WARREN —Ten students from Our Lady of Fatima High School enjoyed an experience that they will always treasure when they traveled to Brazil over spring break to meet their e-mail pen pals.
The group of six boys and four girls visited the city of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, where they met their Internet friends who attend the Escola de Ensino Medio Governador Celso Ramos.
The exchange was coordinated by Fatima faculty member Melissa Leite, who teaches Portuguese and English, and her friend Maria Goreti Gomes, an English-as-a-Foreign?Language teacher at the Brazilian high school and a reporter for a newspaper published for educators.
The enthusiastic students were chaperoned by Leite and her husband Vilson, a native of Brazil. The trip was the culmination of a project that began last September when both groups of students began to exchange short letters via e-mail.
The Fatima students write in Portuguese, while their Brazilian counterparts reply in English in an effort to improve their language comprehension and writing skills.
While in Brazil, the Rhode Islanders toured schools, visited popular tourist sites, sampled Brazilian cuisine and learned about the country’s unique culture that has been influenced by diverse groups from many parts of the world.
“The culture was very different,” said Kristine DaSilva, a sophomore at the Warren school. She said that everywhere the group traveled, people stared in amazement because few American tourists ever visit that part of Brazil, which is popular with German tourists.
The Fatima students learned that life can be very difficult for Brazilian students, many of whom must work to help support their families while also attending school. Young students babysit while older high schoolers work in hotels and stores.
The Brazilians attend classes for four hours per day, Monday through Friday. Sessions are held in the morning, afternoon and evening to accommodate the students’ work schedule.
The Catholic school students were amazed that their Brazilian friends wore very casual attire to school, although uniforms were required. Classes were large, with about 40 members and there was no air conditioning.
The Rhode Island group later visited a Catholic school conducted by the Sisters of Providence.
The facility was very modern, air conditioned and the students were orderly.
Sophomore Victoria Harris recalled that the conditions she found in South America were similar to those she experienced while living in Southern Italy, except that Brazil’s climate is tropical and much warmer.
“I love visiting other countries,” said Harris. “I wanted to see how different it is. Brazil is a very laid-back country.”
Reinaldo Ramos, a junior at Fatima and a native of Puerto Rico, said that Brazil reminded him of his homeland. He said the scenery, architecture and weather were similar to where he lived before moving to Rhode Island.
According to the young travelers, Brazilian teens share many likenesses with their American peers.
Both groups play the same music, have cell phones and Facebook pages and enjoy hanging out at the local mall. Brazilians of all ages love soccer, and enthusiastically support favorite teams.
While the Fatima students enjoyed eating at McDonald’s and were amazed to find a similar menu, they thought the prices at the Brazilian restaurant were “expensive.”
The Fatima students were also impressed by the Brazilians’ strong faith. The group attended a Mass celebrated in Portuguese in a church that was filled to capacity and where many people sang.
Although the young travelers enjoyed their journey to South America, they all agreed that it was good to return to familiar surroundings.
“It gave me a greater appreciation for what I have,” said sophomore Oscar TojMendez, who agreed with his classmates that the trip to Brazil was an adventure that will always be remembered.
