Got wild in the Swedish mountains, again

I mentioned previously about my current European summer adventure. It has been so far the most diverse short trip I have ever done (6 weeks) and still to be the most fantastic. I still have two more weeks on the road but I've found some time to start writing about it. I've managed to update my Twitter a few times though...

The first part of my trip was in Sweden. I've been there last year taking part of the GetWild program, and I came back this year as co-facilitator, supporting Martin and Rowan in this mission of providing an extraordinary experience with Nature for 18 young social entrepreneurs for one week in July. We're received once again by Göran Guunvi, CEO of Naturakademin and our connection to the Sami People, "owners" of the sacred lands of Vålådalen.

The learning curve was increadible, and I got a lot from this experience. It was fun at most times and pretty challenging at some moments. We got terrible weather most of the time and three people were "rescued" from the top of the mountain, due to the cold and constant rain. But even for them, the experience turned out very impactful, and it feels great to know that. Bert from Netherlands wrote about his experience in his blog.

I intent to facilitate new experiences like that in the future, in Brazil. I also realized the crucial importance of authenticity - you cannot preach what you don't do yourself. I need to join more solo trips and practice more mindfulness myself before doing it again for others!

Thanks for Rowan for his determined work at Up-Stream.dk and Martin for his experience and calmness.

In the next post I'll share more about the MoldeJazz Festival 2009!

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...)