It's May, and I'm afraid I'm too busy working on developing eLearning materials and managing a capacity development programme in Mozambique to keep this blog going.
If you want to take a look at what I have been doing, check here.
Thanks to all who were with me for so long.
As soon as it's quieter, I'll come back to writing again.
À bientôt!
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
November!!!!
I just came back here because a colleague told me that she came in here to visit it... so I was a bit ashamed that I have left it for so long.
Unfortunately I cannot stay long. My to do list didn't reduce since my last post, and the pressure has just impossibly mounted up!
Traveling a lot, a lot.
Getting cold here in France (yes, I'm in France just now). Getting pretty hot already in Southern Africa.
I think Occupy Wall Street is slowly demobilizing, the guys should sit in front of Congress, which is where the bankers and financiers have good friends.
Meanwhile there was Lybia. Too complicated for a short time. But I recommend some food for thought by reading how personal revenge can drive "democratic" regimes to unbelievable behaviours. And my favorite journalist Robert Fisk again surpassing himself writing about the fall of Mr. Kaddafi.
And I love to have subscribed to the Courrier International. Besides helping my French not to die (as I keep working mostly in Portuguese), the guys are really good and truly international.
2012 is soon coming. And I clearly remember how awesome it was to move from 1999 to 2000!
I still have lots of fun with my work, but (and I'll say it again...) I'm gonna seriously reduce it next year.
Much love to my readers!
Unfortunately I cannot stay long. My to do list didn't reduce since my last post, and the pressure has just impossibly mounted up!
Traveling a lot, a lot.
Getting cold here in France (yes, I'm in France just now). Getting pretty hot already in Southern Africa.
I think Occupy Wall Street is slowly demobilizing, the guys should sit in front of Congress, which is where the bankers and financiers have good friends.
Meanwhile there was Lybia. Too complicated for a short time. But I recommend some food for thought by reading how personal revenge can drive "democratic" regimes to unbelievable behaviours. And my favorite journalist Robert Fisk again surpassing himself writing about the fall of Mr. Kaddafi.
And I love to have subscribed to the Courrier International. Besides helping my French not to die (as I keep working mostly in Portuguese), the guys are really good and truly international.
2012 is soon coming. And I clearly remember how awesome it was to move from 1999 to 2000!
I still have lots of fun with my work, but (and I'll say it again...) I'm gonna seriously reduce it next year.
Much love to my readers!
Monday, 20 June 2011
summertime
No, no, don't think that I'm definitely away. Life just opens some doors through which events keep passing and passing. Impossible to control them. It means: the blog's still left behind, as there are many other priorities just now.
Back in France from Brazil, on the way to Southern Africa.
Almost 4 weeks in Brazil. Professor Rattner passing away. So glad we were so connected the last months, so glad I talked to him before coming to Brazil, so glad I could see him twice in the hospital before his departure. So glad I could drink from his experience, positive view, and his drive for people's development.
Things I flash-remember:
The IPTU (property tax)in Guarujá is one of the most expensive in Brazil. R$ 1100 a year. Between 60 to 70 USD a month. For 45 m2. The same as a house in São Paulo, of 150 m2, on a sought-for area. Ridiculous.
Ah, the politicians in Brazil... what a class. How professional they are in advocating in favor of themselves! Please, just be amazed by what "earns" (yes, earn!) a politician in Brazil (see here an article published in 2008). The Washington Post says that the politicians in Brazil make even more money than in the US! For the US figure click here.
Actually the strongest remembrance is really this: how things are so so so expensive down there, while the salaries are so so so low. A state teacher earns about 1000 reais, or 600 usd for a 25 hour-week, for instance. And there are strikes all over. And the firemen were asking for a decent wage (current salary at about 900 reais / 550 usd a month!), and were arrested for that! All of them! Etc etc.
And the banks, ah the banks. Check the internet. Banks and profit. WOW! Here in Russia, here in Nigeria , and here Brazil. And so it goes. All over the world. What a wonderful financial crisis. I guess if I were a banker, I'd love to be part of such a crisis, ending up being so profitable, with my losses taken over by the "government", meaning everyone's taxes. What a smart recipe!
Hum, what else should I tell you my readers? Well, you wanna the positive news?
There were demonstrations for the decriminalization of the Canabis Sativa (I learned that the name marijuana was given by Hearst, who led a campaign to make it a crime in 1930 in the US, and to link it to the Mexicans, Latinos e other "minor" people. Which really worked).
