just about the life here:-)

Time is running really fast.

4 weeks ago I've arrived to Belgium; 4 weeks at work are over.
How do I feel?

Great, intense, fast, happy, independent, challenged, happy again :-P
I'm doing so many things here, still want to do a lot a lot of new things and it seems time is main issue.

Well, since I'm at internship some things about the work:

I'm working at Global Headquarters of InBev, in Sales Department, team called "Pricing and Margin Pool". My linear manager is Sandro Leite, Global Director Pricing and Margin Pool, very smart, intelligent person, easy going, funny, talented manager and Brazilian :-) The only his "disadvantage" is that he is traveling a lot so not always I have him near to ask thing I need. In our team we have one more Brazilian and Belgian (they are Directors), for 2 months we have also Tulio, Brazilian as well, he is MBA intern. And me :-) The whole Sales team (Pricing is sub-team in Sales) is about 15 people, there we have more Brazilians, Argentineans, Canadians and Belgians. (Maybe we have other nations, but I still did not discover it). Our Boss is Jo, Chief Sales Officer.
We are working at the same floor with Marketing team and all Chiefs. We all are in one open space office.

I love atmosphere at work, it's great combination of working a lot, being result oriented and easy going, open and funny. People around are really smart and intelligent, and this is amazing opportunity for learning. I could not imagine it will be like that :-) And "big guys" who are making big and/or new things are sitting near. For example, global brand manager of "Becks", or even my Boss who is leading pricing decisions in countries.
Yesterday we had Sales Team meeting (it's monthly). It was great! :-) Hm, honestly I did not understand everything, but... I'm just starting:-)


Well, lots of things happen out of work as well.

We are going out a lot here, for beers, dancing, clubbing in Brussels, for concerts etc. Leuven in July is cool (let's see how it will be later). Each Friday we have here 8 stages with concerts at the same time. Music is really nice. For example, we met to go out yesterday in one place and it was right near stage, so we were sitting, enjoying nice (and quite cheap) Belgian beer listening/watching concert with Latin Music. (Such a lucky coincidence!:-PP) I was happy. One of last Fridays we were at cool concert of music which was something like mix of rock and folk. It was fun:-) We danced under rain. Did I mention that it's all for free? Here, if you want, you can go out and spend really little money and enjoy great things. Almost all clubs have free entrance and beer is cheap. (If you take food and cocktails you spend more)

I've met lots of nice people here already:-))
Hahaha, some people get really surprised. I managed to gather about 22-24 ppl for my Birthday this week and not all of them from group of InBev interns. There were guys from Brussels (well, related to AIESEC, but anyway), my colleague Tulio, girl from AIESEC Leuven with her brother and he was with his girlfriend and even one Swedish guy, whom I met... 3 h before Birthday dinner. Well, he was AIESEC intern in another company in Czech some years ago and now works at InBev. Hm, I wonder if AIESEC-InBev people think I'm crazy :-) Can be.

Aaaannnd, I've started salsa classes!! :-))))
I'm soooooo happy about this, and I really will do my best not give up and this time really learn how to dance it:-)

(hehe, my new friends here told I will marry Latin American or at least he will dance these dances cool).
Why? Because I like Latin American music lot, I behave party as people form this part of the worlds and I miss a lot of things I had in Brazil and among another friends (like Colombians etc.)

Life is really great! :-)

Trying again...

to post something on blog more or less stable way:-P

Just small updates before sharing:
1) I live in Leuven, Belgium since June, 30. For 1 year. I'm happy to be intern at InBev.

