilian English in the Office
patron-level members, on April 2 . Of the many
members and donors in attendance, pictured at Wilfried DAAS Single Dutch
the party from left to right are: Lynne Couri, Carlos Adriana Rillo MONTINI Family Brazilian Avon Cosmetics
Alonso, Veraci Street, Eric Street and Simone Kliass.
Matthew David SMITH Family British Schering-Plough
Muriel ASSERAF Single French IFESP
William James MCCROSSEN Single American Next Level Training &
Communication
Guilherme MEYER Single Patron Brazilian Dresdner Bank
Representação
David BOWLER Single Patron American IGC Partners
Jonathan EELES Family British Inglesa Comunicação e
Marketing São Paulo
Armando ALMEIDA Jr. Helping Hands Brazilian
Cristina COIMBRA Single Brazilian
Andrea RODRIGUES Single Brazilian Consultório
Cindy BARRETT Family Patron American

2009 Forum 3

How can I bring my domestic
employee to the U.S.?
Often Americans living abroad would
like to take their domestic employee with
them to the United States, either to live
with them permanently or while they are
on vacation. In some special cases it is
possible to bring a domestic employee to
the U.S.. However, not everyone living
abroad can bring a domestic employee to
the United States.
Who can bring a domestic
employee to the United
States?
American citizens returning to the United
States for a temporary assignment are
permitted to bring a domestic employee
for the period they will be in the United
States. However, they will need to prove
that their work assignment in the U.S. is
temporary in nature and that after it has
been fulfilled, they will return to work
abroad. Their sponsoring company will
need to verify this information.
American citizens who would like to
bring a domestic employee to the United
States for vacation need to show that they
live abroad and will return after their brief
trip to the U.S..
Non-immigrant visa holders may
bring domestic employees to the United
States on vacation or to live with them
while stationed in the U.S. Student and
work visa holders (i.e. F, H, J, L and O
visa holders) can bring domestic employ-
ees with them to the United States for the
duration of their status there.
Lawful Permanent Residents (“Green
Card Holders”) of the United States can-
not bring domestic employees with them
to the U.S.
What do you need to do to
get a visa for your domestic
employee?
You will need to make an appointment at
www.visto-eua.com for your employee’s
visa. We request that applicants make
4 Forum
counsel by consul
By Josiah Pierce, vice consul, American Citizen
Services, U.S. Consulate General
their appointments three months prior to prevailing minimum wage please visit
their expected date of travel. http://www.flcdatacenter.com/.
On the day of the appointment, ap-
plicants should arrive on time for
their interview. The employer will
need to be present at their employee’s
visa interview and will need to bring
either their U.S. passport (in the case
of U.S. citizens) or Brazilian passport
with a valid U.S. visa (in the case of
nonimmigrant visa holders). At the
interview, the applicant will need
to provide a contract between the
household employee and the employer
stating that while in the United States,
the employer will pay the employee at
least the prevailing minimum wage for
the state they will be visiting. Contract
forms are available at the consulate.
During the interview, the domestic
employee will need to show that they
have worked for the employer for at
least one year or that the employer has
employed domestic employees for at
least one year, and the employee has at
least one year of experience working
as a domestic employee.
If the visa is approved, the applicant
will receive a B1 “business” visa and
need to pay a $60 reciprocity fee for
issuance of the visa. The passport with
visa will be sent by Sedex a few days
later. It is most likely that a first time
visa recipient will get a visa that is
valid for one year.
What do you need to do in
the United States?
While you are in the United States, the
employer and domestic employee will
be under the obligation to obey all U.S.
laws, including U.S. labor laws. This
means that employers will need to pay
employees at least the prevailing mini-
mum wage in the state they are visiting
(Employers may deduct reasonable
costs of food and lodging from these
payments). For more information on
May

New Web site answers tough
questions, offers community for
estrangeiros
Americans and other English-speaking
citizens of São Paulo now have another
information Web site aimed at providing
answers to some of the toughest
questions about living here.
“Angloinfo is everything about
São Paulo – in English,” said Jon
Eels, AmSoc member and Brazilian
franchisee of the site, which has been set
up in many countries around the world.
“No one has ever properly understood
Brazil. It can be so complicated and
frustrating no one has ever really tried
to, but this website does it for you.”
Bold words perhaps, but Eels has a
right to be proud. “There are 250 pages of
information on everything from buying
a house, getting a driver’s license,
having a baby in Brazil, finding an
English-speaking plumber or insurance
broker and answering questions as
simple as ‘Will my hairdryer work when
I get there,’” he said.
Getting all of this information together
wasn’t easy. Eels had been advised the
Web site would take two to three months
to set up, based on other Angloinfo sites
around the world. But he hadn’t counted
on Brazilian bureaucracy. It took six
months.
“I discovered that Brazilian legislation
is not designed to be easily found or
pieced together,” he said. “There’s
no one place to look for things,
the information is all over the
place.”
Eels formerly lived in the
south of France, where Angloinfo
Individual or Groups
originally started, and upon his
arrival in Brazil, saw a market for
the information site.
“I initially thought about setting
it up in Bahia, where my wife is
from, but I soon realized there
aren’t enough ex-pats living in
Salvador to make it worthwhile,”
he said. “I came down to São
Paulo and realized this was the
2009
The American Society
of São Paulo
Wine tasting
event this
By Kim Beecheno, staff writer
month
place to set it up.” AmSoc members are encouraged
The Web site is aimed at ex-pats to RSVP soon for the annual wine
living in São Paulo city and state or tasting event at the Grand Hyatt,
anyone moving to the area. on Tuesday, May 26, from 8-10
You can post notices for free, buy p.m.
or sell items and ask questions in a Participants will be able to
forum. There are comprehensive listings sample wines from several
of clubs and associations, support countries, and bottles will be
groups and a constantly updated What’s available for purchase at reduced
On guide listing all art exhibitions, prices. There will also be a buffet
children’s activities and social events. of cheese, cold cuts, and selected
To qualify for a mention on the site, finger foods.
companies must have business pages The Grand Hyatt’s renowned
in English. wine library, located at the front
“I really want ex-pats here to bond of the hotel’s restaurant complex,
with the site,” Eels said. “It’s a valuable houses a two-story wine wall
resource and people making decisions containing more than 2,500
can rely on the official content.” bottles from North and South
America and Europe.
While this Hyatt Wine Club
Learn more online event is open to the public,
AmSoc members will pay a
See AngloInfo São Paulo for yourself, discounted price and have an
at http://saopaulo.angloinfo.com/  English-speaking member of the
Other useful English-language Hyatt staff accompanying their
Web sites and blogs for Westerners group. Spaces are limited, so
in Brazil are: reserve your spot soon by calling
the AmSoc office at 5182-2074,
ü www.gringoes.com or e-mailing amsoc1@amsoc.
ü http://saopaulo.unlike.net com.br. Ticket prices are: R$
ü http://riogringa.typepad.com 45 (members), or R$ 65 (non-
ü http://blondieinbrazil.blogspot.com. members).
TRAIN AT THE BEST!
Improve David’s Tennis and Squash School
your
game. Lessons l One-on-one (all levels)
l Group lessons
l Junior’s for competition
WHERE l Mini-tennis for tinytots
Course
English Company Social Clinics - Parties with churrasco
Spanish Home
l
Tournaments
Play l
Portuguese University at l Fitness by Mario’s
ANY TIME ! David´s
www.englishintheoffice.com.br São Benedito, 2575 l Alto da Boa Vista
relationship@englishintheoffice.com.br Alves Pontual, 437 l Granja Julieta
Phone: 011 – 50443859 Phones: 5686-6848 / 5546-0226
Forum 5

