Protests in Brazil

In the city of Sao Paulo is where all this commotion began. They raised the prices for a bus ticket 20Cents and Brazilian began to revolt against the system.

It started because 20 cents is ridiculous, now it gave way to a movement demanding that the government take care of their people by investing in education, health care and infrastructure. They are asking that instead of spending billions on stadiums for the Fifa World Cup and the Olympics, that they spend it on the people and their well being.

This isn't a crazy idea, is it?

I was personally surprised that it's taking place right now, when it could've taken place months or years ago!

It's very nice to see Brazilians standing up for something they want and can have.

As a Brazilian who grew up in Canada, nothing frustrates me more than seeing the potential that Brazil has to be better, yet not gathering motion collectively in order to move forward.

I am proud to see Brazilians demanding a better quality of life. I wish I were there protesting with the crowd. I want to walk with them too and be a part of the voice that isn't choosing to sit around anymore.

Yesterday on TV,  in between the soap operas, images of different places in Brazil were being shown of massive amounts of people demonstrating. The crowd INVADED the roof of the National Congress in Brasilia!!!
People came out in every capital of every state.

My Brazilian friends on facebook were constantly updating/liking/sharing stories in order to motivate and encourage the support of the movement.

So as I sat here, I wondered, what was Canada shown from this? Was Brazil portrayed as a crazy country out of control?
What could be worse, that it's not being shown at all, or that it's being portrayed as a hate crime rather than a protest?

You see, the inevitable about protests is that yes there is violence. In Canada there's violence in protests too.
And what I always get tired of stressing is that violence is necessary. Not violence to the extreme of mass-murders, but the standard of some vandalism is downright inevitable. It's ONLY the violence that is shown to the outsiders. It's also what makes it irritating, because it blurs reality.
The protest (given the magnitudes) were pretty peaceful... it was merely a few people arrested... not a nation! Is it making Brazil dangerous? Hah... how? Because the citizens are demanding for a better Brazil with better education, healthcare and infrastructure? Lol... please! Yeah, that's definitely crazy dangerous... 

I'm in Brazil and not afraid to be here.

A Typical Weekend - Another Option

Friday came fast. Leandro got home and we packed to go to Florianopolis. 12$ and 100-something kilometres later we reach the awesome island. I had gone there in 2010. In the winter the location is merely  mediocre, but it’s not a bad option.

We arrived at Leandro’s mom’s place around  11pm. We had some pasta and just sat around relaxing. The best feature about Tia Laurinha’s place is that it’s small. We have to constantly be with eachother, so we all sit in the same room or kitchen. We went to bed early that night.

Saturday morning at 10am, I hear a voice in the kitchen retelling events from merely a few hours ago. His voice and excitement kept me from sleeping, so I got up and went to brush my teeth.

As I opened the door, I saw Marcelo. He's Thiago's cousin. A handsome 27 y.o. dentist with a very outgoing and friendly personality. 

We hung around till they asked me if I want to go with them shopping, I accepted. I quickly took a shower and got into his truck. We cruised the streets of Florianopolis hearing Marcelo's certanejo. Certanejo is Brazilian country music. It's so romantic it gives me heartburn.

We shop, come home and then go see the Fifa game at his apartment. 

This is where I go nuts. 

He pull up into a building that's beachfront at Praia dos Ingleses.

Despite the day not being marvelous, I could imagine the place on a sunny day, wow, what a location. 

The wheels begin to turn. Is Florianopolis an option? Is it a simple beach life that I'm after? What was I in search of when I decided to come to Brazil? There's so much beach in country.... so many options.

Before going to pick up his girlfriend, Marcelo showed me around Florianopolis. Without intent he was selling me the place, it has an airport, has beaches, is safe, has tourism, has fun, has great weather, has great job opportunities - so why not?