2) I'm really happy with everything here and have active, cool life.
And I will not start to describe now how life is here because if I would wait for this I will not share what I want to share NOW:-)

Today I invited for lunch (to go together to Inbev's restaurant) Burt, he is funny open and cool Belgian man, AIESEC Alumni and recently married so we have lots of nice and romantic stories to hear:-PPP
I asked him what makes sense to do in order to get to know Belgian culture better and people here, their way of thinking etc. (I do like a lot our group of interns but I do not want to hang out only with foreigners, I wanna get to know country) Then we had nice talk about differences in cultures and one of the conclusions I came up there was:
It’s understandable why Belgium has so nice chocolate (it's REALLY super amazing and all chocolate deserts I've tried here were awesome). It's raining all the time, if it's not raining sky is covered with clouds anyway; we almost do not have sun here:( And it's known that chocolate gives vitamin D, the same which body creates under influence of sun. If too compare to Ukraine: weather is better then in Belgium, chocolate is good (bit not as great as in Belgium). If to compare to Brazil: weather is great, a loooooot of sun but chocolate, to be honest is not that good (as Brazilian girl who was part of talk agreed).
So maybe it makes sense that sweets (chocolate, cakes) are better in Europe then in Brazil, for example, because people have lack of sun so they make life more "happy" in own way?

(And Brazil for example amazing Acai which is about making you energized at hot day)

Back to MC office

My trip back was full of adventures (problems: almost lost flight, lost luggage etc.), maybe I will share next time.

Today was my first working day after IPM. I started it early with mail to my VPs X telling them how was cool to get ING Leadership Award, congratulating them with February X results and shared how it feels to be not elect to AI.

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One of answers (my LCVP X from Itajuba):

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Hello Anna!!!! =DD
Well I am so happy that you are back! It is not because I will get your mailbox full, or also mine, it is because we really can count on you, in your eXcellent work and in a super mega cool person!!! :)
Also because receiving one mail like yours is also much more then what we could expect to have from MC. It is really good to have someone giving us a lot of directions, sharing your results in a way that we can feel we are really working together, it is like we were with you in Macedonia! (I can try to imagine for those who worked last year, in contact com MC Army and Hikers.), make us proud and really committed to keep the hard work.
We were missing you, our lovely MCVPX! :)
Now, I would to like to say that you can count with Itajuba! All of us!! So, best wishes for you! And let's raise our leadership, and exchanges numbers with high quality! ;)
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See you soon!

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Warm Hugs,
Guilherme.

.

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This is the best what happend with me last 30 h since being back to MC house

AI elections.

Not elected.

Wonder what exciting is waiting for me instead of that:-)

Day 7.
Hm, one week has passed so fast, so much different things happen and thoughts went through your mind. Elections, talks, seeing how your friends/new friends are elect or not, preparing and waiting for interview. I even could not write about it. Today is THE Day:-)))
Today the results of selection for AIVPs will be announced.

And AEEE :-)))
We have gotten ING Leadership Award:-)))

IPM adventures

(written when it was happening, posted just now)

There is no “punishment” from life, there is only unique experience you need to be prepared for something else if your life…

