AMERICAN CULTURE JOURNAL

I have a dream ... no I had a dream !!!

I am here, in the United States of America. I HAD a dream because now is real. This course was a dream for me.  I didn't believe when I saw my name on the list. Now, I know that it isn’t too late to realize a dream. Here I am.   It is going to be a unique experience in my life that is going to open a lot of doors. I hope to learn a lot, develop my knowledge and have a great experience with the language be. When I come back to Brazil I am going to try to put everything in practice with my students because while here I have the opportunity to study, rethink, learn, reflect and live the language for some weeks.

WE, THE PEOPLE ... AROUND THE WORLD.

 

The American culture _ customs and traditions of the United States_ including language, religion, food and the arts. Every region of the world has influenced American culture, as it is a country of immigrants.  Colonized by English in the early 1600s. U.S. culture has also been shaped by the cultures of Native Americans, Latin Americans, Africans and Asians.As the third largest country in the word with a population of more than 315 million, the United States is the most culturally diverse country in the world, different cultures have contributed  to American culture all regions of the United States have distinct traditions and customs.

Today American culture influences the world.

JANUARY, 11TH

First Day in Philadelphia. I am here. Is it true ??? It's amazing. Rony, Laerte, Juliana, Geane,  Ivete and me_ the "sixers"... arrived in Philladelphia airport at 2 AM and Ben was there waiting for us. My first impression ... It was so cold !!!!!

When I arrived in I House it was confused. My first impression was not good. It looked like dark, old and unclear but now this image change.

Our first American Lunch in Shake Shek ... when we saw the fries it was fun, because it's so different , wilted and oily. In Brazil they are crunchy... 

First tour in Philadelphia ... We are sing in the rain ... wow, no, I'm wrong ... we are walking in the rain. 

I never imaged do a tour while was  raining. It was my first time doing this, only in the USA.

 JANUARY, 12 th

We met our all group and Mara to have a lunch and we went to downtown  to shop cold clothes and to do a tour. We knew more about touristic places in Philly and know the LOVE Monument.

JANUARY, 13 th 

First class day at Drexel University .
We have a orientation and visited some different places where we going to study. I am so scary, because I didn't  understand many thing that the american said... I have to be attention when they talk.
We go to have lunch at firt time in Dinning Room. There were many different kinds of food. Different flavor, so spicy!!!!

JANUARY, 14 th

At morning our classes started at Drexel University. It's was so new! The people, the place, the culture...

At night We had a "Welcome Reception". We knew some other students from other countries and we talked about many things.

JANUARY, 15 th

Voluntary work at Plilabundance. Food insecurity—the lack of access to nutritious, affordable food—is present in every community include in USA. It's unbeliveble !!!!! In the USA????. Philabundance is based on Delaware Valley.  From children and seniors to the increasing number of working poor, hunger affects. Philabundance provides food to approximately 72,000 people per week through our network of  nearly 500 member agencies including food cupboards, shelters, emergency kitchen, and more. I did many volunteer work in Brazil, but don't like this, with this organization . It was a special day.

JANUARY, 17 th 

At morning, we had observartion classes. I went to observe a Writing/Reading class to foreign people. There were people from different countries. Its was a good experience saw like the instructor worked the language in the class.

At afternoon, we went to Constitution Center with our intructor Ben. And we learned many think about this part of american history. I saw the Liberty Bell too, a important symbol in the USA. This bell was present in many important moments of america history. If this bell called !!!!!!

JANUARY, 18 th

Geane, Juliana and me went to do a tour in Philly. We know a Barnes Foundation, where we visited a exhibitions from famous painters. We passed across the Fountain of Tree Rivers and went to attend  a spanish mass in the church Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul. There were a lots of foreign people there, probably Mexicans and many children. It was a different  and important experience. 

JANUARY, 20 th

The Stone Of Hope" memorial by master sculptor Lei Yixin was opened to the public in West Potomac Park, Washington DC

Martin Luther King Day  is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States. In this day I do voluntary work at West Philadelphia Achievement Charter Elementary School. We learned about Martin Luther King and about charter school. 