Ah, and the police instead of protecting the demonstration arrested and beat the people. People then demonstrated for "freedom" (in Rio and São Paulo, at least). Well, that people are getting organized for political reasons is a novelty in Brazil. After the great demonstrations for the end of the military rule in the late 1980's, the majority went quiet to earn their day to day and be able to buy their mobile phones.
I stop here. Too much to tell you, and I must go.
Enjoy! (and save water, and do not consume so much plastic, and beware the E. Coli, and use your bicycle!)
Back in France from Brazil, on the way to Southern Africa.
Almost 4 weeks in Brazil. Professor Rattner passing away. So glad we were so connected the last months, so glad I talked to him before coming to Brazil, so glad I could see him twice in the hospital before his departure. So glad I could drink from his experience, positive view, and his drive for people's development.
Things I flash-remember:
The IPTU (property tax)in Guarujá is one of the most expensive in Brazil. R$ 1100 a year. Between 60 to 70 USD a month. For 45 m2. The same as a house in São Paulo, of 150 m2, on a sought-for area. Ridiculous.
Ah, the politicians in Brazil... what a class. How professional they are in advocating in favor of themselves! Please, just be amazed by what "earns" (yes, earn!) a politician in Brazil (see here an article published in 2008). The Washington Post says that the politicians in Brazil make even more money than in the US! For the US figure click here.
Actually the strongest remembrance is really this: how things are so so so expensive down there, while the salaries are so so so low. A state teacher earns about 1000 reais, or 600 usd for a 25 hour-week, for instance. And there are strikes all over. And the firemen were asking for a decent wage (current salary at about 900 reais / 550 usd a month!), and were arrested for that! All of them! Etc etc.
And the banks, ah the banks. Check the internet. Banks and profit. WOW! Here in Russia, here in Nigeria , and here Brazil. And so it goes. All over the world. What a wonderful financial crisis. I guess if I were a banker, I'd love to be part of such a crisis, ending up being so profitable, with my losses taken over by the "government", meaning everyone's taxes. What a smart recipe!
Hum, what else should I tell you my readers? Well, you wanna the positive news?
There were demonstrations for the decriminalization of the Canabis Sativa (I learned that the name marijuana was given by Hearst, who led a campaign to make it a crime in 1930 in the US, and to link it to the Mexicans, Latinos e other "minor" people. Which really worked).
Ah, and the police instead of protecting the demonstration arrested and beat the people. People then demonstrated for "freedom" (in Rio and São Paulo, at least). Well, that people are getting organized for political reasons is a novelty in Brazil. After the great demonstrations for the end of the military rule in the late 1980's, the majority went quiet to earn their day to day and be able to buy their mobile phones.
I stop here. Too much to tell you, and I must go.
Enjoy! (and save water, and do not consume so much plastic, and beware the E. Coli, and use your bicycle!)
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Thursday, 7 April 2011
gone with the wind
hum... pity, the blog abandoned. Lots of work, traveling, moving. Just now in France. Soon Brazil. And then Mozambique. And... Lost momentum with the writing here. Maybe in the new house, in Avignon, but it will need some time as the to-do list never ends.
Happy as ever. Peter's happy, and the kids all well. Crisis all around on planet Earth. And a friend asks me if he should leave France for Brazil, while some friends in Brazil express their wish to come to France. Close to us, at least 6 nuclear plants. Strawberries the size of apples, made in Morocco. Scary stuff.
Happy as ever. Peter's happy, and the kids all well. Crisis all around on planet Earth. And a friend asks me if he should leave France for Brazil, while some friends in Brazil express their wish to come to France. Close to us, at least 6 nuclear plants. Strawberries the size of apples, made in Morocco. Scary stuff.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Long long time
Wow! The year is coming to its end. Again! A decade of the new century has gone! And many white (euphemistically called gray) hairs later, here we are, December 16.
As you can imagine, I have been busy. Check the blog I'm working on, about the harmonization of the Education Sector management procedures, through the development of training modules for district officials.
On the personal front, all goes well, only good news to tell you, but as they're so many, I'll postponed the telling of it: my to-do list's still long here...
Wish you a wonderful Christmas time, with family and friends, and ALL the best in the new year, not forgetting the wish for a stronger and joint effort to be happier and free from want - in all senses.
And in Portuguese...
Amigos, há tempos não escrevo, hum? é que tenho andado ocupada com muito trabalho, que pode ser visto num outro blog que mantenho com minha equipa.
