From: Carlos Gustavo

Meus Queridos;

     Sei quanto essas cartas são impessoais, mas com a falta de tempo, perdoem, é a melhor solução. Então vamos às novidades desde que voltei do Rio...

     Pra começar fui obrigado no check in a comprar uma passagem de volta Porto-Rio, pois como ainda não tenho visto de residência não podia sair do país sem uma passagem de volta. O preço só desse trecho foi o preço de uma passagem ida e volta mas me garantiram que eu seria reembolsado... Até hoje não fui, mais uma briga na Procon... As crianças, e os professores e diretores da escola, ficaram muito contentes em me ver de volta. Acho que eles pensaram que talvez eu não voltasse. Confesso que estava com saudades. É tão bom trabalhar com crianças, há uma troca tão positiva e quando a gente faz o que gosta então... Apesar de chegar super cansado em casa, continuo muito satisfeito. Chego em casa e tento descansar um pouco e invariavelmente as onze da noite já estou roncando.

     No trabalho, recebi minha primeira avaliação. Eles disseram que estão muito satisfeitos com meu trabalho e perguntaram quanto tempo pretendo ficar por aqui. Disse lhes que pretendo ficar por aqui  e agora acho que eles estão mais tranquilos. Também cogitei a hipótese de acompanhar minha turma no ano que vem - minha experiência anterior me ensinou que quando os pais estão satisfeitos com o professor, a vida se torna bem mais fácil...

     Na escola estamos começando a ensaiar Pinochio. No carnaval organizamos um desfile à fantasia pela praia - fui de Capitão Gancho. Todas as crianças vieram fantasiadas e ensinei pra eles aquelas nossas antigas marchinhas de Carnaval; Aurora, OH Jardineira, etc. Eles adoraram. Aliás o carnaval por aqui tem um quê de Halloween. As Pessoas se fantasiam, vão à festas e tem muitos concursos.  Nas cidades menores tem escolas de samba, mulher de biquini sambando e uns criticam dizendo que o carnaval virou uma festa brasileira. Aliás esse é um dos grandes dilemas de Portugal, que culturamente é totalmente colonizado pelo Brasil e se ressente com isso - os intelectuais, quero dizer, porque o povo adora. Pude acompanhar pela tv o desfile das escolas, as besteiras dos locutores da Globo, as madrinhas das baterias e até a Globeleza. Mas sem aquela bagunça na rua, invasão de camelôs e as bandas que saem nas ruas.

     Mas o meu carnaval vai ficar marcado pelo que me aconteceu na Sexta a tarde, durante a festa de despedida de uma aluna minha que ia voltar pro Japão. No final do expediente chegam dois policiais do serviço de imigração a minha procura. Ficamos todos tontos, não sabiamos o que podia acontecer. Será que Iam me deportar? Bem, o jeito foi conversar com eles, eles sabiam que eu estava trabalhando lá e contei que já tinha dado entrada nos papéis, que as informações que recebia eram sempre desencontradas, bla bla bla. Resumo da opera: foram muito simpaticos comigo e me pediram pra comparecer no serviço de estrangeiros em plena Segunda de carnaval pra pagar uma multa. Lá se foi a nossa planejada viagem pra Serra da Estrela. Na Segunda de manhã cedo estive lá, paguei a multa e fui atendido por um brasileiro que nasceu em Botafogo e morou em Copacabana. Marcaram de vir aqui em casa no dia seguinte para averiguar se eu morava mesmo no endereço que lhes dei... Passei a tarde esperando, e nada. Ligaram dizendo que vinham na Quarta. Não foi necessário fazer faxina, nem servir lanche, eles vieram, olharam e me disseram que em duas semanas eu teria que voltar ao Brasil pra apanhar meu visto... Ufa, respirei finalmente aliviado, aquele peso de imigrante clandestino finalmente me saía das costas, mas mesmo assim até o dia que eu voltar ao Brasil pra carimbar no meu passaporte esse visto que so será valido enquanto eu estiver trabalhando aqui, ainda ficarei com um pé meio atrás. Tive uma semana de férias, o que deu pra descansar um pouco.

