Closing Ceremony

While this blog cannot adequately describe the hard work done by the Brazil group during their time at Notre Dame, their dedication should be understated. They attended workshops and presentations for six weeks, producing lesson plans, projects, and activities that they would be able to take back to their classrooms in Brazil. They worked to understand the culture of the United States on a new level, and they connected with the South Bend community through their host schools.

To honor the work and participation of the Brazilian teachers, Notre Dame held a ceremony celebrating their accomplishments. Joined by so many friends they had met along the way, the teachers received certificates of their achievements and enjoyed a night of fellowship and fun.

 

We would like to give one more HUGE thank you to everyone who made the group's time at Notre Dame so special. Thank you to the South Bend Community School Corporation and all the teachers who welcomed the Brazilian teachers into their classrooms. Special thanks to Karla Lee for making that partnership happen. Thank you to the Brazil Club of Notre Dame and to Sandra Teixiera for her support to the teachers. Thank you to the numerous departments at Notre Dame that helped us with problem solving before and during the program to make sure everything went smoothly. Thank you to Stew Markel and Anne Bolster for their classes. Thank you to the language coaches for your hard work and friendship. Thank you to Katy Lichon, Clare Roach, Jenny Dees, and Joyce Johnstone for making this program possible. And thank you to everyone else who did so much to help us out along the way. We will be forever grateful.

Country Dancing

After the Brazilians had a night of Samba to remind them of home, they were placed in an atmosphere that was completely new: the world of country line dancing. However, this was not your average country line dancing. The team from Tu Sei Bella Dance Fitness Studio gave us a crash course in contemporary country line dancing. Not only was it a great workout, but it was a ton of fun!

Better World Books

During the last week of our stay at Notre Dame, we were invited to visit Better World Books. This company, started by a pair of Notre Dame grads as a small fund-raiser, has grown into a world-wide business that has donated almost 12 million books, has raised nearly $16 million for literacy and libraries, and has reused or recycled 126 million books.

The global impact of this company cannot be understated. They allowed us to take a small tour of their facilities in addition to letting the Brazilian teachers go home with some books for their classrooms. We'd like to send a big thanks to everyone at Better World Books!

 

I Walked a Mile in her Shoes

During their stay in South Bend, the Brazilian teachers were welcomed into the community with open arms. Whether it was at Notre Dame, at South Bend schools, at local restaurants and shops, or even at their hotel, the outpouring of love and support offered to the group was incomparable. While it would be nearly impossible to express how thankful the group was to all those who had a hand in making them feel so welcome, they did have an opportunity to give back to the community in a small way.

For more that 20 years, St. Margaret's House in South Bend has walked in solidarity with women and children in order to make a difference in their lives. St. Margaret's House is a day center devoted to improving the day-to-day lives of women and children through meals, workshops, and community.

Each year St. Margaret's House hosts a Winter Walk called "I Walked a Mile in her Shoes." This one-mile walk brings members of the community together to show solidarity with the women and children in the community that need their help. The Brazil group was honored to take part in this walk.

During the walk, the group had the opportunity to meet Senator Joe Donnelly, who was also there to show support of St. Margaret's. 

Clay High School

Clay High School

Clay High School was one of the two high schools where some of the Brazilian teachers had the privilege to co-teach. Clay's vision statement to prepare students to face life and its challenges is deeply imbedded in the way in which the school runs. Our teachers had the chance to see the day-to-day happenings of the school and become part of that lifestyle in some small way. The entire group was even invited to watch a basketball game at the school, a great cultural experience for the Brazilian teachers. Thank  you so much to the students, faculty, and administration of Clay High School for provided such a rich experience!

Some of the Brazilian teachers showing their school spirit:

Washington High School

Washington High School

Two groups of Brazilian teachers co-taught at high schools within the South Bend Community School Corporation. One of those was Washington High School. Washington's mission is to provide its students with the skills, knowledge and behaviors necessary to be productive citizens in a rapidly changing society. The Brazil group had the amazing opportunity to get to know United States classrooms and how language learning happens in all classrooms, regardless of the subject matter. We would like to give a huge thank you to the students, faculty, and administration of Washington High School for provided us with this incredible opportunity!

Some photos of the group who co-taught at Washington and some of their co-teachers:

Brown Intermediate Center

Brown Intermediate Center

It's hard to think of a group of teachers more dedicated to getting to know all of the Brazilians than the group of teachers at Brown Intermediate Center. Their work both inside and outside of the classroom contributed greatly to the success of the Brazil Program at Notre Dame. The bonds made between the Brazilian teachers and the students, faculty, and administration of the South Bend Community School Corporation speak mountains of all the people involved in making this program successful. Thank you to Brown Intermediate Center for being a part of our program!