Hehe, this is the most positive explanation I can find for my days:-PPP

Day -2.
It was the first time when I was really packed in advance for my trip so I could even go to make hair cut, take lunch, take shower, talk to Jota before I will go away… for a trip to Macedonia or maybe my second step for AI life;-)
This time I decided to be smart and make sure I will have good place in plane (key – make check-in in advance). I’ve checked, TAM (I hope it’s my last trip with them…) does not have check-in online for the flight to Frankfurt (my first connection). Ok. I’ve arrived at airport at 6 pm when my flight was at 10:40 pm (hehe, our taxi driver Valdecir again came faster than promised.. and this time I even could talk a little with him!:-)) So, I was really in advance… and then lesson how_to_stay_calm_when_everything_goes_wrong_and_almost_nobody_speakes_English started!:-)
1. I’ve passed security check by TAM from second attempt, first lady did not speak English, then guy named Tom was checking my flight, connections few times… finally I’m near check-in…
2. Lady sure does not speak English (check-in for international flights!). I hardly manage to explain that I want place near window (more than 4 h before flight, sure I will have it!! Stay I there and feel myself happy and smart:-PPP) and then she tells me.. that I have not electronic ticket and need go to TAM agency to take ticket… (woman from agency told we do not need do that)
3. I go to TAM agency… before you step in line you need to talk to person from TAM so they will check if you try to get in right line.. I explain her, she tell me noo, you have an electronic ticket (I hade printed mail with flight details and number there). After some time she sees that I have “numero PTA” so I need pick up ticket. Sure I stay in long line… finally I get to the person to get ticket. This girl sure does not speak English too and she looks completely lost. 2 more women help her to make “magic”. Finally after 15-20 min waiting I get my tickets!! AEEE:-)))
4. I go to check-in again, enter without line (I could explain that). I manage to choose another lady who speaks English a little. I asked her to give me place near window, she gives as I want!! AEE:-))) I fell happy:-) She explains me that I need to check my luggage at Zagreb cause they are not sure it will to so Skopje (My flight to Macedonia Sao-Paulo-Frankfurt-Zagreb-Skopje)… I wonder about it but think ok… I will have lots time there (about 4 h for last connection). And while she is putting these papers for luggage, sending them away, I “play” with kind of receipt in my hands… and I wonder why Mari name is written there… (we supposed to go together with Mari but she cancelled flight because CC did not put her in list for visa…) She gives me ticket with my “dream”-place 41K and….
5. I discover THAT ALL TICKETS HAVE MARI NAME. I mean all tickets (Sao-Paulo-Frankfurt, Frankfurt-Zagreb, Zagreb-Skopje, Skopje-Ljubljana, Ljubljana-Paris, Paris-Sao Paulo). And I ask Luiza (name of lady) why is that like that, can it be because Mari was getting all tickets details.. and then I realize that tickets were paid from MC account so Mari has nothing to do with it for sure. I try to explain her, that we bought 2 the same tickets with friend that she cancelled so I travel alone. And girl in TAM agency had my passport when was giving ticket buuuuuut… in printed paper I got from travel agency (with number PTA of ticket) was written 2 names, so probably that girl looked in my passport and gave a ticket for completely different name. And the funniest thing! I managed to make a check-in “with wrong passport too!!!!” So I try to explain her all this, but her English is worse than my Portuguese.. I insist to find somebody who speaks English. We find another “Tom” from security part who can translate. Finally situation is clear for all us… hehe…
6. Luiza tells that we need to cancel ticket for Mari, issue for me, make check-in again…I ask about luggage.. she sends guy to find my luggage and bring back because I will not be able to pick it up in Croatia with wrong name. She goes to TAM agency by herself, I need just to wait. I stay, wait. On the one hand I’m pissed with this, on another hand I think “heheh, it would be fun to be stopped somewhere in Zagreb cause I have ticket for wrong name”…
7. After 20 min guy from TAM pass by with my luggage, I tell it’s mine and take it back. All this time “Tom” sometimes talks to me “do not worry, it will be fine etc.”
8. 10 min more – Luiza is back with new tickets but I need to go to TAM agency to sign something.. (as before when I got tickets)
9. 10 min and we are back… to make check-in!! (see step 2 and 4, they look the same:-PPP)
10. I get my ticket; sure I do not get any place near window.. too late…RRRRRRR Because of that I came so early to airport!
11. I discover that I cant make check-in for further flights Frankfurt-Zagreb, Zagreb-Skopje cause it’s different company and I have just 2 h between arrival to Frankfurt and departure, it’s tight… on the way back it will be the same! Risky… 1 plane is delayed… I hope I will not know how it is…
12. I pass security of airport with metal scan… they did not like my perfumes and asked to take a look on them, luckily I can pass. Ufff (hm.. what will be in Frankfurt? I paid quite lots money for these 2 perfumes)
13. I go to the passport control; woman wants something from me, some paper.. It looks like declaration which I had when entered Brazil. I do not have it. I think it’s at home.. I tell her that I do not speak Portuguese.. She calls somebody… I try to explain, that I honestly will came back soon to Brazil, so maybe I do not need it etc… Show all my tickets. Man is looking. I show my visa to Brazil, registration in Policia Federal… He tells her that it seems fine and I can go. And then he asks if I have boyfriend in Brazil (he speaks some English). I tell “yes” (I think he just made joke), so he tells to women that I have boyfriend so I will come back for sure:-PPP All we are laughing…. I pass.


In few min I will start boarding… wish good luck to myself, pass “airports tricks” smoothly and see Macedonia in 24 h.

