Memoirs of an Explorer

burning witches and exploding aliens

2009-11-02T16:22:00.003+01:00

Apart from sleeping (a LOT) and washing clothes, i found time for some culture this long weekend. And of course, I couldn't just enjoy the entertainment, i needed to analyze =)

Friday night i caught up on news from back home (meaning the UK). Two stories caught my eye. The 1st was the sacking of the government's senior scientific advisor on drugs, asked to step down for 'crossing the line between science & politics'. His crime? Pointing out the inconsistencies between policies for cannabis and more dangerous (but legal) drugs - alcohol and tobacco. This upset me on one level because I think the rejection of scientific advice on a socially important matter sets a dangerous precedent. It also upset me because the main opposition party AGREED with the government's decision (no doubt concerned with protecting their recently hard-won endorsement from The Sun). Regardless of my own views on drug laws, i think it's very sad if our attitudes towards scientific evidence have gone back 500 years. Now, instead of the Catholic Church, it's the political establishment that's saying, effectively: "We don't care about your 'evidence', what you're saying is blasphemy!" Question the integrity of the evidence - yes. Demand further studies by different groups - yes. But tell them to shut up unless they agree with what you want to hear - this does nothing to serve the development of science or of effective social policy. Well done to the Liberal Democrats (the 3rd biggest party in Parliament) for having the integrity and courage to say this, even knowing it may attract negative tabloid headlines.

The 2nd was the attack on a young gay man in Liverpool by a GANG OF TWENTY. Seemingly his only crime was leaving a club with his boyfriend. Being surrounded by the liberal attitude of my own friends for the last 10yrs, I had started to think that this kind of thing didn't happen anymore in the UK. (Being in a place where it does apparently happen quite regularly, it's something i've thought a bit about, believe me...) At least the guy in question now seems to have made a full recovery.

On Saturday night Diego and I went to watch 'District 9'. Not only enjoyable entertainment, but fascinating because of some parallels with what i've been learning recently about the complex problems of the 'favelas' in Rio de Janeiro. A marginalized community being blighted by poverty and violence, turning to addictive substances for escape. Gangs gaining control by exploiting people's needs. 'Rich world' arms companies looking to make profits from the situation with no regard for the human costs. Am i still writing about the film...? On a lighter note, the added bonus of the film is that it had spaceships, lasers that evaporate people, and dozens of actors trying to fake South-African accents =)

Ok, now i need to go for lunch. But i'll be back soon to finish =)

Being a pioneer

2009-10-16T21:31:00.001+02:00

It's been one year since i started my internship with Artemisia. Since Social Business is a relatively new area, one of the phrases that I've used the most during this time is that we are "developing a new field". Today I've discovered some elements of what this means, by participating in a strategic planning meeeting with the whole Artemisia team in Brazil.

however much time you spend trying to find answers, there will always appear more questions
it's important to keep an open mind and challenge your own paradigms regularly

It's interesting because i believed i had developed this understanding in AIESEC, through my MC and AI experiences. I thought that i was comfortable, even was at my best, working in such circumstancs. Yet several times today i became frustrated, only later realizing that this frustration came from me forgetting these useful lessons.

In AIESEC, although countries and LCs often had very different realities, I could be sure of some fundamental elements of my work, because the organization had 60years of experience in designing, testing, refining and replicating its programs. I had dozens of real examples from my own personal network to underpin my ideas.

Now in Artemisia I'm discovering what its like to work in an environment where your very mission relates to something new, something untested. You need to constantly test your theories - even ones that seem most obvious - in the real world; to ask how and why the reality you observe is different than the one that you expected. You need to be open to challenge not only operational matters but fundamental beliefs and paradigms.

It's incredibly challenging. It requires maturity, patience and humility. It's provoking a lot of reflections about my own behaviours and attitudes. And I feel incredibly lucky to be walking on this journey with such talented, committed and caring people.

Minha nova casa

2009-10-13T03:58:00.002+02:00

Below are some pictures from my new home. I'm sharing a 4-storey, 15-bedroom house with around 15 other ppl. They are Brazilian, French & German. We have 4 showers, 1 kitchen and 1 washing machine. As you might imagine, there is rarely a dull moment =) My room has a fridge, cable tv and wireless internet.

