In learning the Portuguese language I have learned that the ocean (a mar) is female. I couldn’t agree more. My friend says, “Of course, the ocean is a woman. Who else has that much anger?” He is a man and he has mistaken her passion and strength for anger. I have also come to believe that the ocean is not just female but a Brazilian female. The rhythm of her tides and the way she sways to an internal song has convinced me of this.
I have always loved the ocean because it is where I feel closest to the divine. There is something invigorating about standing in the sand and feeling the waves wash over my feet. The breadth of the ocean is greater than I or any human will ever truly comprehend, and the life created within the depths of the water is constantly surprising us. And, as much as we try to control her we are powerless against her force.
On Tuesday Brazilians will celebrate Our Lady of Aparecida (The Patron Saint of Brazil) which means we have a long weekend. A long weekend to some means getting away from all the work and completely unwinding. That is not the case for the PRECE and UFC Cooperative Learning leaders because for them the movement never ceases. But, luckily for me they have found a way to combine work and pleasure and we are taking a 4 day retreat to the beach where we work for 4 hours, enjoy the beach for 4 hours, work for 4 hours, enjoy the beach…
What is happening on this retreat is truly amazing. 15 years ago 7 students began studying in a small group with the goal of educating themselves and entering the university. They knew that they were intelligent, but because the public education system had failed them they were not prepared to take and pass the university entrance exam. And, without the money and resources to pay for private tutoring they took it upon themselves to create their own destiny- a better future. Along with the commitment to their own education and to the education of their study partners, they also committed to press on so that all students would be provided a better education and therefore a better future. 
The journey has been an uphill struggle but not once has the movement slowed. Now over 2000 students have been impacted by PRECE (the methodology of studying in groups where students take responsibility for their own education). And, it looks like even more students will be exposed to PRECE soon. Prof. Manoel Andrade and other leaders have worked hard to develop relationships and partnerships with government officials, especially the Secretary of Education for the state of Ceará. The state department of education controls all the high schools (local governments control elementary schools). And, it is the Secretary of Education who has recently asked PRECE to formalize their methodology and develop a way to spread it across the entire state of Ceará to all communities.
This weekend leaders from PRECE as well as leaders from the Cooperative Learning program at the Federal University of Ceará are working on the process of formalizing the methodology and putting it in to presentation form so it can be shared around the state. The dedication of these individuals amazes me and their unwavering faith that they can bring about positive changes in education inspires me.
On this retreat the divine spirit is all around me. It is in the ebb and flow of the ocean tides. And, it is in the powerful testimony and cooperative nature of the PRECE and UFC Cooperative Learning leaders. In both instances, when feeling the waves wash over my feet and when sitting in a cooperative learning group brainstorming ideas, I can do nothing but stand in awe of the movement and the power which surround me.
I have always loved the ocean because it is where I feel closest to the divine. There is something invigorating about standing in the sand and feeling the waves wash over my feet. The breadth of the ocean is greater than I or any human will ever truly comprehend, and the life created within the depths of the water is constantly surprising us. And, as much as we try to control her we are powerless against her force.
On Tuesday Brazilians will celebrate Our Lady of Aparecida (The Patron Saint of Brazil) which means we have a long weekend. A long weekend to some means getting away from all the work and completely unwinding. That is not the case for the PRECE and UFC Cooperative Learning leaders because for them the movement never ceases. But, luckily for me they have found a way to combine work and pleasure and we are taking a 4 day retreat to the beach where we work for 4 hours, enjoy the beach for 4 hours, work for 4 hours, enjoy the beach…
What is happening on this retreat is truly amazing. 15 years ago 7 students began studying in a small group with the goal of educating themselves and entering the university. They knew that they were intelligent, but because the public education system had failed them they were not prepared to take and pass the university entrance exam. And, without the money and resources to pay for private tutoring they took it upon themselves to create their own destiny- a better future. Along with the commitment to their own education and to the education of their study partners, they also committed to press on so that all students would be provided a better education and therefore a better future. 
The journey has been an uphill struggle but not once has the movement slowed. Now over 2000 students have been impacted by PRECE (the methodology of studying in groups where students take responsibility for their own education). And, it looks like even more students will be exposed to PRECE soon. Prof. Manoel Andrade and other leaders have worked hard to develop relationships and partnerships with government officials, especially the Secretary of Education for the state of Ceará. The state department of education controls all the high schools (local governments control elementary schools). And, it is the Secretary of Education who has recently asked PRECE to formalize their methodology and develop a way to spread it across the entire state of Ceará to all communities.
This weekend leaders from PRECE as well as leaders from the Cooperative Learning program at the Federal University of Ceará are working on the process of formalizing the methodology and putting it in to presentation form so it can be shared around the state. The dedication of these individuals amazes me and their unwavering faith that they can bring about positive changes in education inspires me.On this retreat the divine spirit is all around me. It is in the ebb and flow of the ocean tides. And, it is in the powerful testimony and cooperative nature of the PRECE and UFC Cooperative Learning leaders. In both instances, when feeling the waves wash over my feet and when sitting in a cooperative learning group brainstorming ideas, I can do nothing but stand in awe of the movement and the power which surround me.
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