     As obras aqui em casa continuam, fase final. É aquele sufoco, passar o dia todo esperando por alguém que marca e nem aparece nem dá sinal de vida (é o caso do marceneiro que hoje ficou de vir e ainda não apareceu!) Mas tá ficando legal o terraço e acho que vamos aproveitar bastante. Tenho tomado café da manhã lá em cima todos os dias e a vista é linda. Aliás esse inverno tem feito dias lindos.

     Tirando isso não tem sobrado muito tempo pra mais nada. Daqui a duas semanas embarco pra Suiça, onde vou fazer parte de um encontro de professores de teatro para escolas internacionais. A Associação a qual me afiliei assim que cá cheguei paga as despesas de passagem, hotel, transporte e ainda me dão uma diária. Será em Berna e eu farei palestras sobre o teatro do absurdo. No final do encontro os alunos que participarem farão uma mini montagem. Acho que vai ser legal e espero poder participar de outros eventos desse tipo, tem um marcado pra ano que vem em Bali! Estou com passagem marcada pra voltar ao Brasil no dia 28 de março, onde ficarei uma semana. Vou pra pegar o visto, matar as saudades e trazer o resto das minhas coisas. Depois só em dezembro, pro reveillon. Nas férias (além dessas mini férias no final de março, tenho dois meses em Julho e Agosto) pretendo aproveitar pra ir
conhecer outro continente: a Asia. Ou quem sabe retornar à Africa. Estamos ainda em estudos. Uma das vantagens de morar aqui na Europa é que fica tudo mais perto.

     Fora isso... Fora isso estou tentando emagrecer mas fica difícil com toda essa comidaria portuguesa... Ainda não como bacalhau, mas já consigo sentar na mesa com alguém que esteja comendo ao meu lado... Essa semana começa o festival de cinema daqui do Porto, chama-se Fantasporto. Aliás o Porto se prepara pra ser a capital cultural do ano 2001. Em Junho vai ser inaugurado o Museu de Arte Moderna e a cidade está começando a se mexer pra fazer jus ao título. Pra março estão anunciando Martinho da Vila e Gal Costa no Cassino do Espinho (o Canecão deles). Esse mês passaram por aqui, mas não assisti, Chico Cesar, Banda Cheiro de Amor, Simone e Netinho. Mas quem continua imbativel é a Fafá, que está em todas...

     Ainda não consegui assistir Central do Brasil, mas dizem que vai passar por aqui. Fui ver o ultimo filme do Woody Allen, Celebridades, é bem fraquinho. Adorei A Vida é Bela, que faz jus a minha predileção ao cinema italiano. Bem, mais uma vez, perdoem a impessoalidade dessas cartas. Mas assim fica mais fácil manter todos vocês, meus queridos amigos, informados do que ando fazendo por aqui.

     Trouxe minhas fotos em que estão todos vocês e agora preciso montar um mural para que assim sinta-os mais perto de mim. Saudades,

um abraço,
Gustavo


From: Flávio Carvalho

All,
     Some of you may already know this, but for those that don't --> I'm going to
be in Europe for a study-abroad program until May 1st, so any e-mail you
want to send should be directed to my school e-mail address: carvalho@vt.edu.
E lá vou eu... :-)
Flávio


From: Bernard

Hello Archie

     I have been living in the US since I left Brasil in 85 to come over to study at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX.

     I have worked for Dell, Applied Materials and now Lotus which you know is part of IBM. I spent 2 months in CA while working for Applied Materials. After Applied, I took 6 months to travel the US and Brasil. In the US I spent 1 month between Crested Butte, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs etc.. before returning to Austin. A week later I took off to Rio, São Paulo and Salvador for another month. I was in Rio in November of 96. It was great seeing the place again after 9 years. I had a chance to visit São Paulo and Salvador while I was there for 3 weeks. Upon my return to Austin, I drove through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. Visited, Karls Bad Caverns, White Sands, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Four Courners, Mesa Verde, Durango, Purgatory, Silver Tonne and Santa Fe in 1 1/2 weeks. That was about 3500 miles. For Xmas and New Year, I drove to Florida. On the way back, I camped on the pan handle coast of Florida. Then I applied for the job at Lotus. Was accepted. Took off for a weekend of camping in Big Bend National Park in west Texas. Great hiking country.

