Dear Classmates,

I really wish I could be with you this weekend! I greatly enjoyed going to our 20th. As I can't make it this time I guess I should do some updating. 

As some of you may remember, back in 1989 I was living in Chicago where I stayed for fifteen years. I got a M.S. in Computer Science, finished the course work for my Ph. D. and worked for ten years in architecture - combining the two fields.  

In 2001 I moved back to Salvador (Bahia), the place where I was born, home to 3 million people including my own family. Using a spreadsheet, I realized then (2001) I had spent half of my adult life in Brazil and half in the US.  

About work, my architecture design has been mainly residential, including high-rise apartment buildings. I am also very active within my profession, serving as the state VP and a trustee of the National Board of Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil - the Brazilian equivalent of the AIA. 

On a personal side, as many in our generation I got divorced (with no kids). I have since shared a home twice but never really re-married. Actually, over here people seldom re-marry. 

To those of you who knew my AFS family I should mention that Charly Mehl remains in Bangkok, home to a classmate whom he married right after finishing his Ph. D. They have two kids attending college. Mother also moved to Thailand two years ago and is having a good time over there. She is really an inspiration to all of us. 

Speaking of AFS, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all you who were involved with the program and also those who helped me along. The 1968-69 school year remains a very special one in my memory. And as we have found out by the press coverage these were historical times not only for us but for the 20th century. I am very happy to have spent it in Vienna. 

About the future, one thing that I do know is that I don't ever intend to retire. As I've said before, I feel specially happy to be living at a time when reaching the age of eighty-something has become a standard expectation of our generation. In less than a century, the personal challenge went from surviving into middle-age to living life to its fullest into the golden years. I am very thankful to have these possibilities.

Hope to make the next one.

Have a great time!

Best regards,

Raul