Mom Blog

S3 will backfill the other details of the trip perhaps a 14-year-old either missed or finds inconsequential. On Sunday, we all were able to sleep in until 11:30 (it was awesome)before we boarded our "coach" for the professional soccer game. Seems every time we travel, we pick up anywhere from 2-8 additional Brazilians. Most times we recognize them from our homestays in Seattle, the rest, not so much. General interpretation is either cousins, spouses or children of the homestay boys, teachers here or the bus drivers. Everyone says "Bom Gia" with hugs and kisses, so it's all good.

Our morning safety briefing was the most detailed so far. No purses, no wearing green (an opposing team color) and all women sit on the inside. However, we realized due to our early arrival we could pick whatever seats we wanted in our section, were able to easily sit together, and had ample time to hit the port-a-lets prior to kick-off. Funny notes: the food vendors walk thru the aisle and you have to continually lift your legs to let them pass throughout the game, it was 75 degrees during the winter and we heavily sunscreened everyone, the opposing team had a very small section of seats separated by a 20-ft fence and guarded by multiple police officers with uzi's, and a "hot do" is a "hot dog" with a "g" missing from the vendor oven. (We'll take 15.)

The game started with unbelieveable pageantry, the fan flags were unveiled over the entire section 100 seats wide by 100 seats upward... and multiple different flags were brought out throughout the game. Chants, songs, clapping, boo'ing - you name it... the Brazilians LOVE their soccer.

Fernando explained that the two largest fan clubs in the world belong to these two teams. Only Xinho was pained when the home town Corinthians beat the Flamencos of Rio. "I hate those guys!" Our Seattle pal, Sereta, was the #4 referee of the match(his professional job) and we loudly boo'd "robber!!" in Portugese when he came on and off the field.

The home team won, 1-0, and we left the barbed-wired, horse-patroled stadium with all 14 boys intact.

The next day, Monday, we went to the CK academy (a private school Mido and his wife teach at)for a tour and futsol game. The boys--wearing their Eastside FC uniforms --were very respectful talking to a kindergarten art class and an English class. The interesting thing about this school is that it is conjoined with the Brazilian beisbol (baseball) academy. The youth pro players attend classes in the morning and then train at the pro facility in the afternoon. Two boys from South Carolina were training there for the summer, and clearly were happy to spend the afternoon with fellow Americans.

Our boys were the main event (o.k., the only event) of the late morning school assembly for a futsol game against the school kids in the gym (Brazilians somehow never seem to have to be in class if a soccer game is to be played.) It was a rowdy, fun game of EFC vs. kids, and then EFC vs. coaches. Lots of laughter - and Kyle's younger brother, Nick Bastian, at age 7 made his EFC debut.

The average minimum wage in Brazil is 550 Real and the private school costs 680 Real/month so it is very exclusive. This set up good perspective for our boys when we visit Fernando's non-profit school for high-achieving underpriviledged kids on Thursday.

Today, Tuesday, the three team sisters, Geena, Megan and Grace, went to volunteer at Fernando's school, Quero Ser. They worked with the younger kids on their English in the morning, and in the afternoon they taught the older kids ultimate frisbee. The rest of the team traveled to Sorocabo... a "Bellevue-like" town where Xinho went to university. We visited an even more exclusive private school (1500 Real/month) and were bowled over by the reception we received. The head priest, Father Fernando :), met us and Coach Fernando presented him with smoked Sockeye Salmon from Seattle. He told him it was so special, he needed to eat it quickly and in private. :) We also presented the team with new Eastside FC t-shirts which we purchased for exchange with every team we have played so far.

The opposing school team and ours took a friendly pre-game photo together, and then all gloves were off. (Have we mentioned that Brazilians take their soccer very seriously?) Thankfully, there was the now very familiar fencing surrounding the field to hold the fans back. Even 8-15 year olds can be somewhat daunting when their team is playing. The parents were laughing hysterically because we felt like we were accompanying rockstars. These fans come from wealthy families and have studied English for years. All of them, based on their level of bravado, approached us to take a stab at "talking face-to-face with their first Americans!" We fielded questions ranging from "what is your name," to "how long and when should I go to DisneyWorld including seeing Harry Potter at Univeral Studios?" The Brazilian boys were pretty much done with the amount of drooling the Brazilian girls were doing over our boys, and in an attempt to strike back would yell, "Your parents are in the Army!" (Huh?) We all could appreciate what Lady Gaga must go through every day! (The boys' blog covers the game.)

On our way back, and after the soccer store, we drove through a town called "Aluminumville" (that's the American translation). It's a bit Stepford, the streets, banks, housing, and school etc. are all paid by the owner of the ridiculously large factory which produce the most aluminum for Brazil. Truly amazing.

Tonight, a few more families continued their thank you individual dinners hosted by the local families of the boys they hosted. (John scored with a thank you gift of a soccer jersey signed by Pele!) Fernando met with the town mayor, while Dr. Connie Lehman (Samalamadingdong's mom), lectured on Breast Cancer research breakthrough via research in the U.S.

Think that fills the gaps as far as the trip the parents are experiencing vs. the rockin' time the boys are having. What a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of us.