     I work now for Lotus Development corp here in Austin, Texas. I support the Lotus products i.e. Notes, ccMail, Organizer and SmartSuite in South America.

     My parents are still on the Rainha Elizabeth location. My sister is happily married and living in Florida. I will need to go for now. Look forward to hear from you in the future. Say hello to the galera for me. Well, need to get back to work. Talk to you soon.

Cheers
Bernard


From: Ricardo

     Just a quick update on a couple of long lost souls from EA Rio days. The other day I got a letter from Mark Erickson (many of you will not know him since he left EA perhaps in the 5th or 6th grade). Mark is a teacher at the American School in Budapest, Hungary. He went to UC San Diego, and does quite a bit of fencing with the Hungarian team. His wife is also a teacher at the American School. We have very good Belgian friends who were stationed in Guatemala City and São Paulo who recently moved to Hungary. Their kids go to the American School and the parents eventually met Mark who told them that he attended EA Rio... Mark's email address is merick@pronet.hu. Archie and Fran will surely remember him. Até mais, Ricardo


From: Jill Miller

Hello there,
     This is Jill (Miller) McKeever. I graduated with you in '83. I haven't been in contact with anyone since the 10 year reunion. (By the way, where were you?) I am living in Phoenix, Arizona and I am currently a "stay-at-home-mom." (I have one son, Kennon and I have been married for 5 years to my husband, Craig.) I would love to hear a bit from you. I am new to this e-mail stuff but I am getting the hang of it. My address is Crmck@aol.com . Hope this finds you! Please pass my name and e-mail address on! Hope you are doing well!

JILL


From: Francisco Conceição

E aí galera !!!!!
     O Alex está imbuído de um espirito natalino fora do comum eu acho que é a idade de Cristo que está se aproximando. Vai ver que está com vontade de montar uma igreja lá perto da Terra Encantada. Infelizmente não posso doar nada para esse seu empreendimento mas eu posso ajudar no seu marketing porque eu sei que ele é uma pessoa que acredita no que prega.

     O Paul andou pelo Rio nessas festas e ele falou que vai se conectar. Ele está meio devagar mas me garantiu que vai correr atrás. Vai ver que holandês é meio baiano ou será que a confirmação da história que os nordestinos são daquele jeito por causa dos holandeses.

     A minha vida continua bastante ocupada com os meus projetos de informática e/ou música. A Origin (o meu antigo patrão holandês) precisou de uma consultoria nesse mês de janeiro. Lá vou eu mexer em um sistema que eu fiz há não sei quanto tempo atrás. O importante é que eu preciso me capitalizar para o meu próximo empreendimento. Pensando bem eu preciso é continuar pagando os meus últimos empreendimentos (apartamento, computadores e agora a reforma do banheiro). Estou montando cursos na área de banco de dados Oracle e de novos softwares de música para arrebentar em Março. Eu estou adorando essa vida de freelancer! Cada dia uma coisa diferente e eu espero que eu continue arrumando esses trabalhos.

     Enquanto isso estou meio nômade porque o apartamento está parecendo um acampamento por causa da obra no banheiro. Eu tenho dormido na casa dos velhos e na casa da sogra. Eu não vejo a hora de ter a nossa casa de volta.

     O importante é ter sempre uma paciência de Jó!!! (a minha contribuição bíblica).

Valeu irmãos ou quase isso,

Fran


From: Eduardo Bandeira

     Meu garoto , tudo bem? Estou aqui na casa do Gustavo vendo a final do Campeonato Carioca, entre Botafogo e Vasco. Como é que vao as coisas? Tudo bem? Quando é que você vai aparecer por aqui? Gostaria de me inscrever no nosso home page. Por enquanto meu adress é o mesmo do Gustavo. Como é que eu faço para mandar uma foto?

Meu novo endereço é:
Rua Pompeu Loureiro 64/01-202
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Brasil
Tel:55 21 549-7080
Um grande abraço,
Duda


From: Robert Robinson

     Aí Archie , você se lembra de mim ? É Robert Robinson , I would have been part of the '83 class had I not had to move back to Canada in '81(very big drag!). I was at E.A. from '72-'78, then I moved to the U.S. for a year and a half, and then I was back at E.A. for a year and a half from '80-81.