Sunday - We had a family BBQ, we weren't many, and we certainly weren't all blood related, but we ate copious amounts of meat and drank many beers together infront of the ocean at Marcelo's apartment. I hovered near the water and even caught glimpse of 2 penguins. How crazy is that? Real wildlife, not in a box...

This is a possibility. 

Another Milestone.

A few weeks ago, my very wise friend Leandro B invited me to his place and offered help. It took a while to figure out if the right thing was to get help.

When I decided to move here I gave it a lot of thought, but the inevitable is that one will NEVER be able to think of everything. So what didn't I think of?

I hadn't thought that Rio de Janeiro would be busy. I mean, I know alot of things happen there, but I wasn't able to forecast that #1: the Pope is going to there for the "Youth Day" in July 2013 and that #2: Rio is hosting the Confederations Cup in June. Prices everywhere will be on the rise!

When I went out looking for places to live, everything was expensive and people are looking for people during those periods that want to pay. That's no me!

So I took a chance and put my trust in Leandro. I got on a plane and few to Florianopolis. It's bitchin' cold!! How do I (AGAIN) find myself frozen in Brazil? In the humidity? Urghhhhh...

Day one: Where am I? I find a tourist booth and obtain the worst scaled map ever created. I wander and go to the market. I see shrimp as big as my feet for sale! I need to learn to cook shrimp!! I get home and start looking for where everything is to make my documents; turns out all the places are about 2-3 streets away from where I'm located. I go collect information. Here I need to get my CPF before I get my Carteira de Identidade, ok, so I go to the bank, and they don't need an address... It's funny how everything got so simple.

Day two: I try to sleep in but there's construction going on. I toss and turn and I give in, I get up. I eat some pao de queijo for breakfast. I eat a yogurt and a banana. I answer emails and finally decide to shower. I'm ready by 1:30pm. I go take pictures. Everything goes well.

Then I decided to casually go into the bank and see what documents they need for me to make my CPF. Turn out they don't need an address. Phenom. I come home (3 streets away!), gather my documents and rush back. I pay the 5,70$R fee. I go get another number and the woman taps her keyboard a few time and goes to the printer and gives me my CPF. I couldn't stop smiling. I did it. I did it.

It was only 2:30 pm, I figured I can go try to do my carteira de identidade, the place closes at 6pm anyway. I arrive and there's no one there. What? How lucky am I? The woman taps another few keys on her computer and before I know it, there's someone putting ink all over my fingers. I did it. I am a recognized Brazilian and I can do anything! I can buy ANYTHING here. I can function. I did this.

This was a huge hurdle.
When I woke up, I hadn't even imagined I'd be able to get so much done.
Now all I have to do is wait 10 business days till I got pick up my card.
I did it. What a good feeling.

That's what made me happy.

Anyone who has traveled understands the beauty in finding a shirt to wear that's "not too stinky"!

Rainy Monday Night

I'm still alone in my 9 person dorm. I sit here on my bunk bed, in my pink plaid pajamas, drinking bottled water, shamelessly listening to the Backstreet Boys whilst crafting my CV. Life is good. :)

First Milestone.

It's pouring rain today.

I went to Botafogo Shopping to buy a local "CHIP" for my cellphone and the didn't have any left at Lojas Americans. The lady told me to go to Casa & Videos about two blocks away... and that's where I bought my CHIP with my RIO phone number.
It's kind of funny, you literally walk up to a sign that has the different operators (phone companies): Claro, Vivo, TIM, OI and under them there are slots with different phone numbers displayed. You litteraly pick your number.

Phone numbers in Brasil are 8 numbers. I tried to find one that had some sort of logic, or numbers that I've had in the past, or that my friends have, but there was no pattern. So I tried to pick one with as many of the same number as possible, strategic, huh? hehe...

Then I went back to the Claro Shop and they told me that I have to go to another store if I don't have CPF. I started getting anxiety because I wasn't thinking it would be possible or that I wouldn't have enough money (I left with about 25$R in my pocket).

