Final Preparations

Today is our last Wednesday in Uberlandia.  Tomorrow (Thursday, 10/3) is the first “big day”, the culmination of our time in Brazil, when we present our final recommendations to Ipe.  The next “big day” will be Friday, 10/4, when all of the CSC Teams present to the Mayor at City Hall from 9:30AM – 11:30AM BST. 

For most of the day, everyone on both of Ipe’s CSC Teams busily touched up their final deliverables and presentations.  The morning of the Thursday presentation we  * might *  have a bit of time to address some little things, but our 20 documents really had to be in place by the time our heads hit the pillow on Wednesday night.

Camila & Itamar working on one of the dozens of projects completed during our time at the Ipe while one of Ipe's "resident" lizards looks on with curiosity:

         

Our next to last lunch with Ipe would be at one of our favorite local restaurants:  Recanto.  (If I had to guess, we went there 10 - 15 times.)  The food is always fresh, the selection is good, and for 9.90 reais (about $4.50), you can eat as much as you want; or as some of the locals told us throughout our stay “as much as you CAN”.  Dining at Recanto is cafeteria style.  Lunch typically becomes Brazilians biggest meal.

During the afternoon, Daniella, Mafalda, Ruthyene, and Hajira started some small projects which got everyone excited for the launch of Ipe Atelier.  They shared tips and techniques about embroidering, sewing, and creative designs.  Off and on throughout the afternoon, they sat under Ipe’s gazebo and connected with one another on a personal level.  It was obvious to me, that as our assignment ends, we definitely were a part of the Ipe family and the larger Uberlandia community.

          

        

At the end of the day, Toni presented each of us with an original Ipe t-shirt.  This gesture came from the heart and we were all very touched. The shirts capture the 4 key cerrado species that Ipe has “adopted” as the unofficial “mascots” for Ipe.  Maybe adopt isn’t the right word.  They are more the 4 highlighted species of the cerrado that are, in a way, indicator species.  As the numbers of these species decline, that directly points to the degradation and loss of the cerrado.  The 4 species are the giant anteater, maned wolf, 3 banded armadillo (tatu bola), and burrowing owl (coruja).  (One of my earlier blogs talked more about these animals.) 

                               

Given the fact that our time together as a CSC Team was fleeting, Larissa orchestrated a large group event at a local restaurant, Carro’ De Boi, which was across the intersection on the opposite corner from the hotel.  The end of our assignment was imminent, and we all wanted to spend as much time as possible with the team.  While our long table buzzed with conversation, a local country band played some Brazilian country songs on stage.  (Based on the amount of singing done by the table of locals next to us, it was apparent that the band was playing some favorite songs.) 

             

           

#ibmcsc brazil