 The Brazilian teachers with some of the teachers from Brown Intermediate Center. 

South Bend: A Travel Guide

Where to go in South Bend?????

Not sure what to do in little old South Bend? 

Need some good suggestions?

Really hungry and don't want to go to the DH (dining hall)?

NEVER FEAR...JUST LOOK HERE!

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles...How to get from here to there...

Buses:

• Hotel to Downtown: Route 5
• http://www.sbtranspo.com/routes/new-rte/rte5new.pdf
• ND library to UP mall to Downtown: Route 7
• Outbound from ND goes to mall
• Inbound from ND goes downtown
• http://www.sbtranspo.com/routes/new-rte/rte7.pdf 

Activities:

• ND Basketball:Have fun at a Men's OR Women's basketball game. Visit the website, choose a date, and purchase a ticket!

• Men's: http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/nd-m-baskbl-sched.html 

• Tickets: http://www.und.com/tickets/nd-tickets-m-baskbl.html

• Women's: http://www.und.com/sports/w-baskbl/nd-w-baskbl-body.html

• Tickets: http://www.und.com/tickets/nd-tickets-w-baskbl.html

• ND Hockey: Have a blast at another ND hockey game! Visit the website, choose a date, and purchase a ticket!

• http://www.und.com/sports/m-hockey/sched/nd-m-hockey-sched.html

• Tickets: http://www.und.com/tickets/nd-tickets-hockey.html

• Ice Skating: Visit the website below to find a day and an OPEN SKATE time. You can practice in the same place as the hockey team!

• http://www.und.com/sports/comptonarena/spec-rel/compton-public-skating-events.html

• Movies: Want to see a movie? Here are some movie theater locations. 

• Cinemark Movies 14: 910 W. Edison Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545
• http://www.cinemark.com/theatre-detail.aspx?node_id=1497
• Cinemark Movies 6: 6424 Grape Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46530
• http://www.cinemark.com/theatre-detail.aspx?node_id=1575&showtime_date=

• Dessert: Want to try some delicious chocolate
• South Bend Chocolate Factory:
• http://www.sbchocolate.com/
• Location: 122 South Michigan, South Bend, IN

• Trivia:
• Monday Nights at O'Rourkes at 10pm
• Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8pm at Between the Buns

• Karaoke:
• Tuesday at O'Rourkes at 10pm

• Morris Performing Art's Center
• http://www.morriscenter.org/
• Upcoming events: http://www.morriscenter.org/schedule.php
• Elvis Lives Jan/26/2014
• South Bend Symphony Orchestra (Masterworks II) Feb/1 
• Bring it on- The Musical Feb/7 and Feb/8
• Anthony Hamiliton Feb/13
• South Bend Symphony Orchestra (Music of James Bond) Feb/15

• Studebaker National Museum: Auto museum
• http://www.studebakermuseum.org/
• Location: 201 S. Chapin St, South Bend, IN 46601

• Debartolo Performing Arts Center: Arts center on ND campus
• Check out upcoming events: http://performingarts.nd.edu/nowshowing/   

       Breakfast:

•      The Original Pancake House: Great pancakes and breakfast food
•       http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/index.html
•       Location: 1430 North Ironwood Drive South Bend, Indiana 46635 574-232-3220 
•      Le Peep: Wonderful breakfast food
•     http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g37535-d2371992-Reviews-Le_Peep-South_Bend_Indiana.html
•      Location: 127 S Michigan Street, South Bend, IN
•      Bob Evans:
•       http://www.bobevans.com/
•       Location: 204 s Dixie Way, Roseland, IN

·    Lunch/Dinner:

o  Rocco's: A super delicious pizza place!

-  http://roccosoriginalpizza.com/

-  Location: 537 N St Louis Blvd, South Bend, IN 46617

o   Fiddler’s Hearth: A cool Irish restaurant/pub with live music almost every night!

-  http://www.fiddlershearth.com/

-  Location: 127 N Main St, South Bend, IN 

o   Papa Vino’s: Delicious Italian food

-  http://www.qdi.com/papavinos/menus.htm

-  Location: 5110 Edison Lakes Pkwy, Mishawaka, IN ‎

o   Five Guys: A quick burger place with super yummy burgers

-  http://www.fiveguys.com/

-  Location: 1233 N Eddy St, Unit 10, South Bend, IN 46617 and at the mall

o   Flat Top Grill: Make your own Stir Fry!

