Phone Introductions & a Warm, Enthusiastic Welcome

On Tuesday, 8/12/13, we “met” our client for the first time via teleconference.  What an outstanding session.   We planned to meet for 30 minutes, but it lasted almost an hour.  Our contact was passionate about his organization.  Here are some “take-aways” from our meeting that relate to the NGO (non-governmental organization), the city (Uberlandia), and the surrounding geography:

·         Uberlandia lies in the heart of the Brazilian savannah and it is situated in the state of Minas Gerais.  Uberlandia is the 2^nd largest city in the state.  It sits between Sao Paulo (to the east / southeast) and Brasilia (to the north).  To get from the coast to the interior and vice versa, all transportation (and many people as well) passes through or near this cosmopolitan city.

·         Minas Gerais is often referred to as “Minas”. 

·         Agriculture is one of the largest and most prevalent industries in Minas.

·         Uberlandia is known for its universities & colleges.  These centers of learning education 30,000+ students.

·         There are 5 separate and distinct landscapes within Brazil: the Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal, the sertao, the cerrado, and Mata Atlantica. 

·         My teammate (Hazira) and I will be supporting a prominent NGO that has been in existence for 6+ years.

Our NGO hosts ended our meeting with a beautiful sentiment, “We welcome you with open arms.”  After our energetic exchange of information, Hazira and I quickly reached the same mind-set:  “Why do we have to wait for another 3 weeks?  We’re ready and excited to leave now.”

However, before we can leave, three more weeks of pre-work must be completed and I must tend to last minute details.  Being gone for 30 days, from my Florida family, is a daunting thought.  The time is getting nearer.  Where have the past 9 weeks gone?!

#ibmcsc brazil