     I love the homepage! Que saudades! My years at E.A. were the best in my life, but you can't bring back the past unfortunately... I have only very erratic and infrequent access to a computer, so people won't be able to E-mail me back.If anyone can bear to use snail mail, I may be reached at: 56 Coolmine Road, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 3E9, Canada.

     So, briefly, what have I been doing with myself for the last 16 years of my life? Well, not that much actually! I moved with my parents to Calgary in 1981, where I did grades 11 and 12, got my high school diploma, and then accompanied my parents to Toronto, where I graduated from Humber College in 1986 in Theatre Performance. (Yes, I'm trained to be an actor, can you believe it?) I did various theatre jobs around Toronto, and in 1988 I moved to London, England, to attend East 15 Acting School to take their one-year postgraduate course in Acting . I got my diploma from East 15 in 1989, and returned to Toronto, where I have struggled ever since to get work as an actor, which means, of course, that I have to do other things beside acting in order to keep myself alive, but strangely enough they have ended up being in theatre as well, even if it is only working in the front of house department as an usher or bartender. Life goes on. How about you, how is life in Ireland? I'd love to get in touch with the alucinante Rômulo Pires, I figure he's probably either going to pilot the next space shuttle or create the special effects for the next 8 "Alien" sequels. I'd also love to get in touch with John Kinsella(cadela). I was in touch with both those guys for a while after I left Rio, but then somehow we lost touch. If I ever get the money together to buy a computer, or if I ever have regular access to one I will let you know, but until such a time it will have to be snail mail. Um grande abraço, and mention me to anyone else from the class of '83 who might remember me. E.A. will always be my true "spiritual" school home. Ate mais!


From: Mariana Sanford

     Tudo Bom Archie? Achei o 'nosso' homepage- parabéns!! Que projeto e tanto! Eu quiz pegar o database of information- mas a option for macs não funcionou. E agora- como é que faço? I also wanted to add my listing. My husband and I are in Campinas SP for a year. Eu tou fazendo um study da COHAB e dando aulas de inglês, o John está praticando/aprendendo português e dando aulas de inglês. O irmão do John mora no Rio e vamos lá de vez em quando- seria bom dar um alô to other 83ers. Tem notícias da Tatiana? E peguei o email da Erica no eaguetsbook website. Já tem? Tenho estado em contato com a Jill-Crmck@aol.com. I'll tell her to check out the home page for herself too. O Cookie não shared as fotos do nosso mini-reunion em Washington? Cadê? E você, tudo bem? Mande notícias!
Mariana (Sanford) Maynard


From: Victor Benavides

     Meus caros amigos, I am leaving to Peru for Christmas holidays tomorrow morning and will be back in London in mid-January. I wanted to wish all of you Happy Holidays and the best for the new year, and I hope I never see you again so I may remember you as the fourteen year olds we were.
Best regards,
Victor

From: Jennifer Clarke


     I just got on the class web page today. How wonderful. You've done a great job. I was happily surprised to find my own name and e-mail on there! My address is:

117 Pacific Street
Brooklyn NY 11201

and my home phone is; (718) 643-1604

     I left EA unfortunately in 1980 and didn't get to graduate with you. In fact I hated being back in Canada so much that I never graduated from high school at all but went off to college instead. I was at Wellsley for most of four years with a brief stay in Geneva. I then worked in NYC and London; went to law school in Boston and am back in NYC working for Skadden, Arps. I got this job about a year and a half ago in Skadden's Brazil Group (we are five US and Brazilian trained attorneys who speak Portuguese and a partner who doen't speak Portuguese). Anyway, it was de Casto's younger brother, Rui who interviewed me! Small world! I guess he decided I could still speak the language even though my accent is as bad as it ever was. I love working with Brazil and just hope that it gets through the austerity measures!

     I ran into Caroline Carol at the Rio airport on one of my busines trips. I missed meeting up with Beth Redd (a.k.a. Molly Mosley) in Houston on another trip by only about five minutes!

Happy 1998.
JEDC

From: Natacha Vandenhende

     I found the site superb and tried to download the long long.... file but unfortunately my two kids did not give me enough time to finish. Will have to try again later. I'm glad to know that a few of us are doing fine and would love to see them again. Take care. Um grande abraço de alguem que nunca esqueceu o Rio, o Brasil e os meus amigos.
Um beijo para tudo mundo.

