District Conference

Team members have been taking turns updating our team blog and it is my turn again.

We arrived at the District Conference in Aquas de Lindoia after a two hour drive from Atibaia. Jose and Chris had left in the morning and Russ, Ashley, and Katie arrived in late afternoon. The conference was held at the Hotel Majestic. Upon arrival we started meeting people from some of the cities we had visited. The conference was held on Thursday, May 27 through Sunday, May 30.

We attended the opening ceremony which was very impressive. Each club had a representative march their flag into the large auditorium. They placed the flag on the stage behind the district governor's table. We recognized many of the people carrying the flags including Alda, the team leader for the team that had visited our district in March. When she saw me she left the line to give me a great big hug! The flag ceremony concluded with the entrance of the Brazilian flag and color guard.

Friday was a "free" day for the team. Several of us spent the day catching up on rest and trying to combat colds and sore muscles. Some shopping in nearby shops was also done. Some of the team even managed to get to a party Friday night!

Many clubs had created posters showing the projects they support.
Saturday morning we did our presentation to the largest group we faced. Estimates have ranged from 300 to 500 people. It was a large room and there were a lot of people there. Friends who had seen our presentation in other cities even cheered and did some ad libbing for us! It was definitely our best job of presenting so far. We presented just before Alda's GSE team. It was great to be reunited with them even if it was for such a short time. Both teams remained on the stage for a photo op with the district governor. Each of presented the district governor a gift representing our home towns. The team's gift was a soccer ball with our team picture imprinted and our signatures.

That evening a masquerade ball was held. Most of us attended but not in costume. The Brazilians attending were dressed in a variety of costumes including gangsters, wild west sheriff, soccer fans dressed in green and gold and blowing horns, pirates, royalty and several other outfits.

Sunday morning we were met by our next town's coordinator, Marco Ginciene and his wife, who took us first to Cajamar and then onto their beach house south of São Paulo.

To see additional pictures follow this link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2051161&id=1398728287&l=3c4b73c9d5