School Vacation in Brazil

Since the seasons are opposites in Brazil and the United States, the school year
there is also in a different order.

The long Summer vacation takes place from December to February, when a new
school year starts. Winter break is usually two-weeks long in July.

Brazilian schools usually offer a foreign language in their curriculum. English is
generally taught as a second language, and when a young professional looks for
a job, the companies expect that the candidate can speak at least English as a
second language.

Other languages that might be offered as a second language in schools are
French, Spanish, and German.

Brazilian holidays...we have a big list!!! It is normal if nobody answers the phone during Carnaval!!!

Brazil has a long list of Holidays. And if a Holiday comes to a Tuesday or Thursday, probably there will not be work on Monday or Friday. This is very common!

And Carnaval is a huge deal in Brazil! At least four days of incredible events everywhere: Samba in Rio and Sao Paulo, Axe Music in Bahia, Frevo in Pernambuco and much more!

Brazilians say that "the year begins after Carnaval". That's because events begin in the end of the year with Christmas and New Year's Eve and this "party spirit" will calm down only after Carnaval.

If you try to call an office, a company, an industry during Carnaval, and nobody answers the phone, that is completely normal...it is Carnaval!!!

Brazilian Holidays 2012

January 1, Confraternização Universal (national holiday);
February 20, Carnaval (optional);
February 21, Carnaval (optional);
February 22, quarta-feira de Cinzas (optional until 2 pm);
April 6, Paixão de Cristo (optional);
April 21, Tiradentes (national holiday);
May 1, Dia Mundial do Trabalho (national holiday);
June 7, Corpus Christi (optional);
September 7, Independência do Brasil (national holiday);
October 12, Nossa Senhora Aparecida (national holiday);
October 28, Dia do Servidor Público - art. 236 da Lei nº 8.112, de 11 de dezembro de 1990;
November 2, Finados (national holiday);
November 15, Proclamação da República (national holiday);
December 24 de dezembro, véspera do Natal (optional);
December 25, Natal (national holiday); e
December 31, véspera de Ano Novo (optional).

Source: http://www.mp.gov.br/noticia.asp?p=not&cod=7960&cat=26&sec=11

Voce sabe quais sao os feriados oficiais nos Estados Unidos em 2012?

Os Estados Unidos nao possuem muitos feriados. A lista abaixo eh a oficial do pais, mas todos esses feriados sao tirados em escolas e em orgaos publicos. As empresas privadas tem uma lista muito menor que essa!!!

2* de Janeiro	New Year's Day - Ano Novo
16 de Janeiro	Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. - Aniversario do Martin Luther King Jr.
20** de Fevereiro	Washington's Birthday - Dia do Presidente
28 de Maio	Memorial Day - Homenagem aos mortos da Guerra Civil
4 de Julho	Independence Day - Declaracao da Independencia dos EUA
3 de Setembro	Labor Day - Dia do Trabalho
8 de Outubro	Columbus Day - Homenagem a Cristovao Colombo, descobridor das Americas.
12*** de Novembro	Veterans Day - Homenagem aos Veteranos de Guerra dos Estados Unidos
22 de Novembro	Thanksgiving Day - Acao de Gracas
25 de Novembro	Christmas Day - Natal

* January 1, 2012 (the legal public holiday for New Year's Day), falls on a Sunday. For most Federal employees, Monday, January 2, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See section 3(a) of Executive order 11582, February 11, 1971.)
** This holiday is designated as "Washington's Birthday" in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.
*** November 11, 2012 (the legal public holiday for Veterans Day), falls on a Sunday. For most Federal employees, Monday, November 12, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See section 3(a) of Executive order 11582, February 11, 1971.)

Fonte: http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedhol/2012.asp

Black Friday

O dia seguinte ao feriado de Thanksgiving eh chamado Black Friday. Eh o famoso dia de ir as compras.

Tudo comeca no proprio feriado, quando os jornais vem recheados de anuncios de lojas com super promocoes, de carros a roupas, passando por eletroeletronicos, brinquedos, movies e por ai vai.

A Black Friday comeca a 0 hora da sexta-feira, logo apos a 5a. feira de Thanksgiving. Filas enormes comecam a se formar dias antes na frente de algumas lojas – principalmente as de eletroeletronicos - para garantir que os que ali estiverem serao os primeiros a aproveitar as super ofertas anunciadas. 

Curioso saber de onde vem esse nome, “Black Friday”. No passado, quando os livros de contabilidade (livros-caixa) eram feitos a mao, os contadores usavam caneta preta para lancar os creditos e caneta vermelha para lancar os debitos e as contas “negativas”.

