Monthly Newsletter September 2010www.amsoc.com.br

Forum

In This IssueIn This Issue

TCKs

Page 4:

An in-depth view at thechallenges of bringing up ThirdCulture Kids - and tips on how toease transitions.

AmSoc Athletics

Page 6:

Highlights and the fullschedule of the upcoming AmSocathletic events including a CharitySoftball Invitational.

Page 7:

Looking for something todo this Sunday? Read this articleon what can be found whenantiquing in Bexiga.

Bexiga FleamarketSeptember events

Pages 10 & 11:

Get the fulloverview on what is happening inSo Paulo this month, includingexhibitions and fun tours!

See improv theater at its best

The American Society of So Paulo promotes friendship by organizingsocial, cultural and athletic events for its diverse membership; encouragesintegration with the Brazilian society;and supports the American traditionsof education, philanthropy andvolunteerism.

Our Mission

Can you be an Angel?

With two months left till the AmericanSociety Angel Party, there’s still a lot of work to do. We need you!The Angel Party is a Christmas partyheld each year, this year on November 6,for over 220 children in day care centers,orphanages and educational programs, allfunded in part by the American Societyand people like you. The party is held atChapel School and the kids have a greatday of food, games and fun. At the end of the party, Santa Claus comes and giveseach child a special gift bag with presentsfor just that child.We’re in desperate need of people tohelp Santa by shopping for all the itemsin one child’s bag. The list looks like this:tennis shoes, a backpack, a toy, pantsand a shirt, socks, underwear, a coat or sweatshirt and some candy.And then we need plenty of help withorganizing the party, from roundingup sponsors, donors, prizes and cash tohelping on the day of the party. There’sa lot of work to be done. But it’s a greatway to meet new people, lose weight andsave the world all at the same time. Comehelp make the eleventh Angel Party the best party yet.Please contact Eileen Tasso(eileentasso@gmail.com) or Sue BanmanSileci (sue@sileci.com) if you would liketo help.

Read more on page 9 about the impact the Angel Party makes on the participating children.

São Paulo’s Playback Theatre will be performing your story on October 24 atGraded School.What is Playback Theatre? It’s agroup of professional actors who haveno specific storyto tell at any given performance.Their leader,Antonio Ferrara,will ask you, if youraise your hand, tocome on stage andtell a story from your life. He elicitsdetails as you explain exactly whathappened and why the story is importantto you. And then you sit down to the sideof the stage and watch.The actors, without rehearsal or discussion, act out your story, completewith props and musical accompaniment.In the process, a simple outing,

misadventure in trafc, family conict

or reunion with an old friend becomesa theatrical production that an entiretheater full of people can enjoy. It’san astounding and often emotionalexperience watching your, or someoneelse’s story, come to life.Ferrara isBrazilian but heand his actors speak English. And oncethe actors start performing, fewwords are spokenin any language.Don’t let your lack of perfect Portuguesekeep you away. You won’t need muchin the way of Portuguese or English tounderstand what’s going on and have agreat time.All proceeds from this event will goto the American Society’s CommunityAction Committee. This money will then be dispersed to the orphanages, day carecenters and educational programs that itsupports.

(For details see page 11)

Name:

Jennifer Showers

Origin, time here:

Iwas born in Germanyand raised in upstate New York. After university, I movedto France to teachEnglish (and toski!). I went to lawschool in Londonand, after 5 yearsabroad, returned to the States and workedin two fantastic cities - New York and SanFrancisco.

Why São Palo?:

So Paulo chose me, or rather a Paulista chose me. We met in SanFrancisco and he imported me and our dogPiper to So Paulo two months ago.

Best things so far:

So Paulo is full of the best of “big city” life including career opportunities, talented people, fabulousrestaurants, art, and dance, to name a few. Inthe midst of all of this Brazilians still manageto place great emphasis on the importanceof family. It makes me wonder if this might

be the perfect place to nd a healthy balance

between having a career and a family. Timewill tell!

Early frstrations:

Moving to a new country

is a challenge and the most difcult moments

for me have related to paperwork and bureaucracy. As a multi-national couple, atleast one of us will always be “living abroad”and administrative demands will always bea part of our lives.

Have ‘sadade’ for anything back home?:

Cranberries!!! and unsweetened juice, neither of which Customs allows me to bring in toBrazil.