And so far, i'm enjoying life here =)

return to Asia

2009-09-29T03:48:00.002+02:00

Can there be a more fitting way to share a trip to Asia than through photos?

I hope you enjoy the trip :)

Generation Y

2009-09-24T04:08:00.002+02:00

Just got back from an interesting event called "Generation Y: Work, consumption, thoughts, business and fun." A series of half-hour presentations by speakers from diverse backgrounds (age, profession, region), attended by around 150 ppl.

A lot of information that i had already heard, but also a lot of new insights, ideas and references. And extra satisfying because i was there alone and the whole event was in Portuguese (that means more than 4hrs of speeches absorbed!)

Particularly eye-opening to learn many of the traits i identify in myself are considered to be typical of my generation. Impatience, curiosity, self-confidence, connectivity, anxiety, indecisiveness, independence, relentless search for new experiences & challenges. Useful for me to realize that, although i grew up on the other side of the world, i can identify in many ways with my peer group here in Brazil (the global nature of the theme was touched upon, but the main focus was Generation Y in Brazil) and also these are not characteristics unique to AIESECers (something i have tended to assume) and therefore i still need to bear these things in mind in my work even though i'm working much less with AIESEC these days.

Great to have the opportunity to attend this kind of event (and for free!). Already looking forward to the next one! (there's that impatience again...)

2009-09-18T02:29:00.005+02:00

A very interesting excerpt from a new book led me to this hilarious article evaluating the contribution and prospects of MBAs in today's world.

The book proposes to expose the 'reality' of the management consultancy industry, from the point of view of someone who spent 11 years revelling in its decadence and over-confidence. I found the content paticularly interesting because:

so many of my friends from university and AIESEC have gone into this industry, but very few of them have revealed anything like these insights
at several points during the last few years i myself considered this as a career option (not entirely unrelated to point#1)
although the author's assertion that "one must dispose of the naïve idea that consulting involves the transfer of knowledge" is backed up by convincing arguments, I can't help wondering how many of the industry's (extortionate-fee-paying) clients (not to mention their now surplus-to-requirements employees) were fully aware of this when they agreed to pay
it reminds me of how willingly many people accept the 'advice' of self-proclaimed 'experts' without the need for the latter to have proven their expertise. In fact the author tells us that "Wherever I was in the world, at the beginning of every consulting project, one thing was certain: I would know less about the business at hand than the people I was supposed to be advising."

As for the MBA article, it's appealing combination of analysis, sober warning and tongue-in-cheek damnation is summed-up nicely by these lines, probably my favourite part:

"The only semblance of a theory behind modern business education is that it purportedly produces "experts" in shareholder-value maximization who are capable of forming an ideal, self-regulating market.

It's a neat theory, of course, and pretty radical, too. But not since the fall of the Soviet Union has a system of belief woken up with so many parking tickets on its windshield."

If you're a management consultant, i look forward to reading your response. If you enjoy poking fun at people who take themselves too seriously, I suggest you check out the articles =)

And finally, if you're currently saving up to apply for an MBA, I suggest you invest your money in something safer, like shares in a US missile manufacturer, copyright for "Brown wins re-term" t-shirts, or maybe Newcastle United Football Club. Of course I know what i'm talking about - I studied economics 10 years ago, and my boyfriend's mother is a tarot-reader. What more convincing do you need? Perhaps a reference from a management consultant ...? =)

Free speech

2009-09-10T00:18:00.002+02:00

There's a pretty hot debate going on in the UK about whether an extreme right-wing political party (the BNP) should be invited onto a mainstream talkshow on the BBC (Question Time). Such a sensitive topic has obviously elicited a lot of strong opinions (some rational, some emotional, some contradictory, some incredulous).