Devido as otimas promocoes de vendas no dia seguinte ao Thanksgiving, as lojas normalmente “fechavam” as contas com saldo positivo. Ou seja, os livros-caixa estavam todos com anotacoes em canetas pretas. Por isso, o BLACK Friday.

Ferias Escolares nos Estados Unidos

Assim como as estacoes do ano, as ferias escolares americanas sao opostas as ferias das escolas brasileiras.

A exemplo do Brasil, as ferias mais longas nas escolas americanas sao no periodo de verao e duram aproximadamente 3 meses. Em alguns estados, elas vao de maio a agosto e em outros, de junho a setembro.

Em compensacao, no final do ano (inverno nos Estados Unidos), as criancas tem somente 2 semanas de folga, no periodo entre Natal e Ano Novo.

Outra diferenca do sistema escolar americano para o brasileiro e que o ano letivo comeca no final do verao, ou seja, em agosto ou setembro, dependendo de quando cada estado volta as aulas, apos as longas ferias de verao.

Opposite Seasons

Did you know that the seasons are opposite in Brazil and in the US? Curiously, when people is at the beach in the southern hemisphere, the inhabitants of the northern hemisphere are bundled up, enjoying a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate.

Remember to check the calendar when planning a trip down south:

December – March: Summer

March – June: Fall

June – September: Winter

September – December: Spring

28 million young people consume about US$ 15 billions per year in Brazil

According to IBGE - Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, 28 million young people consume about R$ 30 billions (US$ 15 billions) per year, have influence on their parents consumption decisions, and can purchase using their own money. 

Young Brazilians from the multimedia generation are the most consumerists. Among their favorite products, we can find: cinema, trips, clothes, sports clothes, and electronics.

 
Source: http://www.sebrae.com.br/customizado/acesso-a-mercados/conheca-seu-mercado/consumidor-1/perfil-de-consumidores/integra_bia/ident_unico/19302

Brazil keeps 1st place in the highest rate of recycling of cans in the world

In 2011, Brazil achieved a new record of recycling aluminum cans. According to the Brazilian Aluminum Association (Abal) and the Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of Highly Recyclable Cans (Abralatas) were reused 98.3% of cans produced in Brazil in the past year. In all, 250,000 tons of aluminum cans were recycled. 

Brazil stays in first place in the highest rate of recycling of cans in the world. That's wonderful for the environment!

Congratulations Brazil! Keep going green!

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Brasil bate novo recorde de reciclagem de latinhas

Palmas para os catadores de latinha de alumínio. O Brasil bateu o recorde de reciclagem de latas em 2011.

A reciclagem ajuda não só a tirar a lata dos aterros sanitários (estamos sem espaço para tanto lixo!), ele também ajuda na questão da mudança do clima. Ainda de acordo com o relatório divulgado pela Abralatas e a Abal, o processo de reciclagem libera apenas 5% das emissões de gás de efeito estufa, se comparado com a produção do alumínio primário. As entidades dizem ainda que para cada quilo de alumínio reciclado, cinco quilos de bauxita (minério que gera o alumínio) deixam de ser extraídas.

Então já sabe, quando aquele tiozinho vir pedir a sua lata para reciclar, não negue se já estiver terminando. Dê o último gole com gosto, sabendo que o trabalho dele é um grande favor para todos nós.

http://blogs.estadao.com.br/seja-sustentavel/brasil-bate-novo-recorde-de-reciclagem-de-latinhas/

Have you ever been to Cataratas do Iguaçu?

The word Iguassu means “large water” in the Tupi-Guarani etymology. The cascades are formed by the falls of the Iguassu River. Eighteen kilometers before joining the Parana River, the Iguassu River gains altitude and then plunges 80 meters down. It can reach up to 2,780 meters wide. Its geographical formation dates from about 150 millions years, but the formation of the waterfall’s geographic characteristics began approximately 200,000 years ago.


There are 19 main falls. Five of them are on the Brazilian side (Floriano, Deodoro, Benjamin Constant, Santa Maria and União). The rest are on the Argentinean side. Since most of the falls are on the Argentinean side and facing Brazil, the best views are for those who observe the scene from the Brazilian side.

On November 11 of 2011, Iguassu Falls was announced as one of the seven winners of the New Seven Wonders of Nature by the New Seven Wonders of the World Foundation.

Iguassu National Park

The Iguassu National Park was established in 1934. It represents an immense area of subtropical forest with magnificent waterfalls located north of the Misiones province. It has great natural importance and ecological wealth.

The Park is directed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), a federal organ responsible for managing the Conservation Areas of Brazil. Iguassu is an example of the integration between conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.

The significant biological variability plus the unique landscape with rare scenic beauty of the Iguassu Falls made the Iguassu National Park the first conservation area in Brazil to be established as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.

Source: www.cataratasdoiguacu.com.br and Wikipedia