Natacha

From: José Castro

Happy New Year Dick....

     Tudo bem por aqui na Argentina.....I am getting a paraí.. to design a very simple web page for our business. Once he gets it on the web, maybe I can forward it to you or you can download it and give it a pincelada...I know you have the talent. The new 83 stuff looks great.

Até mais...Castrão

From: Chris Steinmetz

     Archie, great job with our web site! It is great to see that everyone has made an effort to keep in touch. Ricardo, Paul, and Pablo...it was like old times partying together in São Paulo this past year. I hope to repeat it but on a mellower scale! We're getting too old to party like our days at EA. To the rest of the Class of '83 galera...I would love to hear from you or get together to talk about the old days.

     After graduation, I went to Allegheny College in Pennsylvania (Paul Huibers, Corina Muller, and Eddie Schick are alumni as well). Paul and I joined the same fraternity, played varsity soccer, and studied during our free time.

     After undergrad, I worked in advertising in Washington, D.C. for a year before taking time out to get my MBA in International Business (1990). I spent one year in training with the company I am currently with before moving to Mexico City to open up a subsidiary. After spending five years in Mexico and surviving the devaluation I returned to our corporate headquarters in Buffalo, NY. After spending only one winter of freezing temperatures in Buffalo I realized quickly that it was not for me. I quickly accepted my present assignment in Miami.

     Well my good friends, I look forward to refreshing some great old friendships. I hope to meet up with some of you during my frequent travels to South America.
Um abraço,

Chris.

From: Carlos Gustavo

Alo, Archie.
     Aqui quem vos digita é o Carlos Gustavo, class of 83. Não sei se vc recebeu meu e-mail te parabenizando pela home page da nossa classe, cara tá demais. A Christina me deu o endereço e passei uma tarde inteira matando as saudades. Estou morando no Porto, em Portugal e aí está o meu e-mail para que vc possa inclui-lo na lista. Tem também o da Ana Maria Caballero que agora é MacGuire : Caballero@brookline.mec.edu E vc o que tem feito de bom? Mais uma vez Archie, parabéns, foi super emocionante rever os bons tempos.
Um abração, Gustavo

     Archie: A Christina tinha me contado que vc estava na Irlanda, mas não sabia que vc tinha voltado pros USA, mas tenho certeza que logo encontrarás trabalho. Também passei um tempo em Ohio (que nos parta, a todos) estudando, morei em Bowling Green, que eu traduzi como Buraco Verde, nem onibus tinha, isso sem contar o trem que passava toda noite às 3 da manhã, eu só consiguia dormir depois do trem.-..

     Pois é, Portugal tem umas coisas engraçadas (engraçado pra eles é interessante...) Estou tentando uma bolsa pra fazer mestrado em educação e diversidade cultural na Universidade do Porto e meanwhile, tô arranjando uns bicos, tipo free lance, como professor de inglês e... Brasileiro!! Começo semana que vem numa escola de idiomas aqui perto. Estou no Porto há um mes e ainda não deu pra sentir muita saudades do Rio, apesar do frio, mas a cidade maravilhosa tá muito violenta e aqui é bem mais tranquilo. O meu endereço:

Rua Camões 737/ 3º andar
4000 Porto, Portugal
tel: 35 12 550-3825

     Novidades recentes são essas. Nos últimos dois anos trabalhei como 7th grade homeroom teacher no OLM e continuei a dar aulas particulares para os alunos da EA.
     De vez em quando faço teatro, ano passado dirigi um infantil que nunca estreou... e um musical que durou 15 dias... Graças ao nosso web page, já consegui me comunicar com a Ericota que tá ten- tando trazer a peça dele pro festival de teatro que tem aqui no Porto e estou mandando e-mail pra gente que eu não falo há anos.
     Bem, Archie, te desejo good luck nessa nova etapa aí nos States. As fotos eu te mando, tenho algumas em casa no Rio, vou pedir pra me mandarem, me explica por favor como fazer pra enviá-las via e-mail!
Um abração,
C.Gustavo