I’m calm, even positive (pray that positive attracts good things to happen with us:-P). I just do not want more such kind of adventures:-)

Day -1

Well, my place was not that badJ It was without screen (but more place for legs) and when I decided to ask can I have at least music (cause I got head-sets, it’s logically), man took out the screen from my elbow-restJ).
At the morning right befo4re landing on I discovered that my neighbor is from Curitiba and her aunt and uncle speak Ukrainian, so she has Ukrainian roots. She gave me business card and invited if I will be in Curitiba to give a call, so I can visit her family.
And then.. Sure we were late to Frankfurt because we landed off later. And I have little time before flight. Hm… main impressions: people speak English, each person from airport stuff whom I asked for help and direction could speak EnglishJ; bathrooms are cleaner, everything is more organized and you have lots information desks; almost all are white (sooo boring after Brazil), dressed in grey-dark-blue-black and in warm winter coats/jakets:-) I looked crazy in my light jacket and in Brazilian all starts of green and yellow colors:-PPP Hehehe, lots German around:-) Lots people dressed elegantly like men in nice wool suits and black coatsJ and women… cant describe, but they are different, “European” :-P I do not judge where is better but it definitely was nice to see that again… and have few second of breath of this frosty air, this amazing air, when it’s little frost and sunny weather. I never felt like that in Brazil. And I started to smile so much, feeling so happy… and realizing, yeah, I missed…

But everything went nice, I could make check-in, catch next flight. Hahahah, I think if I would be MC in Croatia I could speak Croatian already. I understood security instructions in Croatia better than I can in Portuguese... (If you know both Russian and Ukrainian you recognize lots words or can guess). Hehehe, some words sound funny:-PPP This flight was fine, I was random and still cant understand why when they asked me which sandwich I want, ham or cheese I took cheese if I always like meat and I wanted meat:-PPP

Then we landed on in Croatia! Ahh, I could not even imagine that I will “come back” to this country, nice city again.. after being here once at rainy day in October 2005. Heheh, this time while taking bus to go to airport building I could remember what doest it mean to feel frost by your bonesJ)) It was like at homeJ))

Now I sit in Zagreb airport, my mobile does not work here (no roaming for me). Airport is nice, small and very calm (could be boring but I have cool book). People smile much less than in Brazil… Bathroom was super cleanJ and after few hours I will have last connection Zagreb-Skopje. Hope to arrive on time, get my luggage, be met by CC and have nice rest next night. Ahh, I want BED :-)

The impressions of the day: frost and nice, amazing, red and purple sunset which you can see only during real winter:-))) Missed it too!!!

Aahh, it’s 6 pm and already dark:-P

(rest is written at day 0)
Later after writing some words I discovered that was sitting in the same hall of the same airport with Day (PAI 2006-2007), I’ve introduced myself, we had nice talk, I got some advices for interview;-))
Then we took a plane.. hehe, before woman why was checking us before boarding was surprised to see ticked of TAM with boarding pass done by Lufthansa flying by Croatian airlines.. (Have no any clue why Lufthansa was making check-in for Croatia airlines flight in Frankfurt)… hehe, he even was calling somebody to check…
Then I as sitting in plane in place A, B was free, on plane C was sitting girl. We did not talk all flight. Just when we land on I told her “O myyyy, I’m going from Brazil, it’s +35 now and here is -7, I will die”. She: “Are you Brazilian?” Me «No, Ukrainian”. She: “Are you from AIESEC?” hahaha. She is alumni of AIESEC in Macedonia.:-)

Then I got my visa quite easy, tried to be checked by custom, when they asked what I’m doing here, they told I need to go by green line:-PPP ands “have a good night” Impressed! Even police could speak English in CroatiaJ And I fell here much more like at home… ahhhJ

I was picked up by sweet CC by WARM car:-P, girl (Yassa?) even hugged me, it was exactly what I need being outside at -7C in clothes fine for +15… The rest of CC people (in hotel as well) were shaking hand, heheh, each time I tried to kiss them (hm, maybe I became even more Brazilian than I thought)

And theeeeeeeeen…. Hall of the hotel. Oh, it was great! It was amazing feeling to come to global conference and the same time like at “home” (cause “just” 200 delegates), I even did not expect that I will meet so much people I know, they will come, call, hug… J))) amazing! I’ve gotten such excitement that could not fall in sleep long time (maybe also leg jet)



