Rossana’s ICBIE Impressions

I just got back after two weeks of full immersion at the ICBIE and I’m already full of “saudade”. Why? Because I felt so at home, from when I arrived at the airport and saw the smiling faces of Pietro and Julio to when I left, accompanied by a delightful ceremony of departure. I tried to get the most out of this two week sojourn, to get to know the people, to talk to the students and teachers, with Pietro and Marlene, and photographing, filming and participating in all the various activities.

With all the material I gathered, and on the strength of my experiences, I would like to succeed in doing fundraising activities for the ICBIE and its projects, because I’m convinced that it is doing fundamental work for the socio-cultural development of the local Salvador communities, besides the rich cultural exchange between Italy, Europe and America.

So many faces, smiles and glances are printed in my heart, each one with its personal story made of fears, suffering, hopes and passions: from the beautiful Adriana and her natural wisdom, to the shyness of Mito, the strength and courage of Augusto, the infinite sweetness of Lu, the determination of Fernando, and the joy of Val.

And how can I describe Marlene and Pietro? Ever present, always ready to offer a kind word, a gesture, or precious advice. Certainly there was no shortage of opportunities for celebration, and it’s well known how Italians and Brazilians both like this. To keep up the ICBIE’s culinary traditions, we organized an all-Italian dinner with an impressive menu: Lu’s famous pizza, pasta with sausages and broccoli, where Pietro was able to show off his creativity with the flambe’ sausages, a colorful salad that kept the students busy and enthusiastic, ending with a big log of hypercaloric chocolate that was a great hit. There was so much participation in the preparation that some of the people copied down the recipes, so they could make them at home. The next day the capoeira group of the Filhos do Sol Nascente honored us with their presence, putting on a demonstration of the various capoeira styles and the samba de roda, in which we all participated, more or less spontaneously.

Seeing as it was also Nadson’s birthday, there was no shortage of delicious sweets and empanadas, thanks to the team of cooks comprising Lu, Luane and Adriana.  And to finish in style, everyone danced salsa, cha-cha-cha, forro and naturally the samba.
Rosanna, November 2008