Tudo vai bem! desejo a todos um Natal bem feliz com a família, e um ano novo cheio de realizações, e com um esforço muito maior e conjunto para sermos felizes e com acesso às necessidades básicas - em todos os sentidos!
Até!
As you can imagine, I have been busy. Check the blog I'm working on, about the harmonization of the Education Sector management procedures, through the development of training modules for district officials.
On the personal front, all goes well, only good news to tell you, but as they're so many, I'll postponed the telling of it: my to-do list's still long here...
Wish you a wonderful Christmas time, with family and friends, and ALL the best in the new year, not forgetting the wish for a stronger and joint effort to be happier and free from want - in all senses.
And in Portuguese...
Amigos, há tempos não escrevo, hum? é que tenho andado ocupada com muito trabalho, que pode ser visto num outro blog que mantenho com minha equipa.
Tudo vai bem! desejo a todos um Natal bem feliz com a família, e um ano novo cheio de realizações, e com um esforço muito maior e conjunto para sermos felizes e com acesso às necessidades básicas - em todos os sentidos!
Até!
Sunday, 24 October 2010
POEMA pronto, greve na França, filho casando
E tanta coisa que acontece que nem dá pra acompanhar!
- 25 de Setembro, casamento do Anand e da Iara. Meu primeiro filho que se vai oficialmente. Dançamos até! Marina ainda campeã de organizar as melhores festas! Beijo grande Marina e Fernando!
- os franceses contra a mudança da legislação, que estabelece a idade mínima para a aposentadoria (reforma, em Moçambique) em 62 anos (hoje 60), e da idade para receber uma pensão completa em 67 anos (hoje 65). O presidente (aqui chamado de Monsieur Sako) força a situação. Os sindicatos e grupos da população forçam um retrocesso. Até agora o Governo ganha, com a lei praticamente aprovada. Por outro lado, refinarias estão bloqueadas há algum tempo, e o povo não tem combustível. O ar deve estar bem mais limpo nos últimos dias. Nosso carro está parado há uma semana. Ontem 25 km de bicicleta. Na saúde, efeitos colaterais positivos e inesperados da mudança da lei da segurança social. Quarta-Feira é aprovação final. Vamos ver.
- já nos vamos deslocar de novo, e o próximo post deve ser da África do Sul.
- O projecto POEMA encerrou uma de suas fases mais difíceis: conseguimos completar a elaboração dos módulos, que contêm não só conhecimentos de muitas pessoas sobre muitas partes dos processos de Gestão do Estado Moçambicano, como conseguimos colocar no papel metodologias de capacitação inovadoras. Hurray! Feliz e orgulhosa da equipa!
- O frio chegou aqui com o Outono europeu. Hoje chuvinha e céu cinza. Ontem inauguração da reabilitação da Fonte dos Anjos, uma fonte do século XVII aqui pertinho de casa, que voltou a funcionar, e com água potável! Inauguração à Francesa, com vinhos e petiscos. Primeira vez que vimos o prefeito. Monsieur le Maire. Lembro de Bonn, uma beleza vermelha do Outono!
- E as eleições brasileiras estão à porta. Recebo todos os dias montes de emails pró-Serra e pró-Dilma. Devo confessar que os emails pró-Serra são mais chatinhos, porque são em geral contra-Dilma e não apresentam nenhuma proposta que não seja essencialmente ficar na mesma, e se possível melhorar a vida da classe média e moralizar o país. O PT entra mais no campo das idéias, especialmente seus defensores, que criticam a excessiva privatização, a falta de investimento na educação etc. O páreo é duro quando se entra em algumas áreas em que o PT nunca foi assim forte, como das políticas de saúde pública. Todos os políticos se renderam ao discurso moralista de serem contra o aborto, por exemplo, quando todo mundo sabe que se o pratica na casa de todos, mas com risco somente para os pobres, que o fazem na cozinha. O PT vendeu a alma para ganhar a eleição. Talvez seja melhor assim. Melhor do que o contrário: fingir ser social-democrata e entregar o país pros bancos depois.
- Ixe, acabei de receber mais um email sobre as eleições. E eu que nem posso votar aqui! Vou lá ver os argumentos...
- 25 de Setembro, casamento do Anand e da Iara. Meu primeiro filho que se vai oficialmente. Dançamos até! Marina ainda campeã de organizar as melhores festas! Beijo grande Marina e Fernando!
