Modesto Brocos This picture, called “A redenção de Cam”, was made by Modesto Brocos. He was born in Spain in 1852, but he lived in Brazil between 1890 and 1936, when he died. In Brazil, he studied in the “Escola Nacional de Belas Artes” and was pupil of Victor Meirelles, an important Brazilian painter. In 19th century, the racial theories had become widespread in Brazil. Some Brazilian intellectuals believed that the development of the country was conditioned to the bleaching of the Brazilian people. Therefore, this idea stimulated the mix between Brazilian people (metis by nature) and white foreign. They wanted that Brazil becomes a white country in the course of time. The picture “A Redenção de Cam” shows this idea. We can see three characters in front to a very simple house. On the left, there is an old black woman with his hands up, as if thanking God for something. In the center of the painting, we can see a younger woman with a child in his arms. She is a metis woman, but his son is white. On the right, there is a white man. He watches them with pride. The paint message is very clear: the black woman gives thank because his grandson is a white child. The marriage between her daughter and a white man enabled the blanching of her family. The title of the picture is a reference to the story of Cam, the Noé’s son. He was cursed because he laughed while watched his father drunken and naked. Cam was sentenced to be slave of his brothers. In the past, some people believed that the black people were descendants of Cam. Today, this picture is in the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes in Rio de Janeiro. But it was presented in London in 1895.

Getúlio Vargas Getúlio Vargas was a Brazilian president. He became president in 1930, when Brazil lived a movement called "1930's Revolution". Getúlio assumed the presidency during 15 years. He was a dictator, because, in this time, there isn't democracy or elections. Besides that, he chased and arrested his enemies. In 1945, he left the presidency, but he returne in 1950, when he was elected by the people. In 1954, he suicided in his house, in Rio de Janeiro. The country was in a difficult moment and the Getúlio's opposite was growing. The suiced was the last Getúlio's politic action. Today, Getúlio is remembered like one of the most importants presidents of Brazil, because his government represented a moment of expansion of labor right in the country.

My last vacation My last vacation was last July. I went to Europe and knew three countries: France, Portugal and Belgium. It was amazing! In France, I knew Paris and Normandy. In Paris, I visited some places, like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Triumphe's Arc. In Normandy, I was in the beaches where the army of the United States landed in the Second War. In Portugal, I knew my family and the village where my father was born. But, I didn't go to my mother's village. In Belgium, I visited a medieval city called Bruges and I could have some of the famous bears of the region.

My apartment I live in an apartment in Belo Horizonte. It isn’t a new apartment, but isn’t an old apartment too. I’m not sure, but I think it was built 10 years ago. It’s a good apartment. There are three rooms. One we use as an office and the other as a visit room. The third is my bedroom. In my apartment there are two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen. Next to the kitchen, there is a “service area”, where there is a washing machine. In front of my living room, there is a balcony with some plants. It’s a good place to relax. I live with my husband and my two little cats. But usually our friends and parents visit us. They sleep in the visit room. I like my apartment because it’s next to my work and to my husband’s work. In addition, there are some restaurants, supermarkets, banks and other services next to it.

Rugendas Johann Moritz Rugendas was a painter, engraver and draftsman. He lived between 1802 and 1858. He was born in Germany, but traveled for many countries in his life. One of these countries was Brazil. He was encouraged for naturalists like von Martius and von Spix to know this country and he came with Langsdorff expediction. He abandoned the expediction in 1824, but he remained in Brazil registering people, landscapes and the Brazilian fauna and flora. The painter knew the region of Mato Grosso, Bahia and Espírito Santo. Rugendas didn’t like oil painting. He favored the illustration and sometimes he used colors. When Rugendas lived in Paris, between 1825 and 1828, he published his book “Voyage Pittoresque dans le Brésil”. In this book there are many illustrations produced by Rugendas, including the above illustration: “Official walking with his family”. In the illustration, we can see some typical people of the Brazilian colonial society. Ahead of all, there is a man with black clothes and with a hat and a sword. He’s the patriarch. Behind him, there is his family. At that time, the concept of “family” was different: it was concern to the family itself (son, daugther, husband, wife) and the slaves. The black people are properties and part of the their owners’s family. The Rugendas’s illustration shows the hierarchy of the Brazilian colonial society, manifest in the gesture, in the characters’s positions and in the clothes too. Everything indicate the social position of the patriarch.

Rugendas Johann Moritz Rugendas a été un peintre, dessinateur et graveur. Il a vécu entre 1802 et 1858. Il est né à Allemagne, mais a voyagé par plusieurs de pays pendant sa vie. Un de ces pays a été le Brésil. Sur la motivation des naturalistes comme von Martius e von Spix, Rugendas est allé au Brésil a 1821, dans l´expedition Langsdorff. Il est abandonne l´expédition a 1824, mais a continué seul, en enregistrand les types, les paisages, la faune et la fleure brésiliene. Il a connu le Mato Groso, la Bahia e le Espírito Santo. Rugendas n´adorais pas la peinture à l´huile. Il privilégie le dessin et, de temps en temps, il utilize des couleurs. Pendant Rugendas a vécu a Paris, entre 1825 et 1828, il a publié son ouvre “Voyage Pittoresque dans le Brésil”. Dans cette livre a beaucoup de dessin produits par Rugendas, inclus le dessin au-dessus: “Employé en promenade avec sa famille”. Dans le dessin, on peut voir quelques personnages de la societé colonial brésiliene. Avant tout les personnes il y a un home avec vêtements noires, un chapeau et une épée. C´est le patriarche. Derrière lui, il y a d´outres personnes que forment sa famille. À ce moment-là, le concept de famille etais différent: il englobais la famille “en soi” (fille, fils, femme, mari), mais aussi les esclaves. Comme proprietés, les noirs etaient part de la famille de leur propriétaires. Le dessin de Rugendas montre clairement l´hiérarchie de la société de celle époque, présent dans les gests, dans la position des personnages et inclus dans les vêtements: ils sont aussi l´indicatif de la position social de le patriarche.

My last week Last week was a great week for me, because 5th november, last wednesday, was my birthday! I waked up in my birthday and my husband was prepared a delicious breakfast for me, with cake, fruits, bread, cereal... In the afternoon, I went to my work in the college. There, the students were preparing a surprise for me. During my class, they "invaded" my classroom singing "happy birthday to you" with a luscious chocolate cake and balloons! In the night, I went to a french restaurant called "Au bon vivant", in the centre of Belo Horizonte. There, I ate a delicious steak with herbs and potatoes. To finish my birthday's celebrations, I traveled to Rio de Janeiro on saturday to celebrate with my mother, my mother in law and my father in law. Saturday' night, I celebrate with my friends. It was a fantastic birthday! But, now, I need to do a diet.

Traveling to England Hi, everybody! I'm thinking of traveling to England next year. I don't know many places and cities to go in England, except London. Can you help me with a suggestion? Thanks!

Writing a letter to a pen pal 120 Fleming Avenue Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31000-000 November 1 Dear Erika, My name is Ana Paula. I'm a history teacher and I work in a private university in Belo Horizonte. I'm from Rio de Janeiro, but now I'm living in Minas Gerais. I love Belo Horizonte, because is a beautiful city. Here, there are many things to do. Belo Horizonte has everything that a big city has, but looks like a small city. I like listening to music and reading a book, specially history's books. I often go to a restaurants and I usually go to the movies. I speak French and Portuguese, of course. But, I'm studying English. My favorites subjects are history, cinema and literature. What about you? Best wishes! Ana