Day 0
Started from veeeeeeeeery hard wake up at 8 am (4 am in Brazil)… The day of Global Village and opening, the Global Village with I expected to be “one more” and wanted to hide in AIESEC office from frost and the global Village which I think I enjoyed the most (or 2nd after EuroCo in 2005). I’ve never had a Global Village in the street during 5 hours with frosty weather!!! It was “muuuito frio” (very cold) and fun! I was so happy to see some people, met my Wild Team mates (Leo, Herdis!, RobJ), I was again, as we always do very happy to see Patrick, hugging him a lot and smilingJ Ahh, that’s awesome this so positive and smart guy is MCP now. Heheh, later he told me that he was “pissed” that Sergio from Brazil did not apply for their MC and I confessed that he is my boyfriend J
Then I caught Herdis and she took one girl from Vietnam to drink coffee… Girls from Estonia, Vietman and Ukraine were sitting in Macedonia and sharing stories about Brazil, Thailand and international experiencesJ No talks about “work”, just about your personal experienceJ

Rina (I think she is from Kenya) shared with me that she bought cheap shoes but nice and relatively warm in 5 min of walking from place we had a Global Village. So I’ve changed my money and went to look for shoes for me… Well, I did not find really winter shoes with fur but they were anyway better than my all starts and other shoes.. So I was happy with new warmer shoes and gloves! J)

By the way, it’s fun to walk around in Macedonia. I can understand majority of names of shops, things are written but still can’t talk hehe. So like half-gringaJ. Few times I approached people (in bank in line, in shoes shop, veeery simple one) there were people speaking English! J

Then we had an opening in Alexander Palace which was very warm so already cool and quite nice. The guy playing on violin was awesome! Ahh, it was sooo not Latin America, so different and kind of “fresh” for me. Again, enjoying each minute, meeting more people (forgetting names of majority of them) or even sitting and reflecting, smiling from thoughts… and feeling so happy!

And finally I’m at my room in Ohrid, in new hotel. NiceJ I like it. And it’s WARM here, +23C in room:-P and it seems I have cool view from balcony of my room (it’s dark now, so we’ll see tomorrow)… aaaaand it’s SNOW here! J) Oooh, how cool I’ve bought shoes todayJ

Hm, I do not what happened, but I really enjoy each single minute of this conference, it may “beat” all my lovely conferences. And also I see that this me is different me, really different that was at IC in Turkey, in Poland in EuroCo at Croatia.. Well, I’m living truly life-changing experienceJ ands that’s awesome!

Wonder, how will be tomorrow:-)

I’m happy person!

Introduction:
Recently I have gone through some hard moments of my life, I never thought I will be like that but I really had depression, some days when you feel worse and worse (more sad and even apathic) which ended up with all day crying and thinking you just simply do not want anything in this life… Hm, maybe some people who have experienced long living abroad with not good conditions of life can understand.

5 days after “crisis”:
I’ve cleaned in my room, feeling tired and satisfied with day which is almost over, lay on bed listening music and… simply realized… I’M HAPPY :-)

Yes, I’m.

* I have all my basic needs satisfied (according to pyramid Maslow;-)) and at the same time last 8 months (and 4 more) I live out of zone of comfort which is amazing opportunity for understanding yourself and personal development.
* I have people who love me and I love them – my family, my amazing Jota (who is more than word “boyfriend” can explain:-)), my friends, who are in different countries and we keep in touch:-) I have people to take care about and I have ones who will take care about me… yeah.. lots of them are so far away and cant help, but they give emotional support… and at the end of the day it was my choice to have this distance between some of us.
* I’m MC in amazing country and I love my professional experience, and even after 8 months, I love my job each day more and more! I see how much I develop and feel happy to have this opportunity.
* I have future plan and applying for amazing experience – AIESEC International, and even if I’m not elect I will enjoy whole process at IPM in Macedonia and can be proud of growing so much to be good candidate there.
* I have visited so much amazing places in my life and mainly getting these opportunities because of mine brains, hard work and achievements since being 15 years old (not tourism paid by pa rents;-))
* I have gotten lots of support in this life from people around in “key” moments and had chance to “pay back” to some of them.