- os franceses contra a mudança da legislação, que estabelece a idade mínima para a aposentadoria (reforma, em Moçambique) em 62 anos (hoje 60), e da idade para receber uma pensão completa em 67 anos (hoje 65). O presidente (aqui chamado de Monsieur Sako) força a situação. Os sindicatos e grupos da população forçam um retrocesso. Até agora o Governo ganha, com a lei praticamente aprovada. Por outro lado, refinarias estão bloqueadas há algum tempo, e o povo não tem combustível. O ar deve estar bem mais limpo nos últimos dias. Nosso carro está parado há uma semana. Ontem 25 km de bicicleta. Na saúde, efeitos colaterais positivos e inesperados da mudança da lei da segurança social. Quarta-Feira é aprovação final. Vamos ver.
- já nos vamos deslocar de novo, e o próximo post deve ser da África do Sul.
- O projecto POEMA encerrou uma de suas fases mais difíceis: conseguimos completar a elaboração dos módulos, que contêm não só conhecimentos de muitas pessoas sobre muitas partes dos processos de Gestão do Estado Moçambicano, como conseguimos colocar no papel metodologias de capacitação inovadoras. Hurray! Feliz e orgulhosa da equipa!
- O frio chegou aqui com o Outono europeu. Hoje chuvinha e céu cinza. Ontem inauguração da reabilitação da Fonte dos Anjos, uma fonte do século XVII aqui pertinho de casa, que voltou a funcionar, e com água potável! Inauguração à Francesa, com vinhos e petiscos. Primeira vez que vimos o prefeito. Monsieur le Maire. Lembro de Bonn, uma beleza vermelha do Outono!
- E as eleições brasileiras estão à porta. Recebo todos os dias montes de emails pró-Serra e pró-Dilma. Devo confessar que os emails pró-Serra são mais chatinhos, porque são em geral contra-Dilma e não apresentam nenhuma proposta que não seja essencialmente ficar na mesma, e se possível melhorar a vida da classe média e moralizar o país. O PT entra mais no campo das idéias, especialmente seus defensores, que criticam a excessiva privatização, a falta de investimento na educação etc. O páreo é duro quando se entra em algumas áreas em que o PT nunca foi assim forte, como das políticas de saúde pública. Todos os políticos se renderam ao discurso moralista de serem contra o aborto, por exemplo, quando todo mundo sabe que se o pratica na casa de todos, mas com risco somente para os pobres, que o fazem na cozinha. O PT vendeu a alma para ganhar a eleição. Talvez seja melhor assim. Melhor do que o contrário: fingir ser social-democrata e entregar o país pros bancos depois.
- Ixe, acabei de receber mais um email sobre as eleições. E eu que nem posso votar aqui! Vou lá ver os argumentos...
Sunday, 12 September 2010
And September 12 as well, of course
We need another version for my friends who speak English. Arundhati Roy speaks for me.
11 de Setembro, claro
O Antonio Ozaí da Silva postou um video hoje que eu quero mandar pra vocês também.
É preciso MUITA reflexão antes de ter qualquer opinião na vida, não é?
O Ramandan terminando no 11 de Setembro, o Eid al Fitr "tuned down" nos EUA para evitar o confronto, e respeitar os mortos de NY, o presidente Obama admoestando o pastor maluco de que não é hora de brincar ("to play games") com a escalação da violência. Gente pronta a queimar a bíblia, o alcorão, a queimar livros, a queimar gente.
Gente disposta a julgar, acusar, artigo de gente inteligente dzendo que "a grama que a 'Dilma' pisar não crescerá jamais"... Cada coisa!
Que "homo sapiens" é esse?
É preciso MUITA reflexão antes de ter qualquer opinião na vida, não é?
O Ramandan terminando no 11 de Setembro, o Eid al Fitr "tuned down" nos EUA para evitar o confronto, e respeitar os mortos de NY, o presidente Obama admoestando o pastor maluco de que não é hora de brincar ("to play games") com a escalação da violência. Gente pronta a queimar a bíblia, o alcorão, a queimar livros, a queimar gente.
Gente disposta a julgar, acusar, artigo de gente inteligente dzendo que "a grama que a 'Dilma' pisar não crescerá jamais"... Cada coisa!
Que "homo sapiens" é esse?
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
et encore une fois!
A month later, actually more. The news, the same. Working and working. The big things of this project are coming to an end. The end of a phase. Gratifying.
Never more than 2 weeks in a place. Moving from one continent to another so often is taking its toll. I look older, sure. Looking forward to some holidays.
in other news...
Summer in France is quite mild, pleasant. Although I do nothing more than sitting in front of my computer when I'm here, I have the view. And what a view. Biking a bit from time to time, tomorrow for instance: the bike has to go to the workshop to have the gearbox regulated. Reglé. Two days ago, we had HUGE fireworks here, but we are still wondering why... Ah, and a championship of pétanque.
