The Friendship Force Of Winnipeg
Sao Paulo Exchange 

What a great week we had with our Brazilian ambassadors! The Welcome Pot Luck Dinner got the week off with a bang. The food was wonderful, R.C.M.P. Cpl. Joanne Keeping in her red serge was a big hit with our visitors and they were amazed at our winter outerwear fashions. 

On their first day we showed them some of the city highlights such as the Legislative Building, The Forks and the Manitoba Museum, which they enjoyed. The second day was a country day and they were able to see some of our beautiful Prairie farmland, visited Fairholme Hutterite Colony and Spruce Woods Provincial Park and the Spirit Sands. The ladies at the Hutterite Colony served typical colony fare and the young women gave us a lovely concert. 

Thanks to eleven guests who joined us for the day the bus trip was a financial success as well. Our Friday agenda showed the ambassadors that we have a vibrant fishing industry when we toured the Freshwater Fish Marketing Agency. Those of us locals who had the opportunity to visit were amazed that such an operation exists in Winnipeg. Our Brazilian guests got to experience -22 degrees in the Freshwater freezer as an example of our winter temperatures! The seafood lunch at Club Regent was a great way to end our fishery day. 

The Mystery Car Rally was a fun new event which took us to some of the interesting places around the outskirts of Winnipeg and we enjoyed a nice picnic lunch and games of great skill at Bird's Hill Park along the way. The free days were spent by ambassadors and hosts in various ways -visiting Oak Hammock, Gimli, cottages in the Whiteshell or Lake of the Woods, art galleries, farms or shopping etc. The Farewell Dinner at The Hitchin Post was a big hit with the ambassadors. They loved the décor and atmosphere and the square dancing was a favorite. Although some did not speak English the ambassadors managed to do very well with the dancing. 

Tuesday was a difficult day with their departure for Quebec City. There were many hugs, kisses and tears as new friends had to say goodbye. Was it only a week since we met? All of us felt like very old friends and in the years ahead the friendships will continue.