From: Jill Miller

Hello,
     Thank you for including me in the New Year letter! I was glad to get the updated address for the web page. I have been staying in touch with Mariana Sanford (Maynard).
     As far as new info for me I would like to give you a new e-mail address that is for me personally: geojill@aol.com Other info remains the same. We will be adding a new addition to the McKeever family in May (a girl!). That will put us at the zero population growth max of 2! Amanda asked that I also pass on her e-mail address the next time that I talked to you. She is at (work): amiller@visitdetroit.com
     Hope all is well with you and your family. You are doing a tremendous job of keeping everyone connected. Take care and stay in touch!
Jill Miller (McKeever)

From: Natacha Vandenhende

Dear Archie,

     I have to say that I have always been a very emotional person and when I saw the picture of our school on the welcome page, a tear dropped down my eye. I think you did a wonderful job and I'm sure glad somebody has time to do that...., I haven't been able to see all pages yet, lack of time, but will as soon as possible.

     Well here is a short resume of the past 14 ½ years of my life. When I left EA in 83, I went to North Texas State University in Denton, Texas - close to Dallas to study languages. During the summer of 1986, I went back to Belgium for vacation, as I always did since my family has always lived in Belgium, and met Ralph (now my husband). Went to Baranquilla, Colombia on vacation the same summer where my parents lived at the time and explained to them that I wanted to move back to Belgium and did. Went to interpretation school for two years, but it was too hard - my dream had always been to be a simultaneous interpreter.Had a few different jobs. In September 88, Ralph and I moved in together. In January 89, found the job I still have now. I work for a textile consultant company and am the assistant of about 60 consultants who travel worldwide which allows me to speak Portuguese, English, Spanish and French on a daily basis. In December 91, Ralph and I bought some land outside of Brussels, about 25kms. In March 92, we got married in what I call a small castle, a big wedding - Paul Huibers and Christian Rossa were present and so was Chris Dow(from the class of 84) and quite a few of my friends from college. Following our wedding, was our honeymoon of course - a cruise in the carribbeans - beautiful trip. On February 4, 1993 came our son, Michael Ralph Raiglot, a beautiful and healthy little boy. In November 93, we started building a house on our land. Things are very expensive here in Belgium so it's not a big house like you find in the States but still about 250 sq meters. Which BY THE WAY IS BIG ENOUGH FOR VISITORS IF ANYONE COMES TO BELGIUM.... We got to move in in July 94 but still have a lot of work to do on it. On May 23rd, 1996 came our second child, Tatiana Natacha Anci Raiglot. They say that it's the dreams of Kings and Queens to have a boy and a girl and it was ours too. She was named after Tatiana Reis. I had always like her name and had always said that if one day I had a daughter I would name her Tatiana. Unfortunately, Tatiana was born with a clubfoot on the right foot - we knew in advance but it was still a shock at birth. We have recovered from that and are taking good care of her .She had surgery in February 97 which was a success but still requires a daily therapy and will require treatment until she is about 20 years old....... yes it does take that long!!! In the meantime, I have started working part time, I just didn't have enough hours in one day to take care of my job, my house, my kids, Tatiana's problem, my husband and myself....I have always worked to live and not lived to work. There comes a time when you have to choose between your job or your family and I did.. Forgot to mention that I raise my kids in three languages, being a good European!!!. I speak to them in English, my husband French and my parents in law in Dutch. Portuguese will be the next one of course, but let's not confuse them yet. My years in Rio are fresh in my memory and have always been. There were the best years of my life. Que saudades!!!

     I have been in touch with a few people since I left Rio. I have seen Miguel Eljaiek a few times and still keep in touch with him. He has been in touch with Johanna. Christian Rossa and I have always been in touch and went to Egypt together in September 91 - an incredible trip. We saw Eduardo, Marta and Paul Huibers in Amsterdam the night before leaving. Have been in touch with Paul also all these years. Have been in touch with Jennifer Clarke and Beth Redd. Spoke with Jill and Brad but not very long and hope to be able to get in touch with them again someday. Would love to hear from Paddy again, let me know if you have an address. Eduardo and I speak and write quite often. Saw Pierre Miller once in Washington many years ago.I think that's about it. Please pass this on to anyone interested.

