The new United States Ambassador to Brazil, Michael McKinley, arrived in Brasília in January, succeeding Ambassador Liliana Ayalde, who represented her country for the past three years and left Brazil with great impressions, which she shares in the following letter written to the people of Brazil. In the letter, she emphasizes the beauty, diversity, and richness of Brazilian culture and, particularly, the various initiatives carried out in partnership between the countries.
“As I prepare to leave Brazil, there are so many wonderful memories of people and places that I will carry with me. From my home in Brasília, under the vast blue sky of the plateau, I reflected on these last three years and what I saw and learned while exploring this majestic, diverse, and beautiful country.
In the Marvelous City, I experienced the warmth of carioca hospitality as Rio welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests from around the world for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. I personally witnessed the athletic spirit and fair play of the competitors in many events, where Brazilian athletes stood out and won the hearts of spectators worldwide. I saw the great advances the city made in building its infrastructure, rode the new Metro line with my family, and visited the completely renovated Praça Mauá. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the World Cup – I followed the U.S. Team across the country in Natal, Recife, Manaus, and Salvador. These two mega-events were examples of Brazil’s logistical, organizational, and security capabilities.
In the Cerrado, I witnessed the incredible diversity of indigenous peoples as 2,000 athletes representing 24 Brazilian tribal nations and 23 countries gathered for the First World Indigenous Games in October 2015. For the leaders of the Native American tribes who led the U.S. delegation, this event was an opportunity to renew cultural ties between the United States and Brazil. In São Paulo, I practiced English and played soccer with a group of girls from public schools, who are learning English and leadership skills as part of our Consulate’s “Soccer Stars” program. Through sports, we celebrate social inclusion, empowerment, and the rights of people with disabilities.
The vastness of Brazil is almost immeasurable, and the Amazon is a great example of that. I was struck by the natural beauty of the region – seeing the Meeting of the Waters and watching the pink river dolphins of the Amazon play – symbols of Brazil’s unique biodiversity. I also visited the Anavilhanas National Park and met with people committed to protecting this world treasure. I am proud of our work with the Brazilian government to conserve this unique and unforgettable region.
The universal language of music and culture unites our countries. I was excited to attend the first concert of the São Paulo Youth Orchestra in the United States, a result of a partnership between the Juilliard School and Santa Marcelina Cultura. In Belém, I celebrated the 60th anniversary of CCBEU – the U.S.-Brazil binational center – listening to American jazz performed by the renowned Amazonia Jazz Band at the Teatro da Paz. In Recife, I watched Maestro Spok and Wynton Marsalis perform an exciting Jazz-Frevo version of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate the 200th anniversary of our Consulate. And, when the renowned samba school Unidos da Tijuca announced that its official theme for Carnival 2017 would celebrate American music, I even tried to dance a little samba! In Minas Gerais, nestled in the picturesque mountains of the state, I visited Inhotim, one of the most exuberant and bold modern art complexes in the world, with whom we partnered to host an exhibition by world-class American artist Candy Chang. A few days ago, I attended a performance by the Claudio Santoro Theater Symphony Orchestra in Brasília of classic American pieces under the direction of American conductor Jeffrey Dokken.
It was such a rewarding experience to meet so many people who are doing such meaningful and important work to unite our two countries. From my interactions with the world-class diplomats of Itamaraty to visiting tech startups in Porto Alegre, as well as participating in business meetings in São Paulo with American and Brazilian executives from Mais Unidos, who take their commitment to corporate social responsibility seriously, the ties that bind our two countries continue to strengthen and deepen. I also saw Brazil’s bright and promising future in the inspiring meetings I had with dozens of Young Ambassadors. Thank you, Brazil; thank you, Brazilian friends, for three amazing years in your beautiful and vibrant country. You will always be in my heart.”