Paola Hsieh Writing 2

It was Decemeber and the Christmas was getting nearer and nearer, so my parents had to decided what we were going to do this year for the holiday. Their decission was to make something different and special, and my mother suggested us to do some charity, to help people who, unffortunateky, could not afford the same privileges that we had.
The idea was to present poor children , from the small rural city where my father had a farm, on the Christmas Eve. My mohter had decided that we would buy small dolls and some teddy bears for the girls, and for the boys we would buy some child’s play car and playmobils. We also bought puzzles, books and unissex’s toys, so the children could decided which one he/she would choose.
Therefore, two weeks before December, 24 th, my mother and my sibling went to São Paulo’s downt town to decide and buy the presents we were going to give. One week before the big day, we took the presents and carried them to Sarapui, the city where we would give the them, and my mother talked with some employees, in order to they help us on the day.
On December 24 th, we went to the city’s gymnasium, where we would give the presents. By the time we got there, the line had already turn two blocks and it was only 7 a.m. . It was so many children, provided that the major helped us, by warning the parents about this event. When we started to give the presents to the kids, It was the first time that I have ever seen so many smiles and happyness.
However, my father told us that he would drive a little bit to some places farer, in case, some children could not go to the gymnasium. So he took the car’s keys and me and my siblings went to help him and my mother and the employees stayed in the gymnasium, to keep the donation. Therefore, we put a few presents in my father’s Range Rover, so we colud go to spots that to get there were not asphalts roads. We drove for 3 hours and we were able to give some presents for children that could not even afford to go to school or to buy new clothes. There was a remarkable spot, where five small children, with no more than 12 years old, apprently all siblings, were working, on Christmas Eve. They were wearing shred colthes and were sweping the floor. When they saw my fahter’s car approaching they got a little bit scary, but the oldest got near from us and we could give to them their presents, they started to play with the toys with a lot of pleasure.
Their situation was reaaly sad, and I shall never forget my father’s words: “If you have more than you need to survive and you may help the others, do that, because one day you may need a help, and then you shall find someone to help you.” I also learned that a small gesture, such as giving presnts, could put a smile in faces. And after that day, I understood that the world is not only black-and-white, however, small gestures can help people, or even just make them a little bit happier, evem that just for Chritsmas holiday.

Raffaella Writing II

I work as a sales broker for 8 years, pressure and stress are fellings that I faice every day, but I dont care about because I get acostumate. One day I was trading dolar with many clients at the same time, suddenly one of them sad me to sell 200 lotes, but he didn´t espeficize what market he want buy. Brokers like me are used to execute fast all orders we  recieve . Normally we attend clients wich is only trading dolar just to not made mistakes, in the other hands, each broker trade one especific market to not do mistakes and know better what are you working for.

The problem was when I sold 200 lotes I realize nobody confirm with the operation, i felt complety lost trying to call everboy to find who was the owner of that lote. After some minutes the stress fell up me and I tried to find a way to solve this big damage for my office. My co worker instead of helping me start to scream bad words and guilt me about that lost and my mind couldn´t think what to do. I was so nervous and angry that I can answerd my co worker screaming, i was trying to forget about him and continuos looking for a good way to fix the mistake. My body scream louder than his scream, i wake and throw two of the phone of him and said: Ok, are you nervous? I am sure you can solve this alone. I just went home, very sad, but happy with my corage. Of course some hours later I though about the craze behavior I have had and what consequences I could have the day before this. Although I wasnt in the mood to came back to the office,  I depend on that job.

The day before after a long conversasion with my boss I decided to come back there and

Ricardo Writing 1

When I was a child, I used to stay at home all the time when I was not at school. My mom didn’t allow me or my two older sisters to play outside on the streets. “This is for your safety,” my mother used to say without explaining that some neighbors had problems with the police. She was a strict woman and the general of our humble family; it was wise for us to do so.

Rule #1: Stay at home and play with my sisters, and not with the neighbors. Inside the walls, we were allowed to play all kinds of games just using our imagination, and the afternoon after the school had become our time to discover an old Egyptian treasure or to chase a thief (not the neighbor), or even to travel out of space.

With all this young excitement around, It was not easy for my Mom, who used to work at home as a tailor, to take care of us and at the same time spend almost 10 hours a day laboring to finish the shirts orders. We were running around and playing wildly all the time with so much energy that only childhood can provide and to place our games world far from her professional life, my mother had another rule. Rule #2: Never play with her equipments or anything else that she uses in her job: cloth, paint, needle, etc. Keeping far from them, we were out of trouble, however how can three kids be always far from trouble?