     Too bad I didn't know you were in Ireland, Belgium is not so far. Anyway if you plan to come to France for the World cup, Brussels is really close. Take care. Um grande abraço. Natacha

From: Francisco Conceição

Fala Archie,

     Depois de uma lenta adaptação a dura rotina estou te escrevendo para agradecer mais uma vez a sua incrível hospedagem você foi um grande amigo que você sempre foi. Aqueles trips as lojas de música foram algo mais.

     No trabalho está a mesma coisa e estou iniciando outra vez aquela vidinha. Muitos planos e pouco tempo para executá-los (story of my life). Já fiz alguma coisa no Sound Forge e iniciei o seu grande presente de Audio Course.

     Já revelamos as fotos mais não sairam tão boas, Mandarei assim que tirar as cópias.

     Na última quarta-feira fomos convidados para a pré inauguração do Terra Encantada. A galera estava lá. O Rodney estava tranquilo e a Érica emocionada. O trabalho foi duro e o chato é que ainda tem muita coisa por fazer já que o parque inaugurou, como disse a imprensa, 'meio capenga'. O importante foi estar operacional com 60% do parque funcionando e até o final desse mês e alcancar 100% daqui uns três meses. Pena que ainda vai ter muito trabalho até acabar tudo.

Valeu,
Fran

From: Karen Strickland

     15 years later..... greetings from San Francisco to my class of 83 friends! I discovered Archie's website a few days ago and was amazed to see how many 83ers had already tapped into it. No doubt, this is the age of high tech. Even my dad sends me e-mail from Friburgo. He owns a textile factory in Friburgo- I can't believe Ronny lives there now!

     Sadly, I've lost touch with most of my EA friends over the years, although I still exchange xmas cards faithfully each year with Naoko and Jackie. I lost touch with Johanna shortly after the 10 year reunion in DC that Mariana and Jill organized. They did did a great job; it was fun to matar saudades together. Johanna planned to attend, but had to cancel at the last minute. I've also exchanged voicemail messages with CJ a few times. Last I know, he was in Illinois. I've been back to Brazil several times to visit my father, but didn't know how to get in touch with anyone. Now that I've found the website, I'll be sure to look people up next time I'm back. (probably Reveillon 1999/2000)

     Quick summary of my life. After graduating from Brown in '87, I lived in Boston for 2 years until I graduated from GE's financial management program. I moved to the Bay Area in '89 to work for Oracle, and I've been living here ever since then, with the exception of the 2 years I returned to Boston to get an MBA at Harvard. I met my (British) husband in business school. Fortunately, the consulting firm that sponsored his MBA degree agreed to transfer him from their London office to their San Francisco office, and he never went back. I joined a start-up software company as a consultant in '93, that was acquired a year later by Hyperion Software. I'm currently managing their West Coast product development site. Hyperion's corporate headquarters are in Stamford, CT, so I enjoy the autonomy of running a remote business unit. It's nice to have the backing of a larger organization, but be able to operate like a small company. No kids, 2 cats. That's about it. Work, exercise and the occasional vacation to a foreign destination.

     Is anyone else living in or thinking about moving to the Bay Area? The cost of living is steep and the real estate market is insane, but where else can you go skiing and sailing in the same day? For climate and landscape, this is about as good as it gets. Of course, I wasn't thinking that in '89 when I was huddled under a desk as the tall, glass Oracle building swayed back and forth in the earthquake. I hear that Archie is San Francisco bound, and together maybe we can organize a few west coast EA class of 83 alumni events.

     I am duly impressed with Archie's webmaster skills. Ricardo, great newsletters! How did you manage to scrounge up all that information? If there are any plans for a 15 year or 20 year reunion, please let me know. I think I'll be attending the Barulho Brasileiro reunion in Monterey this July. I'm hoping that this website will allow me to get back in touch with many of my long lost friends.

take care- um abraco, karen

From: Ana Maria Caballero

     Ricardo, just got off the web page you and Archie set up - it's great! A lot of work has gone into this - thank you both for doing it. I wanted to alert you to my correct email address and updated phone number which is area code (781) 449-3833.
     The rest remains the way it's written on the web page Life is busy here in MA. Philip is now 6 1/2 and Elena is 2 1/2; I'm back to teaching full time - 3rd grade at the same school I've been at for 10 years. My husband Kevin is doing fine but as usual looking for new job opportunities - I just recently helped to open a new Needham Children's Museum here in town and it has received a lot of praise and press. I keep in touch with Gustavo regularly but that's about it from EA - an occasional card for Jill or Christina. or Naoko. Maybe now that we are linked it will be easier to communicate.
     I hope all is well with you.
Beijos, Ana Maria

