Memoirs of an Explorer

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 :)

Artur

2009-03-16T23:28:00.002+01:00

2m tall
dark, athletic
big, brown eyes

Yesterday i rode a horse for the 1st time in my life. Very interesting experience. Not exactly as i expected. I swear it looked fatter from the ground... The motion feels a lot like riding on an elephant, except you can move much faster :)

Diego and i were staying at a campsite in a beautiful part of São Paulo state, near a city called Itú. We joined 3 other people to ride horseback (with a guide, of course!) through the countryside. Blue skies, stunning scenery, total silence. Beautiful experience.

Thank you, Artur, for being so well behaved :)

a couple of reasons why i love football

2009-03-11T22:49:00.003+01:00

This

Home sweet home

2009-03-10T23:57:00.002+01:00

After more than 2 months i've finally got my new room looking more or less as i want it. On Sunday Di and i spent around 3 hours moving furniture, arranging pictures, and (the hardest part, at least for me) throwing a lot of things away. (I can really sympathise with Nadya). And i'm really happy with the result! All that's missing now is a big mirror :)

I was living in temporary places from when i arrived (August) until December. So i didn't have too much incentive to care about 'my space'. During this time I re-discovered that my mood and well-being are affected by my physical surroundings. I know that I don't 'need' a big tv, leather sofa, dining room or a lot of artwork. And in the last 8 years i've learnt how to not get attached to a particular house, on a particular street, in a particular city (or even country!) But i need to be in a place that at least looks like somewhere cares for it. A place where mess and clutter don't cause me unnecessary stress. A place that reflects 'me' and the life i am living. And life is much better when i can make my own coffee (i mean real coffee...)

Now i'm really happy that i again have a place that satisfies all of these criteria. Thanks, Di, for dealing with my indecisiveness and ability to get easily distracted :)

I hope to host some of you there in the near future. I promise i'll make coffee for you. (it's Italian, like many of the best things in life...)

Back in Brazil, back in the blogosphere

2009-03-03T01:08:00.002+01:00

After 30 days dragging around 40KG of stuff around 6 countries, i arrived back in Brazil last week. Ok, that's quite unfair. I actually really enjoyed the trip! Well, if you ignore the freezing cold weather (I'd forgotten that winter in Northern Europe means starting to dress 10 minutes before you want to go outside, and then leaving looking 4 months pregnant).

Now I'm back in the sunshine. And it's HOTTTTTT! Over 30 degrees hot. And this time i'm really not complaining :) (recent memories still too painful...) At first it felt completely surreal to be back in Brazil. Sitting on the bus from the airport, i really felt like i was watching my life in a weird movie. Just 14 hrs earlier i'd been watching news of a plane crash while waiting at Frankfurt Airport (could there be a worse place to see it? perhaps only on a plane?) Now i was back in the heat, the radiant sunlight, the traffic! I was back among the unimaginable mix of trees, churches, bridges, beggars, street vendors and NYC-style skyscrapers that is downtown São Paulo.

Now i've settled in again to my new home. Saturday afternoon drinks outdoors turned into Saturday night drinks outdoors (was i really in February?). I impatiently devoured a sandwich of what is surely the most delicious beef in the world... During my 2-hour morning commute from Diego's house to my office, i calmly read a book and enjoyed the sun. Good conversations, productive meetings, and i'm back up-to speed with the fast-changing world of a small, entrepreneurial organization.

Yep, feels good to be back :)

And thanks to a tip-off from Aine and some technical tinkering from Dody, my blog is also back! So now i have yet another way to spend late evenings in the office...

Eu corre bem essa semana :)

2008-10-10T15:43:00.002+02:00

3:48 - 4:09 - 4:13 - 4:10 - 4:11

These were my 1km splits. Before each we did a 500m gentle run to warm-up, and between each we had around 2mins break. I really surprised myself with these times!

On Tuesday night we ran 2 laps of 3km - 1 'gentle' and then 1 'hard'. I finished in less than 15mins, which i was very satisfied with.

I think i deserve 1 or 2 beers tonight at 'Trash 80s' ;)

Burning the midnight oil...

