Dear Members,

Question of the week is How do we have access to international social networking without speaking the language? What are the options out there?

My first suggestion is that you find out why you would be joining them? Different social network sites offer different options. For example, Facebook has an international feature which allows members to see the info on their own language and has presence in many countries.

Brazil for example has its own social networking site which is orkut (by Google). Very hard to find people there, but the site allows foreigner to see the tools and info in English, but the posts remain in their original language.

Twitter and Skype also have presence in foreign countries and the language barrier is resolved depending on where you join them.

I think if joining social networking sites in other countries for business, you should try to learn your way around the site and try to use its tools to better serve you. If the need is personal, maybe make friends or a child looking for a penpal, be careful and explore the info on the people who add you as a friend, because scams are out there everywhere!

Language barrier is another question. The majority of sites offer US only search which will separate English speakers/US users from other users or it will allow you to search for friends who are in that category as well.

I have joined many sites to share my business and find relatives and friends in Brazil, but I must confess, I am still trying to use those sites on my best interest.

Saludos,

Claudia Krusch

When I finished my bachelors at Unifacs in Brazil, I thought, one day I will be teaching as many people as I can about my passion…..foreign languages and that will inspire, especially children, to spark some interest for this amazing new world!

Well, some years later and more than 200 students later,  for three foreign languages, I surprisingly had my goal revised and expanded this month.

A parent from South Africa contacted me to teach their children Brazilian Portuguese, I was so excited, especially because our online classes had never reached anybody further than PA. Needless to say, we will start classes soon!  The internet surpasses all the boundaries of service offering and demand…..the possibilities are endless….

We were also pleasantly surprised to have added three new centers to our locations where classes are offered, only now this time the classes will be offered to senior citizens. The old concept that you can’t learn a language after a certain age was demolished by our Spanish made Fun ™ Program, where seniors learn in whole different way…….through activities they enjoy!

The next time you make an excuse for trying to learn a foreign language, think twice!

For more information on senior programs and online classes, please contact me directly here on the website.

Hasta Luego,

Claudia Krusch

CK Translations Director

EasyLearn Programs – Where a second language means fun!

Easter is celebrated differently around the world. In Brazil, the largest Catholic country in the world, meat is definitely a no in 99% of the households. I still taste the flavor of Vatapá and Xixim de Galinha with rice, the smell of dende and cashews cooking while my father stirs frentically to avoid burning….hours of preparation, not a Rachel Ray’s meal.

We don’t have Easter Egg Hunts, our eggs are a pound or more with toys and other different things inside.

Friday is called Sexta Feira da paixão  and it is the most important day, when families get together, a lot of businesses close that day and Sunday is called Domingo de Páscoa.

Some Words:

Easter – Páscoa

Egg- Ovo

Rabbit- Coelho

Basket – Cesta

Family, a home cooked meal, gathering and talking, all the ingredients to a great Easter Party anywhere in the world!

Vatapás recipe:

Vatapa
ingredients

• Dried shrimp
  100 grams or 1/4 pound

• Halibut
  Or other firm-fleshed, non-oily fish.
  700 grams or 1 1/2 pounds

• Coconut milk
  5 deciliters or 2 cups

• Dende (palm nut) oil
  30 milliliters or 2 tablespoons

• Chopped onions
  12 centiliters or 1/2 cup

• Minced garlic
  15 milliliters or 1 tablespoon

• Water
  5 deciliters or 2 cups

• Bay leaf
  1 medium sized

• Chopped fresh chili peppers
  6 centiliters or 1/4 cup

• Salt
  5 milliliters or 1 teaspoon

• Peanuts
  Freshly ground unsalted, shelled, skinned and roasted.
  8 centiliters or 1/3 cup

• Fine-grained cornmeal
  6 centiliters or 1/4 cup

Vatapa
cooking steps

• Chop the shrimp in a food processor or electric blender.
• Bone and skin the fish. Discard the skin. Reserve the bones for step 3. Cut the fish into 2 1/2 centimeter (1 inch) cubes and reserve them for step 8.
• Add the shrimp, coconut milk, and fish bones to a thick-bottomed 1 1/2 to 2 liter (1 1/2 to 2 quart) saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer the mixture for 30 minutes, stirring now and then.
• Heat the oil in a thick-bottomed 2 to 3 liter (1 to 3 quart) saucepan over low to moderate heat. Sauté the onions for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and sauté this mixture for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Stir 4 deciliters (1 3/4 cups) of the water into the onion-garlic mixture. Stir in the bay leaf, chili peppers, salt, and peanuts. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook it for 10 minutes.
• Discard the bay leaf from the onion-garlic preparation. Strain into this preparation the shrimp coconut mixture. Simmer the combination for 5 minutes.
• Soak the cornmeal in the remaining 6 centiliters or 1/4 cup water for 5 minutes. Slowly stir the moist cornmeal into the pot. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the fish cubes to the pot. Thoroughly submerge them and gently cook the preparation over low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally and very gently. Serve the Vatapa immediately.

Bom Apetite!

Claudia Krusch

CK Translations

If you are interested in learning Portuguese, about other cultures or other languages, log on my website for more information:

www.cktranslations.com