Sailing the Amazon

Just came from briefing by American Embassy personnel (Ambassador couldn't make it), Brazilian college professor and the wife of the American Ambassador.  Emphasis on continuation of good relations between US and Brazil.  Brazil  now 8th wealthiest nation in the world, soon to be 5th.   One big problem in Brazil is racial bias.  50% of citizens are white, 40% brown, 5%, black and 2% yellow and something else.    Funny, because Americans don't exactly use these terms.  However, the government is providing health benefits, trying to improve education and has no debt.  There's a concept! Another little problem is reforesting.  Trying to educate owners of land that it isn't in anyone's best interests to destroy trees which provide much of the oxygen in the world and shouldn't be destroyed to plant corn, although corn is a huge portion of production, as 40% of automobiles are ethanol driven.  Also found out that Portugal once had Rio de Janiero as its capital.


After this briefing (there were probably 50 people attending), there was a talent show by the students.  Absolutely hilarious.  Obviously thrown together at last minute, but these students thought it was the best thing they've ever seen.  One girl did Ga Ga, another was a fiddle player, duets, ukelele player, rap, etc., with a finale of a rendition of Titanic, lyrics about SAS ship.  The applause was constant, hooting and hollering!  Been a long time  since I've been around 600 students and their music.  Glad I couldn't understand the lyrics!  Now they are down there dancing and rocking the ship.  We're only doing 11 knots (did 26 knots  on the roughest day) Time for the oldtimers to hit the sack.  Tomorrow is  Reading day and no classes.  Joan