In the News

There was a school shooting in Rio yesterday.  I am not sure of the details but a student came into the class and asked me if I watched the news…. I said no.   Then he proceeded to tell me about this particular news story.  He wasn’t laughing but he was eager to tell me of the story because not only was it rare in Brasil but because he knew how common it was in America.  As a matter of fact, they were surprised that the American News Story was happening here.  Then I thought… I did turn on the news today for just a second today and saw the story.   When I saw it I was like “oh, another school shooting” and also thought for a second that it might be strange to see it in Brasil. When he was telling me, I knew why he had a little smirk on his face…  Let’s just say is just one of those things America is known for.  Brasil has a lot of crime; I think a lot of crimes of passion but School Shootings… not so much.   Maybe for Brazilians it was like the first or second time we saw our story like this.  Columbine, I was shocked.  What was it like 12 years ago?  It was 12 years ago that a school shooting wasn’t main stream news.  The school buzzer went off and I said, “You know why we have so many school shootings?  Everyone wants to be Famous”.  Famous for a good cause and if that doesn’t work, a bad cause will do.  

Tonight again at class my student told me that today he was reading an article on the internet about the school shooting and said there was a link at the bottom of the artical which said, "click here to see the other school shootings in America".  I guess we just do it better.

So,Here is a news story from Brasil recently that blew my mind.  It is a story about Bike Day.  In the south of Brasil, Santa Catarina they were promoting a bike day, asking for more people to exchange their cars for bikes.  All of a sudden a driver couldn’t stand following the 80 bikes any more, sped up and drove right through the crowd of bikes.  Bikes and people were flying everywhere.  It was crazy to see.  Could you imagine this in America?

Jill In Brazil: Cornhuskers In Brasil?

Jill In Brazil: Cornhuskers In Brasil?: "Ok Fritz, I get it. I have been a bit lame the last couple of posts. I know especially the one where I wrote the bad song into t..."

Cornhuskers In Brasil?

Ok Fritz, I get it.  I have been a bit lame the last couple of posts.  I know especially the one where I wrote the bad song into the title.  So, what is new? 

Well today I was in Class teaching, I looked over at a student and then I looked more closely.  I noticed that he was wearing an Oklahoma State pullover.  I was like where did you get that?  As he was telling me about his trip to Oklahoma and the states, I then noticed that he was wearing a red hat that had a Big Red N on it.  He said that he bought it in Florida as he really liked the style (he didnt know what the N represented).  I couldn’t believe that I was staring at Nebraska Cornhusker Gear!  I was so proud that I proceeded to tell the story 3 more times today about how great Nebraska Football is and how we love our Cornhuskers.  I always say the same thing when ever I am away from the Midwest.  I love Cornhusker Football the most because it is something everyone can agree on in Nebraska.  We all get together, we wear red, we drink beer, we eat great football food and we sit around with our family & friends and watch football.  It is a feeling that has stayed with me everywhere I go.  Today, to have the opportunity to explain that to my class was so much fun, even if no one really understood.  :)  It was nice to be close to home.

Good Day Today

Not much happend today, but I have been chatting with Kate the last couple of days and it has been great to catch up. I miss my family and friends. 

Earplugs

Yep, I seriously put in earplugs the other day.  With the Concrete and tile all around me I broke.  The sound of 2 kids screaming, the tv on and the noisy cars and motorcycles it was either earplugs or crazyland for me.