One summer day we were sweeting under the sun when mother suddenly called us by our names. “Gisele, Gislaine e Ricardo”. We were used to be called by our niknames and we knew that the bitter sound of our names beeing shoulted meant in a free translation “You all are in trouble. Come here now!” We stopped our game and even our breath and rushed to see what was going on. Her arms were crossed in front of the chest and she said to the small scultures, who didn’t dare to move.

Raffaella – Writing #1

People pass into rites of passages some times in their lives, but some of them change a lot the way you face your life. I used to think everthing it was going very well, because I have never stopped to think what realy makes me happy more than only folow the way appear in front of me.  Last year my life change totaly, but the reason is I have decided do change. I started with the job, I used to think the place where I was working is the best place to be, I simple changed it  after a difficult decision. The most difficult thing for me is I used to be afraid of changes, but after this a realize change makes

Beatriz – Writing #1

In December 2008 i was selected by my university to study one semester abroad, living in Lisbon. Since the beggining i knew this would be a fantastic experience to me, as it was going be my first time spending such a long time away from my family, from my friends, boyfriend and every aspect that conects me with my tipical life in Brazil. i have to admit that in the first weeks, adapting at my new life was not easy and i missed simple things, for example, not having to cook or going to supermarket.

After some months, I started to feel home in Lisbon. It was interesting how much I conected with the other internatinal students and we almost built a family, supporting each other when we needed. By that time, I had reduced the number of time i would speak with my parents trough Skype. The only preson i kept talking during the whole time I lived in Lisbon was my boyfriend, probably because he used to call me everyday.

My classes were supposed to finish at June 3rd and since i would have a lot of time before they restart again in Augost, my sister and me decided to backpack in Europe for 1 month.I have to admit that, even tough we only have 18 months of age difference, she has always been more mature than me and since she

 

Cynthia – Writing #1

I thought I hated Sao Paulo… Now I know I love it!

    My brothers and I spent our childhood as prisioners in our own house. We lived freely only inside our house’s walls. My father was afraid that something would happen to us, that we would be kidnaped, assaulted, or even get killed, so he hired bodyguards to follow us whenever we went out of the house. His fear got worst when he received a call from someone threatening to kidnap me where I used to go to ride my horses. After that incident, Sao Paulo became a spoiled city for me. I couldn’t walk on the streets like everyone else, I couldn’t even walk in the mall without being followed. So, because of our lack of freedom, my brothers and I talked to my parents and they decided to move from Sao Paulo to Florianopolis.

    My family and I were very excited about the idea of a place where we wouldn’t have to be followed all the time, where we wouldn’t spend so many hours a day in traffic, where we would be able to go to the beach during the week, etc. Florianopolis was a dream for us. A dream that was about to come true. We bought a big, beautiful house right on the beach and moved there during the summer, when the sun shines every day and the weather is very welcoming. I couldn’t wait for my first day at school. I was very ecxited to meet new people in that magical island. I tought that no one that lived in that beautiful place wouldn’t be charming and upbeat. Sweet ilusion!

    On my first day in school I realised I couldn’t be more wrong. When I arrived in school in, I immediately wanted to turn around and go home change my outfit. All the girls in the school were wearing heels, a lot of make-up, and jewelry and I was wearing my brother’s t-shirt, wich was huge on me, because I lost mine and he was on my class because he was one year behind, and tennis shoes. I was wearing what I would wear to go to school in Sao Paulo. The girls there were not only exaggerated in the way they dress, but they were also concided and didn’t like people from other citys beside Florianopolis. And soon I discovered that it wasn’t only the girls that didn’t like outsiders, but the people there in general.

   

 

 

Ana – Writing #1

In April 2008, I went to Canada for a interchange course for 3 months. I was scared and the fact that I didn’t know how to get by by myself and that I had never travelled alone without my mom’s company made me feel extremely nervous. Therefore, when I was in front of the gate ready to departure, a lonesome feeling took over my reasoning and even though I knew I wanted to go and that leaving was nothing that I couldn’t handle, I cried uncontrollably for a minute.

Being in Canada turned out to be afterwards, in fact one of the most important and advantageous experiences in my life. In the end of July, I left Canada back to Brazil, though I still wanted to be there my mother didn’t let me  lengthen my trip, but at the same time I was beginning to feel homesick, mostly because my  This conclusion came to me when

Marilia – Writing #1

     I’ve never had thought that my life could be so much better after my mother sick. Nowadays we don’t have time to think about us and what we can make better for each other, people don’t use to think in each other and in their family. Everyone just believe that don’t have time enought to take care of thenselfs or to stay with their family. And this hapenned to my mom.

