Marc, thanks for the news about Joina.  I haven't heard from her in about two months.  I think she was leaving on a trip at that time.

In Curitiba I was invited to speak at a university.  When they asked me what my fee was, they were shocked when I said there would be no charge.  I was later criticized for not stating a figure.  If I did not ask for money, obviously I did not value my time.  If I did not value my time, why would others think it was valuable?  I was just happy to have a chance to be of service to students.  I didn't want their money.  We had two very different ways of looking at the same situation.

Good luck with your English!

By the way, what city are you in?  Are you from the South?