But i did enjoy very much this attempt to inject some (black) humour into the debate:

"Sadly there will be some who will listen to their talk of immigration as the root of all evils and agree without wanting to blame the reckless search for mega profits in the banking industry... They will listen to this man who lives in a massive house in the Welsh countryside and believe he understands what it's like to live in a multi-cultured inner city. It seems to me he has more in common with the anti-homosexual, anti-foreigner Taliban (though with a nicer house) than with the normal everyday British man. Perhaps we should invite the Taliban on with him to show how much they have in common :-) "

That would surely be worth the TV licence fee! (Not that i pay one these days, living off The Island...) Thank you, 'Royalty in the Chamionship', for that gem

Addition to the previous post

2009-09-09T19:15:00.004+02:00

I just discovered that São Paulo did have an official 'event' to mark the Brazilian independence day. It was a military parade. There were apparently 30,000 participants.

So, less than 1% of the number who participated in the gay pride.

Who says military coups pose the biggest threat to governments in Latin America? :)

(Mais um) Feriado

2009-09-09T04:48:00.002+02:00

One of the nice things about living in Brazil is that there are a lot of public holidays ('Feriados'). This Monday was Brazilian 'Independence Day', which meant a 3-day weekend for most people in Sao Paulo (at least, for those earning more than a minimum wage). Compared to others i have experienced, this seemed a rather unpatriotic event. My own 'multicultural' commemoration included washing clothes (fairly international, though the fact that i, as a young professional, wash them myself means there are some places where it doesn't apply...), eating sushi and ice-cream (not uncommon in Sao Paulo, but also not staples of the Republica Federal) and drinking beer (a national obsession).

It was suggested to me that the very fact my day had so many cultural influences was indicative of modern Brazil. Again, i can't help thinking this remains true only for Sao Paulo, and perhaps a handful of other metropolises. Can anyone share what it's like to spend September 7th in the Brazilian 'interior'?

From my perspective, the most patriotic part of the weekend was definitely Brazil's victory over Argentina in Saturday night's World Cup qualifier. If getting one over on this unpopular neighbour (in his own backyard) was not sweet enough, the fact that Argentina is now in real danger of not qualifying for next year's finals, and that Sr. Maradona had spent most of the previous week criticizing the Brazil team, would certainly have helped to make this a memorable evening.

Other weekend news:

Diego and i went to the theatre to say 'O encontro das aguas' (the meeting of the waters), the story of 2 guys who strike up a friendship on a bridge where one lives rough and the other has gone to commit suicide. Touching in parts, funny in others, but frustratingly short at less than 40 minutes
Flashbacks to Rotterdam as i ate a falafel kebab (interesting to note that what we used to refer to as 'Turkish' food is referred to here as 'Arabic', while the bread is 'Syrian'...)
We were pretty lucky with the weather, as yesterday was very sunny, but today the rain returned with a vengeance. 80% of the usual September rainfall fell in just one day. And my umbrella chose today to blow inside-out...

Estou de volta :)

2009-09-06T01:42:00.003+02:00

I've been back in Brazil for almost 1 week now. A week that almost started in disaster...

Before leaving for my trip i had signed a contract for a new house, and paid 2 months' rent as deposit. The landlord had picked up my bed and some other things, and promised to have everything waiting for me in my new room on my return. I even had a key to let myself in on the 1st day back.

So having landed at 5.30am, i was standing outside my new house before 8, key in hand. Tired but excited. And then the key didn't fit in the lock. And of course i didn't have the guy's number saved in my phone. So i trawled through my luggage until i found the contract. And of course there was no number printed there.

By then i was starting to wonder in what backstreet I would find my bed for sale, and if the Federal Police (my favourite government department, you may remember...) had a ripped-off tenants supports service. Fortunately Diego and his friend (+ car) were with me, so by 8.15 i was on my way to his house. I found the phone number online, and my (very apologetic) landlord explained that they had changed the locks while i was away, and promised to be at home waiting in the afternoon.

After a less than smooth start i've enjoyed my 1st week here. I'm still not sure how many people are living here (i counted 13 but apparently there are some i didn't meet yet). There's Brazlians, French and Germans, and we're speaking a mixture of English, French and Portuguese. So my English will continue getting worse. In a few minutes we'll be gathering around the tv to watch Brazil take on Argentina in a World Cup qualifier that is a must-win for Maradona's men. I hope everyone will still be smiling in 2hrs from now!

