São Paulo. Brazil. Thursday August 3rd 2006

As we arrived into São Paulo this morning I could not view the great vastness of this city which happened to be blanketed in low lying cloud.

Arriving around 7am I was met by the Academic Director of the Cultura Inglesa for São Paulo.

On my drive to my hotel (which is located in the academic quarter of the city near the state university) I glimpsed my first 'real life' sight of a favela.

My initial impressions of this city stand in contrast to popular myth. It is surprisingly clean and modern and whilst 'shanty towns' certainly exist next to luxury condos, my impressions and discussions with Lizika inform me that this is a forward thinking city with the same 'issues' as any great metropolis.

My day begins with a fully escorted tour of the Centro Brasileiro Britãnico (the BBC or British Brazilian Centre) which is home not only to the HQ of Cultura Inglesa in São Paulo, but also to the British Consulate, a very well equipped library and an outstandingly well appointed theatre; it is also the home of the British Council, the British Chamber of Commerce and the BBC (in the broadcasting sense) in Brazil.

After a splendid lunch in Drakes, I give my first presentation of the project to the Academic Department of the Cultura Inglesa São Paulo. This is based around the project pedagogy and strategies for the teaching of English and language arts more generally...I am relieved that it is well received!

In the late afternoon I am collected by a shuttle and accompany the Board of Trustees on a two hour drive into the state of São Paulo where I will attend the opening of the latest Cultura Inglesa joint venture project in the city of Piracicaba.

On arrival I am met and officially welcomed to Brazil on behalf of HM Government by our Consul-General Andrew Henderson.

And what a welcome...

We are treated to a Samba show by the very talented 'street children' of the Meninos do Morumbi project who provide a stunning spectacle of music, dance and song.

The spectacle concludes with the official opening, performed by Andrew, who is 'piped in' by two splendidly attired 'Scots Pipers'.

At the cocktail party that follows I find myself in the most stimulating of company.
Lorraine de Matos, General Manager of Cultura Inglesa São Paulo, is the most welcoming hostess and makes certain that I am introduced to all the assembled groups present. São Paulo state is on show this evening and the Paulistas are not only a warm and welcoming people; they are also more than capable of matching the Paulistanos in glamour and intellectual discourse.

This evening I am to find myself posing for photographs (for a range of newspapers and magazines) with the cream of São Paulo society. I am also due to give a personal interview to the press in São Paulo this weekend.

This evening I am enlightened about São Paulo and its aspirations as a city through my conversations with the business and political leaders of the region. I also find fascinating 'connections' with my hosts and discover that we know many of the same people and places back home in England.

Andrew Henderson is a lovely man and an excellent ambassador for Britain and its government abroad and I greatly enjoy the time we spend engaged in conversation. My car host, Derrick Marcus likewise provides the most engaging of conversation. As well as being a trustee, Derrick is the former Chairman of Governors at St Paul´s School. São Paulo´s most exclusive educational establishment, St Paul´s has built an international reputation as a leading HMC school. Derrick is also a very successful and prominent member of the business community and thus we share a mutual interest in education and economics.

On my first day in São Paulo I have been exposed to one side of city life. Tomorrow I embark on a new journey of discovery. My aim in this project has always been to reflect, as best I can, a genuine view of all sides of the communities I visit.