At Mar e Floresta, native and non-native speakers from the Lusophone world and North America create a vibrant, fun atmosphere where everything revolves around o mundo português! Villager to staff ratio is about 4:1, and they are responsible for planning and participation in all village activities. In addition, staff members live in the cabins with villagers, ensuring a safe, fun experience for all!
Kirsten Addison is the dean of both Mar e Floresta, the Portuguese Language Village, and El Lago del Bosque, the Spanish Language Village. She goes by Salomé at Mar e Floresta and Cristina at El Lago del Bosque. Kirsten has been on staff at Concordia Language Villages since 1986, serving as dean in various Villages since 1996. She has been dean of the Spanish Language Village for many summers, dean of the French Language Village for one summer and she continues as dean of the academic year Spanish programs. Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and French, she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in political science and Spanish from the University of Western Ontario and studied at the University of Salamanca in Spain and the University of Lisbon in Portugal. Kirsten was a Rotary Exchange student to Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico. Most recently, she graduated from Northwestern Health Sciences University as a chiropractic physician.