From: Jill Miller

     Hi, It was great to hear from you after a busy year end! Sounds as if you have been busy moving and relocating. Where are you now? How long do you plan to stay? Phoenix is awsome this time of year! We are experiencing a bit of "El Nino" rain now and then but, as I told Pablo, it just makes for nicer golf courses in the summer!
     I am busy preparing for the birth of our second baby (a girl) in May. Painting, decorating and buying new stuff! I PROMISE that I will send photos!
     Please note that I now have my very own screen name: geojill so the email address is geojill@aol.com
     I'll stay in touch...I wanted you to know how much I appreciate all the work you've done on the web page! You and Ricardo have really kept this thing going! I was able to get in touch with Natacha. I'm sure you remember she and I were pretty good friends during high school but we lost touch over the years. It was great to get caught up! Thanks again....
Um abraco
Jill

From: Naoko Matsumoto

Dear Ricardo

     Thanks for updating us with the recent newsletter. I am quite impressed with Archie's work on the website.

     On my personal side, I am expecting my second son in early April and will be taking an extended maternity leave starting next week. My first son is an active toddler, almost two years old, and I just haven't got time to rest if I continue to work at the same rate. So I decided to take my leave a little earlier this time and warned my boss that I definitely won't be back withing 10 weeks like other working mothers do here in Hong Kong. I have worked for the same Australian bank for almost 10 years and I feel quite content taking a very very long leave this time to be with my boys.

     Hope everything is well with you. Keep in touch.

Chiao
Naoko

From: Ana Maria

Hi Archie - Gustavo and Christina,

     Just had a ball looking through EA website - Archie - it's so much better than the last time I checked. I'm attaching a photo of my two kids - Philip (7 yrs) and Elena (3 yrs) so you can download and put it next to my name on the class database. I figured since Elena looks just like me (I'm told all the time) that would do fine by me. I'm enjoying summer and getting ready to teach kindergarten this year, after nearly 8 years of teaching 3rd grade - no much else is new for us.

     Some updates on peole:

     Naoko is in the process of moving back to Tokyo with her husband and kids. She had her second child - Samuel - in April 98. Thus the address and email on the database is no longer valid. Don't know the new address yet.

     Beate Zander Zeidam is still in Germany. She too has a second child born last year. Her address is slightly different from the database: Paretzer Str. 16, 10713 Berlin Germany 004908227721 (phone)

     Look forward to seeing new things on the website from time to time. Get Ricardo to write a more updated newsletter - I heard Silvana was expecting a child - her first - but don't know details - Christina, you always have the scoop fill us in!

Beijos
Ana Maria

From: Annalisa Balestrino

Dear Ricardo,

     I haven't been writing much cause I have been travelling quite a lot. Unfortunately when I go to Brazil or elsewhere I do not have much time for myself nor to visit old friends... I went to Canada in August and I liked Vancouver very much. Later on I worked In Lisbon where I hoped to see Carlos Gustavo Castro but I had no time to meet him either.... Have you heard from him? Did you know he is lecturing at the American School of Lisbon? I have been e-mailing him and Annette Frandsen... remember her.... But I would like to contact Karen Seiger and Adriana Di Salvo. Do you know whether Karen has an E-mail address? As for Adriana di Salvo, you told me she has a vegetarian shop in Copa, last time I was in Rio I tried to call her but telephone lines were horrible and after 30 minutes of trying I gave up! I'll be staying in Genoa for the next month, til the end of October and then I will go to Malta and Rome for two different congresses.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Um abraço,

Annalisa

From: Carlos Gustavo e Christina Robertson

Oi gentchi!

Estamos cá em Portugal a aprender a falar o português. E matando as saudades do Guaraná Antarctica, empadinha e pão de queijo e da farofinha brasileira. Passamos uma tarde navegando no nosso home page e matando as saudades de vocês. Agora temos que ir ver as novelas brasileiras! As far as we go, we never lose our carioca heritage!
Abraços,

Christina and C. Gustavo