A Special Thank You

During the evening we went out for our farewell dinner, and after a tremendous Itialian supper, I think Nadial saved the best for last, we formally concluded the trip by presenting gifts and appreciation to those who helped us through this study abroad trip. Winderson, our bus driver was honored first. Although there is a language barrier between us, during the week all of us had a many good laughs over perhaps more elementary means of communication. It was impressive though, that while eating a meal, a couple of us were able to banter back and forth with each other and have a good time. He transported us safely through the crowded downtown streets, muddy red dirt roads and the scenic highways of the Brazilian countryside, and for that we are thankful.



Next, was Nadial, the tenacious tour guide of profound passion, who strives to educate students and professionals to brigde the gap between two agrarian countries. During our stay we were treated like royalty, dining in quality restaurents and lodging in some of Parana's best hotels. Although we were a half a world away, he tried to make us at home. His knowledge about agriculture and the differences between the U.S. and Brazil, makes our learning experience much richer. We have appreciated all that he has done for us.



John receieved our thanks last. He has served as our faculty advisor from Illinois, however, most of us had not known him much before the trip. As we have come to find out, his presence has greatly added to the cultural comparisions that can be learned on such a journey. His life lessons and tips were always a pleasure to listen to. Although he was born and raised on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin, we now know that he a quite the world traveler and has a healthy appetite for always learning something new. His great spirit is something all of us have really enjoyed.

I would also like to make a very special thank you to Erin Stein for doing a lot of the behind the scenes work that made our trip run smoothly and made the University of Illinois look very well represented. She did a great job planning meetings and speakers that informed us of what to expect and what would be expected of us. She also organized for each tour guide, farmer and business representative to be thanked with a gift from Illinois. Her work has been greatly appreciated.

Tomorrow we have will visit a statue that marks the intersection of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, so we can say we have visited all of those countries!! After that we will loosen up our legs at a park near Iguazu before we board our first plane for home.

It has been an unbelievable, interesting and enjoyable international agriculture experience and a privilege to be able to share it.