First AmSoc charity softball
tourney a big success
More than 100 partic-
ipants gathered on
April 4 in Ibuina
at the Brazil-
ian Baseball
Federation’s
Sports Com-
plex for the first
AmSoc Charity
Baseball Day.
On a beautifully
sunny day in the countryside
of São Paulo, young players enjoyed
a day of baseball and BBQ, which
included seven teams of about 15
players each, and many family members
and their friends.
The day began with a Homerun
Derby in which 16 contestants entered,
followed by a baseball clinic for the
kids which taught them tips on batting
and bunting. The HR King was a huge
third baseman from powerful Japanese
Brazilian team Hamada, who hit several
softballs over the homerun fence.
The Bank of New York sponsored the
teams’ shirts for the softball tournament,
which was won by Hamada. The PACA
school and their bounty of athletes
nearly beat Hamada in the semifinal
round, when they dropped a pop-up
4th annual Challenge Cup pits AmSoc vs. Scots
Patriotic golfers are encouraged to come
out for the fourth annual Challenge Golf
Cup on May 22, pitting the defending
champion AmSoc players against the
Scottish St. Andrews Society.
The Challenge Cup stems from a past
tradition between the two societies called
the Munro Cop, which started in 1991 as
an annual sporting event that included
golf, tennis, soccer, tug-o-war, bridge,
volleyball and Trivial Pursuit. The goal
is to foster friendship between the two
societies.
6 Forum
Sports
Little League
By John Kennedy,
wraps up on
AmSoc board member
down the first baseline, which allowed
the Hamada team to rally and win in May 23
extra innings and go to the finals.
The event generated R$ 2,900 for
On May 23, AmSoc Little League
AmSoc charites, and it will be equaled
will have its “end of the season”
by matching funds to total R$5,800 for
churrasco.
charitable donations.
All Little League families are in-
Individual Results vited to join in for traditional Brazil-
Homerun King Marcelo ian barbecue. On that day there will
be sports activities, but with shorter
Runner-up Kevin Wilson
sessions.
Team Results At 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m., we
First place Hamada will have recognition ceremonies
Second place Cougars for the children. The churrasco will
begin at 11 a.m. and continue until
Third place PACA
12:30 p.m.
Fourth place AmSoc Volunteers are being sought for
Fifth place GM the session that will begin in August.
Sixth place U.S. Consulate Little League is always looking for
Seventh place Devils volunteers to help with the organiza-
tional committee (accounting, data
Place Team Results management, publicity, etc.), to be a
1 Hamada 4-0 league commissioner, or lend a hand
on the field by coaching (or assistant
2 Cougars 3-2
coaching) with your child’s team.
3 PACA 2-2 Contact the AmSoc office at
4 AmSoc 1-2 5182-2074, the League Commis-
5 GM 1-2 sioner or your child’s coach to get
6 U.S. Consulate 0-2 involved.
7 Devils 0-2
Over the years the Munro Cup became some best ball” format with match
increasingly difficult to organize, and play (lowest handicap score among
line up venues for all the games. But in foursomes), and a maximum handicap
2005, the friendly rivalry was renewed of 28. The afternoon winds down after
as the Challenge Golf Cup, and after 5 p.m. with cocktails and awards.
three years the Scots hold a 2-1 lead Registration is limited to the
over AmSoc. first 100 golfers, and is R$250 for
This year’s Challenge Cup will be participating society members,
held at the Terras de São Jose Golf Club R$300 for nonmembers, and R$50
in Itu, with all proceeds going to charities for non-participants to join in on the
sponsored by the Scots and AmSoc. The festivities.
day will start at 10 a.m. with registration Call the AmSoc office at 5182-2074
and warm-ups, be structured in a “two- to register or learn more.
May
 The American Society
of São Paulo

2009 Corporate Donation Drive
gains steam By Timothy Altaffer,
AmSoc board member
The 2009 Corporate Donations Drive is
off to a fast start, with close to R$ 68,000
earmarked funds are not considered in
our yearly goal.
already received or pledged. As such, and if we discount the ear-
Many thanks to the following com- marked funds of R$ 22,000, we stand at
panies: close to 38 percent of our R$ 125,000
goal for 2009. There is room for more!
Sapphire Donors As in the past, the 2009 Corporate
(R$10,000-$14,999) Donations Drive is critically important
ADM – Archer Daniels Midland to the purpose of the American Society.
Bloomberg These donations normally represent 55
Cabot Brasil percent or the Society’s revenues. They
Comexport help AmSoc foster the U.S. cultural and
philanthropic traditions, as well as maxi-
Ruby Donors mize the Society’s outreach programs,
(R$5,000-$9,999) supporting some of the city’s poorest
Cisa Trading neighborhoods and people.
Colgate-Palmolive
Gol Linhas Aéreas 2009 Goal, How to Help
This year, AmSoc aims to raise
Long-time Supporters at least R$ 125,000 (net of ear-
and Friends marked funds) through corporate
Grupo Lund donations, and over the last four
Mangels Industrial years it has distributed, directly
Opice Blum or indirectly, over R$1 million in
White & Case community assistance programs.
Companies interested in making
Some of these donations are in cash, a donation should call the AmSoc
some in kind and others are earmarked
office at 5182-2074.
for specific charities. While all dona-
tions are extremely welcomed, the
Prizes
auctioned at
St. Patty’s Day
party
AmSoc would like to thank the
following businesses that donated
items for auction at the St. Pat-
rick’s Day party, held in March at
Finnegan’s Pub. To learn how to do-
nate materials or services to future
AmSoc events, call 5182-2074.
n Ariau Amazon Tower (three-day,
two-night package, including meals
and tours)
n Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes
(roundtrip airfare to Manaus for
two)
n Porto Rubaiyat (complete lunch or
dinner for two, including wine)
n Grand Hyatt Hotel de São Paulo
(one-night stay in executive suite
with cocktails and breakfast)
n Kingston Technology (4-GB Pen
drive, upgrade kit, three memory
cards)
n João Carlos Martins and the Ba-
chiana Philharmonic Orchestra
(two VIP tickets to the May 9 concert
at Sala São Paulo)
n Paragrafo Editorial (book on the
life of pianist and conductor João
Carlos Martins, comes with CD of
the Bachiana Orchestra)

