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Join Wundry Plus in the Wundery app or on Apple Podcasts. One trip. It's November 10th, 1945, inside a school classroom at the Ford Landia Rubber Plantation in Brazil.

Elizabeth Braga, a 40-year-old teacher, stands at the front of her class.

She wears a light summer dress which clings to her in the tropical heat.

Elizabeth has been in Brazil for several years now, but she still struggles with the climate.

She writes out some words on the blackboard, but the children are restless today, and Elizabeth can understand why.

There are rumors that the Ford Motor Company is about to

shut down the plantation. Back in America the new company president Henry Ford

the second is apparently looking to cut his losses and sell the land back to the Brazilians.

Elizabeth has no idea if the rumors are true or not.

So all she can do is focus on her job, teaching English to the children of

Fordlandia's workers.

Elizabeth taps a ruler on the wooden desk in front of her to get the class's attention.

Okay, okay, today we will be picking up where we left off yesterday, distinguishing nouns from verbs.

Salih, the word chair, is it a noun or is it a verb, a doing word?

But before the little girl could answer, there's a gentle knock.

Twenty curious heads pivot toward the door. It's Elizabeth's husband, Matt, a thick-set sawmill

technician from Detroit.

Lizzy, sorry, Mrs Braggot.

Can I borrow you for a minute?

It's important.

Okay, children, stay in your seats, please.

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