My favorite news of the week is that there is a movement in France for the devolution of the money that Haiti had to pay to France when it became independent. It's a lot of money. Imagine, to become independent, you pay a huge fine, and start your life in deep debt. Typical. I would support this if I were you.
See:
"The open letter to the French president says the debt, now worth more than €17bn (£14bn), would cover the rebuilding of the country after a devastating earthquake that killed more than 250,000 people seven months ago."
Ah, if I start like this...
I like as well:
"through the UN [and your tax payer money], rich countries are about to fund 20 new coal-fired power plants in China and India [and South Africa] — and if the applications are approved, the UN's Clean Development Mechanism will become one of the largest funders of new coal power plants."
Isn't it great?? Check the data here.
Hope you are all fine. Cheers.
Never more than 2 weeks in a place. Moving from one continent to another so often is taking its toll. I look older, sure. Looking forward to some holidays.
in other news...
Summer in France is quite mild, pleasant. Although I do nothing more than sitting in front of my computer when I'm here, I have the view. And what a view. Biking a bit from time to time, tomorrow for instance: the bike has to go to the workshop to have the gearbox regulated. Reglé. Two days ago, we had HUGE fireworks here, but we are still wondering why... Ah, and a championship of pétanque.
My favorite news of the week is that there is a movement in France for the devolution of the money that Haiti had to pay to France when it became independent. It's a lot of money. Imagine, to become independent, you pay a huge fine, and start your life in deep debt. Typical. I would support this if I were you.
See:
"The open letter to the French president says the debt, now worth more than €17bn (£14bn), would cover the rebuilding of the country after a devastating earthquake that killed more than 250,000 people seven months ago."
Ah, if I start like this...
I like as well:
"through the UN [and your tax payer money], rich countries are about to fund 20 new coal-fired power plants in China and India [and South Africa] — and if the applications are approved, the UN's Clean Development Mechanism will become one of the largest funders of new coal power plants."
Isn't it great?? Check the data here.
Hope you are all fine. Cheers.
Friday, 9 July 2010
and again...
It's France and it's hot. After the cold in South Africa, fortunately balanced by the warmth of the people, we're back in Europe. And it's summer!
And I do what? work, work, work, work...
I'm still thinking whether I should start a movement of boycotting FIFA and the World Cup, but wondering if I'll have any success. I must meditate on this. To start, read here a little account on FIFA's accountability and transparency.
And I do what? work, work, work, work...
I'm still thinking whether I should start a movement of boycotting FIFA and the World Cup, but wondering if I'll have any success. I must meditate on this. To start, read here a little account on FIFA's accountability and transparency.
Friday, 25 June 2010
not here...
Sorry guys. I work and work and work, and have no computer energy left to come and write here. I came just to change my "favorite spot of the week", although Caetano is quite cute and charming!
Thursday, 10 June 2010
É amanhã!
Hoje fui ao consulado do Brasil em Cape Town pedir mais um passaporte. Meus passaportes têm uma vida útil MUITO baixa, por causa do meu trabalho em Moçambique. Cada entrada em Moçambique come 2 páginas do passaporte. Este durou um ano e 3 meses, mas foi bom porque a foto minha no passaporte foi tirada às 5 da manhã numa dessas cabines de fotos automáticas, no caminho para ir esquiar em Chamonix! Eu estou toda de preto, de casaco e de cara de cama, eu heim! Isso porque quando eu vi que a cabine podia fazer fotos 5x7 cm eu aproveitei, porque poucos fotógrafos fazem este formato exigido pelo passaporte brasileiro.
Mas agora parece que o Brasil entrou no mundo informatizado também em suas representações no exterior: é tudo centralizado no Brasil, etc etc. Nem sei que cara vai ter o passaporte, mas com certeza vai ter o mesmo número ridículo de folhas! E agora o bicho custa 120 dólares!
Lá no centro da cidade tem um pouco mais da atmosfera de Copa do Mundo. O Peter resolveu comprar várias bandeiras para representar os nossos muitos países: Alemanha, França, África do Sul, Brasil. Pelo menos. Não compramos nem de Moçambique nem da Tanzania, mesmo porque a China esqueceu de fazer bandeiras destes países. A China? SIM, tudo tudo da Copa foi feito na China, excetuando os makarapa, uma invenção local. O resto é tudo chinês!