From left to right: AmSoc members Olivia and

Haroldo Fleischfresser and Ligia and Tim Scott
pause during the AmSoc St. Patrick’s Day Party,
which was held on March 19 at Finnegan’s Pub in
Pinheiros. Sixty members attended, bidding on
auction items and listening to a live performance of
classic American rock. (Photo by Wim Laureys)

2009 Forum 7
 AmSoc members, businesses donate their time, energy
(Continued from cover page) Tia Edna. “Anyone
can volunteer, and many women who
had careers in their own countries but
who are unable to work here have tre-
mendous skills to donate,” said Marlene
Rubeiz, president of AmSoc.
Some foreigners have gone one
step further. Jane Sieh, a Chinese-born
American citizen who has lived in Brazil
for more than 40 years, is the founder
of Grupo Primavera, an NGO on the
outskirts of Campinas, São Paulo, which
supports young girls from disadvantaged
backgrounds.
Through fun and games, writing and
math classes and learning skills such
as sewing and doll-making, these girls
are given an opportunity to empower
themselves and break out of the cycle
of poverty, drugs and prostitution which,
according to Sieh, many of them would
be heading for otherwise.
“We teach them to become respect-
able citizens, to participate as women
in society, as mothers and to transmit
value and education to future genera-
tions,” said Sieh, who first began the
group because she was concerned about
the physical, moral and social depriva-
tion she saw in the girl’s homes, and
difficulties women faced due to en-
demic “machismo” she says has since
improved a bit.
Girls from underprivileged neighborhoods in Campinas are fed regularly at the NGO Grupo Primavera.
8 Forum
“Like many ex-pats, I felt uncomfort-
able about my own children having such
a comfortable, privileged life while so
many other children around us didn’t,”
Sieh said.
Today, Grupo Primavera has flour-
ished from six girls to around 500, and
has helped thousands throughout its
20-plus years of existence.
“For the first 12 years we worked
Girls who attend Grupo Primavera in Campinas are
solely with volunteers, nurturing, caring also taught life-skills like sewing, and learn to make
and teaching. There were no overheads. arts and crafts to hone their newly-acquired skills.
As we grew bigger we had to docu-
ties with children, and help raise money
ment ourselves and now we have won a
directly for charities the company has
number of prizes – we were even voted
chosen to support through AmSoc.
one of the top 50 NGOs in Brazil,”
“We help out when the charities
said Sieh, adding that many of her girls
have events, sell tickets, raise money
have gone on to become professionals
for specific projects and give work
such as nurses, managers and university
presentations to encourage the kids to
professors.
think about their own future,” said Cabot
Sieh admits she never imagined her
spokeswoman Sandra Torres. “It’s really
volunteer effort would grow such legs.
gratifying to see their happiness.”
“The group just grew and grew. Once
 AmSoc member Gina Brooks, who
I had started it was hard to stop, even
is now moving back to the U.S. with
though I had four children at home to
her family, used to volunteer at Vila
look after. You are eternally responsible
Acalanto, a center that cares for new-
for those you captivate.”
borns to 5-year-old children who have
Companies like Cabot, a regular dona-
been abandoned or removed from their
tor and supporter of AmSoc charities for
families due to abuse and neglect.
many years, have also prompted employ-
“To really get to know Brazil you
ees to take on a more active approach.
must get to know the underprivileged,”
Cabot staff can go on volunteer days,
Brooks said. “Not everyone has a beach
take part in regular or part-time activi-
house and a helicopter. Living here I had
more free time than I do in the States
and I volunteered because I wanted to
give something back There is so much
poverty in Morumbi, it really made me
grateful for what I have.”
You can help
Grupo Primavera’s beautiful, trademark
“Brotinho” dolls make wonderful Mother’s
Day gifts this May. See dolls, embroidered
cards and personalized gifts you can order
online in English at www.gprimavera.org.
br, or call 19-3246-0021.
Call the AmSoc office at 5182-2074
to learn about how you can volunteer at
any one of 10 local charities or children’s
homes that AmSoc partners with.
May
 The American Society
of São Paulo