2008-10-09T03:46:00.003+02:00

It's been a while since i stayed this late in the office (in fact it's the 1st time since i came to Brazil...) I'm happy with what i achieved though - i'm so productive when the office is empty :P Just me and my music... And I'm also happy because it means I will be able to leave at sensible times on Thursday & Friday ;)

So what have i been doing today...?

One of the most important elements of the partnership that i'm managing is providing opportunities for AIESEC members to gain practical experience of Social-Business Ventures by doing internships with entrepreneurs. In total we want to offer 22 positions in Latin America and 8 in India during the next 6 months.

Today was the day that we started to officially open the positions for people to apply. Needless to say i'm very excited :) So if you know any budding entrepreneurs with business experience and a passion for social change, send them my way ;)

Good night!

A new circle

2008-10-03T23:02:00.002+02:00

"Life is like an spiral moving up… One circle closed is the beginning of a new one..."
(Carolina Laiton Galan, October 2008)

I couldn't believe it when i found this in my inbox on getting back to the office today. It just sums up perfectly how i'm feeling right now. I just finished 4 days of strategic planning with the whole Artemisia team. A connection of 14 minds, 14 hearts and 14 spirits. Celebration of a year passed, and ambition for the one beginning. 4 days of understanding new realities, imagining new futures, and co-creating new actions. And all in a new language!!!

It's not easy to leave behind an organisation to which you've devoted 7 years of your life with energy, passion, hope and determination, whose purpose and impact you believe in with all of your heart. It's not easy to walk away from a team of incredible people who understand and support eachother, who create and achieve together, and who are able to let go of their own ego for the sake of a common cause. A few months ago I worried that it would take me some time to find either of these things again in my life. But after these 4 days, i'm confident that i have found both.

Here, and now.
São Paulo, Artemisia, 2008.
My new circle

Further, faster. Stronger...?

2008-09-26T15:15:00.004+02:00

Rob's Weekly Run - Round 2

As yesterday was Thursday, i set off again with Guilherme for Parque Ibirapuera (the largest park in São Paulo).

This week's achievements...

Distance run: 9km
Time: 50mins
Pain: !?*>%+>!

Ok, so hardly Olympic pace. And this morning my legs do feel like i've climbed Everest (and my stomach like i've given birth).

BUT it is an improvement on last week!

Guilherme tells me there will be a half-marathon here in April. If i keep increasing 1/2km per week, i should just about be ready... :)

In control

2008-09-22T19:00:00.003+02:00

I'm starting to understand that being in control doesn't mean controlling everything. I'm being reminded that, when I feel in control, I don't need to control everything. I can be comfortable accepting that many things cannot or should not be controlled.

In the past week I've achieved all of my priotries at work. I've spoken to my parents and spent 3 wonderful evenings with my boyfriend. I've been running in the park, and eaten healthily. I've updated my blog and read the blogs of some friends. I've enjoyed talking & dancing with members of AIESEC here in Uni SP. I've done laundry and tidied my room.

I could do all of this because I realised that I was in control. I was consciously choosing how to use MY time, and I am happy with my choices. And I know I can't control traffic, or the weather, or mobile phone signals, or internet stability. And I'm cool with all of that :)

To some readers this doubtless seems obvious. To me it matters, because it hasn't always been like this. Only a few months ago, I often felt that my life was controlling me, rather than me controlling my life. Now I realise that, because I didn't feel in control, I sometimes responded by trying to control some things that didn't need to be controlled. Acknowledging this now, I'm relieved that I didnt do any lasting damage along the way... And an important lesson has been learnt.

So Gabiza, you were right. Though by now I'm used to it, of course :)

To all of my friends, I wish you the the peace and satisfaction of feeling in control.

ouch ouch OUCH

2008-09-19T05:21:00.003+02:00

I just ran 8 1/2 km around a park.

Beautiful scenery, relaxed atmosphere, and hundreds of people running. It was exactly how i expected Central Park to be (and how it wasn't, actually). Nevertheless it now seems less and less like a good idea... I'm in agony just sitting up in bed to type this (the connection goes if i lie down - don't ask...)

I went with a guy from my work, who runs with a group twice per week. Apparently tonight was an 'easy night'. Sometimes they do 'speed training' (running a series of 1km bursts with 1-minute breaks in between) or 'incline training' (effectively running up the ramp of a 4-storey building) I can't wait for one of those nights...

