Hello, ,

Happy Friday! Congratulations on making it through another tough week! 🥳🌞

I'm going to reserve Fridays for subjects like Geography, 🌍 Science,🔬 and Biography 🙋🏻‍♂️, but I'll mix it up a bit.

I think pretty much everyone has heard of the company called Ford. They are one of the largest car manufacturers in the world. 🚘

They have been around for a long time and have much experience in the automotive industry. Ford is known for producing many vehicles, from trucks to SUVs 🚗 and sedans.

Although I am American, I live in Thailand, 🛺 where American cars are unpopular. Most people drive Japanese cars like Toyotas, Hondas, and Nissas. However, Ford has a strong presence in the country and is known for producing high-quality vehicles built to last.

I drive one myself and love driving it over the mountains and through the jungles. 🐒 You do have to watch out for Elephant crossings, though! 🐘

Fordlandia

Although most people will know Ford for their cars, have you ever heard of Fordlandia?

Fordlandia was a town built by the Ford Motor Company in the 1920s in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. It was established as part of Henry Ford's plan to produce rubber for tires and other automotive parts. Fordlandia was intended to be a model community with modern amenities and a focus on American-style living.

The town was built in the middle of the jungle, and Ford invested heavily in infrastructure, including roads, schools, and hospitals. However, the project was plagued by problems from the start.

The rubber trees planted did not thrive in the Amazon climate, and the workers brought in from the United States were not able to adapt to the harsh conditions of the rainforest.

Despite the initial optimism, Fordlandia ultimately failed as a rubber plantation. The town was abandoned in the 1940s, and the land was returned to the Brazilian government.

Today, Fordlandia is a ghost town with crumbling buildings and overgrown vegetation. It reminds us of the challenges of trying to impose American values and practices on a foreign culture and environment.

You can read more about it in our featured micro-lesson by clicking the link below.

I'll see you on Monday! Have a great weekend! 🌞

William

Click Here to Read The Story! 😊