Thanks for those Three board members resign,

who made one newcomer
Easter party a Kimberly Anne Corcoran, an American
and accomplished artist who grew up
success in Latin America, was nominated
unanimously in April to join the
AmSoc Board of Governors.
By Felicia Allard Smith, AmSoc board member Corcoran sports a rich history of
volunteerism with local charities and
activities at Graded School. She most
AmSoc wants to thank those who helped recently gave her time to help out at
with the Easter party in April. We had an AmSoc cocktail party for corporate
about 100 children attend, and it was donors on April 2.
great fun with Easter egg coloring, cookie
decorating, flower pot painting, a mini
bunny zoo, egg hunt and visit from the
Easter Bunny.
Thanks go out to: Permanent Pet Profile
ü Chapel School
ü Galleria das Paes visa may ease
ü John Ciallelo
ü Cida Gregorio
ü Beth, James, Jessica and Rachel
flying hassles
Kascheres
ü Marlene and Ricardo Rubeiz Waiting eter-
ü Humbero and Sophia Izidoro, and nally in long
Maria Stiehm immigration
ü Aline Ricardo lines upon ar-
ü Susan Story rival in Bra-
ü Karri Ware zil could be
ü Amy Thomas a thing of the
ü Shannon and Peter Lawlis past for travel-
ü Erik, Sophia and Isabela Smith lers who have
permanent
status in the country.
Under the new Administrative
Former Board Member dies Ruling 2525 of Dec. 17, 2008, the
Department of Justice has ruled
that foreign nationals residing
Former AmSoc board member and American
in Brazil and registered under
Deborah Gentil died on April 13 in Florianopolis.
permanent status will be able to
She was 52 years old.
use the same immigration lines as
A board member from 1999-2001 when she
lived in São Paulo, Gentil was very involved in Brazilian nationals upon entering
the arts, serving at one time as a board member and leaving the country.
of the Museum of Modern Art, and worked on This change will not interfere in
the cultural committee at AmSoc. any way with immigration control,
During her time on both boards, AmSoc mem- and the means to accomplish this
bers were offered the chance to visit some private ruling will be decided on by the
art collections, had special entrance to museums Federal Police. Unfortunately, the
and interesting art galleries tours. She was also Federal Police are still unable to
involved in various charities in São Paulo.
confirm when this change will take
Recently, she had been working as an art place. Forum will stay on this issue
consultant and developing a book.
to inform AmSoc members as soon
Gentil was married to Eduardo Gentil and had
three children. as the information is released.
Corcoran has done volunteer work
for the Graded School auction, been
a Scout Leader, donated many of her
paintings for fundraising auctions at
Graded School and Vida Jovem, and
contributed to Habitat for Humanity.
Jason Bermingham, Simone Kliass
and Sue Banman Sileci resigned from
the board in April after years of service.
Members can inquire about other board
openings by calling 5182-2074.
Every month we fea-
ture a local pet that one
of our AmSoc members
knows is in need of
a good home. Take a
look at this baby girl:
Name: Still don’t have
one ...
Age: Almost two
months
C o l o r : Black and
white Border Collie
Sex: Female
Fleas: None
Ticks: None
Size: Medium
Kilos: Almost two
Farts: Just a baby …
Housebroken: Just a baby, but train-
ing!
Hobbies: Likes to stay on the grass when
sun is shining
Vaccines: None
Neutered: No
Quirks: She’s just so cute!
Injuries: None
Found: She was born in a house in Ati-
baia (São Paulo)
Ability to walk on a leash: Plans to
learn
Level of perfect goodness for a nice
family: Very high
Cost to you: Free
Applications: Being accepted at carol.
kliass@uol.com.br

2009 Forum 9
 Restaurants
Some great eats in SP, a world-class city for dining
São Paulo draws on the culinary traditions
of its immigrants – both from abroad and
around Brazil. Good Italian, Japanese,
German, Arab, Spanish and Portuguese
restaurants abound. Also in evidence
are eateries featuring dishes from Bahia
(seafood with a West African tinge), Mi-
nas Gerais (hearty fare from the farm),
the South (all you can eat barbeque), the
Northeast (jerked-beef, etc.), the Amazon
(freshwater fish with an indigenous twist),
and Brazilian contemporary. Here are
some of our restaurant picks.
A Figueira Rubaiyat – Built around
a 50 meter-high, 130 year-old tree that
gives the restaurant its name, this is
where business executives take clients
and associates they want to impress. The
varied menu features Mediterranean fare,
seafood and beef on par with that served
at its sister steakhouse Baby Beef Rubai-
yat. The Oyster Bar ships in fresh oysters
daily from Santa Catarina state. A feijoada
buffet is served at lunch on Wednesdays
and Saturdays. Excellent wine list.. Rua
Haddock Lobo, 1738, Jardins. Telephone:
3063-3888.
Andrade - Head here for a taste of the
Brazilian northeast. A rowdy forró band
(usual instruments: drum, accordion and
triangle) plays from 9 p.m. “Carne de
sol” is sun-dried beef – and the mainstay
of the menu. Rua Artur de Azevedo, 874,
Pinheiros. Telephone 3064-8644.
Arabia - A descendant of Lebanese
immigrants, chef and co-owner Leila
Mohamed Youssef Kuczynski has applied
the kitchen skills she learned as a girl to
turn Arabia into São Paulo’s best Arab
restaurant. On Saturdays she serves up
a sumptuous Moroccan couscous. Rua
Haddock Lobo 1397, Jardins. Telephone:
3061-2203.
Barbacoa - For meat-eaters, a visit to a
“rodízio” style all-you-can-eat steakhouse
or “churrascaria” is obligatory. The tradi-
tion originated in the southern Brazilian
state of Rio Grande do Sul, but São Paulo
offers a wide selection of such establish-
ments. An ample salad buffet is followed
10 Forum
by table service as waiters bring skewers
of sausages and beef straight from the
grill.. Rua Doutor Renato Paes de Barros,
65, Itaim. Telephone. 3168-5522;
Bolinha - Home of the feijoada, the
black bean stew that is Brazil’s national
dish. Served daily (as opposed to just on
Wednesdays and Saturdays most every-
where else). Avenida Cidade Jardim, 53,
Jardim Europa. Telephone: 3061-2010.
Cantaloup – Spacious and fashion-
able, with an award-winning interior
design, Cantaloup offers contemporary
international cuisine that can hold its own
with anybody. It features one of the most
complete wine lists in the country. Rua
Manoel Guedes, 474, Itaim. Telephone:
3078.3445.
Capim Santo - Once located in Vila
Madalena, this restaurant has moved
to an old mansion in the Jardins. Chef
Morena Leite prepares Brazilian dishes
with a contemporary flair. Rua Ministro
Rocha Azevedo, 471, Cerqueira Cesar.
Telephone: 3068-8486.
Consulado Mineiro - For a relaxed
but genuine taste of Brazil, try this outpost
of country cooking from Minas Gerais
state. “Hearty” is perhaps the best adjec-
tive for this cuisine. Minas Gerais was
a colonial hotbed of gold and diamond
mining, and its distinctive dishes emerged
from a mishmash of Portuguese, African
and Native influences. The Consulado
Mineiro faces an attractive square that
hosts a popular Saturday crafts fair.
Praça Benedito Calixto 74, Pinheiros.
Telephone 3064-3882.
Die Meister Stube – Set inside the
Kolpinghaus, a club frequented by de-
scendants of German immigrants, this
establishment offers better German food
than you normally get on the continent..
Rua Barão do Triunfo, 1213, Campo
Belo. Telephone: 5536-4982.
Fasano - Now located in the hotel of
the same name, Fasano is synonymous
with fine dining in São Paulo. Everything
about the place is designed to impress.
Thus it serves two main purposes for the
By Bill Hinchberger, AmSoc member
business visitor. First, you can use the
upscale Italian establishment as a place
to impress clients. Second, you can use
it to prove that you’re “in the know”
about São Paulo: an invitation to Fasano
transmits the message that one knows
where take people to impress them. Rua
Vittorio Fason 88, Jardins. Telephone:
3896-4000.
Gênova – Genovese-style cuisine in a
homespun atmosphere. The owners pay
strict personal attention to the menu and
ingredients. The constantly updated wine
list is partly chosen by customers at regu-
lar tastings.; Rua Lisboa, 346, Pinheiros.
Telephone: 3064-3438.
Mestiço – The combination may seem
odd at first, but the fusion of Thai and
Bahian cuisines works well – making
this one of the city’s most popular spots.
The décor changes regularly but always
features contemporary art.; Rua Fernando
de Albuquerque, 277, Consulação. Tele-
phone: 3256-3165.
Soteropolitano – A simple place
that features the cuisine of Bahia state.
Bahian fare tends toward seafood, heav-
ily seasoned in a West African style.
The most popular dishes, seafood stews
called “mucecas,” are cooked in a heavy
palm oil sauce. Rua Fidalga, 340, Vila
Madalena. Telephone 3034-4881.
Sushi Yassu – Set in the Asian neigh-
borhood Liberdade, this traditional res-
taurant, opened in 1972, remains one of
the best Japanese places in a town loaded
with them. Sushi Yassu offers a full menu,
but the best choice is of course the sushi..
Rua Tomás Gonzaga, 98, Liberdade. Te-
lephone: 3209-6622.
(Originally published on Jan. 17, 2008
at BrazilMax.com)
AmSoc member Bill Hinchberger is the founding
editor of the travel portal BrazilMax.com, and former
president of the São Paulo Foreign Press Club.
BrazilMax (www.BrazilMax.com) offers
in-depth information and practical tips,
personalized travel planning, online hotel
reservations, music downloads, discussion
forums, an online radio program, and more.
May