Long-distance friendships

2009-08-28T20:09:00.005+02:00

On this trip i've been able to re-connect with so many wonderful people. It's an unavoidable consequence of the lifestyle i've chosen in the last few years that i cannot be geographically close to all of the people that i would like to be. This has never been more true than in Brazil, due to both the distance and the relatively high travel costs. Yet here there is an interesting paradox - it's because of my choices that i have been able to meet so many inspiring, supportive and intelligent people in so many diverse places.

In many ways i sense this is easier for my 'AIESEC friends' than my school/uni friends, since they are much more used to this arrangement in their own lives. At the same time, i still feel that the latter remain incredibly supportive and understanding of my choices. And overall it's been really lovely to feel that, with so many of my friendships, the connection is not weakened by distance and the passing of time.

I remember that when i was preparing to leave for university, my Dad told me that i should not expect to be able to maintain many of my friendships, as my friends and i grew up, made different choices, and moved in different directions. I'm so happy that i (or, we) have managed to prove his prediction wrong =)

To my friends everywhere, thanks for always being 'there' =)

Proud to be an AIESECer

2009-08-26T21:13:00.003+02:00

I'm coming to the end of my 6th AIESEC International Congress, this time in Malaysia. More than 600 people from 107 countries have come together for 10 days to learn, to share, to challenge, and to be inspired. It still feels incredible to be in a room with such diversity, such energy, such creativity, and such passion. It gives me great satisfaction to see that the organization is growing faster than at any point since i joined it 9 years ago. Finally AIESEC has succeeded in sharing this great event with the world through online media. Events such as this remind me of the power of trusting in the potential of young people (including myself)!

Congratulations to AIESEC, and thank you for all that you have given to my life.

A very proud alumnus =)

Back in the City of Angels

2009-08-22T19:55:00.002+02:00

feels great to be back. Feels like coming home. Seems i have several homes now =) The colours, the smiles, the food, the beautiful scenery - all just as i remember. And once again with very special friends, who make this place even more magical. And once again, we picked up just where we left off, as if all the months had not passed with so many miles in between us.

Leaving again in 30hrs. But it's ok - i know i'll be back again =) Good night, Bangkok xxx

Finally - the proof!

2009-08-20T11:50:00.001+02:00

Feeling alive

2009-08-19T11:28:00.001+02:00

The glorious tingle of Indian food lingering in my mouth, the chorus of tuk-tuks ringing in my ears.
My chest still sensing the intense heat of the rush-hour train ride.
My mind's eye a sprawling collage of radiant sarees, friendly smiles and skeletal animals.
The satisfaction of a successful meeting completed, and of watching how quickly a new colleague grows into her role.
The warm embrace of friendship tying me to those recently left behind, and to those expectantly waiting.
The love in my heart nourished and refreshed by hearing the sound of your voice.
The present, the past and the future coexisting peacefully in my mind.

wake-up call

2009-07-16T00:10:00.003+02:00

Whilst browsing the website of 'Social Business Consulting', a UK organization supporting development of Social Business, i found a very interesting blog post by one of their team who recently set up an environmental action campaign. Here is an excerpt from it, as the guy reflects on a video he has seen:

" ...the stuff that people like me do currently isn't nearly enough. I'm used to feeling quite good about the fact that I cycle a fair bit, grow bits of veg, buy organic meat etc etc. But the changes that I'll need to make in my lifestyle are far more profound than that. If the country needs to cut emissions by 80%, that means that I have to do something along those lines too. That's more profound than using my buying power (courtesy of working too hard) to purchase an expensive energy saving fridge from John Lewis."

I recommend you check out the full post

Reading this from someone who is already so active in trying to make a difference provoked a mixture of thoughts, ranging from inspiration to despair.

How often do we think about our own lifestyles in this way? Do we really embody our outward belief that "change starts from within...?" Are we actually ready and willing to make that change?

Brazlian speaking English

2009-06-18T22:37:00.001+02:00

This is the coach of the South Africa national football team...

Stereotypes

2009-06-15T23:54:00.002+02:00

Yesterday São Paulo hosted the world's biggest gay pride event. 3.5 million people danced, cheered and smiled their way along Avenida Paulista and Rua da Consolação, a sea of rainbows, glitter, bare chests and beer.

