Text interpretation: Definition of homesickness

The activities on the text “Definição de saudade” are intended for students in the 7th year of Elementary School.

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definition of homesickness

Dr. Rogério Brandão, oncologist.

As a cancerologist, already seasoned with 29 years of professional experience (…) I can say that I grew and changed with the dramas experienced by my patients.
We don't know our true dimension until, caught up in adversity, we discover that we are capable of going much further.
I remember with emotion the Pernambuco Cancer Hospital, where I took my first steps as a professional…
I started attending the children's ward and fell in love with pediatric oncopedia.

I experienced the dramas of my patients, children who were innocent victims of cancer. With the birth of my first child, I started to feel cowardly when I saw the suffering of children.
Until the day an angel passed me! My angel came in the form of an 11-year-old child, calloused by two long years of treatments miscellaneous, manipulations, injections and all the discomforts brought by chemical and radiotherapies. But I've never seen the little angel falter. I saw her cry many times; I also saw fear in her little eyes; however, this is human!
One day, I arrived at the hospital early in the morning and found my angel alone in the room. I asked about the mother.
The answer I received, even today, I can't tell without experiencing deep emotion:
– Uncle, – she told me – sometimes my mother leaves her room to cry hidden in the corridors… When I die, I think she will miss her very much. But, I'm not afraid to die, uncle. I was not born to this life!
I asked:
- And what does death mean to you, my dear?
– Look uncle, when we're little, sometimes we go to sleep in our father's bed and, the next day, we wake up in our own bed, right? (I remembered my daughters, at the time, 6 and 2 year olds, with them I proceeded exactly like that.)
- That's right.
– One day I'm going to sleep and my Father comes to pick me up.
– I will wake up in His house, in my real life!
I was “stuffed up”, I didn't know what to say. Shocked by the maturity with which the suffering accelerated that child's vision and spirituality.
“And my mother will miss you,” she amended.
Thrilled, holding back a tear and a sob, I asked:
-And what does longing mean to you, my dear?
- Longing is the love that stays!
Today, at 53 years of age, I challenge anyone to give a better, more direct and simple definition to the word saudade: “it's love that stays! “.
My little angel is gone, for many years.
But, he left me a great lesson that helped me to improve my life, to try to be more human and affectionate with my patients, to rethink my values.
When night comes, if the sky is clear and I see a star, I call for “my angel”, which shines and shines in the sky. I imagine she is a shining star in her new and eternal home.
Thank you little angel, for the beautiful life you had, for the lessons you taught me, for the help you gave me.
I'm glad there's nostalgia! The love that remained is eternal.

Questions:

1. The author narrates an event that deeply marked his life. What is this event? Why was it remarkable to him?

2. Explain the following passage from the text: "We do not know our true dimension until, caught up in adversity, we discover that we are capable of going much further."

3. For what purpose did the author write this text, considering the audience he wants to reach?

4. Read the following excerpt from the text:

"Saw-The cry often; I also saw fear in your little eyes; however, this is human!”.

The underlined words refer to who?

5. In “I stayed”clogged”, I didn't know what to say.”, the highlighted word no could be replaced by:

a) shocked
b) worried
c) embarrassed
d) disconcerted

By Denyse Lage Fonseca – Graduated in Languages ​​and specialist in distance education.

At answers are in the link above the header.

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