Democrats Abroad group revived in 2008, hopes to
carry momentum through 2009
Defunct for nearly a decade and considered
irretrievably dead, the once flourishing
São Paulo chapter of Democrats Abroad
sprang back into a whirl of activity one
short year ago.
Led by Chairperson Trish Ferrari
and fired both by enthusiasm for the
Democratic candidates and a grim
determination to win the November 2008
election, the hastily assembled Board
mapped out a formidable plan of action
that included identifying every Democrat
living in São Paulo and, if possible,
throughout the country.
After posting notices, a general meeting
was held in May 2008 to formally request
reinstatement of the chapter and recruit
members into the organization. More
than 80 Democrats and Republicans
attended and, in a packed room, officers
were elected. More than 50 attendees
signed the by-laws which they had just
heard read.
Later that month, more than 40 Obama
supporters – Americans, Brazilians,
children, adults and dogs – wearing red,
white and blue, and waving flags, banners
and placards, gathered by São Paulo’s
new bridge for a photo that appeared
in the Obama montage at the August
Democratic Conference. Brazil was
the first participating South American
country.
From this point forward, the focus was
on voter registration -- and it was intense.
The goal was to register every Democrat
living in Brazil by Sept. 22 and prepare
them to send in an Absentee Ballot by
Oct. 4. Each Board member was given
a list of Democrats living in Brazil,
whom they phoned and with whom they
discussed registration.
It very quickly became clear that
the vast majority had never registered
while living abroad because the system
was too challenging. To surmount this
difficulty, Democrats living outside
Rio or São Paulo were urged to register
2009
via www.votefromabroad.com, while
Board members personally registered
Democrats at subsequent São Paulo
Democrats Abroad events and non-
political sites.
The latter included, among others,
a table at the American Society and at
the five American and British schools.
Computer registration was also available
at Graded School and Shearman and
Sterling law offices.
Because São Paulo is enormous,12
parties on the night of the presidential
debate were held in various areas of the
city, all of them hosted by new members
of the organization. Some of these were
dinner parties, some were potlucks and
others wine and cheese, but all were
great fun and more than 150 people
attended the various gatherings.
In Rio, a much smaller city, the total
was 80. The vice-presidential debate
was watched by some 60 Democrats
in Drake’s Bar in the British Cultural
Center.
In late August, a huge party,
covered by Brazilian television,
was held at Shearman and Sterling,
where more than 150 people watched
and cheered through Obama’s
acceptance speech. The premises
were decorated, a life-size cardboard
cut-out of Obama welcomed guests,
refreshments were offered and there
was assisted registration of voters
on several computers made available
by the law office. In September, a
private screening of the election film
“Uncounted” gave everyone a last
chance to vote.
As a result of the intense drive
to register Democrats and deliver
votes, Democrats Abroad Brazil had
votes cast in 34 states. The greatest
numbers were in California with New
York close behind and, in the second
tier, Florida, Maine and Pennsylvania
predominated. Voters from every
The American Society
of São Paulo
By Sandra Cuza, AmSoc and
Democrats Abroad Brazil member
battle ground state were represented.
But the triumph of this effort is shown,
not in numbers but in small examples.
Two women in their late 80s, both
living in São Paulo for nearly 70 years,
voted for the first time because at last
someone explained to them how it was
done and helped them with the process.
And now?
Democrats Abroad Brazil is gearing
up for another year of political endeavor,
which began with the Annual Meeting on
March 31 in the home of a member. To
learn more about activities, or how to join,
visit http://www.democratsabroad.org or
e-mail DABrazil@gmail.com.
Diagnostic Testing and
Follow-up Treatment
Specializing in sensory cognitive treatment and Dual
Coding Theory for dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia,
aphasia, apraxia, AD/HD and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation
for the following areas:
n Mathematics
n Oral language comprehension
n Oral language expression
n Oral vocabulary and directions
n Phonemic awareness
n Phonetic processing
n Reading comprehension
n Spelling
n Symbol imagery
n Visual memory
n Word attack
n Word recognition
n Written language skills
Analysis includes:
ü Strengths
ü Weaknesses
ü Recommendations
ü Treatment proposal
Wendy M. Smith, Ed.D. (11) 3885.7256
Learning Specialist (11) 9236.5267
Forum 11
 Member Tip
Chalk up your hands and head for this indoor
rock-climbing wall By Calvin Peter, Graded Boy Scout Troop member

