1. BRAZIL
Vivian Cristina Zanchin
Au Pair Care
Pre-departure Orientation Project 2009/2010

2. History
Brazil, officially the
Federative Republic of Brazil, is a
country in South America. It is the fifth
largest country by geographical area,
occupying nearly half of South America,
the fifth most populous country, and the North
fourth most populous democracy in the
world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on Northeast
the east, Brazil has a coastline of over
7,491 kilometers (4,655 mi). It is Central
bordered on the north by Venezuela,
West
Guyana, Suriname and the French
overseas department of French Guiana; Southeast
on the northwest by Colombia; on the
west by Bolivia and Peru; on the
southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and
on the south by Uruguay. Numerous South
archipelagos are part of the Brazilian
territory, such as Fernando de Noronha.
Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500
until its independence in 1822. Initially independent as the Brazilian Empire, the country has
been a republic since 1889, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates
back to 1824, when the first constitution was ratified. Its current Constitution defines Brazil as
a Federal Republic. The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26
States, and the 5,564 Municipalities.
Brazil is the
world's tenth largest economy at
market exchange rates and the
ninth largest by purchasing
power parity. Economic reforms
have given the country new
international projection. It is a
founding member of the United
Nations and the Union of South
American Nations. A
predominantly Roman Catholic,
Portuguese-speaking, and
multiethnic society, Brazil is also
home to a diversity of wildlife,
natural environments, and
Indian of the Amazônia extensive natural resources in a
variety of protected habitats.
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3. Regions
North
The North region covers 45.27% of the land area
of Brazil, but has the lowest number of inhabitants. With the
exception of Manaus, which hosts a tax-free industrial zone, and
Belém, the biggest metropolitan area of the region, it is fairly
unindustrialized and undeveloped. It accommodates most of the
Amazon rainforest and many indigenous tribes.
Amazonas River
Northeast
The Northeast region is inhabited by
about 30% of Brazil's population. It is culturally diverse,
with roots set in the Portuguese colonial period and in
Amerindian and Afro-Brazilian elements. It is also the
poorest region of Brazil, and suffers from long periods
of drought. The largest cities are Salvador, Recife, and
Fortaleza.
Central-West
Pelourinho - Bahia
The Central-West region has low demographic density
when compared to the other regions, being only more densely populated
than the North region. Part of its territory is covered by the world's
largest wetland area, the Pantanal as well as a small part of the Amazon
Rainforest in the northwest. However, most of the region is covered by
the Cerrado, the world's largest savanna. The Central-West region
contributes significantly towards the nation's agricultural output.
Brasília
Southeast
The Southeast region is by far the
richest in terms of total economic output, and also the
most densely populated region. It has a larger
population than any South American country except
Brazil itself, and hosts one of the largest megalopolises
of the world, extending between the country's two
largest cities: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The region
is very diverse, including the major business center of
São Paulo, the historical cities of Minas Gerais and its
capital Belo Horizonte, the third-largest metropolitan
area in Brazil, the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, and the
coast of Espírito Santo. Rio de Janeiro
South
The South region is the wealthiest by GDP per
capita and has the highest standard of living among the country's
regions. It is also the coldest region of Brazil, with occasional
frost and snow in some of the higher-altitude areas. It has been
settled mainly by European immigrants, mostly of Italian, German
and Portuguese ancestry, being clearly influenced by these
cultures.
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4. Culture
The festival of Carnival, with its spectacular street parades and vibrant music,
has become one of the most potent images of Brazil; an annual celebration held forty days
before Easter and marks the beginning of Lent. Carnival is celebrated throughout Brazil, with
distinct regional characteristics, but the most spectacular celebrations outside Rio de Janeiro
take place in Salvador, Recife, and Olinda, although the nature of the events varies. Other
regional festivals include the Boi Bumbá and Festa Junina (June Festivals).
Carnaval Rio de Janeiro Parade of the Samba schools
The June circuit in the Northeast
of Brazil is one of the most famous and
traditional around the world. Caruaru, in the
State of Pernambuco, and Campina Grande, in
Paraíba, dispute the title of best feast in the
country. The first is known as the “capital of
forró”, a popular dance and music, while the
other as the “Biggest Saint John in the world”.