* I have an interesting life, as I always wanted, and not like “average” youth at my country would have, I was brave enough to act not as all people do and I always was at least a little out of the zone of comfort that was “pushing” even more to move forward and… I know that at the end of the day I’m the one who can make it even better:-)

And.. I love and I’m beloved.

I’m happy :-)

PS some my recent pictures are here: http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=781100200

Cultural differences (cultural shocks?)

Yeah, living abroad is as amazing experience, I really really think it’s worth money, time, pausing your “settled” life or even changing it at all. It’s worth. If you are open to learn, to reflect and change, yeah some things to change and some just realize – these are your core values….

Especially it’s cool to go to really another culture, for long time (1 year+) and when you do not know local language.

And it’s hard…Sometimes you start question… “Am I crazy???”

The last funny (or weird?) example… Just today I came up with explanation… (or at least theory about)… During feedback session at MC Team Days my MCP told that one MC member complained that I’m too individualistic cause… I make coffee only for myself (when lots of ppl take breakfast at kitchen, each, completely individually makes coffee, any meal, the same with lunches and dinners, we do not cook one-two for rest). My internal reaction was “Hmmm.. What???” And I hear it from people who can easily “steal” your chair if you got up only from 5 min; take the best thing/place without proposal to you if you want it...
Few weeks passed, and just today, while talking with team mate (one more gringaJ from Netherlands/Portugal) I came up with idea…. That in Brazil, almost in any (or any?) house you always can find thermos with coffee, you will find it even at public place / kind of simple restaurant where you can take it for free, nobody charge you. Hm… I never saw coffee in thermos in Ukraine. Until you travel somewhere and want to have hot drink. And I’m wondering, maybe it’s cultural, that you wake up and have coffee made by person from family (or made) or do it for everybody… Thus if you do not do something that is really part of life, when people really do it for everybody, you are “too individualistic”. Hm.. At home we were making tea for whole family, but nobody drinks it here… :-)

Yeah, international experience is great thing, and at the same time if you do not questions yourself, if both sides are not open enough and assume that another person can be just different and if you do not like/understand – just ask “why??” it gets really hard. Lots people here don’t. They judge, they do not ask.

It was great to talk with Brazilian who is in Europe now and me, European who is in Brazil.
She is missing hugs and more warm relations, I feel not good when not friends (people who is not that good friends) are to close to me.
We found out that people care in different way, and in our cultures this is different, thus we do not “decode” this careness.
At home I always liked to be in company and did not like that much to stay alone, here I’m looking for space/loneliness.
At home I was open and talking too much, here some people told I’m introvert and too much straight to the point…
And oooh, people here are veeeeery loud as for meJ Sometimes I have feeling that want run away form office and at the same time some people easily work in it:-)

Nobody told it will be easy:-)

Team mates rock!!!

I know that it's working time, I know that I need to make audit of X forms... but I need to share!!! NOW :-)

It was good day, nooo, it was AMAZING Birthday and still it is:-)

Morning started with a lot of hugs (mmm... I wanna Birthday each day!!! Or.. can we hug each morning?;-))
then it was totally unexpected proposal to go to have lunch together (Tulio invited me;-))... well, I didn't expect a lot cause still we are going out today evening to Barnaldo & Lucrecia:-))) with some more friends:-)

So we went all MC team together (6 out of 8 cause Conrado and Mauricio are not in Sao Paulo). The place was nice with really good food, it was nice to have such small surprise;-) But what really matters THE GREAT MOOD guys created... You know... it's so sweet, so nice, so... so good to feel yourself happy being so far from family and friends... with new friends! Babi, Nana, Marco, Mari and Funny Blond Gringa, thanks for that!!! :-))) I'm really happy, AEEEEEEE:-))))

Still curious what will be at night.. ;-)

Crazy work... or importance of motivation in our life;-)

Well, I just want to make small break from work right now;-)

I'm sitting here in the office doing cool stuff as SONA review, quarter 2 exchange analysis etc. :-)

and thinking....