I had previously attended 1 large (Amsterdam) and 2 small (Birmingham & Bangkok) events, but it was difficult for me to imagine anything on this scale. The noise, the colours, the energy - it was really like nothing i've experienced before.

All the 'usual types' were out in force - drag queens with Marge Simpson wigs, bald guys in army boots & leather thongs, teenagers in white vests and skinny jeans - but for me the most noticeable and refreshing thing was seeing the diversity of people participating: all races, all ages, all sizes; rich & poor; gay, straight and everything in between; singles & couples; parents with children

I've been here long enough to know that São Paulo is NOT Brazil (in the same way that London is not the UK and Bangkok is not Thailand) but even so it's really encouraging to see that such a deeply religious (read Catholic) and conservative country as Brazil is able to achieve such an event, and with relatively little violence.

I got quite frustrated today to see that the coverage of the event in the lunchtime news was 90% made up of interviews with drag queens and people in comic-star costumes. I understand that such 'maverick' characters have played - and still do play - an extremely important role in winning many of the rights and possibilities that gay people enjoy today. But i also think it's sad that such narrow representation perpetuates - in the eyes of many viewers - the myth that 'gay' is synonymous with cross-dressing and glitter, that being gay is incompatible with a mainstream lifestyle. This could be clearly heard in the sniggers of the other (straight, male) customers in the boteco. Such a shame an event that had so much potential to break stereotypes and challenge prejudices has been shown to reinforce them.

So well done, São Paulo, for showing the world the diversity connected with the gay movement. Now teach the media how to represent it more accurately

Patience is a virtue...

2009-06-11T22:54:00.003+02:00

I have a bank account! The whole process took less than 10 months...

Other news:

I spent 3 great days in Buenos Aires with Gavert and Majken
I have my flight booked back to Europe, arriving Brussels 3rd August
I'm going to Malaysia :)
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day in Brazil :)
I'm in YouTube!

It's official!

2009-05-22T17:06:00.003+02:00

This week i learnt that my work permit application has been approved by the Employment Ministry of Brazil! So I'm allowed to stay here working for up to 2 years after the end of my internship.

Which means you all have until July 2011 to plan your trips here ;)
Até logo

Still healthy (mais ou menos...)

2009-04-28T18:46:00.002+02:00

Ultrasound results were all-clear.

So i only have gastritis, oesophagitis and duodenitis.

Annoying but not life-threatening.

Re-learning how to eat...

Alemão em Floripa!

2009-04-23T01:18:00.002+02:00

Monday & Tuesday were holidays in Brazil - which means i got to spend a long weekend in beautiful Florianópolis (usually known as 'Floripa'). I had heard so much about this beautiful and tranquil place, it being the home of my current flatmate and the place that my 1st flatmate here spent 2 years working.

It certainly didn't disappoint! Amazing scenery, including ocean, beaches, mountains and lakes. Sunny skies, but bearable heat. Relaxed, fun atmosphere. Open roads with the windows down. And much cheaper than SP!

This region of Brazil (the South-East, close to Uruguay and Argentina) welcomed a lot of German immigrants in the 20th Century. So this littleblondguy was referred to as 'Alemão' during most of the trip ('German' in Portuguese).

After an 11-hr overnight bus journey, and a hefty 'feijoada' for lunch, i wasn't in much of a mood to party on saturday. How lucky that i changed my mind! 4 hours of dancing to pop classics from the 80's, 90's and 00's. Madonna, Britney, Justin, Shakira, Cindi Lauper (ask your parents if you're under 21...) were out in force. And i was 19 again, on a Tuesday night in Ocean or Friday in NG1 (i realize the general reader has no notion of either of those places, but please allow me a touch of reminiscence...). But the high-point of the evening was surely an all-screaming, all-dancing performance by Brazil's very own 'Spice Gays'.

Renan (our co-host) has a 4-year old golden retriever who very conveniently gave birth to 7 beautiful puppies just a few weeks ago. There really are no words sufficient to describe to absolute adorable-ness of these fluffy, bouncing balls of golden fur. Diego commented i was just relieved not to be the only tiny blond in the room. I suggested that was harsh...