Looking for something to do with your

children this weekend? Then look no
further than Casa da Pedra, a local rock
climbing gymnasium with branches in
Chácara Santo Antônio and Perdizes.
It is the largest rock climbing facility in
Brazil, and welcomes both children and
adults with lessons aimed at beginners
and advanced climbers. The different
walls allow different levels of climbers
to challenge their skills.
Some people may wonder if rock
climbing is safe. It is! All the safety equip-
ment that is used in mountain climbing is
used in this indoor facility. Each person
goes as high as they feel comfortable. If
you get stuck, staff members are there to
help you down. There is no pressure to
perform, each person challenges them-
selves at their own pace.
For children and adults, there is a
complete security system that includes Members of the Graded Boy Scout Troop scale one of the rock walls recently at Casa da Pedra in São Paulo.

a helmet, safety line belt and your own

monitor to make sure you are safe. Most
of the monitors can speak some English
for people who are new to Brazil and
speak very little Portuguese.
Rock climbing is so cool because
there is no limit. You always have a new
challenge to face. Maybe it is trying to
get higher on their 14-meter-high wall,
or trying to break your time record for
a wall you have already climbed. Each
time you visit Casa da Pedra it’s a new
experience.
You can come to Casa da Pedra with
no equipment and no experience. It costs
R$35 for a diaria simples, or R$45 with
all the extra equipment, such as special
shoes. For people that really like to rock
climb, you can buy packages to go more
often and you receive a discount.
Rock climbing is a fun activity for the
whole family. Each person can climb
whatever wall they feel comfortable and
enjoy the challenge of a new activity.
Casa da Pedra is also a great way for
parents to celebrate their child’s birth-
day, as they offer packages especially
for birthdays.
It’s always hard for parents to think
of an exciting birthday party idea, and
Casa da Pedra might just be the answer.
They have other exiting things to do at
birthday parties, like a three-story slide,
tug-of-war and other cool games. In the
past, I was hoisted up on a swing high in
the air, and then objects were thrown at
me and I had to catch them for points!
It was really awesome, and definitely
different from any other birthday
activity I’ve ever seen.
I love rock climbing because you
test your limits in a safe environment
and when you finish you say “Wow,
I actually did this!” It’s a very neat
sensation to look up at a high wall, full
of handholds and think “I was just up
there.”
Maybe I will see you there this
weekend!
There are two Casa da Pedra
gymnasiums: one located in Perdizes,
which is open Monday through Friday,
4 to 11 p.m., and Saturdays, Sundays
and holidays from 2 to 8 p.m. The other
gymnasium is located in Chácara Santo
Antônio, and it is open from 5 to 10
p.m., Mondays through Thursdays. The
Chácara Santo Antônio unit is not open
Saturdays, Sundays or holidays. Learn
more at www.casadepedra.com.br.
Want to recommend someplace or
something to other members? Write us
your idea at forum@amsoc.com.br

12 Forum May

Ex-pat São Paulo Girl Friends Group forms
Remember the days
when we women
had girlfriends?
Those high school
“sleepovers,” when
we would curl up
By Sukie Miller,AmSoc in our pajamas and
member
talk and talk and talk
some more?
Or remember that woman seated next
to you on the plane? Your children didn’t
go to the same school, you didn’t read
the same books, and you weren’t even
from the same country or generation,
and yet, somehow, you connected in that
special way that only one woman can
with another?
We women need our girlfriends, and
we ex-pat women need our girlfriends
even more. Both challenged and delighted
by our lives in Brazil, there is a sense of
deep connectedness and familiarity that
even three, five or 10 years after we have
successfully arrived, can elude us.
We all know what is now affirmed by
neuroscience: women are indeed different
than men. Women process information
differently, value things differently and
respond differently.
Not better or worse but truly differ-
ently.
From time to time, we need to be with
others who, by mere structure and DNA,
are deeply and truly “like-minded.” Be-
cause we just “get it,” only we women can
give shared meaning to our experiences.
The support and fun that women can
offer one another goes far back in our
history, to the days when we gathered at
the well, sharing news and beginning the
day with one another.
More recently, we remember the wom-
en’s groups that evolved into the Wom-
en’s Movement of the 1960s-70s. These
meetings were political in nature; their
goal was to raise women’s awareness to
their status as second-class citizens. It was
through these groups that marches were
organized, magazines were published,
and women came to see themselves as
deserving of equal rights. The back-bone
2009
of the Women’s Movement, women’s
groups met, numbering 4-4000, in large
cities and small towns, somewhere, every
night, in homes, churches and schools.
Over the years, women’s groups have
continued to meet but now they have
diversified and adopted many formats.
Times vary, and topics range in specificity
from women facing a specific challenge
(i.e. breast cancer, turning a specific age,
or living through a particular crisis) to in-
depth therapy groups, or general shared
interest groups such as fundraising and
book clubs.
Another type of women’s group that
continues the experience and wisdom of
the women who have come before us are
Girl Friends Groups. These groups, which
began in California in the 1980s, have no
particular agenda, no task to complete
and are made up of women, sometimes
random ones, who choose to be together
– just for the sake of it. Part sleepover,
part gathering at the well, these groups
follow simple guidelines while creating
a safe place to gather and share stories,
lives, dreams and challenges.
This March, at the invitation of some
friends, I gave a talk to a gathering of
women on my experience with women’s
groups. Out of this meeting sprang the
first Girl Friends Group in São Paulo,
which will meet monthly for the next
eight months. A few of the women knew
one another well, a few had met perhaps
once before, several were AmSoc mem-
bers, but all share a common interest
and curiosity in what it would be like
to connect again not with colleagues or
committee members, but simply with
girlfriends.
Girl Friends groups have an anonymity
rule and a no-gossip rule:
Who and what’s said in the group stays
in the group. You can talk to others about
the group, but only about your experience
in the group, no one or nothing else.
The best I can do is to tell you how we
started the group, and share some brief
feedback I requested for this article from
willing group members.
The American Society
of São Paulo
In girlfriends groups, we don’t intro-
duce ourselves in a traditional, formal
way, i.e. by profession, title, marital sta-
tus, motherhood status, or particular posi-
tion or opinion. We introduce ourselves
by our name and age. Just that.
As we went around in March stating
names and ages, I added up the years.
In our group there are almost 800 years
of wisdom, caring, loss, curiosity and
education. From this introduction, and
following another important guideline --
listen deep, talk deep -- the words began
to flow.
Here are some comments from São
Paulo’s Girl Friends Group:
“I am part of a lot of women’s
groups, not like this one ... but a friend
wanted me to go with her so I did. It
was strange, but it was the first time
that I left a meeting feeling complete,
there wasn’t anything I had to follow
up, there wasn’t anything I didn’t un-
derstand.”
“I was amazed that although we
come from very different histories,
there was a common bond between us
that I hadn’t recognized before.”
“It’s not as though we were all
talking. It felt more that we were all
thinking out loud together.”
“I have been here for many years,
but I have never been able to recreate
the feelings I had with my girlfriends
and sisters back home, and I have
missed it terribly ...”
Sukie Miller, Ph.D, is an author in in-
dividual practice, and works in the field
of group work. She has taught, trained
and led task, team, leadership, therapy
and support groups for the past 35
years, and was one of the originators
of the Girl Friends Groups concept in
California. For more information please
contact her at sukiemiller@gmail.com,
11-9823-8730 or 11- 3131-6520.
Forum 13