    Two years ago I really could believe that my life was so perfect. I was dating a nice guy, I was at the colege that I chose, and at that moment I just wanted to enjoy my youth. I just could fancy at that period that  nothing poor would happen to me. But, at the same time I couldn’t realize that my mother wasn’t living her life.

   However, the worse hapend. My mon was with breast cancer. My family and I were terrified, we could’nt believe at that time that she was sick. At that moment we just could think in the worst and in the big affects that illness could cause in her life an in our lifes. The probability of my mother die invaded our thoughts and we get so nervous and sad. Then, my mon suffered a sugery and the doctor sad that she would be treated with chemotherapy and radioterapy, we couldn’t  imagine her reaction in front of this problem, cause we knew that the treatment was so violent.

So, after a month she started with the medication. Was so hard and dificulty, she was so weak and delibited, and after two doses of the drug her hair fell, it was very dificulty at the first moment. The therapy lasted eight months, and it was the worst months of our lifes, cause we saw my mom suffer.

However, for our surprise, we realized that my mon’s life had begun after that eight months. After all, she discovered that she was died inside before get sick, she didn’t used to go out with my father, and enjoy her life. She just was living by inertia.

Claudia – Writing #1

“ Involuntaries’ changes that make you grow up” 

In 2007 I was completely settle down and relax concerning my profession. I had been working at a French hotel chain for five years as sales manager and I thought I was part of the team and that my job definitely made all the difference to the corporation’s results.

 Since I had been approved for this position I had conquest many victories. I still remember that my first challenge was to make better the relationship between hotel’s managers and the corporative central team of the group. And I did it!

 My way of working always committed, and my devotion to hit the targets of company are examples of my skills and made me think that I was a good professional. I will never forget the admission’s interview with my first boss. He said to me: “- Claudia, you are a fighter and that is exactly what we are looking for!

 However, I was completely wrong. All of a sudden I was out of the blue. My boss told me that they were streamlining and that they didn’t need more a person with a high experience and consequently, a person who they must to pay high salaries and benefits. Therefore, they needed me anymore.

 I couldn’t believe in what I was hearing. I had put many years of my life on that. I felt as if, all the time, I was sleeping with enemy. I was totally disappointed. I use to admired the company because of its values and because I believed in the path that we were followed. Some of these beliefs framed the importance to develop the employees’ careers. (I lost the number of the courses that I did).   In addition, I trusted in my work and my team and I never could expect to be fired in that moment.

 Fortunately, in less than two weeks, I got a new job in other hotel chain, but this wasn’t enough for me. The memory of this sad experience allowed me to make more than just getting a new job. I had to find a new profession that not only makes me happy but also will not lack of stability.

Since 2007 many things have changed.  Even I still working on tourism area, I restarted to study and I found my way in a new career, which all my experiences and abilities may be employed in a scenario much more stable. Do you want to know what it is? Sorry, just when I get there. I hope it will be soon.

Rose – Writing #1

 In 2006, the company I work for assigned me to represent Brazil in a Latin American project which would be held in Buenos Aires for twelve months. To live in Argentina for a year wouldn’t be so interesting: I had been used to live in other city far from my family for more than ten years, moreover I should live together with a lot of arrogant people, such as argentinians. The only advantage would be the opportunity to improve my Spanish and to meet people from other latin america countries.  

 

There were  two scenes that I will never forget: my birthday and my farewell dinner. Since we started the project, I wasn’t the only foreigner, there were also people from Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Peru. Although, it was only my birthday that had a special version: when I got the office there was a band written “Feliz Cumpleaños”, a gift on my desk, and a little letter, made by my coworker’s daughter,  with my name, a drawing and “Parabéns” at the end. I was touched. I never had that situation, even in Brazil. My last night in Buenos Aires, argentinians offered me a dinner in a coworker’s house. When I was leaving, this coworker started to cry and her  4 years daughter told her: “Mammy, she will be ok. She’s going to her family”. 

 

 

Returning to home, I started to think that I had made real friends there and in a different way. In Brazil, because it is my country, it is easier to come close to people who have common habits, such as going to the gym or some specific restaurants. Sometimes also to come close  to people who have similar pasts and share the same memories. In Argentina I had to learn how to be part of a group without these “hints”. I started to evaluate people by their essence and not by some pre-conceived ideas of shared values. Moreover, I realized that my argentinians friends also did the same. They didn’t know anything about myself: my past, my life, my carreer, my values. They just accepted and liked me as I was.