Charter Schools are independently operated public schools that are funded with federal, state and local tax .  These schools are established to provide families with more educational alternatives for their children. Charters are non-profit, non sectarian, organizations that are approved by the local Board of Education   (the "authorizer") or the State Appeal Board. Each charter has its own Board of Trustees and administrative staff and operates as a separate, independent  local educational agency (LEA). 

Charter schools are accountable to their authorizer, however, for making academic progress, for fulfilling the terms of both its original charter and of its Charter Agreement  and for complying with a number of  applicable federal statutes. Each charter school should have a Parent/Community Handbook which explains the school's rules , how it complies with these statutes, a listing of dates and times for Board of Trustees' meetings , the procedure to be followed for parental inquiries and complaints and many other details about the school's operations.

JANUARY, 23rd

It's my daughter birthday, She is 9 today. I sang " Happy birthday" to her by Skype ... God bless the SKYPE!

It' was a difficulty day because I remembered her all day. It's a important day to us and I weren't there to her. I missed my daughter very much. Sorry my dear, mammy isn't here with you today... I love you so much.

First Day with snow, cancelled classes ... YUPIIIIIIIIIIII !!!!!!

I had a dream of a very white snow, covering inside and outside my house. Today, I pick up the snow ... it's so freezing LOL.

JANUARY, 24th 

Visit a Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Plymounth is a Private-Independence school. There are few students in the classroom and they are group with some students in a table.

Plymouth Meeting Friends School was established in 1780 by members of Plymouth Monthly Meeting to provide elementary education based on the Quaker belief that there is that of God in each person. They emphasize the Quaker testimonies of Peace, Simplicity, Equality, Integrity, Community, and Stewardship in everything we do, and our graduates take these beliefs with them into life. The curriculum promote  academics... The school emphasize peaceful, non-violent response to conflict as well as the development of responsibility to our local and global communities. I had the opportunity to watch a spanish classes, and I loved very much.The teacher read abook to students and mixed the language english/spanish Then ask simple question to the student. At the end of the class she play a number games with the students

JANUARY, 29th

 NBA Basketball game  Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Haws .

I didn't watch a basketball game, I watched a spectacle. The sport of basketball has captivated the nation and the world for more than 120 years. In USA. basketball  is  a " national love" like soccer in Brazil.

JANUARY, 31th

Jilvania birhtday. we do a american party to her. American because didn't have the thinks that we usually have in Brazil,  like coxinha, beijinho e brigadeiro. In the party had cake, cupcakes, fries and pizza.

coxinha

beijinho

brigadeiro

FEBRUARY, 01 ST

We visited the Art Museum with Ben Barnett, American Culture Instructor. It was amazing see the special art that I knew only books. Like Philadelphia’s own Parthenon, the Philadelphia Museum of Art sits majestically on a rise at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The vast collections ( Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, El Grecco ... I stayed near this famous arts) of this temple of art make it the third-largest art museum in the country, and an absolute must-see on the city’s cultural circuit. The entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art have become known as the ROCKY STEPS as a result of their appearance in the triple-Oscar-winning film Rocky.

FEBRUARY, 02 ND

Juliana, Geane and me went to Rodin Museum, San Paul Cathedral, Barnes Foundation and Natural History Museum. The Rodin Museum is a museum located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which contains the largest collection of sculptor Auguste Rodin's  works outside Paris.
The best-known of Rodin's works,The Thinker (1880–1882), sits outside the museum in the entry courtyard. Visitors once entered through a cast of The Gates of Hell, located at the main entrance to the museum, which is no longer used. This massive 5.5-m-tall bronze doorway was originally created for the Museum of Decorative Arts (which was to have been located in Paris but never came into existence). Rodin sculpted more than 100 figures for these doors from 1880 until his death in 1917. This casting is one of the three originals; several others have been made since. Several of his most famous works, including The Thinker, are actually studies for these doors which were later expanded into separate works.The museum's several rooms house many more of the artist's works, including The Kiss(1886), Eternal Springtime (1884), The Age of Bronze (1875–76) and others. I saw all ...

