Finally, feeback from the trip to Brazil

As you all know I was a little afraid about what was going to happen in Brazil. I have to say that everything went much better that I had ever dreamed it would be possible.


My first task was to teach in a seminar on Religion and Literature. I was asked to introduce students to my doctoral research. Well… I obviously sent them some readings, which they have never read: after all it was about apocalyptics… Why should they bore to do it, right? After all, as they said: “this is not our beach!”
Well, I’ve managed to survive what could have been chaos… I asked them straight to give keywords that could define “apocalypse”. It was great because they really interacted. It was possible for me to overcome all the problems of the video system due to that interaction. I’m having this problem all the time… it seems that someone jinxed my pwp presentations (it had already happened in Vienna)… I think that by the end they had a pretty good idea about how it was possible to relate apocalyptics, literature and history. But the good thing was the fact that their professor emphasized my abilities to speak and my “pedagogical” skills!

Second task, the conference paper: I was going to speak about António Vieira and the revival of apocalyptic and millennial hope during the 17th century. It was extremely good because without my knowledge, my roundtable partner ended up also speaking about him. It resulted in more than one hour of Q&A with the audience. Just great!

The best of it, in professional terms, was the fact of getting an invitation to go back next year. Besides, I got the opportunity to truly influence someone else’s work and the results were great… I went pack and comeback for the students’ presentations just to hear to the audience comments. It was great… made me feel that I could influence someone… just great! I hope to continue doing that in the future since I just loved it.

Personally it was also great: I met great people and had the opportunity to exchange ideas and thoughts about my work and other persons’ work, and I think I’ve made some friendships…

Global balance: it was worth the 24h trip to get there and the 16h trip to get back!

Oh… and I am publishing with them an article!

sometimes even i get lucky!

Look at the AHA bulletin post:

Drawing Winners Selected
Thanks to all who participated in the survey on the 2009 annual meeting. Two survey participants have been randomly drawn to receive free registration for the 2008 annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Congratulations to the winners: Carla Lesh of State University of New York, Albany and Ana Valdez of Yale University and Lisbon University.

Snow is coming into town...

finally... it snows... we can already notice the white cover and the silence.
the snow and the peace of mind of having finally sent out all the applications are definitely going to help me relax. at least, i hope so.

enjoy the snow!!!

back

yes, i am back to the cold... i have to say that the experience in Brazil was truly surprising. quite good, in fact.
i'll update after recovering from the trip. i will even post some of the very few pictures i took in São Paulo.

snow?

is there snow in the horizon? it would be so good... i love the peace and tranquility that comes with it... can i dream about it?

Brazil or not Brazil?

I am getting ready to hit the road down to Brazil next week. The conference text and presentation, and the lecture's material are now ready.

I wish I could say the same about finding travel tips for São Paulo... I am glad I am a native speaker, otherwise it would be nerve breaking!

Has anyone visited the city in the past?

Well, let's hope that at least the weather is good, though the forecast says rain! Summer... my dear, sweet summer... so far away and, at the same time, so close!

Connecticut's Fall

Hope you will enjoy the colors as much as I did. It is simply superb...

again: long time

again i had no time to write. though, i have to say that the work has been so good that i offered myself some time off. i have just returned from the Riviera Maya. an amazing week, definitely too short, but enough to know that it is a place to return . beautiful grounds, superb ocean view, and great extreme sports! even i tried them!!!

i am leaving you with some pictures. enjoy them!

by the way, my birthay was a success.... i'm getting old in style!!! a Mayan blessing and an amazing dinner. did i mention it was a surprise?

may God bless the web

seriously... without it, not even at Yale you could find certain things!

i am amazed with this website that provides ebooks for free. www.manybooks.net
i have just found an extremely rare edition of Bandarra's Trovas.


keep on with the good work!!!!

it feels good...

Indeed... finally, I've finished Vieira's biography. I have been writing as a crazy woman since yesterday, but it paid off.
I am impressed more than ever with the Jesuit: what a brilliant man and what a EGO!
I'm not kidding... this can explain why he was always able to build the theories he did...
Great man... can we have more of this? It would be good for everyone!!!! Even if we get grey hair before time!

when in the US?

again... late

as usual i didn't have the time to fill you in with details of what is going on.
1 - i caught a flu flying from the US to Portugal... why have i take the flu shot? can anyone explain that to me?
2- I'm back in New Haven and i have a new toy: Vieira's manuscript in Latin! What about that?
3 - the weather is extremely cold, but still no snow...

Good News!!!!

For whoever is out of Portugal but still has an Internet account by Netcabo or Sapo, it is possible to make phone calls to land lines in Portugal for FREE!!! Just Download their Messenger!

The sound is good, and our wallet feels even better!!!
use it until February 28... let's see if they keep it free!

gusty winds...

I hate... I just hate windy days... and this is an horrible day with gusty winds that make you feel small.

Result: no work (at least i cooked for the week)...

better days will come...

Too long ago

It is true... i haven't been writing for a long time, but you know how the Holidays are. Thankfully, they're gone... at least until next year!

I'm back to the US and finally it snowed a little bit. Just some flurries, but it was good enough to walk outside and feel the flurries touching my face! It was great!

I'm completely overwhelmed with work... I don't even know where to start with, so I am going back to my dead guy. The good thing is that I am not tormented by his ghost!!!

Enjoy the new year and wish me luck to deal with these dusty guys.