Mary Rose and I look forward to being the Exchange Directors for good folks from South America in September 2010. As we get closer to the date and we start to get our information together, we will share more with you. We will be asking for volunteers to form a committee to plan the week's activities. Fun will be our by-word.
I have included a few bits of information about
São
Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil, to peak your
interest.
The city was founded on March 19, 1852, by João Bernardino de Seixas Ribeiro.
Located in the
highlands of northwestern São Paulo estado (state), Brazil,
it lies at 1,558 feet (475 m) above sea level near the headwaters of the Prêto River. Originally called Rio Prêto, it became a seat of a
municipality in 1894 and grew as a service center for an agricultural region
that grows oranges, coffee, cotton, rice, and feijão (beans). These
products, as well as meat, dairy products, vegetable oils, furniture,
textiles, and chemicals, are processed there.