De volta ao assunto, compramos as bandeiras por muitos e ridículos rands (eu me recusei, mas o Peter não me deixou estragar a festa!). Agora podemos torcer de forma mais nacionalista ou, no nosso caso, internacionalista.
Falta uma TV em casa, temos uma velhinha bem pequenininha. Vai ser difícil ver onde anda a bola...
A Hilda me escreveu lá da Moldova (acho que em Português é Moldávia)e me disse que ela está tendo the time of her life down there! Beijos e beijos procê!
I must go and work.
Mas agora parece que o Brasil entrou no mundo informatizado também em suas representações no exterior: é tudo centralizado no Brasil, etc etc. Nem sei que cara vai ter o passaporte, mas com certeza vai ter o mesmo número ridículo de folhas! E agora o bicho custa 120 dólares!
Lá no centro da cidade tem um pouco mais da atmosfera de Copa do Mundo. O Peter resolveu comprar várias bandeiras para representar os nossos muitos países: Alemanha, França, África do Sul, Brasil. Pelo menos. Não compramos nem de Moçambique nem da Tanzania, mesmo porque a China esqueceu de fazer bandeiras destes países. A China? SIM, tudo tudo da Copa foi feito na China, excetuando os makarapa, uma invenção local. O resto é tudo chinês!
De volta ao assunto, compramos as bandeiras por muitos e ridículos rands (eu me recusei, mas o Peter não me deixou estragar a festa!). Agora podemos torcer de forma mais nacionalista ou, no nosso caso, internacionalista.
Falta uma TV em casa, temos uma velhinha bem pequenininha. Vai ser difícil ver onde anda a bola...
A Hilda me escreveu lá da Moldova (acho que em Português é Moldávia)e me disse que ela está tendo the time of her life down there! Beijos e beijos procê!
I must go and work.
Monday, 7 June 2010
Tanzania x Brazil
We watched the match. Brazilians were playing like they were very very tired, although they were a bit more effusive in the second half. They even did not celebrate when they scored the second goal (I missed the first, it was raining cats and dogs here today... we got there late...). Only the 4th and 5th goals were celebrated, but I'm afraid they were celebrating the match coming to a close as I heard that they would go straight from the stadium to the airport, to their special chartered plane...
It all ended up at 5 x 1 with the Tanzania team (led by another Brazilian, Marcio Máximo, whom I met once in the airplane, off course he flying business class and I the cattle class. But he was friendly, as Brazilians are ;-) very happy to have scored at least one goal!!!
It still rains cats and dogs...
It all ended up at 5 x 1 with the Tanzania team (led by another Brazilian, Marcio Máximo, whom I met once in the airplane, off course he flying business class and I the cattle class. But he was friendly, as Brazilians are ;-) very happy to have scored at least one goal!!!
It still rains cats and dogs...
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Cape Town and the Football World Cup 2010
Here we are, part of the "twenty ten", as the South Africans call this "mega-event", an adjective they do enjoy a lot. People like "mega" things here. Have you ever heard the sound of a vuvuzela (Wikipedia calls it a "stadium horn"!), the "mega" trumpet-like noise-maker secret weapon of mass distraction used by South Africans to destroy opponents by irritating them to the extreme? Ixe, I'm a bore saying this. I guess I'm getting too old to enjoy so many decibels!
OK, we're here. But Cape Town is not South Africa and some friends have already called it "the last refuge of whites in South Africa", which is sort of true, although a tough thing to admit. Demographically speaking, the Western Cape Province is the whitest of the South African Provinces, with most of its population being "coloured". 54% of people describes themselves as Coloured, 27% as Black, 18% as White, and 1% as Indian or Asian (2001 Census). The province is the only one led politically by the opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, which is led by a white (although extremely good in dancing the African dances) woman, Helen Zille.
Having said that, I must tell you: when one talks about "World Cup" here one means nothing else but RUGBY! Yes, rugby is the sport in the hearts of the people, and they're crazy about it. I've seen finals, and it's indeed impressive! I do not know much about rugby, but after watching "Invictus", the film (sort of) about Nelson Mandela, I got to understand it a bit. This is because the film tells the story (Clint Eastwood tells the story) of Mandela's release from prison, his taking power, the whites' fear of retaliation by the blacks and his using the South African rugby team during a World Cup to "unite" the country. Cute. Mandela is always great, even when played by an American.