FEBRUARY, 5th

Hello everyone! Today we went  do a tour at Old City, a first part of Philadelpphia, where this city begun. Is a amazing place with old building  and little streets. Elfreth's Alley was a firt village. We went to City Tavern an old and traditional restaurant here and we had a dinner, a tradition soup. 

FEBRUARY 6 th

A meeting with International Visitor Council Org. There were many different people  from different countries. It's was a reception with aperitizes. We spoken a lot about many different subjects. 

FEBRUARY, 7 th

At morning we went to visit a Charter School. The same school where we do a voluntary work in Martin Luther King day West Philadelphia Achievement Charter Elementary School but now we can enter at school and watch some classes. I guess that the teachers didn´t like our visit so much because in some classes they didn´t look at to us, talk or at least answer  ¨Good morning!¨. I am a little confuse about the American Education. They talk about liberty, individualism, independence, but ,at school, to talk, to stand up, to ask the student must up the hands... this there is a authoritary mean. 

At afternoon We went to know a Friends Meeting, we went to Friends Meeting Center with Ben to know more about this kind of ¨live philosophy¨ to me and how Quakers work with sustainability.The Religious Society Friends began as a movement in England in the 17th century. Members are informally known as Quakers, as they were said "to tremble in the way of the Lord." The Society of Friends,  has been influential in the history of reform. The state of Pennsylvania was founded by Willian Penn in 1682, as a safe place for Quakers to live and practice their faith. Quakers have been a significant part of the movements for the abolition of slavery, to promote equal rights for women, and peace. 

After this, we went to Edgar Allan Poe House. The house is very interesting, we can feel the smell of Poe, his poems, his tales, his voice... Everything is perfect, old but with the Poe's essence. 

FEBRUARY 8 th

Trip to Washington DC. 

Today was a wonderful day!!!!! My English teachers colleagues, Ben, Mara and me went to  Washington DC.A little travel of more or less tree hours with low temperature as usual.  We went to the White House.The official residence of the current president Barack Obama. The building was constructed between  the period of 1792 and 1800. It was expanded by Thomas Jefferson and has been he executive residence of every U.S. President since John Adams's tenure. In front of of White House there was a homeless sleeping, every day my taboos from USA are broken, I didn´t imagine see this here yet.

After a little tour in the streets around to the White House, with a little stop in the Capitol to take pictures. 

The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the Unites States Congress, the legislature of the U.S. federal government. Located in Washington DC. Though it has never been the geography center of the federal district, the Capitol is the origin by which the quadrant of the district are divided and the city was planned.Officially, both the east and west sides of the Capitol are referred to as fronts. Historically, however, only the east front of the building was intended for the arrival of visitors and dignitaries.

Lincoln Memorial

We went to visit some museums.The Smithsonian Institution established in 1846 is a group of museums and research centers administered by the United States government. Originally organized as the "United States National Museum, nucleus of nineteen museums, nine research centers, and zoo—many of them historical or architectural landmarks—is the largest such complex in the world. In a short period of time I went to four different places.

The National Museum of Natural History.
An attractive  place with a huge African elephant in the entrance. A place with dinosaurs bones and their reconstruction.  The tyrannosaurus rex called my attention by its big size and big teeth. It was almost possible to imagine it live. And in the fossil lab, transparent glass windows allow us to see scientists working with fossils and making molds.

Space Museum: National Air and Space Museum.

It is a place with amazing and large collection of historic air and spacecraft. There I read about Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer that that contributed to the understand of universe with his observations. I saw many things related to the Photographies seeing this subject of a perspective of a way to explore the universe.

I read about the pioneer in aviation Wright brothers, but I don't believe in this information (Am I american because I don't believe this ?). I believe that Santos Dumont, a brazilian inventor,on November 13th, 1890 he put a dirigible in the air, because of this he is considered the Father of Aviation

 

American History Museum

 The National Museum of American History covers the wonders, flaws, innovations and quirks that make the United States, the country it is today. For visitors here are ten facts that may test the mind or encourage more investigation. In this Museum there is a part of WTC. The September 11th was a sad part of the actual american history. I remember that I were at School and when the students arrived told me what was happened. I didn't believe and run at teacher office to on the TV.