Renan and his boyfriend, Fabio, just opened a pizzeria. Very inspiring to hear how it came about and how quickly they've turned an idea into a successful reality. And very tasty too!

Thank you, Renan and Fabio, for being such generous hosts (and cooks, and drivers, and entertainers!). And thank you, Di, for making my dream to visit Floripa become a beautiful reality.

Pics to come soon, i promise. Now i need to leave and eat dinner, as it's already 8.30 and i have an abdominal ultra-sound scan tomorrow morning at 7.45 (life just keeps getting better...)

Boa noite / Gute Nacht ;)

Getting a bank account in Brazil

2009-04-09T15:12:00.004+02:00

It's like growing up - you learn something new & wonderful at every step, but it can be a little frustrating sometimes...

1. (August): arrive in Brazil
2. (September): photocopy visa application form, invitation letters and EVERY PAGE of passport. Pay a lot of money to photocopy person
3. (September): Take bus for 1hr. Register with Federal Police. Pay more money. Receive provisional 'RNE' (Foreigner registration). Get told that real RNE card will arrive by post in 6 months. Travel 1hr back again
4. (September): decide to wait until having fixed place to live for requesting CPF (Taxpayer number)
5. (January): return to Federal Police to change address (travelling 1hr each way). Make more copies, pay more money
6. (January): go to Post Office to request CPF. Discover that it's faster by going to Bank
7. (January): go to bank and request CPF. Pay more money, and receive piece of paper that needs to be taken to Government Finance building
8. (January): Go to Government Finance building (nowhere near Federal Police, bank, home or office). Get confirmation that CPF will be sent by post within 2 weeks
9. (March): Go to bank to open account. Take passport, CPF, proof of address, visa invitation letters, bank statement from UK. Discover that it's 'almost enough' - you just need to go one more time to Federal Police, to request certificate names of your PARENTS (?!)
10. (Today): Wake up at 6.30 to avoid traffic. Return to Federal Police to request certificate.
11. Discover at Desk A that RNE does not have number printed on it
12. (Today): Go to Desk B to find out RNE number. Receive confirmation of number from Desk B, with OLD ADDRESS on it. Get told to return to Desk A to query address
13. (Today): return to Desk A. Receive assurance that Desk A has correct address, even if Desk B (in the same room) has the wrong one
14. (Today): ask person at Desk A when real RNE card will arrive, since 7 months have passed. Receive assurance that it will arrive 'soon', but Desk B can give more information
15. (Today): ask person at Desk A how I will know the card has arrived, if Desk B is responsible and has the wrong address. Get told that the only way to know is to return in person to Federal Police to see if it's there or not. If it's not, go home & try again
16. (Today): ask at Desk B how I will know the card has arrived. Desk B does not know. Get re-directed to Desk C
17. (Today): explain story since step 11 to person at Desk C. Discover that it's possible to check ONLINE if RNE card has arrived, but that 6 months is the minimum and it might not arrive before i need to leave the country to collect my new visa in AUGUST
18. (Today): ask person at Desk C what will happen if card does not arrive before August. Discover that in this case i will need to re-register after re-entering Brazil, I will then need a different kind of card, and the old card process will then be stopped
19. Go to office, discovering another bus that takes only half the time of the previous one
20. Reflect on how a government agency responsible for security and crime prevention can be so chaotic
21. Remember where you are, smile, and decide to post entire story on blog :)

From this point on the process is purely theoretical...

22. Return to Federal Police in 2 weeks to collect certificate
23. Return to bank to open account
24. ?????
25. ???
...

Quote of the day

2009-04-07T02:03:00.002+02:00

Seen in a car window in São Paulo morning rush-hour:

"Faça sexo seguro:
Transe em um carro forte"

Translation coming soon :)

snapshots of my life in São Paulo

2009-03-18T23:45:00.006+01:00

Election nights are even more fun spent with political scientists

It's very difficult to park in Rio de Janeiro...

...but at least the people are very talkative

Europeans seem to enjoy Brazilian clubs A LOT

Brazil is all about diversity

Becoming an entrepreneur can be very scary...

It can make you question yourself fundamentally...

But at Artemisia you never need to feel alone :)