Using sports to "unite" people and creating a national identity is an old political card, and it works well enough to get repeated often times (oh... Brazilian Lula's also great on that, as "he" got Brazilians the Olympics AND the Soccer World Cup for the next runs!). I remember my first Football World Cup. 1970. The hight of the military dictatorship in Brazil. People disappearing in prisons. I was a cute little innocent girl. It was the first time ever that we'd have colour TV broadcasting. ("Men" had just landed on the Moon the year before, remember?) Brazilian generals needed a victory. The Brazilian football team got it: three times world champions! Pele's team! etc etc
There was a slogan: Brazil, love it or leave it! wow! That was democracy. I actually heard it here today on the news too. The chairperson of the so called opposition party COPE (the Congress of the People!) said that they are a very democratic party: one must love it or one can leave it! Just right!
Anyway. I'm diverting here.
I wanted to tell you that in Cape Town there is not so much of that football atmosphere as there is in Johannesburg. There will be only 8 matches here, and people are quite cool about it all. Maybe this is because they read newspapers. The construction of 10 Stadiums in the country was supposed to cost usd 200 million but ended up costing usd 2 billion, just 10 times what Government told the people they would cost when South Africa bid to host the tournament in 2004 (source: The Sunday Times of today). It seems that tourism is expected to bring about usd 1 billion to the economy, and one can only guess where this 1 billion is ending up.
Well, but I'm spoiling the fun!!!! Hurray! Viva Bafana-Bafana! Talking about the guys (Bafana-Bafana is the national team), you know that their coach is the Brazilian Carlos A. Parreira, who makes some millions (of rands) every month to make an impact? He actually is making an impact in the last weeks, as Bafana-Bafana has been winning on a string of 11 matches. They open the Cup on the 11th of June, playing against Mexico (as everyone probably knows!).
Ah! And more about soccer! Tomorrow "Brazil" will play "Tanzania" in Dar es Salaam, in the Stadium called President Benjamim Mkapa (the former president before the incumbent, Kikwete). I read that the Tanzanian Government had to foot a bill of usd 2.5 million (I'll never get used to so many "millions" being spoken so easily!) as an incentive to the Brazilians to come... And tickets of course are only for the elite: prices between 20 and 120 usd each. Nice Brazilians. The guys mean business!!!!
Meanwhile, in other news, President Zuma continues projecting the image of a very open South Africa, creating a lot of food for the red press: it seems that his second wife is pregnant of his body-guard, who allegedly killed himself. This second first lady was the one accompanying him to his last week's visit to India. She's also said to have paid him a goat last week as compensation for her bad behaviour when he announced that he's gonna get married to his fifth wife soon - see below... And I thought I would have a good time with South Africa, Brazil and India playing a strong body of emergent countries to lead the world into a new era of social justice, when they formed IBSA some years ago!
Ah, guys, I have the newspaper in my hands, and I must tell you, as it's really juice! The prez Zuma is said to have already paid lobolo (the dowry, for non-African experts) to his fifth wife to be, the one mentioned above. Mama Gloria Ngema, with whom he has already a son!
OK, I'll stop now with this Zuma thing, as it's too easy news.
More of other news? Guess what? I work and work and work but got motivated to come here and write because Nina sent me a quick nice message telling me that she read my posts and liked them, saying that I should write more. So, Nina, here's South Africa to you!
OK, we're here. But Cape Town is not South Africa and some friends have already called it "the last refuge of whites in South Africa", which is sort of true, although a tough thing to admit. Demographically speaking, the Western Cape Province is the whitest of the South African Provinces, with most of its population being "coloured". 54% of people describes themselves as Coloured, 27% as Black, 18% as White, and 1% as Indian or Asian (2001 Census). The province is the only one led politically by the opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, which is led by a white (although extremely good in dancing the African dances) woman, Helen Zille.
Having said that, I must tell you: when one talks about "World Cup" here one means nothing else but RUGBY! Yes, rugby is the sport in the hearts of the people, and they're crazy about it. I've seen finals, and it's indeed impressive! I do not know much about rugby, but after watching "Invictus", the film (sort of) about Nelson Mandela, I got to understand it a bit. This is because the film tells the story (Clint Eastwood tells the story) of Mandela's release from prison, his taking power, the whites' fear of retaliation by the blacks and his using the South African rugby team during a World Cup to "unite" the country. Cute. Mandela is always great, even when played by an American.
