The I.C.B.I.E. Blog

Another novelty in last semester’s ICBIE course offerings was a class that taught our kids how to design and print T-shirts.  This art, traditionally referred to as silkscreening, has changed its name because it no longer requires the use of silk, becoming serigraphy, or screen printing.  During that busy weekend just before Christmas, the students’ works were shown to the public, strewn around the Institute’s big entrance patio;  appropriately, the shirts were pinned up on clotheslines, so they could show their clever designs as they flapped in the breeze.

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The economic crisis weighs on everybody, but the ICBIE continues to sieze every opportunity to bring hope and joy to the local community.  To celebrate Christmas, Pietro became Babbo natale and led an expedition into the distressed neighborhood of Massaranduba, which, poised between Ribeira and Uruguai, is a ten minute walk from the Institute.  He was accompanied by Julio and Bigode, Veronique, and, celebrating their second consecutive Christmas at the ICBIE, the five members of the Fabozzi family from Rome (Salvatore, Emanuela, Francesca, Alice and Gabriele).  The small children that swarmed to meet them along the broken streets screamed with excitement.  The procession arrived at Lu’s house and her daughters Lais and Thaiane joined the party.

All through the holidays, the ICBIE office in Rome has been busy organizing another party at the Beba do Samba club in San Lorenzo for the last night of the year.   Starting at 10 PM, our supporters will be able to eat all the traditional Italian sweets (Pan d’oro and Panettone) and dance to Brazilian music mixed by dj amião, bringing in the new year together with our great circle of friends, all at the modest price of €20.  icbie.it@gmail.com

As a culmination for the weekend of celebrations, aboout sixty students flocked into the ICBIE garden for the traditional end of year Christmas party.  This year’s bash was particularly lavish, thanks to a 100 Euro contribution from our dear friend Mary Norris in New York.  (Actually, she sent the money last July, to provide for popcorn and ice-cream at two cine-forums, but that never quite came off.)  Abundant quantities of pizza, lasagna, pastries, sweets and soft drinks fed the lively crowd.

A highlight of last weekend’s activities was an impressive formal presentation of Augusto Carvalho’s hapkido classes, held on the front patio of the ICBIE, with dozens of kids, divided by age groups, showing their skills.  Under Augusto’s care, these youngsters develop physical strength and coordination, but also the fundamental human traits of discipline, respect and cooperation, while his personal rectitude and precision offer a wonderful role model for everyone at the ICBIE.  Parabens!

It’s the end of year rush at the ICBIE.  The last lessons of 2008 were held on Saturday, initiating a long weekend of ceremonies, exhibitions, performances and, as always, parties.  As a result, this blog will be full of new material all week!

Among the many courses offered during the semester, the drawing class was a very successful new addition, and it seemed appropriate to give the students a prestigious showing of their masterpieces in the Institute’s grand front hall.  The photos show the quality of their work (and they give us quite a few glimpses of our friends Luiz, Sara and Veronique).

ICBIE student ambassador Valdenice Santana met with the students of a Roman High School. (English translation below)

Al suono della campanella che segnala inconfondibilmente l’inizio delle lezioni, il liceo Socrate ha avuto un’ospite d’eccezione: l’insegnante e nostra amica e sostenitrice Valdenice Santana. Per circa due ore Valdenice ha intrattenuto gli studenti, che hanno partecipato con entusiasmo, illustrando la complessa realtà storico-sociale del Brasile.

Gli allievi hanno potuto avere così una testimonianza diretta di una cultura così affascinante ma spesso troppo lontana. Incuriositi, hanno voluto indicazioni su autori, artisti musicali, film da vedere per Natale. Numerose le domande che sono state poste a Val: dalla condizione della donna alla realtà politica, dagli aspetti economici a quelli culinari. Quello a cui si è assistito è fondamentalmente una possibilità didattica a cui si dà ancora troppo poco spazio ossia quella di un’interrelazione reale, in un mondo fortunatamente diversificato,  tra popoli e persone che ancora oggi gli studenti spesso studiano solo sulle cartine geografiche e che non avranno mai il colore e il sapore dell’incontro di oggi.