Caruaru
Oktoberfest – in October,
the city of Blumenau
enters into festivities,
showing visitors from all
over Brazil and the world
its rich culture. With
music, dance and typical
cuisine, the party
preserves the customs of
German immigrants who
Oktoberfest Blumenau settled in the region.
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5. Typical foods
Feijoada
Ingredients:
800 grams of black beans
250 grams of dried beef (“carne seca”)
250 grams of salted pork ribs
1 pork trotter
1 pork tail (or ear)
100 grams of smoked loin of pork
80 grams of smoked bacon
2 large pork sausages (“paio”)
1 Portuguese sausage
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 soup spoon of olive oil
2 bay leaves
1 orange
Preparation
The night before, clean the port trotter and tail and soak them in cold water together with
the already cleaned pork ribs. In a separate bowl, soak the dried beef cut into pieces.
Change the water in each bowl at least four times.
Put the salted meats on the stove in a pan with plenty of water. Boil for 10 minutes, drain
off the water, pour in clean water and cook. Use the same procedure for the dried beef,
putting it to cook in a separate pan. When the meats are tender, but not shredded, drain
off the water and cut the pork ribs into pieces. Set aside. Cut the “paio” and Portuguese
sausage into thick slices, the smoked bacon into small cubes, and the smoked pork into
medium-sized cubes. Place the bans in a large pan with a thick bottom. Add water, the
bay leaves, and the orange cut in half, with the inner peel but without the outer peel.
After cooking for 45 minutes, add the salted and smoked meats, the dried beef, sausage
and “paio.” Leave to cook for 20 more minutes. Remove two soup ladles of beans from the
pan. Chop the onion and garlic finely. Sauté them, without letting the brown, in a skillet in
the olive oil. Add the bean paste to the skillet and cook for two minutes. Return the entire
mixture to the large pan, mix and taste for salt. Adjust the temperature as necessary and
leave everything to cook 20 minutes more or until well cooked. Serve with white rice,
sautéed kale, manioc meal. Accompanied by fresh orange slices. The meats can vary
according to individual taste. It is very important that the oily build-up on the surface be
skimmed off periodically while cooking.
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6. Typical foods
Cheese rolls
(Pão de Queijo)
Ingredients:
500 gr (1.1 lb) of fine cassava flour
1 large cup of Milk
4 tablespoons of sunflower oil or soya oil
generous pinch of salt
4 eggs
200 gr (7 oz) of grated hard cheese (like Parmesan)
Cheese rolls (Pão de Queijo) are eaten all over Brazil at breakfast or as a snack. Traditionally, these
are made of cassava flour instead of wheat flour. Except for that, these cheese rolls consist of eggs
and cheese. If served warm, these rolls are crispy from the outside with soft dough on the inside.
Preparation
The night Preheat oven at 180˚C (gas 4-5 or 350°F).Sieve your cassavaflour if it is not fine. Bring the
milk with the oil and the salt to a boil in a pan. Add the cassava flour while mixing. Allow to cool
after it is mixed well. Next, stir in the eggs one by one and then the cheese. Mix well.
Grease your hands with some sunflower oil and form the dough into small balls. Put these in the
oven on a non-sticking baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes. The rolls smell nice when ready. To be
sure, test for doneness with a fork: if it comes out clean the cheese rolls are ready. Allow to cool
sufficiently but serve warm.
Brigadeiro
Ingredients:
1 tin sweetened condensed Milk
2-3 Tablespoons Nestle Quick (or other chocolate powder)
2 Tablespoons butter
Chocolate sprinkles
Tiny paper candy cups
Brigadeiro is a popular, easy-to-make, sweet enjoyed at Brazilian parties. It's simple, tasty and
uses Brazil's favourite sweet ingredient: sweetened condensed milk. Yum!
Preparation
Combine ingredients in a heavy pot and stir constantly over medium heat, bringing to a boil.