H ousing
Apartment for Rent
Lovely apartment in brand new
condominium, Reserva Granja Julieta.
Located on Rua Verbo Divino, near
shoppings, banks, bakery, schools, in quiet
residential neighborhood. Apartment has
3 suites, expanded living area with large
veranda, ample closets and lovely kitchen/
pantry area. Condominium has pools,
play, exercise and sports areas, library,
social areas, everything you would go
to a club for, right at your doorstep. For
information and to schedule a visit, call
Jo Ann at 9971-4074.
Fabulous apartment For Rent
Located in the heart of the Jardins but
in quiet part of R.Jose Maria Lisboa
(close to R. Augusta and Oscar Freire).
Spacious 3800 sq.ft.; ideal for couples
who love to entertain; furnished or not;
renovated, hardwood floors, tiles & new
carpet, lots of sunlight, huge master suite,
1 large suite and 1 bdrm; separate media
room, breakfast room; and dining room
opening to a lovely veranda; 5 garage
spots.Corporate relocations welcome.
Please contact ifranco@demarest.com.br
or (11)9243 9911.
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-FRONT HOME
MEMORIAL DAY
Pr. LAGOINHA, PE’ NA AREIA: 7
METERS from beach! 180 degree
Vistas! Gated community, Nice Decor.
Full Kitchen. Semi-Private, Kid-safe.
P h o t o s : H T T P : / / P I C A S AW E B .
GOOGLE.COM/REISLUX
CELIA.LAGOINHA@YAHOO.COM.
BR (11) 3842-1513
14 Forum
Ubatuba
Weekends, weekly, or monthly. In luxuri-
ous, high-security, closed condominium,
three hours from São Paulo. Charming
beach bungalow with large sweeping yard,
incredible ocean view. Quiet, private, reju-
venating. To recharge your batteries. Call
Ruth at (11) 9405-6424 or send an e-mail
to ruthhollard@hotmail.com. Visit: 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 ex-
tensive private practice in Chicago and
former therapist at the Family Institute at
Northwestern University. Treats individu-
als, 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 Psychologist
Offers psychotherapy for children and
adults. Experience in treating depression,
anxiety, adjustment difficulties, behavior
problems, etc. Also provides thorough
diagnostic evaluations for children with
academic or behavioral difficulties (e.g.,
learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, etc.),
including practical recommendations
for school and home. Contact Richard
Morhaime, Psy.D. at (11) 5538-0099 or
(11) 9669-8057
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  American Board Certified Physical
adults and couples in eclectic approach to  Therapist AL PTH2404. Physical Thera-
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
classifieds
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 free-
dom 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.
IFESP
IFESP is looking for professors/teachers/
professionals to teach English as a Second
Language. Applicants should be highly
motivated, energetic, and flexible. Teach-
ing experience is a plus but not required,
and native speaking skills are preferred.
Training and growth opportunities. Con-
tact Muriel at Muriel@ifesp.com.br ,or by
phone at (5511) 3031-3599.
Math and Science Tutor
Former Graded and Chapel teacher, with
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.
PILATES, Physical Therapy and
Postural Rehabilitation
Simone Przewalla, MPT  3-11345/F.
pist at Albert Einstein Hospital. Back
rehabilitation, orthopedic rehabilitation,
sports injuries, postural treatment, clinical
and fitness  PILATES. Fluent in English
and German. Rua Bandeira Paulista 716
– 10th floor, sala 102, Itaim Bibi. Phone:
(11) 81824284. E-mail: simone_2003@
ig.com.br. (Continued on the next page)
May
 The American Society
calendar of São Paulo

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

Important Dates: 1 Labor Day | 10 Mother’s Day | 16 Armed Forces Day | 18 Victoria Day (Canada) | 25 Memorial Day
May 2009
3 Sunday Sampa Community Church Theme: Listen Carefully. Join us at 10:55 a.m. Directions at www.sam-
pacommunity.com
6 Wednesday INC Monthly Coffee For more information ,please visit www.newcomers-sp.com.br
9 Saturday INC Monthly Evening Couple’s Pizza & Games Night
Event For more information ,please visit www.newcomers-sp.com.br
10 Sunday Sampa Community Church Theme: Listen Here. Join us at 10:55 a.m. Directions at www.sampacom-
munity.com
12 Tuesday AMSOC Annual General Check out our website for more information: www.amsoc.com.br
Meeting
13 Wednesday INC Red Rose For more information ,please visit www.newcomers-sp.com.br
14 Thursday CIWS Luncheon Don’t miss it, and reserve your place now!(ciws.luncheon@gmail.com)
16 Saturday Concert at Fellowship Concerts of chamber music in a beautiful and calm atmosphere.
4pm at Rua Carlos Sampaio 107
Info: (9h - 18h) 287 2294
17 Sunday Sampa Community Church Theme: Listen Up. Join us at 10:55 a.m. Directions at www.sampacom-
munity.com
22 Friday AMSOC Challenge Cup Learn more in this issue, or visit www.amsoc.com.br
Golf
23 Saturday CIWS Pub Night – Noite CIWS presents its annual charity fundraising event.
das Estrelas For more information: noitedasestrelas09@gmail.com
24 Sunday Sampa Community Church Theme: Opening the Books. Join us at 10:55  a.m. Directions at www.
sampacommunity.com
26 Tuesday AMSOC Wine Tasting Check out our Web site for more information: www.amsoc.com.br
27 Wednesday INC Monthly Luncheon For more information visit www.newcomers-sp.com.br
30 Saturday INC Alphaville Ladies For more information visit www.newcomers-sp.com.br
Annual Chili Cook-Off
31 Sunday Sampa Community Church Theme: Reading the Fine Print. Join us at 10:55 a.m. Directions at www.
sampacommunity.com