To go to sleep now and work during weekend with a little fun in Sao Paulo

or

to be hero and finish all work now (around 3 am:-) and spend weekend near Ocean in Danilo's house?

It's up to me!!!

Now I choose option #2;-))

(by the way first time in my life;-) I will see ocean but not sea)

And soon we will see how it would work out:-)

Irina left the House... Thanks to all Hikers for everything

Anyway that should happen... Sometime each term of each of us comes to the end...
Just 5 min ago Irina, "the last Hiker":-) left the house, she will take her plane soon and tomorrow she will accidentally answer the phone like: "AIESEC Brazil, bom dia" or "Ola! Tudo bem?" as she told to AI CEE Director Ivan (hehe, he doesn't speak Portuguese).

Irina, dear, if you read these words... I want say you more and more times THANKS for everything, it was more than just transition and it was more than work from your side! Thanks for part of your heart! I dream to be such good predecessor as you are! Thanks for "advices for gringas", some of the, helped a lot! :-)

Here I share 2 nice and so different photos of Irina, such amazing, bright and unique Personality.


Irina, dear, wish you all the best as CEE Conference Manager and I'm happy people from my LC will visit conferences you are managing.

Humm.. Irina is going to Romania now,
Barbara is in Praga (MCVP TM),
Juli will be in India soon (Global Coordinator for TCS),
Coelho is in Buenos Aires (studying Spanish),
Gabiru is at home in Belo Horizonte (I hope everything will be good there!),
Rod at home as well in Rio,
Mauricio has "troubles";-)) with his new crazy team here....

Guys, Hikers, thanks you veeeeeeeery much for everything you have done for us and for really cool transition! Thank you! Wish you all the best in life:-) Here goes photo of our Hikers, their last day all together!

one of the best nights:-))

First time I got up here at noon:-) Yeap, it seems to be normally if you have weekend and went to sleep around 5 am:-))

We went to amazing (no, fantastic!!!) place called "Bernardo & Lucrecia". It was kind of "good bye" party for Vladi who leaves to Chile for 2 months. Ahh, I will miss him... He is nice and interesting personality and my first (and reeeeally good) teacher of Latin dances:-))

The evening (night) was really cool from the first second till the last:-) First it was funny how we were looking for the place. I admire my President, who can be smart and work professionally and can be such "mongolao";-))) He was guiding us... Well, we are lucky we have found a way to place where he was twice before:-))) From first minutes here it was really crazy place and... very positive, "warm", nice... I love alive music, I love songs with guitar, I love Latino and it was... alive Latino with guitar (main instrument)...Ahhhh:-))))) I know place where I would like to go on special days;-)

And... I tried to dance my third Latin dance - "forro" (Portuguese word, pronounce more like "fogo"). It's traditional Brazilian dance. Vladi showed me some basics. It's kind of similar to salsa with the same basic steps but movements a little bit another + you dance everything closer than in salsa, even turns around. KUPLIVANCHUK, do you see it???!!!! It's even more sexy dance than merengue:-)))) Well, I need to practice more:-) Maybe I will start visit classes with Gustavo (friend of mine, alumni of @, he lives here in SP) or I will find place closer to the MC Vila.

For now my dances are better than language:-)))
About the language... Thanks Ukrainian and Russian!!! :-))) AEE, I easily can pronounce almost all sound here and people told that I will have good accent when I would speak Portuguese.


P.S. Just information: Here in Brazil we have another system of payment for entrance, bear etc. When you enter the club you receive the paper, later when you order anything waiter puts mark into this "bill". When you want to leave place you come with this "bill" to pay desk, pay;-), you get stamp on this "bill" and you have to return it to security near entrance. For me it seems to be cool cause you can be at any part of club, order whatever you want (you do not come back to place you sit or pay cash each time you order)

about Brazil:-) 2

Street in Sao Paulo can be very different, buildings for 30+ stores or small private houses. Some typical views:

House I liked (in that region not all of them were so nice;-)) + flowers in Vilma's house:-))

about Brazil:-)

