The Beginning of the End !

Time to say good-bye , babies !!! You were in one of the most wonderful moments of my life !
                                 I'll never forget you !!!

St. John's University... I'll never forget

First of all, I'd like to say "Thanks God!" Come to  The USA was one of my dreams and it came true. I feel like a blessed person because when we believe, things really happen. I'm not the same person and from this moment my life has changed, not only my professional background, but my personal life. 

I'll never forget this special moment of my life!

FULBRIGHT, PDPI...

It was afternoon, june, 22. That day was sunny and hot. We got out the bus extremely excited.

A skinny white beautiful girl received us. She was with a little baby, cute one. How was it possible? Working with a baby? She acted naturally, it looked like carrying a baby were part of her routine. Was she a babysitter? She talked all the time, as if she had known us a long time...

We went to our rooms. Very comfortable, cleaned and large. It sounded very well!

On sunday, we went rushed to downtown, Manhattan. I was astonished: train, fifth avenue, Broadway, theaters, all those people speaking different! I was afraid to wake up of that dream...

Back to reality, monday, our first day, our first classes... Lots of questions made by the both sides.

I found out that the girl with the baby, named Christina, was the big boss. A so humble mom? Well.. Welcome to USA! 

We met David Parker! Handsome and polite. He dressed like those guys who work in the financial center of Manhattan. He doesn’t lose the control. Serious, calm, with no raise voice, hard to play with him... I had the intention to call him “Spider”, but I gave up. Christina, on the other hand, was more opened to play jokes... She seemed to be... Indeed, she played hard with us...

Our first teacher: Sue Zucker-Scharff. Middle aged lady with a constant smile on her lips. What an amazing lady!! Our first minutes together were with a nice song and she was dancing, singing, smiling, and staring us with her particular way of doing it... We didn’t know how to act!! We looked at each other trying to understand what was happening!! What we didn’t really know was that fantastic professor would give us the most hard homework to do everyday! Why? How could a so funny and adorable teacher be so mean?? Lol... Just kidding... Or not??? She cried on our last class and made lots of us crying too. Unforgettable!

Our second teacher: Camille Holcomb. So sweet, so lovely, so beautiful!! I never saw a girl blushed so much as she did! Why is she so shy like a country girl? Her particular way of teaching made me “fall in love” with her. The jokes Klezer used to play in the classroom let her red as a ruby. She got her head down, tried to hide her smile, but was impossible... The best classes, in my humble opinion. Forgive me the other teachers, they are all wonderful!

But, there is another girl... She is not a teacher. She is David Parker’s assistant. She is more timid than Camille, but doesn’t blush as her...

The girls prefer our youngest (?) and third teacher: Jeff Wimpers. In Brazil we say: “The terror of the maids”. He is very nice. His eyes seem to show a Don Juan style. He plays guitar, sings, he is erudite, refined. And speaks a little bit portuguese. He looks like a muscular boy with tight clothes. He conquered us all. So young, so friend. He is one of us.

We had very nice moments. In the classrooms and, mainly, outside, in New York. Mama Mia! What a great time! Too many histories to tell. The hard moments don’t come up, cover by the best ones. Some of us complain on the health insurance, meals... But, 99 per cent of our time was very good, funny and a fantastic experience we will never forget! Including the moments with Leyla. Who lost who? Leyla is very funny and kind. She let us free to talk about anything we want. Wonderful time with her.

Thank you very much, Christina for being so efficient on taking care of us! Thank you a lot, David, for teaching us how to deal with weebly sites, and for the way you guide us during our excursions!

Thank you professors Sue, Camille, Jeff for the amazing classes, for your friendship, for your patience, for your kindness. 

We gonna miss you!

God bless you all!

Alípio Ribeiro

PS: Forgive my terrible english...

Good bye Party

At lunch time, we had a Farewell Party.  I wanna say thanks our professors Camille Holcomb, Sue Zucker, Jeff Wimperis, David Parker,Cristina Quartararo and Leyla. The.PDPI Program was full of works, activities, but it 's been really worthy. I feel I'm more confident in speaking English.Probably that's my last post and that weekend I go back to Brazil and my life will go on.
    These days were unforgettable  since I visited NYC, went  to shop,  watched some concerts, and saw a play at Broadway.My classmates and others participants were a piece of my joy.
  Anyway, I send a special goodbye to my friends Bete, Clemilson and Marcio that took me to hospital leaving their homeworks.
    I 'm so grateful for meet everyone!

FAREWELL PARTY!

FAREWELL PARTY! THANK YOU ALL: PROFESSORS, PDPI, FULBRIGHT, CAPES AND AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BRASIL! ESPECIALLY: Christina Quartararo, David Parker, Camille, Jeffrey, Sue, Leila and Jully!

Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day School

                                                         ESL Classroom Observation

          Spending some time with those guys was fantastic! I just loved my afternoon!!!
          The teacher, the trainee, my mates and the students were so kind. We could take part in the class because the teacher as well as the students made us feel comfortable and confident to integrate the learning process.
          Therefore, it was such a rewarding and pleasant time there! I'm so grateful for everyone's cooperation, enthusiasm and willingness!!!

Memorial 9/11

This place has a different energy ... I was very anxious to go there , because I can even remember what I was doing and where I was on September 11th , 2001 , while all the world was talking about that tragedy.
It remembers and honors the thousands of innocents murdered by terrorists, recognizes the thousands who survived and allows us, the visitors, to come together in the spirit of unity that emerged in the wake of 9/11.

Statue of Liberty

As Verônica said before, being at this important sightseeing means that you really came to New York, the land of Freedom !

Culminating Project - David Parker

                   Yesterday Afternoon We Had One Of Our Most Constructive Classes So Far. 

     My lesson plan was on Cultural Pluralism, however the greatest aspect of that event was sharing our ideas.
    Throughout the presentations we were able to see, realize and find out about strategies, connections, approaches and so on.
     As a matter of fact, we had the opportunity to help one another. By the time that we return to our country we'll be eventually applying lots of pieces of information we were introduced to yesterday.  I may assure we're really keen on doing it!

Statue of Liberty National Monument

                              A GREAT TIME KNOWING THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

     As a matter of fact it's been already some time since I visited it! It took place some weeks ago.

    I had a great time on the Liberty Island and FYI, the island was closed during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 and suffered severe damage. Liberty Island reopened on July 4, 2013. That's why, I guess, there were so many people there the day on which I was there.
    It's a pity a lot of people may not visit it for now because it's really hard to get a ticket... I've been told some guys could buy their tickets only for September, so for us, PDPI participants, it would be something not feasible.
   Nevertheless, The Statue of Liberty is such an outstanding NY attraction, maybe the most outstanding one. I'm so happy I was able to go there.
   
 Here I need say sth to a friend of mine: THANKS, CLODOALDO SANTOS, FOR PROVIDING ME WITH A TICKET, AS A GIFT, TO GO TO SEE THAT WONDERFUL SITE.

VISITING THE CAPITAL CITY

                                                     VISITING WASHINGTON D.C.

     Last weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Capital City of the U.S.A.

     FYI, Washington, D.C., had an estimated population of 632,323 in 2012, the 24th most populous place in the United States. It is home to many national monuments and museums, which are primarily situated on or around the National Hall.

     I considered it a unique cultural experience once  I could visit some monuments and museums, and obviously take some pictures as well.
     I guess everyone should go there if they could. I wouldn't be able to leave the U.S. without visiting its capital.
     I JUST LOVED IT!!!
     
     

Mamma Mia, Broadway - a dream!

When I knew that I would come to New York City the first thing that came to my mind was the opportunity of watching a musical at Broadway. Last Friday I could make that dream come true. I know how hard it is to play as an actor and I can figure out how more difficult it is to sing and act. Wonderful!!! I guess it was the best night since I arrived in NY. So happy! 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

One of the greatest things about being in a big and so cosmopolitan city is the terrific opportunity of to visit places that can improve our cultural knowledge. On Sunday 28th, I went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. I was amazed by so many things to see and so many important monuments and pictures. I took as many pictures I could but my time inside the museum was very short.Unhappily. 

Host Family

 I could not forget this amazing day visiting Christina's house. They welcomed us so nicely. Besides, we could also meet these two other teachers who shared their experiences here at NYC. If I am not mistaken, one teaches for disabled children and the other for elementary students. In the end, they said farewell singing "the cup song". Yep...somehow, we are going to miss (everything here) when we're gone.         

Today after the presentation of the culminating project I felt a sense of achievement and accomplished mission. So, it was a great time also to share ideas and see other nice ideas from my colleagues. Certainly, I intend to use some of my colleagues' weebly. So, thank you David, Christina for this opportunity. I came across something very interesting today that could describe this moment and this whole trip: "To blossom, you must grow". I 've seen at the cover of a notebook today randomly when I was at the library near to our campus "Barnes & Noble"... Anyway, I think it applies for our weebly to develop this great tool and for life.   

Queens Symphony Orchestra

Today we are having a concert with the Queens Symphony Orchestra at St. John's University. The concert was announced for almost a month. They brought all their staff and there are also some opera singers. It's possible to listen to them playing and singing from the apartment windows.

They are performing in front of the building of Saint Augustine Hall. It is interesting to see families having fruit, juice and pizza as if they were in a picnic while they attend the concert. It's so different. I loved that.