Per l’occasione si è anche parlato delle attività dell’Icbie a Salvador e dell’immenso e duraturo contributo del Presidente, Pietro Gallina, al liceo Socrate.

Alla fine dell’intervento, grazie anche all’entusiasmo di alcuni professori, ci siamo accordati per organizzare una visione del documentario ‘Ribeira das artes’ per dare continuità a questa giornata
e per coinvolgere un numero più ampio di studenti.

Grazie VAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Monica Bernardi
Icbie Italia

At the sound of the bell, the unmistakable signal that marks the start of the lessons, the Socrates high school had an exceptional guest: the guest teacher was our friend and supporter Valdenice Santana. She engaged the students for about two hours, and they participated with enthusiasm, as she illustrated the complex socio-historical reality of Brazil.

In that way, the students were able to have a direct testimonial of a culture that is as fascinating as it is distant.  Filled with curiosity, they wanted to know about authors, musicians, and films to watch over Christmas.  Val had to answer a lot of questions: from the living conditions of women to the political situation, and from the economy to the local cuisine.  The encounter represented a kind of teaching that is too often neglected, that of a real inter-relationship, showing a world that is fortunate in its diversity, between between peoples that are still today only studied as places on a map, entirely lacking the color and the flavor of today’s encounter.

The occasion also provided an opportunity to speak of the work of the ICBIE in Salvador, as well as of the immense and lasting contribuitions of its president, Pietro Gallina, to the Socrates high school.

At the end of the encounter, thanks to the enthusiasm of several professors, we agreed to organize a showing of the documentary film ‘Ribeira das artes,’ to continue this investigation and to involve a larger number of students.

Thanks to you, VAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Monica Bernardi
Icbie Italia

Our friend Paranaguá has become the ICBIE’s most assiduous photo-reporter-tour guide-local historian.  We are grateful for his beautiful descriptions of the local sights and scenes. (English translation below)

Um fato me chamou a atenção em Danielle: o seu fascínio pela fotografia! Também gosto desta arte. O vício é tanto que ando com a máquina a tiracolo, fazendo jus ao título de “observador atento”, colocado pelo saudoso amigo jornalista Gerson de Sousa. Entretanto, ele ganhou para mim: não perdeu um lance, um detalhe sequer. A esse respeito, Pietro me fez um comentário: Lembra-se da nossa viagem a Europa? Você queria registrar tudo que via de interessante. Ele faz o mesmo! É verdade, concordei!

No final da tarde do sábado (15), viajei com Pietro e Danielle, atendendo ao meu convite para curtir o fim de semana no sítio em Santo Amaro. Fizemos uma parada de alguns minutos na principal praça da cidade, a fim de que Danielle fotografasse os casarões antigos e a igreja de Nossa Senhora da Purificação, padroeira de Santo Amaro. Ele também conheceu a casa onde mora Dona Canô, mãe dos irmãos Maria Bethânia e Caetano Veloso. Já era noite quando chegamos ao nosso destino. Minha mulher Shirley e as princesinhas Iamani e Irani, fizeram as honras da casa. A recepção foi calorosa! Só faltou a banda de música para receber os convidados!

Domingo bem cedo, Danielle já estava a minha espera para um giro pela área do sítio. Ele ficou impressionado com as variedades de frutas cultivadas (abacate, pitanga, abacaxi, caju, cacau, biribiri, carambola, sapoti, entre outras), além de flores silvestres, cravo e do urucum – um tipo de semente utilizado pelos índios para pintura do corpo e bastante usado como corante em alguns pratos culinários. Após o descanso do café, fizemos um passeio a cavalo pela redondeza. Pietro ficou apreensivo pelo fato de ser a primeira vez que Danielle montava em um cavalo. Nessas situações, procuro sempre manter os animais em marcha lenta durante o percurso, justamente para não provocar dores no corpo do visitante.