Yesterday we had MC Team Day and we went to Vilma office/house. That means I saw one more part of Sao Paulo:-). (About serious things we had maybe I will share later, not I want to show how Brazil looks like:-)

Soo... first thing I saw were building of Itau - one of the biggest banks in Brazil. My sister works in bank in Ukraine so I decided to make photo for her to show later:-) They had here 4 or more such buildings. On one of the photo you can see my crazy team mates - "Chicken Corner" as we call them:-)))

Theeeen.. we moved to Vilma house (it was long trip with a lot of circles, almost like anecdote;-))

One of the things I like here - trees with crazy huge flowers (in Ukraine we have such big only on magnolia which you can meet basically in botanic gardens (Kyiv) or Uzhgorod (veery Western part of Ukraine). I do not know names of these trees, nobody can say me that... (Brazilians explain that they have too wealthy nature to know names of all plants...;-))

Just to see these amazing flowers closer I took one such from the tree nearby our house (diameter is almost 10 sm!!)

mmm.. I like people here:-))

Just want to share that it seems I will be happy to work with my LCVPs here:-)))

Yesterday I started to call some of them to say hello and few things more and they gave me so much energy and motivation, some even wrote mail after with really sweet words:-)

mm.. My intuition was right - Brazil is amazing country worth to live at least some time here:-)))

I'm learning dances!:-) Merengue and salsa

AEEEEE!!!:-)))) I'm very happy I started my "classes" of Latin dances!!:-)))

Yesterday we went to "Canexion Caribe" with Vladi, Giovanni (Colombian guys), Sara (from Taiwan, girlfriend of Giovanni), so gringos were dancing in Brazil:-))) Ahh, it was really amazing.

I met Vladi 2 weeks ago in external event and he proposed to teach me how to dance, that's why actually we went to this place. I need to confess that he is really good teacher, who makes you feel good and relaxed and at the same time can point on all your mistakes;-). Vladi (actually all guys) told that I'm reeeeally good "student" and now I know all basics of merengue and can dance it and the very basics of salsa (salsa is more difficult). And I'm able to understand is it salsa or merengue (another movements)!;-)))

This place, Brazilians were really nice. Even when I was not dancing I was enjoying the people around and atmosphere. The biggest part of people were from 20 till 35 there but sometimes you could see elder people such as one man who was dancing in very advanced level, probably he is dance teacher cause he was teaching small group of people. I liked this atmosphere, people who enjoy dancing, who are open to invite anybody and any person feels him/herself good there. Or... maybe my secret is that I'm gringo here and actually do not care what people will think (if I dance bad or wear smth strange;-))

Anyway.. yesterday I proved that Latin dances is smth makes me happier;-)

First working day as MCVP current:-)

2 July 2007... the real start of amazing year, of amazing 365 days that definitely will change my life:-)
After only one this day I see how I will grow professionally (I have no choice:-)) And what I really enjoy that in this environment with these people solution orientation, result-orientation, ability to focus but at the same time manage plenty processes will be habit;-) It's not local level or even management of national conference... but huge areas of work where very ambitions results depend on you and you need to make strategies work at the first months. Ahhh... difficult but I like it, I like our caring MC team, crazy guys and love and appreciate Irina, my dedicated predecessor who is still in office and still help me with transition and her ideas. I really want to say thanks to all these people:-)

The first day was from 8 am till... 11:30 pm (crazy, but it was my choice:-)) and then... I've started to discover my potential:-))) At the evening Irina proposed to go out, to eat smth and drink bear, idea was good cause I really needed just to switch myself into another environment cause tomorrow will be crazy day.. but 2 European girls going to drink bear alone at midnight... is not the best idea, so we invited guys. So we (Irina, my President Mauricio, Henry (CCP IC) and me) left house at midnight. For sure the last bar we were counting on was closed so we went to... Habib (Arabic fast food), this is definitely is not the best place to drink and talk. Crazy:-)) I surprised myself proposing people drink campirinya (made from cashasa (smth like vodka), lemon syrup, sugar and ice) and then was bear for free (together with campirinya)... So.. evening was really nice, funny, jokes and still a little bit crazy. I liked it;-)