Progress with Portgese:

I would saythat after two months of lessons my levelof Portuguese is roughly akin to a very polite, smiling Tarzan. Luckily, the desireto communicate is a strong motivator and Ihave a great Portuguese teacher. I’ll alwayshave an accent but I look forward to achievingcompetency!

Favorite place to hang ot:

In addition togreat restaurants, Vila Madelena is packedwith excellent yoga and modern danceschools, hair salons, and art studios, all of which appeal to my bohemian side.

Newcomerprofle

The President’s Corner

Recently Imade a visitover to the USConsulate in SãoPaulo where I hadthe chance to meetSão Paulo’s newConsul General,Thomas Kellyand several of the staff. It was a pleasure to meet Mr. Kelly and the teamand learn more about the work theydo in our city; dedicatedly serving theAmerican community, serving manyBrazilian citizens and giving leadershipto numerous Brazil - U.S. issues. The

Consulate has recently made signicant

investments in facilities, processes and people to accelerate the visa process.Turning to another American Societytopic, here is something I’d like us allto ask: Where can I apply my HelpingHands? “My what?” you are saying.Helping Hands in the American Society

is rst of all a class of membership that

applies 50% of your membership feeto help make a lasting difference inthe lives of children in our carefullyscreened orphanages. Secondly, HelpingHands is part of our American Society’smission, encouraging you and me tosupport our philanthropic work as led by our Community Action Committee.Finally, Helping Hands is the attitude of volunteerism that helps make Amsoc agreat organization.Where else could I apply my Helping

Tim Scott

, AmSoc president

Forum

September

Hands? Well, how about coachingthe Little League? Or, how abouthelping with our Cultural or SocialCommittees? The American Societyregularly hosts social and culturalactivities. We have enthusiasticcommittee chairmen in place, butdo need your Helping Hands for support, working to create qualityevents for the enjoyment of our Society. We are also recruiting a fewadditional American Society BoardMembers to help manage our newweb blogs, web site updates andmarketing.The American Society isworking to better connect with our younger generations. We have anew membership class for 30 andunder called Junior, offering Amsoc

benets at a greatly reduced price.

Coming up soon on the AmericanSociety agenda are Friday eveninghappy hour events, targeting young professionals; as well as those of usyoung at heart.The American Society seeks toengage our membership in qualityevents and philanthropic work that builds a spirit of community,friendship and support. We counton your Helping Hands to join inwith the activities I’ve listed above.Let us know of your interests bycontacting the American Society

ofce or me.

Abraços, Tim

Lynn Cordeiro

editor and layout

Simon Tharby

staff writer Forum

is printed by EGB.(http://www.egb.com.br)Views expressed in

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not necessarily reect those of

the American Society board of governors, members, or staff.

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reserves the right to editcontent for brevity and/or clarity.

The American Society of São Palo

Rua da Paz, 143104713-001 So Paulo, SPTel: (11) 5182-2074 Fax: (11) 5182-9155

form@amsoc.com.br

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is published monthly, withthe exception of January and July, by

A b o u t

F o r u m

The American Societyof São Paulo

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2010

While many of us were on vacation, New Members were joining our association in Brazil. Congratulations tothe following members, who joined us in July, 2010! See you all at our Halloween Party if not sooner!!!Your Membership committee

Welcome new members from July

NameMembership TypeCitizenshipCompany or Profession

Robert & Miriam MuellerFamilyAmericanMirosh Ltda.Charles McNaughtonSingleBrasilianGaudencio, McNaughton &Prado AdvogadosRobert Shoe & Daniela FazoliFamily PatronAmericanBAND Idiomas & TraduçõesJose & Marcela LizarragaFamily PatronAmericanHotels.comMarybeth LynchSingleAmericanTodd & Melissa HarkinFamily PatronAmericanOutback Steak House (YUM!)Guilherme & Cheryl De OliveiraFamily PatronAmericanTeresa MurtaughJuniorAmerican

Fellowship Community Church

The Welcome Place since 1921

Phone (11) 3253-7609 www.fellowship.com.br

Sunday’s

09:00 am - Walking in Faith Classes (English and Portuguese)10:30 am – Worship Service (English only)06:00 pm – Culto em português

Conveniently located on Rua Carlos Sampaio, 107 – Bela Vista

Just a block and a half from the Brigadeiro Metro staon on the Avenida Paulista