No período da tarde, Shirley nos acompanhou na visita que fizemos a Cachoeira e São Félix. Por ser sanfelista, ela teve a incumbência de ser o nosso guia turístico em sua terra natal. Durante o percurso observei que Danielle folheava um livro, não sei bem se era germânico ou italiano, mostrando as páginas com informações e roteiros dos pontos turísticos de Cachoeira que gostaria de conhecer.
Ao descer a serra, a visão é cinematográfica. As duas cidades são separadas pelo Rio Paraguaçu. A ponte de ferro construída por D. Pedro I é o principal acesso que liga as cidades de Cachoeira, São Felix, Maragojipe e Muritiba, além da Região Sul do estado, através da BR-101. A primeira parada em Cachoeira foi na Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda. Nesse dia, estava sendo organizado um cortejo religioso para lavagem do adro da igreja. Baianas vestidas com seus trajes típicos, carregando nos braços potes de barro com flores e água perfumada, fiéis e pessoas vindas de outras cidades, aguardavam a banda de pífaros para o início da lavagem. Veja detalhes no www.festadaajuda2008.blogspot.com.br

A próxima parada foi no centro da cidade. Decidimos fazer o circuito a pé, a fim de deixar Danielle mais à vontade para fotografar as fachadas de casarões, igrejas e conventos, valiosas peças da arquitetura de influência barroca que ainda se conserva: Santa Casa da Misericórdia (século XVIII); Capela de Santa Bárbara; Chafariz Municipal (século XIX); Matriz do Rosário; Irmandade da Boa Morte; Convento Nossa Senhora do Carmo, além de outras construções importantes.

Em São Félix, passamos em frente do Centro Cultural Dannemann, fundado em 1989 - A Dannemann S.A. foi criada pelo alemão Gerard Danne, em 1873 - da residência de Hansen Bahia. Visitamos a Fonte Milagrosa de Santa Bárbara, que atrai um grande número de fiéis. O auge das comemorações é dia 4 de dezembro, na Festa de Santa Bárbara. Shirley ainda nos conduziu até um dos pontos mais alto da rodovia que liga a cidade de Muritiba, para um clic da visão panorâmica das duas cidades.

No retorno para Cachoeira encontramos o cortejo embalado pelo ritmo do Axé music, arrastando uma multidão pessoas pelas ruas da cidade. Eu e Danielle aproveitamos para acompanhar o cortejo e captar com as nossas lentes, belas imagens ricas de cores, pessoas e fantasias. Exaustos devido à caminhada e o calor insuportável, fomos ao encontro de Pietro e Shirley, que nos aguardavam em frente a um restaurante, sentados a sombra de uma árvore a beira do cais do Rio Paraguaçu. Pedimos dois tira-gostos: maniçoba, sugestão de Pietro, e carne-do-sol. Shirley me confessou depois que ele queria experimentar a iguaria. Maniçoba é um tipo de culinária do Pará, preparado com a folha da mandioca triturada, temperos, carnes secas e verdes e vísceras dói boi e do porco. Assemelha-se muito com a feijoada completa. Os três degustaram com muito apetite. Como o prato não é o meu forte, escolhi carne-de-sol.

Retornamos para Salvador na segunda pela manhã. Na passagem por Santo Amaro, levamos Danielle para conhecer a feira, um local bastante visitado pelos turistas. Tradicionalmente a segunda-feira é o dia em que os santamarenses aproveitam para fazer as compras. Encontra-se de tudo. É uma atração à parte. Para não perder o hábito, Danielle aumentou o seu acervo fotográfico com as variedades de produtos expostos no local.

O nosso caríssimo Danielle Messina retornou para Frankfurt deixando saudades. Durante a sua permanência em Salvador, mantive contato várias vezes no ICBIE, além de outras oportunidades, conversando diferentes assuntos, inclusive sobre suas viagens. Apesar do pouco domínio da língua italiana (pretendo retornar às aulas com a Professora Marlene), deu para entender muitas coisas. Foi uma experiência muito interessante!

Txt e fotos: JFParanaguá.
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There was one thing about Daniele that caught my attention: his passion for photography!  We both love that art.  It’s so deep that we always have a camera hanging from our necks, justifying the title of “attentive observer”, a term coined to describe the much missed journalist friend Gerson de Sousa.  At any rate, he beat me: he never missed a shot or a tiny detail.  In respect to that, Pietro commented to me, “Remember our trip to Europe?  You wanted to capture every little thing that was interesting.  He’s the same!” That’s the truth, I agreed!

