The best thing about being in the Brazilian MC is being in the LCs

Wow, man!

I cannot believe how great LC visits are!

I arrive on Friday morning (7am after a 8 hour bus ride) into Belo Horizonte. On the bus the night before I was looking out of the window, thinking how good it is to travel as part of your job!

Getting picked up... go for Pao de queijo (cheese bread, traditional for the region I am in). Do some meetings and then go for lunch at Ines house (EB member)... the maid (everybody has a full-time maid) cooked beans, rice, vegetables, meat (lots) desert. I felt so lucky!

Then it gets better... go to the LCs planning weekend (all the LC does planning together) at a country retreat an hour out of the city. Bring on the swimming pool, small monkeys (so cute!) in the forest, hot water and a luxary house big enough to occupy the 20 AIESECers. I loved the weekend, the LC liked the planning and seem to like me also!

Then I go back... staying at Helenos (a male AIESECer). His family are so kind, they make an effort to speak English (they speak a little) and teach me Portuguese. I have my own room, internet access, and my own bathroom. The maid prepares fresh fruit juice and a big breakfast and for lunch all Brazilian food (yesterday a gorgeous fish pie). I also used the onsite swimming pool and visited the pope square which over looks the city. Later today I go downtown and see the founding area of this 3 million city. (Belo Horizonte is only 100 years old and was planned to be a state capital).

But I have also been working. I did a mentorship training (went well) and meetings with the EB. Tomorrow I meet the alumni of AIESEC BH to present the alumni plans that we have. Last night we had a Gringo talk (Gringo = foreigner) with the trainees and SNs here.

At the weekend I go to a graduation party (likely to be another cultural experience) before I go onto Juiz de Fora, but eventually I will have to return to Sao Paulo and the MC house, although I prefer my current accomodation!

Rio de Janeiro

After Sao Sebastio a trip to the tourist highlight of Brazil: RIO!

I vote it the most beautiful city in the world: just like on the postcards, totally! The long (5km) white beaches with the tropically warm Atlantic Ocean to swim in; the palm trees and coconut sellers; the beach-side bars and the warm weather; lots of attractive people (not that I was looking). I could actually get into the beach culture.

Then of course, the Christ and Sugar Loaf, visiting the parks and downtown shopping.

What was best was the friendliness of the Brazilian towards Gringo's (tourists). We felt like royalty: everyone wanted to help us and did extra things to help us. It made us feel very special. I think that in the UK tourists unfortunately do not get such luxury treatment.

Here I am!

well, after some thought (and actually finding it difficult to get started) here I am with my own blog...

I remember last year when Gudrun was ranting on about her blog and I was busy with OGX selection standards and SN forms and Measurement Forms and...

And now, seems that I don't have all of that to do I suppose I can find the time to make the occassional blog!

Is it best to be first mover or join with the crowd later?

Sao Sebastio

A few weeks ago myself and Verena (my Swiss girlfriend) went off for a few days. The first stop was Sao Sebastio. It is a small coastal town and felt totally latin American - people taking it easy, relaxes, the streets calm, the colonial style buildings, the local produce (and cheap) a great escape from Sao Paulo's mega-city lifestyle.Staying in the hotel (well a small family run holding:www.pousadadasesmaria.com.br) and visiting the neighboring island - trekking through the forest, swimming in a natural pool near some beautiful waterfalls... man, this is life in Brazil!

Then, as some might know, I go through my ritual hair-cutting in a foreign language experience (my second in Brazil). It is always great fun trying to communicate and just closing your eyes and seeing what you have on the top of your head after! This time I lost a lot of hair, but it'll grow back (hope).Also... Had fish and chips... Yes really. Freshly caught from the South Atlantic, the fish in a batter served with chips (serving was too big, but very tasty). The best of Brazil and England in one plate, can life improve much more?

One other thing - attending an old persons party, by mistake. We saw young people and heard good music so entered only to find that the youth were partying upstairs in a private party. We tried to leave but the friendly Brazilian would not let us... so we dance with the other 50-60 year olds until the friendly guard leaves and then run out of the exit.