-  http://www.flattopgrill.com/

-  Location: 6501 Grape Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46545

o   Woochi Japanese Fusion and Bar

-  http://www.notjustsushi.com/

-  Location: 123 West Washington Street, South Bend, IN 46601, South Bend, IN 46601

o   Granite City: Resturant and Brewery

-  http://www.gcfb.net/

-  Location: 6501 Grape Rd #1000, Mishawaka, IN 46545

o   Bruno’s: Good Pizza to order in

-  http://www.brunospizza.com/

-  To order to hotel call: 574-273-3890

o   J.W. Chens: Chinese food close to campus

-  http://www.jwchens.com/

-  Location:1835 S Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637

o   Cambodian Thai: Yummy Thai, downtown South Bend

-  http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g37535-d1557430-Reviews-Cambodian_Thai_Resturant-South_Bend_Indiana.html

-  Location: 235 S Michigan St, South Bend, IN 46601

Bars:
Want to hang out, dance, or have fun at a bar? 

• Remember there might be a cover charge, and you MUST have your ID (probably your passport)

• O’Rourke’s
• http://www.orourkespubhouse.com/
• Monday: Trivia at 10:00
• Tuesday: Karaoke at 10:00
• Wednesday: Bingo
• Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-3am, Sun 11am-12am
• Location: 1044 Angela Blvd. Suite 103 South Bend, IN
• Bar Louie
• http://www.barlouieamerica.com/locations/Mishawaka.aspx?locationName=University%20Park%20Mall
• Tuesday: $1 Burgers
• Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-2am, Fri-Sat 11am-3am
• Location: 6501 Grape Rd., Suite 1100 Mishawaka, IN (At the mall)
•  Granite City Brewery
• http://www.gcfb.net/
• hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-12am, Fri-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 9am-10pm
• See above in Dinner section
• Brothers
• http://www.brothersbar.com/location_home.cfm
• hours: All week 11am - 3am
• Location: 1234 N Eddy Street Suite 125, South Bend, IN. 
• Fiddler’s
• http://www.fiddlershearth.com/
• Hours: Mon-Tues 11am-11pm, Wed-Fri 11am-12am, Sat 11am-1am Sun 11am-9pm
• See above in Dinner section
• Between the Buns
• http://www.betweenthebuns.com/
• Trivia on Tues and Wed at 8pm
• Includes restuarant with American style food (burgers and fries)
• Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am - 10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12 or later, Sun 11am-9pm
• Location: 1803 South Bend Ave, South Bend, IN
• The Backer
• http://www.backer-nd.com/
• Hours: DJ Fri-Sat 10pm-3am
• Location:
• The Blarney Stone (Finnies)
• Hours:Thurs-Sat ???
• Location: 113 Wayne Street
  South Bend, IN 46601
• ClubFever
• http://www.clubfever.biz/main.html
• Hours: Thurs and Sat 10pm-3 am 
• Location:222 S Michigan St, South Bend, IN 46601
• Corby's
• Hours: Mon-Sat 3pm - 3am
• Location: 441 E Lasalle Ave, South Bend, IN
• Madison Oyster Bar
• http://www.madisonoysterbar.com/
• Hours: Mon-Sat 11am - 3am
• Location: 129 N Main St, South Bend, IN 46601

Jackson Intermediate Center

Jackson Intermediate Center

Six of the Brazilian teachers had the privilege of co-teaching at Jackson Intermediate Center. The school mascot is a tiger, and you can bet that the students, faculty, and administration at this school have a lot of pride! The Brazil group is so grateful for the warm welcome they received at Jackson and for the incredible experience they had there. From observing to getting a ton of student interaction, the Brazilian teachers learned so much visiting the South Bend Community School Corporation schools! Not only were the co-teachers for Jackson great sources of information, but also they became great friends during the the course of the Brazil Program.

Some pictures of taken at Jackson Intermediate Center

Dickinson Fine Arts Academy

Dickinson Fine Arts Academy and our Brazilian Teachers

During their stay at Notre Dame, the Brazilian teachers had the great pleasure to co-teach at five of the South Bend Community School Corporation's schools. Six of the Brazilian teachers worked at Dickinson, which is an amazing Fine Arts magnet school that has made INCREDIBLE strides the last few years. Thank you Dickinson students, teachers, and administration for making us feel so welcome and letting us be a part of your amazing school!

The school mascot is the bear and we took pictures with their once living stuffed bear!