August 2018 FORUM

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4 August 2018 The United States has no shortage of amazing beaches and beach communities, each with its own distinct character. This August, families all around the country will make their way to coastal towns from Oregon to Alabama to North Carolina. Few of these will have the long and storied history of Nantucket, a 17-mile-long island resting almost 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. At one point in the eighteenth century the wealthiest town in America, Nantucket now offers visitors miles of unspoiled beaches, wonderful restaurants and shopping, a rich history, and a break from the summer heat. A Long and Storied Past Nantucket has a complex history that pre-dates the arrival of Europeans to the Americas by centuries. The island’s original inhabitants were the Wampanoag tribe, whose members spread across much of southeastern Massachusetts as well as the other island off the coast of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard. Nantucket means “land far out to sea” or “faraway land” in the Wampanoag language, though the island’s distance from the mainland did not prevent its inhabitants from traveling to Cape Cod in order to trade for food and other goods. As many as 3000 Wampanoag lived on Nantucket in 1659 when Europeans began to settle on the island. The arrival of foreigners also brought disease, as it did in so many parts of the Americas, and by 1700 the Wampanoag population numbered only 800, living alongside 300 European settlers. Most Important Port in the World Around 1715, a new industry came to dominate the small European settlement on Nantucket: deep-sea whaling. Whale blubber was processed to produce oil for lamps as well as soap, and as such was perhaps the most valuable commodity in the world during this period. Whaling ships would often have crews of about 21, 18 of whom would man the small whaleboats in charge of harpooning a whale and tiring it out so it could be killed and processed on the ship. At first, many crewmembers of the ships came from the Wampanoag community through a system of indentured servitude. Nantucket abolished CONSULATE CORNER Nantucket Island: A “Land Far Out to Sea” by Erin Cozens slavery in 1783, and later whaling ship crews were composed of Europeans and a growing African-American population, which by 1840 numbered 571 on the island. As whaling rose to prominence in the eighteenth century, Nantucket dominated the industry, sending ships as far as the coast of Brazil, Hawaii, and Tahiti in search of sperm whales. During this period Nantucket was the center of commerce for whale oil and products made from it. As Herman Melville wrote in Moby Dick, “Two thirds of this terraqueous globe are the Nantucketer's. For the sea is his; he owns it, as Emperors own empires; other seamen having but a right of way through it.” An Island’s Rebirth The decline of the whaling industry in the late nineteenth century—due in part to the discovery of petroleum fields in Pennsylvania —fundamentally changed life on Nantucket. A devastating fire in 1846 destroyed much of the island’s waterfront and more than a hundred homes. At the same time, mainland cities such as Salem and New Bedford began to assert their dominance as the most important ports in North America. On Nantucket, what was once a thriving center of trade and commerce became a small community of long-time residents. During the end of the nineteenth and throughout the twentieth century, however, tourism became an increasingly important part of life on Nantucket. The island has a strikingly well-preserved historic center, with perhaps the best existing example of 18th and 19th century seaport architecture in the country. Artists were drawn to Nantucket’s stunning views and quiet way of life, and beginning in the 1920s, notable American artists such as Frank Swift Chase lived and worked on the island. As more and more people from the Northeastern part of the United States discovered Nantucket, the island reinvented itself as a place to spend a relaxing summer break surrounded by history, nature, and art. A Fixed Point My earliest memories are of summers on Nantucket, with its endless empty beaches, rose hips growing on the side of roads made of sand, and more scallop shells than a kid on vacation could ever collect. To me, Nantucket was a fixed point: no matter where we lived while I was growing up, every summer my parents, brother, and I would pack up and drive to Hyannis to take the two hour and fifteen minute boat ride to the island. My grandparents had bought a ramshackle house on a tiny spit of land known as Smith’s Point in the 1960s, before Nantucket achieved the popularity it has today. For 50 years the house served as a gathering point for my large and far-flung extended family. Today, Nantucket continues to bring families together to enjoy its pristine beaches, beautiful landscape, and incredible history. § US Citizen Contacts Emergencies: (11) 3250-5373 (incarceration, detainment, evacuation, health) Non-Emergencies: (11) 3250-5000 (from 1-2pm daily) or saopauloacs@state.gov (lost passports, reparation of remains, Social Security, minor health issues) @USCitsBrazil The official U.S. Embassy Twitter account for American citizens in Brazil. The English feed features daily tips and news for the expat community. The American Society of São Paulo FORUM Newsletter
August 2018 Volunteers Wanted Volunteering is a great way to meet others! Send an email to vp@amsoc.com.br for more information on any of the below opportunities. Thanksgiving Event Coordinator The Thanksgiving Event Coordinator helps to develop an American-style setting for giving thanks and breaking bread as a community. Responsibilities include: • Working with the venue to plan the annual Thanksgiving buffet dinner • Keeping track of reservations and publicity Membership Team Associates These positions are some of the most important in that they involve not only gathering members for AmSoc but making them feel welcome and helping them get involved! Responsibilities include: • Developing relationships with potential members and renewing those of current members • Liaising with new members to welcome them and answer questions Kids Halloween Party Committee Members Volunteers in these positions are in charge of bringing the magic of an American Halloween to children living far from the states. Responsibilities include: • Planning decorations, games, and prizes • Handling reservations and publicity for the event Youth Athletics: Coaches for Soccer, Basketball, Football These volunteers have the gratifying role of leading our community’s youth to discover their talents and foster friendships through regular sports events. Responsibilities include: • Serving as team leaders and teachers by coaching the Saturday youth sports games • Creating an environment of good sportsmanship and fun! Gala Volunteer Coordinator This position entails bringing together one of the biggest social events of the year. A meticulous sense of organization and the ability to prioritize are a must! Responsibilities include: • Coordinating team members to help with reservations and donations • Organizing schedule and duties for best coverage on the night of the event Adult Athletics: Golf & Softball Organizer This volunteer helps to bring out the spirit of competition in our members through organization of several annual events. Responsibilities include: • Organizing the annual Challenge Golf Cup in May with around 50 participants • Planning the November softball tournament and potential softball pickup games Travel Club Coordinator The perfect position for a member with a sense of adventure and a flair for rallying groups. Responsibilities include: • Organizing day trips, overnights, hikes, or picnics for members • Developing new ideas for gatherings and group adventures Gala Team Members These volunteers work with the Annual Gala Coordinator to help create one of the year’s greatest social events. Responsibilities include: • Helping the Coordinator to develop an annual theme and related activities • Assisting with reservations, donations, and decorations SMILE Program Coordinator This is a monthly volunteering opportunity connecting AmSoc members with kids at our sponsored charities through fun and engaging activities. Each month, a group of volunteers participates in a pre-planned event. Responsibilities include: • Helping plan events & outings • Coordinating volunteers The American Society of São Paulo FORUM Newsletter 5
Page 1 and 2: August 2018 The American Society of
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Page 7 and 8: August 2018 All photos courtesy of
Page 9 and 10: A History of Feijoada by Malcolm Ma
Page 11 and 12: COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE August 2
Page 13 and 14: ATHLETICS August 2018 Help Your Kid
Page 15 and 16: I had the opportunity to discover a
Page 17 and 18: Find Your Beginning by Jackie Wyant
Page 19 and 20: August 2018 Getting on Board compil

August 2018 FORUM

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