Making connections

We started the week with another busy day, and the awareness that we'll soon say goodbye to our new friends in Vale do Aco.

Our first group activity was meeting business leaders in Timoteo - at the Brazilian equivalent of the Chamber of Commerce. The leadership was eager to receive us and praised the exchange program's efforts to provide college students (both from Brazil and the U.S.) with international educational experiences. They pointed to making connections on a global level, as well as exposure to other cultures, as a key to business success. All of the participants introduced themselves and there was discussion about successful business programs initiated by the Timoteo-based agency.

Next, our CCC&TI and Surry CC students attended Portuguese class at UNIPAC. Our students' Portuguese continues to improve and they get lots compliments. The other half of the group toured a local newspaper then filmed a brief TV segment about our visit. 

After lunch, the group visited a nature/sustainability center, Oikos. The facility is owned and operated by another of the largest steel manufacturers in Brasil. The goal of the center is to promote healthy activities for employees such as growing vegetables and environmentally-friendly activities such as composting. 

The day ended with a presentation at UNIPAC's campus in Ipatinga where school officials talked about the CCC&TI-Brazil Connection, plus the addition of new partner, Surry Community College. Several in attendance are planning to visit the United States in September to study English and International Business Management. We're already looking forward to seeing them.

Today we say "tchau" to Vale do Aca and our new friends here. This community is small compared to the other cities on this trip - but the hospitality, warmth and generosity here is huge!

Next up is Sao Paulo - Brazil's largest city and the seventh largest in the world.