After walking a few blocks and getting splashed by cars driving, by I arrived. The registration was free and took about 10 minutes. The guy just asked for my passport, and TA-DA ladies and gentlemen.... I HAVE A ZERO-21 phone number!! Yehhhhhhhh!!!
Then I put lots of credit on it. Now I can call all kinds!

On the priority list: appointment for my carteira de identidade. Then apartments... yehhhhh!!!

Getting it done!

Sunday classifieds.

New Flow of Things

Since I've been in this marvelous city I now get to call home, I've been staying at Hostels. They environment and vibe is still the same: people coming to visit and making the best of their days. Waking up early and squeezing in as many touristy activities as they can, taking naps and going to P-A-R-T-Y until 6AM.

My attitude now is different. I spend the majority of my days trying to schedule a possibility to go see an apartment. Any apartment. I'm not being picky, I just want be in action.
I don't go out either. It's weird staying at an empty hostel on a Friday and Saturday night. I'm choosing this.

I have plenty of time to go out once I'm settled and I have a steady income.
I'll have plenty of sunny days ahead to go to the beach too.
I just hope I'll have friends.
The easy thing about staying at a hostels is that the people you meet are open to invite you to go with them to places. Once I'm living alone, I don't know if I'll have this ability to make friends that I can go out with.

A Typical Saturday

I woke up late because the curtains in the room are really thick, so no light went through. I didn't miss breakfast though.
It's the usual: bread, ham, cheese, milk, banana, melon, pear.

I split the taxi with the two boys that were in my dorm last night and I made it to Ipanema spending only 3$R.

I had to walk a block towards the beach and there isn't a better feeling than seeing it appear slowly with every step.
I don't have the right words to express how awesome seeing it all is. Three years ago I dreamt of calling this place home and here I am. Continuously hearing myself think "I moved here, I live here. OMG. I live here. This is where I live. This is what I chose."

There's people, all kinds. BEAUTIFUL, beach cultured people. Yes, beach cultured. They are toned, fit, defined, healthy, kissed by the sun and just being there. They take up the chairs and create a vibe.

I love it. I love being in this city.

Job Search. First Experience.

Davi, the guy from the reception told me a certain guesthouse is looking for a receptionist. I jumped on the opportunity and this morning after breakfast I got dressed to impress and went to go see the manager in order to find out if they're interested in hiring me!
The woman didn't even look at my face.
She just asked me to leave my information with her. I gave her my card.

I have to begin making CVs.
Oh wait, no... I have to find a place to live. 

An Address

By pure luck, I was able to make all my connections and land in SDU a little before 3pm. Flying in, I realized I made the right decision. Yes, I felt the exact same amazing feeling I did three years ago when I landed. Off in the distance I saw the Corcovado, and to the left I saw the Sugar Loaf which I missed visiting last year, but I can’t wait to go see it as soon as I’m settled into a place. There’s something about this city that makes me happy!

I’ve come to realize that settling into a place is key to beginning a life in Brazil. For anything that you’re going to do, you’ll need a stable address.

Yesterday, I spent my entire first day looking for information on how to begin the process of acquiring all my legal documents.

I went to find out how to get an ID card. It’s a free process which is nice, but appointments have to be scheduled through the telephone. I’ll do that soon!

Then I went to find out how to get a CPF. For that and a card to be able to work, I need an address. For a bank account, I need an address. So the focus and main priority has been to find a place to call home.

Today I went to check out my first place. It was cheap economically. Only 360$Reais. It had what I needed: a bed, a bathroom, wi-fi, kitchen and a washing machine. It was in safe location near the police station, on a main street, with a bus stop directly in front of it. The problem was that it was extremely small/tight and a little mold-smelling. There was nowhere to lounge unless you were lying in your own bed. I know I won’t be able to handle staying there.

That was the first place I looked at, so I’m hoping it’ll get better from here! I also noticed that my price margin needs to rise and hopefully it’ll correlate with quality.

