Luciana Takano, Brazil Station's new Office Coordinator.

Brazil Station is please to welcome two new staff members: Luciana Takano and Jorge Reichert.

Luciana Takano will serve as Brazil Station's new Office Coordinator. She has a strong background in business and finance with work experience in both Brazil and the U.S.  Although she is a native Brazilian, Luciana is really a global citizen: she has studied or worked in  Japan, the U.K., Hong Kong, and the U.S. Her experience living in different cultures, as well as various corporate and educational environments, will be a valuable resource at Brazil Station. Luciana will handle all tasks related to the maintenance of the office and service to our students, clients and teachers. She'll help to improve upon our structure and process, expand our relationships in the Brazilian-American community, and facilitate new partnerships to help the school provide more services to students.  

Jorge Reichert, Brazil Station's newest teacher, is originally from Rio Grande do Sul. He graduated with a degree in Portuguese and English Languages, Literatures, and Translation in 2001 from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). He completed a course in Advanced English Language and Teaching in 2002 at Evendine College in London. In 2005, he earned his Master's degree in English Literature from UFRGS. Since 2001, Jorge has taught English as a Second Language and Portuguese for foreigners at private schools and continuing education courses in universities. He also worked as an appointed translator for the Rio Grande do Sul State Court. Currently, he is doing research and finishing his Ph.D. dissertation with a joint degree between UFRGS and NYU sponsored by the Brazilian Research Agency CNPq.

One of Florianópolis' famed beaches, perfect for learning to surf.

The Northern and Central regions of Florianópolis are the most sought after by tourists and offer a complete range of amenities, resorts, hotels, and lodges. Visitors who travel off the beaten path will find Southern districts with countryside villages. There, handicraft activities and folkloric feasts flourish, along with a distinctive local style of speech - a heritage dating back to the 18th century left by ancestors from the Portuguese archipelago of Açores. On the other side of the island, the city's cosmopolitan energy blends Brazilians from other States and international immigrants. 

Events and places to visit in Florianópolis:
http://www.guiafloripa.com.br (in Portuguese)

After the usual "happy birthday" song (same old tune you know), Brazilians will often do the "pique-pique" cheer. One person begins the cheer with... "Para Jose nada"   to which the others reply "Tudo." The leader than shouts "Então como é que e?" and everyone responds "É pique, é pique, é hora, é hora, hah, chin, boom." And be sure to clap along with everyone else as you sing!

Parabéns prá você - Happy birthday to you
Nesta data querida - In this wonderful day
Muitas felicidades - A lot of happiness
Muitos anos de vida - With many years in your life

E pro José nada? - Nothing to José?
Tudo! - Everything!
Então como é que é? - So how is this?
É! - It is!
É pique! (repeat 4 times) - It's pique!
É hora! (repeat 4 times) - It's time!
Hah chin boom!

Making new friends at a bate papo (left) and new dance partners at a forró lesson (right)!

Brasil Coffee House
161 Lexington Avenue
(Lexington & 30th Street)
New York, NY 100164

Contact us at Info@BrazilStation.com to RSVP.

Forró Class Followed by Drinks - Tuesday, March 11 at 7pm
Forró is a type of dance popular in Northeastern Brazil, as well as type of music which accompanies the dance. Learn forró at a class taught by Diego Kelman Ajuz, a dance instructor from Rio de Janeiro with over 5 years of professional teaching experience. This one-hour class costs $5 and will be held at the Ripley Grier Studios.

After an hour of forró, join us for Portuguese conversation over drinks at Brazil Brazil Grill. The restaurant has a variety of authentic Brazilians drinks and food. Check out the menu at www.brazilbrazilrestaurant.com.

Please RSVP to Info@BrazilStation.com for either or both parts of this event so we know how many people to expect.

Ripley Grier Studio - Room 16J
520 8th Ave, between 36th and 37th Streets
New York , NY 10018

After an hour of forró at the Ripley Grier Studios, we will head to:
Brazil Brazil Restaurant
330 West 46th Street (at 8th Avenue)
New York, NY 10036
(212) 957-4300

Left: A kiosk photo by Carlos Marchand, part of KiosksfromRio, through March. Right: DanceBrazil at Symphony Space, March 31 & April 1 (Photo: Lois Greenfield)

Carlos Marchand is a French-Brazilian photographer, cinematographer, and director based in New York City. KiosksfromRio is a series of photographs taken fifteen years ago along the shorelines of Rio de Janeiro, portraying the hang-loose, no-restrictions mood and colors of the kiosks of yore - small trailers which functioned as mobile bars and snack shops. The exhibit frames the diversity of the kiosks, each one offering something special in their cooking, their drinks, or music. However, what stands out in KiosksfromRio are the kiosks' paintings, with their unique character and vibrant colors. Today, these kiosks have been replaced by new ones, standardized and modernized. 

KiosksfromRio at Pizzeria-Restaurant Piola
48 E 12th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-7781

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DanceBrazil - March 31 & April 1 at 8pm

"Exuberant! Electrifying! Exhilarating!" All describe DanceBrazil's unique fusion of modern/Afro-Brazilian dance, live music, and Capoeira that celebrates the rich, vibrant, culture of Bahia. Under the artistic direction of Jelon Vieira in collaboration with musical director Tote Gira, the magnificent dancers, capoeiristas, and accomplished musicians of DanceBrazil will present Vieira's new work - RITMO, an homage to Capoeira and Bahia's Sambas. Produced by The Capoeira Foundation, Inc. and DanceBrazil.

For more information visit http://www.symphonyspace.org or http://www.dancebrazil.org.

Symphony Space
2537 Broadway at 95th Street
New York, NY 10025
(212) 864-5400

1. N1B - Beginner Level 1 group class will start on Monday, March 10 at 8pm. It is for people with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.

2. N1BS - Beginner Level 1 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Saturday, March 15 at 11am. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.

3. N2BS - Beginner Level 2 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Tuesday, March 18 at 6pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.

4. N2B - Beginner Level 2 group class will start on Tuesday, March 18 at 8pm. It is for people who have some knowledge of Portuguese.

5. N3BS - Beginner Level 3 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Wednesday, March 19 at 8pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian who know the Portuguese present and past tense.

6. N3B - Beginner Level 3 group class will start on Thursday, March 20 at 6pm. It is for people who know the Portuguese present tense and past tense.

We offer Private and Semi-private classes from Monday to Saturday. You can start taking classes with us at any day, any time. In addition to our traditional Portuguese classes, Brazil Station also offers Portuguese for Spanish and Italian Speakers, Business Portuguese, and Travel Classes. We teach off-site classes and Corporate Language Education as well. Contact us at (646) 287-6645 or Newsletter@BrazilStation.com to find the right programs for you!

Dominó - Dominoes
Cartas (or baralho) - Cards
Xadrez - Chess
Damas - Checkers  
Batalha naval - Battleship!
Jogo da velha - Tic-tac-toe
Mímica - Charades
Palavra cruzada - Crossword
Quebra-cabeça - Puzzle
Forca - Hangman