Right now i'm an extremely smug non-smoker :) And Moni - i respect you even more than before!

You were right, Haraz...

2008-09-18T22:57:00.003+02:00

It really DOES get cold in São Paulo.

Ok so not cold like Zermatt in January, but one day this week we worked out it was colder here than in Crewe! Ok so there it's summer and here it's winter, but still...

I think ppl expect me to be able to deal with it, given where i've spent 25yrs of my life so far... But the strange thing is that buildings here do not have any heating. So when it's 10° outside, it's also 10° INSIDE. Yesterday i couldn't even take a shower, because i couldn't bear the thought of taking my clothes off! This morning i was a bit braver, but then i had to stay in the shower for half an hour because i couldn't stand the thought of getting out into the cold bathroom!

Roll on summer!

Photocopies, red apples & roller-skates

2008-09-16T05:58:00.001+02:00

(aka: police registration and a trip to the Supermarket)

I’m legal. After 8hrs of filling in forms, copying documents, queuing, filling in more forms, queuing again and finally getting my fingerprints taken, I have registered with the Policia Federal do Brasil.

My prize? A 15x3cm slip of paper with my photo and signature. I can go back and get it replaced with a proper ID card after SIX MONTHS!

My new flatmate has a car, meaning today I could finally go to the supermarket. Not the cramped over-priced city-centre version - I’ve been to a few of those already - but a real out-of-town sprawling cheap supermarket (think ASDA, C1000 or Tesco Lotus, depending where in the world you are…) To my surprise and wonderment, the staff wear roller-skates! At 1st I thought it was a joke, but the more I think about it the better the idea seems – improve efficiency, reduce employee boredom, avoid scuff marks on the floor, scare annoying kids… the possibilities are endless.

As the lady at the checkout was scanning my shopping she asked out of the blue:
“You’re American?”
I informed her that I’m British, to which she replied:
“I knew it – a Brazilian would never buy green apples.”

Reassuring that the blond hair, blue eyes, translucent skin and primary-school Portuguese were not enough of a giveaway…

So, look out for the Brazilians in a supermarket near you! (They’ll be the ones buying all the red apples…)

There must be some stupid ppl in this world...

2008-09-13T00:21:00.002+02:00

The paper-shredder in my office has pictures on the front, instructing the user not to insert their tie or their hand.

Thank goodness i noticed them before it was too late...

blah

2008-09-12T06:56:00.000+02:00

Where does one start, when there is so much to say?

One thing I know for certain, I really want to start writing again. It frustrates me that there are 6 months missing here. Time when I’ve experienced fun, challenge, disappointment, hope, risk, satisfaction, learning, compassion, surprise, confusion, anxiety, curiosity. Time when I’ve been reminded of the unpredictability of people, the irrationality of emotions, the excitement of chaos, the power of conversation, the beauty of friendship, the comfort of family, the joy of reading, the warmth of recognition, the value of relaxation, the endless possibility of future.

So here I am, already living my 4^th week in Brazil. Working for a very interesting organisation in Sao Paulo, supporting young people to learn more about how economic gain can be combined with social impact. (unofficially) Learning Portuguese. Meeting social entrepreneurs from all over the world. Experiencing ‘winter’ for the 1^st time in September. Slowly understanding why 26 is exactly halfway between 12 and 40. Working out how to stay fit and healthy amongst new climate, new food, new routine and new microbes. Challenging my own stereotypes about ‘conservative’ Brazil.

Another thing that’s certain – there will be PLENTY to write about in the coming 48 weeks. Watch this space to see if I can keep up…

Greetings from Skopje

2008-02-17T01:47:00.002+01:00

It's cold... very cold!
I'm healthy again, which is a huge relief :)

1st day of pre-meeting for Western Europe & North AMerica is done, i'm pretty happy with it.
One more day to go...

Made some time to work on that other thing i'll be doing here... I'm also happy. It needs more work, but the foundations are there :)

So many familiar faces, nice conversations, smiling people - that 'special atmosphere' that's hard to describe but wraps around you like a favourite blanket.

It's gonna be an exciting few days...