Post # 100 :D

WOW!! This is my 100th post to my personal blog!!!

It all started back in September 2005, when I was moving from Brazil to Netherlands, for an AIESEC internship at ABN AMRO Bank. And now, 3 years and 10 months later, I start to get prepared to come back. I arrive in São Paulo on 24th of August for a new cycle in my life. I'm closing my chapter of 4 years in Europe.

At the Kaospilots, I graduated two weeks ago, in an incredible party organized by Team 14 and 15 (first and second year students). I was carried home at 6.30am, by Pedro and Florentine, my two guests who came from Amsterdam to party with me! And, even better than that, I managed to pay all my school debts in time!! (this is definitely a good theme for another post!). Unfortunately, my final exam didn't go well (this is subject for yet another post), and I'll have to go for a re-exam, to take place on 19th of August :S

I'm finishing the last changes to my final project for my client, and on Saturday I start another "crazy European summer trip". Like in 2007 when I hitchhiked across France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Czech Rep, or in 2008, when I traveled over 3.000km and 40 different cars across Denmark, Sweden and Norway!

This time I'm combining fun and work, adventure and reflection!

• GetWild Nature Quest: going back to Sweden, this time as one of the "hosts" of the 7-days Nature Quest, including 3 days-solo in the Swedish Mountains of Vålådalen (see map). 21 young people from Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and even Brazil and Iraq (!) are joining us this year!

• Molde Jazz Festival: Mark, Philip and I will hitchhike and couchsurf to Trondheim and Molde (Norway), where the famous Jazz Festival takes place. We'll meet our friend Inger-Mette and hopefully we get some paid job for one week!

• Sailing trip from Molde to Oslo: one week sailing with Skipper Christian Løken, who joined our team at the Kaospilots but left us to join the Volvo Ocean Race ;-)

• Madrid: some days working with Guga, good old friend, with whom I'm developing a business plan for our startup and we're part of a competition promoted by Artemisia Foundation. Deadline is 2nd of August!

• Italia: back to the roots, once again. This time I'll travel to Rome with Florentine and relax for a few days in the countryside, with good wine, good food. Good life!

• Denmark: back to Denmark, time for the re-exam, pack my stuff and fly home!!!!!

Who knows, maybe I meet some of you on-the-road, let me know if that might be the case!

Ah, my record says that I blog an average of once every two weeks!! At least I'll keep this average for the the next year to come!

(and many updates come on Twitter anyway. Follow me...)

Catalunya no es España

I'm in Barcelona since Wednesday. I came here (finally) to visit my younger brother Gabriel, 21, and spend sometime with him. I kind of moved out from home when he became a teenager, so we never actually had the opportunity to enjoy a easy chat, a deep conversation, or simply party together. A week in Barcelona is not enough, but it's a good start.

Besides that, it's my first time in Spain (yes, I have never been here before, except a few hours in Madrid last year) and of course, first time in Cataluña.

Barcelona is very cosmopolitan, it's not that simple to find Catalanes, where there are people (mostly young) from all around the country, Europe and other continents. I find it fascinating though, the warm weather, the beautiful old streets, the beach and the bike system!!

In the other hand, we can find loads of illegal workers (my brother knows a few hundreds ;-)), which brings conflicts and hostilities with the locals. Barcelona is not the place to learn Spanish. Go somewhere else. As any other touristic city in the world, it's not easy to find what is typical, unique and authentic. Most of town is made for fools unfortunately.

Impressions, impressions... this place deserves more time to be understood. What is the real flavor of this town?

I'll keep searching.. I still don't have a ticket out of here, not sure when I leave... so let's enjoy it :D

Spanish Inspiration...

Between John Milton (see previous post) and Dee Hock (wait for next post), I got a small paid assignment in Denmark: join a group of 10 young Spanish guys and girls, for 2 days, awarded for their brilliant ideas for the future of Extremadura, the province in Spain they came from. This was part of their inspirational tour in Denmark, where they visited organizations and enjoyed a nice experience. Initially I thought my role was to be translator and helper for their trip, but soon I realized that the organizers wanted someone still young, with knowledge about innovation and creativity, capable of sharing stories, to inspire the youngsters in an informal atmosphere. I think it was a very innovative idea and I had a great time! I joined them to Christiania, Legoland, besides having nice conversations about the Kaospilots, Education today and in the future, and what young people want.

Muchas gracias!!

One evening in Madrid

Last Sunday I flew from Denmark to Brazil. Due to the itinerary of the flight, IBERIA offered me a paid overnight in Madrid, including hotel and breakfast. Not bad! As I have never been to Spain before, a good opportunity to enjoy one evening there. I searched and increadibly found three old friends, all from AIESEC, currently living there! And we all managed to meet that night - the curiosity is that they didn't know each other yet...

Kristine was from AIESEC in Aarhus last year, we became good friends and she left to Mexico and then Madrid. Ania is from Poland and we were both trainees in Amsterdam last year. We travelled together once and she had just arrived in Spain to work for a consulting firm. Lucas is a Brazilian alumnus, we spent new-years once together and he was working in London until one week ago!

After arrival in Brazil, a very easy week, relaxed, some preparations and getting ready for the next 3-4 weeks of busy work in the Northeast. I'm so much looking forward for that!

Tomorrow I'm joining my first real Brazilian-Gaúcho churrasco (barbacue) in two years... yaaaammy...