Author Archives: JohnMatel

Fire & Water

Posted on September 19, 2018 by JohnMatel

Fire & Water Some of my forest is flooded. I have never seen the water this high. Of course it is worse in North Carolina, but our farms are less than 20 miles from North Carolina. I did not see … Continue reading →

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Books of August (and some of September)

Posted on September 9, 2018 by JohnMatel

One of the collateral joys of my time in São Paulo was walking around the city.   It was a long walk from my hotel to the consulate, around an hour and fifteen minutes each way.  It had “segments” and I … Continue reading →

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Thoughts on my 42 Days in Brazil

Posted on September 5, 2018 by JohnMatel

Thoughts on my 42 Days in Brazil   Examining my time in São Paulo & Brazil, July 29-September 8, 2018 (slightly redacted version) ————————————————————— Minding the Gap The State Department asked me to “hold the post” in São Paulo, to … Continue reading →

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Last Days in Brazil – Monday

Posted on September 3, 2018 by JohnMatel

Went with CG to a concert by the Dresden Philharmonic. They played Beethoven, Mozart and Shostakovitch. The big star, IMO, was pianist Herbert Schuch. That boy can play. I was watching him most of all and thinking of the sheer … Continue reading →

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Value of Hypocrisy

Posted on September 3, 2018 by JohnMatel

I am a hypocrite and I proudly so. Hypocrisy is a prerequisite for civilization and the basis of courtesy. Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice plays to virtue, since hypocrisy implies acceptance of the value you pretend to have.   … Continue reading →

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Last Days in Brazil – Sunday

Posted on September 2, 2018 by JohnMatel

I am getting down to my “lasts” as my São Paulo narrative winds down. Today is my last Sunday, so I went over to Ibirapuera Park, where I had walked on my first day here. I got there a lot … Continue reading →

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EducationUSA

Posted on September 1, 2018 by JohnMatel

Went to the São Paulo EducationUSA today. We suffered a little when Science w/o Borders went away, but now interest in studying in the USA is coming back. I don’t recall the number that they said had registered, but the … Continue reading →

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Last Days in Brazil – Saturday

Posted on September 1, 2018 by JohnMatel

Missing Christine Johnson and prefer not to drink alone, but I did find a place to get a good IPA. In Brazil you do not say I P A. You make one word out of it ipa. I walked up … Continue reading →

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Partners in Preservation

Posted on August 31, 2018 by JohnMatel

Bertioga, São Paulo, Brazil The preserve is in the middle of the town of Bertioga, a town with a population of around 60,000. It is a long and narrow municipality, hemmed in by the mountains (Serra do Mar) on one … Continue reading →

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Making Nature Accessible to All

Posted on August 31, 2018 by JohnMatel

Making Nature Accessible to All It was gratifying to meet Jeremy Buzzell, Chief for the Accessibility Management Program at the National Park Service, maybe more a vindication of old school people-to-people diplomacy.  Please indulge my deviation from the main narrative. … Continue reading →

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