By Edy Bestle
LatinaLista.net
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL — People have been hearing and seeing things about the floods in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. This natural accident or Nature´s revenge caught us all by surprise.
Although heavy rains are expected from January to March every year, it seems that we are never ready for its consequences. In Petropolis – Rio de Janeiro – the earth layers on mountains made of rocks are very thin and were already soaked due to rain last year. The results were inevitable, unfortunately.
Aside from all the sad stories of whole families losing their lives, or brave scenes of parents saving their children´s lives, there is something I would like to highlight — something that moves me.
It is amazing how ready we are to help others. Not only the help from the Firemen – they are our heroes, here – from police dept. and other governmental institutions, thousands of ordinary people, like you and me, were there to help — the volunteers.
Tons of donations reached the affected areas in less than two days. Food, clothes, water, medicines, and not least important, personal care things. (Would you ever think about donating boxes of intimate pads, soap, tooth paste?)
I have heard unbelievably sad stories involving fear, hurt, desperation, losses… but it eases my heart when I realize that we can count on one another.
Learn more about Edy
Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Edy has been a world traveler since the age of seven. In the process, she mastered several languages including English, Spanish and Italian.
Her love of languages lead her to a speech therapy degree. These days, this divorced mother of three successful young adults, oversees her own business, an English school in Santos, Brazil. Located on the coastline, the school serves as an outlet for Edy to use her training as a speech therapist to teach English to such students as Brazilian business executives.
“In my country, although English is a second laguage, it is fundamental for doing business, especially in Sao Paulo where the international companies are located,” says Edy. “Not many of the business people can actually speak English.”
In addition to owning her own business, Edy plays on a volleyball league for women over 30-years-old and took up riding motorcycles. Already on her second bike, Edy enjoys the speed of the ride and is proud to have been allowed to ride the Interlagos race track, home of the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix.