Phone Services - Unlimited calls to
the US
Yes, you can call any US number from
Brazil, unlimited minutes, for a very
low monthly flat fee of $24 US dollars! For
more information:
Email: customer@bravoz.net or call +55
(11) 3466-2810 or +1-281-602-1190. www.
BravoZ.net
Tel: +55-11-3624-9236. Cel +55-11-9101-
4390. contato@angels-expatcare.com
www.angels-expatcare.com
Selling Up
Go with a pro! We have been selling house-
hold goods for families, individuals, and
companies for 17 years in São Paulo and
nine in Brasilia for embassies. We have
hundreds of pre-selected clients wanting
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@taylo-
rimoveis.com. Phone: 5511 3079.8888 or
5511 8774 5100 (Maria Elisa)
A classified of up to 50 words costs R$40 for
Classified

Relocation - Assistance for Ex-pats to buy from you, safe and sound! Send an AmSoc members and R$75 for non-members.
Place a

e-mail to meredithsales@zaquie.com or To place a classified please call (11) 5182-2074

Visa; Documentation; Familiarization Visit; zaquie@zaquie.com or call (11) 5908-1144 from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., or send an e-mail
Transfers; Home hunting; School searching; or (61) 9211-1819. Ask for Ms. Zaquie to amsoc1@americansociety.com.br.
Cross Cultural Training; Tax Consulting; Meredith. Forum does not check all of the advertisers
Our Readers

Hire a Maid; Acquisition of Vehicles; Tour

A Note to

appearing in this newsletter. We urge you

in the neighborhoods; Shopping; Cultural Taylor Real Estate to use these services; however, thoroughly
tours; Organizing Trips; Introduction to check prices and services prior to finalizing
others expatriates. ANGELS EXPAT CARE Luxury spacious houses, apartments and any service or purchase agreement.

2009 Forum 15

Exoticism vs. nationalism in home-decoration battle
There used to be a
store in the Jardim
Sul shopping mall
that I just loved. It
was called Projeto
Terra, and it had gor-
geous Brazilian arts
and crafts, all made
By Sue Banman Sileci, by creative groups
AmSoc member from NGOs around
the country.
Projeto Terra seemed to always be on
the cutting edge of the next trend in Brazil-
ian decorating, and my family would groan
as they saw me walk in that direction. I
usually couldn’t afford what they had to
sell – extra cool hammocks, weird pillows
or wildly decorated wooden boxes – but I
liked to take my time to look around.
This store was where I first saw the
carved and painted wooden figures that
are now sold all over Embu (you know, the
ones with the Brazilian butts, for example),
and the dish towels with crocheted frogs
or chickens dangling off of one end. You
can now find these at the grocery store, but
I first saw them there.
And then it was gone. The doors were
closed, and Shopping Jardim Sul reverted
to being as boring as it had always been.
Last week I found out that Projeto Terra
wasn’t gone. It had only closed shop in
Jardim Sul and was now in the Shopping
Nacões Unidos on the Marginal Pinheiros
in Brooklin. I met the owner, Rossana,
and we sat down outside the shop to talk.
What she told me surprised me a lot.
While she’s delighted that we ex-pats and
tourists like her store, we only represent
30 percent of her sales and she wishes we
represented less.
“I want Brazilians to shop here,” she
said. “I want Brazilians to like local arts
and crafts. I don’t want only foreigners
interested in our handicrafts.”
That stopped me in my tracks. If a store
like Projeto Terra appealed to me and my
friends, I thought surely it appealed to
everyone. Nope.
Rossana said something that I’d already
suspected: Brazilians don’t value Brazilian
products.
I’ve spent the past few days thinking
about that. Is it true? As a quilting teacher
who also teaches surface design, I’ve seen
this attitude. I’ll spend 15 minutes explain-
ing how a specific imported product, one
that’s very expensive and hard to come by,
isn’t necessary.
“You can do the same thing with corn-
starch from the supermarket around the
corner.” Over and over these students
have stared at me and said, “But we want
to buy it from the States. Where’s a site
I could order it from?” It bewilders me
every time.
I think most international folks living
here have heard a version of the sentiment
that imported equals good and Brazilian
equals bad. Why? I read once that Eu-
ropean women, when moving to Brazil
hundreds of years ago, were excited to do
so if only because slaves could take over
the heavy cooking and sewing for them.
The slaves were taught an incredible ar-
ray of skills, from carpentry to dress-mak-
ing. But when they were emancipated, they
too were anxious to drop these symbols of
slavery. Today, most Brazilian women I’ve
met – from those in the slums to the very
wealthy -- don’t know how to sew a button
on. And if you look around at a lot of what
passes for handicrafts here, you understand
why Brazilians don’t buy them.
But then, I’ve been to handicrafts fairs
in the U.S. and seen hand-knit Elvis Pres-
ley hairdos. What about auctions where
bright red acrylic yarn has been used to
crochet kitten shaped toilet roll covers,
complete with glued-on googly eyes?
My kids don’t know how to sew buttons
on and I do the family hemming because
it’s faster than finding someone else to
do it. I quilt, not because we’re cold but
because it’s fun. I dye fabric because I like
the way it looks, not because I can’t find
pretty colors here.
flipside
There are differences in taste though.
Artist Marilyn Diggs pointed out that,
while Brazilians may not buy Projeto
Terra’s woven Indian baskets for their
upscale São Paulo apartments, they like
the rustic look out at their country homes.
Brazilians do like their own handicrafts,
but just not the same things we like.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve
used a Brazilian’s guest bathroom and
tried to get some lather from tiny bars of
soap, painstakingly painted with flowers
or country scenes. Am I even supposed to
use this soap? It’s too pretty.
The hand towels are made of stiffly
starched linen, covered in lace and rib-
bons. Again, where’s the real towel I’m
supposed to use? Towels this fancy surely
weren’t meant to be used by someone
like me.
When I was in college, I was friends
with a group of Kuwaiti engineering stu-
dents. Their idea of good interior design
was the American flag draped from one
wall of the living room to the other. The
American flag symbolized so much to
them, but I’ve never met an American who
considered it art.
As Rossana struggles to conquer more
of the Brazilian market, I wonder if she can
satisfy all of us. But until she figures it out,
I’m happy to have found her store again.
Mother’s Day is coming up, and my mom
might need some mounted butts for her
entryway. But then really, who doesn’t?
PAY A VISIT
Projeto Terra
Av. Nações Unidas, 12901
Loja 150 E
Shopping Nações Unidas