Brazil’s NE state of Ceará. Best coastline with 600 km of beach.

Our IBM Corporate Services Corps (CSC) Team 17 Brazil arrived and met one another for the first time in Fortaleza yesterday.  The two longest flight times were taken by our ladies from IBM China Yi Shi and Ying Tang took 33 hours to get in with 3 flights, followed by my 25 hours flight from Singapore.

We are the 17^th CSC team deployed into Brazil since 2009 to work with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in Brazil.  This is the first time IBM CSC is in the north-eastern state of Ceará and in the city of Fortaleza.

Out of the 27 states of Brazil, Ceará is the 8^th largest Brazilian States by population and 17^th by area at 146,348 km².  It is located in the north-eastern part on the Atlantic coast. While there are mountains and valleys producing tropical fruits and forests to the south border, the state is best known for its extensive coastline, with 600 kilometers (370 mi) of sand. It is no wonder that it is one of the main tourist destinations in Brazil due to its beautiful beaches.  The beaches are divided into two groups (in relation to the capital): Sunset Coast (Costa do Sol poente) and Sunrise Coast (Costa do Sol nascente). The climate of Ceará is hot almost all year, with the temperature varying from 22 to 36 °C, just like Singapore.

We are blessed to be in a state where even the name sounds beautiful and anything related to the sea is paradise to me.  There are a few theories on the origins and meaning of the state name Ceará.  One says that Ceará means "sings the jandaia” (a jandaia or Aratinga jandaya is a small South American parakeet with green wings and tail, reddish-orange body, yellow head and neck, orange cheeks and black bill).  According José de Alencar (one of the most important writers of Brazil), Ceará means turquoise or green waters. Yet some say that Ceará is derived from Siriará, a reference to the crabs from the seashore.

The current governor of Ceará is Cid Gomes.  Trade and services dominate the economy, especially tourism.  Agriculture and industry also have their role in the state economy.  Cashew nuts is a native product from Ceará.

 

The traditional cuisine of Ceará is a variety of fish and seafood, such as shrimp, lobster and crab, in various preparations. Traditionally, the carne do sol (sundried meat), the baião de dois (made of rice and beans) and the tapioca are prepared. Lots of regional fruits are used n ice creams, juices and drinks.  So I should not have a problem with a non-meat seafood diet here at all. 

More about Fortaleza in my next blog.