I’m still happy. I love being in the city.

Discovery of the Day

I met Caio today. A family friend's nephew who has lived in Rio de Janeiro.
He told me that Rio de Janeiro, like Montreal, has Bixi Bikes!
It's called BikeRio.

I looked it up online, and I was ecstatic to find out that they're cheap 10$Reais/MONTH and that they're widely available throughout the city.
This is AWESOME.

A one way bus ticket is 3.75$Reais,so this'll be a reasonable alternative.

I just need to get used to the fact that Rio doesn't have a flat landscape like Montreal.

New Style?

If you know me... you know I love to wear layers & sweaters.

The comfortable side of living in Canada is that it gives me the opportunity to wear layers and sweaters 3 out of 4 seasons of the year. 

Moving to a tropical country, where in the winter the average temperature is 30 degrees Celsius, the privilege of finding comfort in that style is taken away. 

I guess I'll need to adapt and find a new style. Wish me luck. 

Why Have I Chosen to Move to Brazil?

As the date approaches and I run into people I hadn't yet seen and I tell them that I am off on the 27th, the first question I'll get is: Why?

The answer is simple in nature, yet complex in intent.

The simple answer is: I can, so why not?

I'm young. At 27... yeh, right!

I haven't chosen to get pregnant. 

I'm done with university. 

I don't have a job, place to live or car. 

There is nothing to my name. (No mortgage!) 

I've been to Brazil and I enjoy being there. 

I believe I have skills that'll benefit me in finding work there.... so why not?

The intent of me moving there is deeper than the obvious desire of the pursuit of pleasure. 

How can I explain that it's because at the age of 27, I still don't feel confident leading my life as I want it to?

How can I explain that it's because I don't want to sit here and wonder what it would've been like if I followed my own heart and lived?

It's about my ability to make my own goals and reach them. 

It's about having to deal with my troubles alone, in the manner that it'll someday be.

It's about me "growing up". Yes, as a rights of passage!
This'll be me, becoming a better version of myself and who I'll chose to become without comfort as an influence. 

I think that having the opportunity to move to Brazil is amazing. It's something I've always dreamt of doing. Now is the time, I'm taking a chance because I can. 

Goodbye Comfort Zone

After the play I went to a terrace with Vince.
I stayed till about 11:20pm, then took the metro and the bus home.
The walk home from the bus stop was very pleasant.
It was hot summer night with some drizzle.
The only noise that I herd was that of those creatures of the night, the soft rain and my own sandals hitting the pavement.

I took a moment to breathe in the safety and the comfort I was lucky to have grown up in.

Baie d'Urfe is in the West Island of Montreal.
This place has been my home for over 15 years.
It is a very comfortable place to live in.
Neighbors are respectful.
It's safe, I can sleep with the windows open!
I went to all the schools that are near.
I worked at the local grocery store.
I had various cars.
I've biked or walked through every street.
I had a dog.
I had birds.
I had fish.
I took the train.
I rode my bike.

From my travels, I am aware the world isn't as safe or as comfortable as I've known to perceive it.
The time went by so quickly and I don't want to say that I took it for granted.
I have been very comfortable where I've been living for most of my life.
Things in general have been easy to access and acquire.
As of the 28th, it'll be real test of my own abilities to manage my life.

From an episode of the HBO show "GIRLS":

I wasn't initially inspired by this concept.
Now that I have made my choice to move to Brazil and do it all on my own, I've realized how appropriately this fits into my situation.

I  know I won't be comfortable.
I have accepted this.

I don't know where I'll be staying.
I don't know what I'll be doing.
I might have to work 6 days a week. I might be paid less because of my sex.
I don't know where I'll do laundry or buy food.
I don't know how I'll set up my bank account or CPF.
I don't know how I'll get a job.

It hasn't been easy this far, and I know it wont be... 

I just know that whatever the outcome it'll be worth it for me.