Continue stirring two mintutes - or until mixture becomes so thick, you can't see the bottom of the
pan. Remove from heat and carefully scoop hot mixture out of pot into a separate bowl to cool.
Cool completely.
Coat hands with butter and scoop out a teaspoon sized amount into the palm of your hand. Roll
into a small ball, roll the ball in sprinkles and let rest in paper cup.
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7. Tradition
Caipirinha is Brazil's
national cocktail, made with cachaça,
sugar and lime. Cachaça is Brazil's most
common distilled alcoholic beverage. Like
rum, it is made from sugarcane. Cachaça
is made from sugarcane alcohol, obtained
from the fermentation of sugarcane juice
which is afterwards distilled.
The caipirinha is the
national cocktail of Brazil, and is enjoyed
in restaurants, bars, and many households
throughout the country. Once almost
unknown outside Brazil, the drink has
become more popular and more widely
available in recent years, in large part due
to the rising availability of first-rate
brands of cachaça outside Brazil.
Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian national football
team (Seleção) is currently ranked first in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings.
They have been victorious in the World Cup tournament a record five times. Basketball,
volleyball, auto racing, and martial arts also attract large audiences. Some sport variations
have their origins in Brazil. Beach football, futsal (official version of indoor football) and
footvolley emerged in the country as variations of football. In martial arts, Brazilians have
developed Capoeira, Vale tudo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In auto racing, Brazilian drivers have
won the Formula One world championship eight times: Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972 and 1974;
Nelson Piquet in 1981, 1983 and 1987; and Ayrton Senna in 1988, 1990 and 1991.
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8. About me
I’m an only daughter of
separated parents, and I live with my
mother in a beautiful town called
Blumenau, in the south of Brazil.
Blumenau is a city of German influence,
famous settling for its textile industry, its
typical architecture and parties. The
climate is well humid and the
temperatures in the winter and the
summer are rigorous.
My mother works at home as a
dressmaker. We like to walk in the park
together.
My dad live in Jaragua do Sul, neighboring city to Blumenau, and he visits me
every week. He is a comercial employed. We loved to go to the movie theater and to dine out.
My relationship of friendship with my parents is strong and confidence. They
showed me that education happens, mainly, for the example that you give to the children and
not only for what you only say.
In my free time I loved to read books, to write my thoughts, to go to the movie
theater, to hear some music, to surf on the Internet and to be with my family and friends. I
like to travel in my country and discovered new places here and all over the world.
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9. Host family
Christopher and Tiffany
Ophthalmologist and Dermatologist
Ava and Isabella
3 and 5 years
Weston
10 months
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10. Michigan
Michigan is a Midwestern state of
the United States of America. It was named after Lake
Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the
Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large
lake".
Michigan is the eighth most populous
state in the United States. It has the longest freshwater
shoreline of any political subdivision in the world, being
bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint
Clair. In 2005, Michigan ranked third for the number of
registered recreational boats, behind California and
Florida. Michigan has 64,980 inland lakes. A person in
the state is never more than six miles (10 km) from a
natural water source, or more than 87.2 miles
(140.3 km) from the Great Lakes coastline.
Michigan is the only state to consist
entirely of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula, to
which the name Michigan was originally applied, is often
dubbed "the mitten" by residents, owing to its shape.
Oakland Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland
County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is usually referred to as "Oakland Township". The
population was 13,071 at the 2000 census. Rochester Community Schools serves a majority of
the area, while Lake Orion Community Schools and Romeo Community Schools serve the rest.
"Rochester", or the "Rochester Area", are often used to describe Rochester,
Oakland Township, and Rochester Hills. Although most residents refer to themselves as living
in Rochester, rather than Oakland Township, and receive mail sent to a Rochester address.
Lake Michigan Rochester Hills
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11. Activities
Suggestions
Sunny days activities
• Ride the Bike
• Gardening
• Know other kids and play games like Hide and Seek
• Musical Chairs
• Make a picnic
Rainy days activities
• Drawings
• Color books
• Listen to stories
• Play with trains that stimulate new creations
• Bake up cakes and cookies
Educational activities
• Read books
• Play sound games
• Teach them about my country and other cultures
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