In the late afternoon of Saturday the 15th, I set off with Pietro and Daniele, keeping my promise for a delightful weekend trip to Santo Amaro.  We took a stroll for a few minutes in the main square of the city, so Daniele could photograph the old palaces and the church of Santo Amaro’s patron saint, Nossa Senhora da Purificação. He was also able to see the house of Dona Canô, the mother of the siblings Maria Bethânia and Caetano Veloso.   By the time we reached our destination, night had fallen.  My wife Shirley and the young princesses Iamani and Irani welcomed us to the house.  The reception was a warm one!  The only thing that was missing was a brass band to announce the arrival of the guests!

Early Sunday morning, Daniele was ready and waiting for me to take him for a tour of the environs.  He was struck by the variety of cultivated fruits (abacate, pitanga, abacaxi, caju, cacau, biribiri, carambola, sapoti, among others), as well as the wild flowers, carnations and some urucum - a kind of plant used by the indios for body paint and commonly used as a spice in some recipes.  After a coffee break, we took a horse ride around the property.  Pietro was worried because it was the first time that Daniele went horseback riding.  In that case, I always keep a slow pace for the ride, to avoid any damages to the body of the guest.

During the afternoon, Shirley accompanied us on the visit we made to Cachoeira and São Félix. As a native sanfelista, she had to bear the responsibility of guiding us around her home town.  During the excursion, I noticed that Daniele was consulting a book, I don’t know if it was in Italian or German, looking at the pages with information and tourist itineraries to the places that he wanted to see.

As evening fell, the vistas were cinematographic.  The two cities are separated by the Paraguaçu river.  An iron bridge built by Dom Pedro I is the principal connection between the cities of Cachoeira, São Felix, Maragojipe and Muritiba, on the other side in the southern region of the state, along the BR-101 highway. The first stop in Cachoeira was the Church of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda. On that day, they had organized a religious procession for the washing of the approach to the church.  Bahian women dressed in their typical outfits, carrying in their arms clay pots full of flowers and perfumed water, along with worshipers and people from other cities, watched as a band of flutists played for the start of the washing.  To see more details: www.festadaajuda2008.blogspot.com.br

The next stop was in the city center.  We decided to take a tour on foot, so Daniele could take all the photos he wanted of facades of palaces, churches and convents, worthy pieces of baroque architecture such as the Santa Casa da Misericórdia (século XVIII); Capela de Santa Bárbara; Chafariz Municipal (19th century);  Matriz do Rosário; Irmandade da Boa Morte; Convento Nossa Senhora do Carmo, and other important buildings.

In São Félix, we passed in front of the the Dannemann Cultural Center, founded in 1989 — the Danneman company was created by the German Gerard Danne, in 1873 — in the residence of Hansen Bahia. We visited the Fonte Milagrosa de Santa Bárbara, that attracts a great number of pilgrims.  The peak of the pilgrimages comes on the 4th of December, the Feast of Santa Bárbara. Shirley helped us to find one of the highest places on the road to Muritiba, for a shot of the panoramic view of the two cities.

On the way back to Cachoeira we encountered a parade that was dancing to the rhythms of Axé music, with crowds of people filling the streets of the city.  Daniele and I went along with the throng, capturing beautiful images full of choruses, people and fantasies. Exhausted after the long walk in the insupportable heat, we found Pietro and Shirley, who were in front of a restaurant, sitting in the shade of a tree on a dock along the banks of the Paraguaçu river. We ordered two specialties: maniçoba, suggested by Pietro, and carne-do-sol. Shirley later confessed to me that she wanted to try the delicacy.  Maniçoba is a specialty of Pará, prepared with a leaf of chopped cassava, seasonings, dried meats, greens and the innards of ox and pig.  It is a lot like a complete feijoada.  The three of them devoured it with great appetite.  Seeing as the plate is not one of my favorites, I chose the carne-de-sol.

We returned to Salvador on Monday morning.  On the road from Santo Amaro, we took Daniele to a market, a place often visited by tourists.  Traditionally, Monday is the day that the santamarenses dedicate to shopping.  You can find almost everything.  It’s a unique attraction.  So as not to loose the habit, Daniele added to his mass of photos, with all the varieties of products that were displayed.

