Send love (and Lisa) to Embu Guacu, Sao Paulo

So my last week at Aramitan is coming to a close. What an AMAZING experience Ifve had here over the past almost 6 months! Well September has been a VERY busy month with lots happening here at Aramitan. At the beginning of the month we had the youth section of the Anthropsophical Society holding workshops over a weekend, with the focus being on edreamsf and showing that itfs possible to make dreams a reality. We had a guest speaker that helped us listen and reflect on how we want to achieve our dreams. Amazing food over the weekend once again prepared by Mumma Jacinta and the organisers of the event. Workshops, games, flute making, massage trains, live entertainment from the Collective Sound Pagusom and a day of alley painting. Check out the latest vid and updated photos to see what went on. On the 21st September we had a efestf to celebrate the beginning of Spring. This was the first time (so many fest firstfs here at Aramitan!) and I LOVED it. The kids from the local community came, we picked flowers, made crowns out of plant material and flowers, the kids did drawings and we had a beautiful day in the warm sunshine watching Spring unfolding AND ate lots of delicious fruit salad. Towards the end of the month we also had a eworking beef day where kids from the Michael Waldorf College in Sao Paulo came to help us out. With so many helpers we managed to get lots done, organize the library, build a fence, paint the cultural center, cooking for everyone, paint and varnish the playground and picking up trash and cleaning the street outside Aramitan. Everyone worked really hard and it was a great joint effort and fantastic to meet so many enthusiastic kids Ifve also been looking after a very cute and quite cheeky puppy that was abandoned outside Aramitan, shefs been named Zimosa and we all think shefs pretty cool. Unfortunately the woman I have been training to take over the Massage project is now unable to fulfill that commitment so at this stage the massage project is on eholdf. If you know of anyone that is a massage therapist in training or an experienced therapist and would be interested in doing a volunteer stint here in Brazil to carry on what Ifve started, please ask them to get in touch with me at pricie11@hotmail.com or facebook. ? This is an experience NOT to be missed! So this week is about tying up loose ends, and re-packing for some travels around South America. If youfre interested in keeping up to date with how my travels are going and wefre not already connected through facebook, send me an email. There really are way too many people to thank individually for being part of this amazing experience for me. But some Ifd like to mention is Coral, Santi and Sandra for the planting of a seed and the opportunity to get involved with Aramitan. Este, Manu, Fran, Maggi and Alemao for all your support and love while Ifve been here. All the incredible Paulistafs Ifve met (Way too many to mention) while working and living here, your friendship, laugh, laughter and support is AWESOME. Last but not least my friends and fam from NZ for your time, ideas, love, support and donated money to help make this idea a reality and incredible experience for me. Ifm grateful to you all ? A total of $3900 NZD was raised ?Thank you! And this is the breakdown on how that money has been spent to date: $321.25 spent on Massage Project related costs $1323.40 spent on Miscellaneous costs including paying for my time spent at Aramitan (almost 6 months) to cover food and accommodation costs $225.90 Spent on Animal costs. Vet bills, vaccinations etc I have advised I would like up to $1000.00 (total incl what has been spent already)to be spent on massage project related costs once we have a replacement therapist $600.00 (total incl what has been spent already)to be spent on any further animal costs The remainder of the money can be spent as Aramitan sees fit on the most relevant priorities