Football Meets Futbol for Sao Paulo Alumni

São Paulo | February 7, 2011

CAO Scott Whitmore and Consul General Thomas Kelly playing football with the Alumni

Alumni at the first annual tailgate party

Maybe it wasn’t the Super Bowl but the first annual Alumni tailgate party and football game on Saturday, February 5 was a resounding success.  More than 30 alumni from U.S. Government exchange programs, from 17 on up, Youth Ambassadors to Fulbright scholars came for a taste of American football and food at the “Super Bowl” party hosted by the US Consulate General.  After partaking of the traditional pre-game meal of corn dogs, pizza, chips, salsa and submarine sandwiches, the Alumni and friends joined Consul General Thomas Kelly and Consulate staff in a game of football.  The Alumni football rookies proved quick studies and after a basic rules session, they were making highlight reel catches, interceptions and touchdowns that wowed the crowd.

The event was a great opportunity for the U.S. Consulate to bring alumni of all ages from so many different programs together to meet each other, exchange their various experiences in the U.S. while allowing the Consulate to extend our contact with all these participants.  Speaking for so many of those present, Community College Initiative alum Claudia Pereira thanked the consulate for the opportunity of getting to know each other a little bit more.  “Playing football for the first time was amazing.  I'll never forget it!”