Our dear Daniele Messina returned to Frankfurt full of nostalgia.  During his stay in Salvador, I saw him a number of times at the ICBIE and other times, and we talked about a lot of things, including his travels.  I was hindered  by my approximate knowledge of Italian (I intend to return to the classroom of Professora Marlene), and it was hard to understand a whole lot.  It was a really interesting experience!

Text and photos: JFParanaguá.

“I strongly believe in ICBIE and in the positive difference it makes in the lives of those who study or work there, and for all those who come across it whilst travelling, who fall in love with the people, the place and the human goodness within it.”
- Claire Bertaud, volunteer and friend of ICBIE

Living and working as a volunteer English teacher in ICBIE was one of the most human and rewarding experiences I’ve had. The groups I taught were very diverse in age and this, rather than being an obstacle, gave the lessons even more energy and dynamism in every activity and material we explored. The students always arrived to class with a friendliness and enthusiasm to learn, which made everyone feel familiar and comfortable working and communicating with each other from the start. Even those who came after a long day of work came with the desire to learn and improve their English. Our conversation classes transformed from the beginning into a more creative and dynamic space, with singing, language games, and most importantly, theatre, which inspired the students in the most creative and expressive ways.
In five weeks I feel that we achieved our goal for the students to improve their spoken English but much more than this, we had all used the language to learn more about each other; about each other’s daily experiences and personalities; to bring life to a story of “The three little pigs”; to build bridges between our two cultures and to express ourselves.

I strongly believe in ICBIE and in the positive difference it makes in the lives of those who study or work there, and for all those who come across it whilst travelling, who fall in love with the people, the place and the human goodness within it. I write with hope that the ICBIE will receive the necessary help and support to regain the strength and energy it needs to survive. It’s time for all our friends and supporters of ICBIE and for all those who believe in art and culture and who believe in making a positive change in people’s lives, to give a hand to ICBIE and to the little universe of culture and friendship being built on the other side of the ocean.

Make a donation to the ICBIE today!

(English translation below)

Grande successo della festa tesseramento soci ICBIE Italia ieri sera, sabato 13 dicembre al Beba do Samba nel colorato quartiere di San Lorenzo.Ancora una volta la capacità organizzativa ed il tam tam innescato dall’attivissima segreteria operativa dell’ICBIE a Roma (Marcella, Monica, Loona, Consuelo, Roy, Pina….solo per citarne qualcuno) ha portato un consistente numero di sostenitori a partecipare alla serata.

I presenti hanno potuto ascoltare e farsi coinvolgere dalla esilarante performance di Julio da Recife ed il suo trascinante ritmo del Maracatu, dal samba reggae degli Akuna Matata e lasciarsi andare alla dance con le note di DJ Damiao.

Dunque ancora una serata divertente e coinvolgente che ci ha dimostrato ancora una volta il sostegno dei nostri amici e di chi conosce l’ICBIE, ormai amichevolmente “schedati” tra i nostri contatti grazie alle 165 tessere di socio che abbiamo rilasciato in una sola ma grande serata come quella appena conclusasi.

Aspettiamo molti ancora al corso di samba della nostra meravigliosa VAL, i prossimi mercoledi, giovedi e venerdi ancora al Beba do Samba dalle 18 alle 20.

Marcella

A big success for the ICBIE membership inscription party last night, Saturday December 13th at the Beba do Samba in the lively San Lorenzo quarter.  Once again the organization skills and the buzzing grapevine set off by the hyperactive Rome ICBIE office (Marcella, Monica, Loona, Consuelo, Roy, Pina…just to name a few) brought a hefty number of backers to participate in the evening.

Everyone was able to hear and get swept into the exhilarating performance by Julio from Recife with his irresistible Maracatu rhythms, and by Akuna Matata’s samba reggae and then to dance the night away to the beats of DJ Damiao.

So it was another entertaining and friendly evening that showed us once again the support of our friends and those who are familiar with the ICBIE, now officially inscribed as our contacts, thanks to the 165 memberschip cards that we distributed in one great evening like last night.

We are all eagerly awaiting the next samba courses offered by our marvelous Val, next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, always at Beba do Samba, from 6 to 8 PM.

Marcella