We went to Geogetown to dinner and make shop. Juliana, Geane, Ivete and me go to Vietnamese restaurant and we had a culture matter. In Brazil, the tip is charged in the bill, we don't give at to waiter/waitress, but we know that here in the USA is different. However, when we payed the bill at Vietnamese restaurant we forgot to give the tip and the waitress said unpolite: "Tip, tip is $7". It was compelling ... She could ask the tip but another way, polite way.

I had the opportunity to know Eve´s family_ her mother and brother. They are very friendly and amazing. They spoke with us a lot. Eve is always smile ...

I would like see the Library of Congress and the ZOO, but it was impossible because they are very far. It's a pitty! That was a fast visit.I loved the trip and I intend come back with my family to know.

FEBRUARY, 09TH

It was a AMAZING day! We go to shopping !Yeah!!!! We know a new place: "King of Prussia Mall". This mall is the biggest of the USA. The prices isn't good, but there are a lot of different shops to see, and I had many opportunities to speak with native American and foreign people.

My daughter wanted a bag from Monster high but I did't find here. The school year is different in Brazil and USA, in Brazil we begin the classes at February and in USA at August. In this moment ,don´t have scholar material to buy here. However my friend Maíra found the bag in the mall and bought to my daughter. Thansks Maíra, my daughter loved!

FEBRUARY, 12 TH

Many classes, many works to do ... I'm so nervous!

In the morning at American Culture class Ben told to us about the tips. Many visitors to the U.S. feel pressured to tip even when they do not feel it is fair or reasonable to do so.  Customers cannot be forced to tip as a matter of law, but they are legally required to pay any charges that are clearly marked prior to service, and these may include mandatory gratuities (tips).  Mandatory gratuities are used by some restaurants with large numbers of foreign customers who may not be familiar with American tipping customs, often in tourist centers such as New York City.  Mandatory gratuities also are charged by many restaurants when large groups are being served.

FEBRUARY 13, TH

Another storm and cancelled classes. We are like prisoner.  I  go out  only to lunch but in Chili beans , a restaurant across the street. Yesterday, I went to supermarket to buy  food, but the market didn't accept the dragons dollar. I didn't have food.But, in the other hands i finihed some homework . I'm happy for this...

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/02/13/snow-totals-piling-up-fast/

FEBRUARY 14, TH

All across the globe, the occasion of Valentine’s Day is observed on 14th February every year, included in USA. However,  Brazilian celebrate "Dia dos Namorados" on 12th June. In the USA, the festival has a special significance in the hearts of the people. The entire day is celebrated with friends, family and relatives. Special meals are prepared, parties are arranged and friends and family members gather to spend some quality time together. Whether you are spending time with your special one or touring the local areas to view the sights and festive decors. In fact, this celebration is a mega social event here.

  In Brazil, we celebrate but only with boyfriend/girlfriend and we don't have arranged in our house.  Is only romantics and the passionate lovers.

FEBRUARY,15TH 

Today we immerse again in american culture, we went to Franklin Mill, another mall in Philly. Is a interesnting place . There are many shops and we knew and talked with different person.We know many brazilian in this mall too.

FEBRUARY, 16TH

I have a little problem early morning with the brazilian seasonal time. My cell phone was program with brazilian seasonal time saturday over the Summer time, and my cell came back 1 hour. When I waked up and watched the hour in cell, I noted something strnger with hours and ckecked in the Ipad. I was 1 hour late, I runned... We went the mass at Saint James Church, near I house, and today U understood better the mass in english. After, we went to know the Eatern State Penintentiary  is a former prison . It is found at 2027 Fairmount Avenue between

Corinthian Avenue and North 22nd Street in the Fairmount  section of the city, and was operational from 1829 until 1971. Notorious criminals such as bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone were held inside its innovative wagon wheel design. At its completion, the building was the largest and most expensive public structure ever erected, and quickly became a model for more than 300 prisons worldwide.

FEBRUARY, 17TH
 
   This course gives us the opportunity to practice and reflect upon our teaching and always improve. I´m dedicating  myself as a teacher and as a student, always reading, studying hard and having contact with the language.