Using sports to "unite" people and creating a national identity is an old political card, and it works well enough to get repeated often times (oh... Brazilian Lula's also great on that, as "he" got Brazilians the Olympics AND the Soccer World Cup for the next runs!). I remember my first Football World Cup. 1970. The hight of the military dictatorship in Brazil. People disappearing in prisons. I was a cute little innocent girl. It was the first time ever that we'd have colour TV broadcasting. ("Men" had just landed on the Moon the year before, remember?) Brazilian generals needed a victory. The Brazilian football team got it: three times world champions! Pele's team! etc etc
There was a slogan: Brazil, love it or leave it! wow! That was democracy. I actually heard it here today on the news too. The chairperson of the so called opposition party COPE (the Congress of the People!) said that they are a very democratic party: one must love it or one can leave it! Just right!
Anyway. I'm diverting here.
I wanted to tell you that in Cape Town there is not so much of that football atmosphere as there is in Johannesburg. There will be only 8 matches here, and people are quite cool about it all. Maybe this is because they read newspapers. The construction of 10 Stadiums in the country was supposed to cost usd 200 million but ended up costing usd 2 billion, just 10 times what Government told the people they would cost when South Africa bid to host the tournament in 2004 (source: The Sunday Times of today). It seems that tourism is expected to bring about usd 1 billion to the economy, and one can only guess where this 1 billion is ending up.
Well, but I'm spoiling the fun!!!! Hurray! Viva Bafana-Bafana! Talking about the guys (Bafana-Bafana is the national team), you know that their coach is the Brazilian Carlos A. Parreira, who makes some millions (of rands) every month to make an impact? He actually is making an impact in the last weeks, as Bafana-Bafana has been winning on a string of 11 matches. They open the Cup on the 11th of June, playing against Mexico (as everyone probably knows!).
Ah! And more about soccer! Tomorrow "Brazil" will play "Tanzania" in Dar es Salaam, in the Stadium called President Benjamim Mkapa (the former president before the incumbent, Kikwete). I read that the Tanzanian Government had to foot a bill of usd 2.5 million (I'll never get used to so many "millions" being spoken so easily!) as an incentive to the Brazilians to come... And tickets of course are only for the elite: prices between 20 and 120 usd each. Nice Brazilians. The guys mean business!!!!
Meanwhile, in other news, President Zuma continues projecting the image of a very open South Africa, creating a lot of food for the red press: it seems that his second wife is pregnant of his body-guard, who allegedly killed himself. This second first lady was the one accompanying him to his last week's visit to India. She's also said to have paid him a goat last week as compensation for her bad behaviour when he announced that he's gonna get married to his fifth wife soon - see below... And I thought I would have a good time with South Africa, Brazil and India playing a strong body of emergent countries to lead the world into a new era of social justice, when they formed IBSA some years ago!
Ah, guys, I have the newspaper in my hands, and I must tell you, as it's really juice! The prez Zuma is said to have already paid lobolo (the dowry, for non-African experts) to his fifth wife to be, the one mentioned above. Mama Gloria Ngema, with whom he has already a son!
OK, I'll stop now with this Zuma thing, as it's too easy news.
More of other news? Guess what? I work and work and work but got motivated to come here and write because Nina sent me a quick nice message telling me that she read my posts and liked them, saying that I should write more. So, Nina, here's South Africa to you!
Monday, 31 May 2010
ai ai ai
Meus leitores estão me abandonando já que eu não escrevo mais aqui... Que vida maluquinha essa de não ter tempo de contar histórias!
Depois de montar a casa na França, com todas as pinturas (só a garagem ainda precisa de tabalho...) nos preparamos para mais uma viagem. Antes de sair, fomos fazer o passeio inaugural de bicicleta, e foi tão bom que eu acho que dessa vez vai pegar, como nos tempos da Alemanha, quando andar de bicicleta era básico, primário, normal, rotina.
Minha amiga Rita me conecta com as fotos do passeio dela de bike, por muitos e muitos quilômetros, e num bando alegre. Essa minha amiga, sempre me surpreendendo com sua energia. Ela diz que eu não posso só pensar em trabalho. Bom, não é que eu "pense" em trabalho, eu trabalho o trabalho, por assim dizer. Isso porque eu me comprometi com um projeto GRANDE e não tenho como fugir... As pausas têm que ser curtas pro tempo funcionar e eu poder ir relaxada pro casório do Anand (imagine se eu tenho que trazer trabalho pro Brasil!).
Esse fim de semana foi de curtir minha amiga Claudia e participar da Virada Cultural em Bonn, um evento atrás do outro e a gente correndo de um lugar pro outro. Conseguimos nos manter até as 3 da manhã, num show de ska, mas eu já tava morta, porque já tínhamos festado no dia anterior! Ufa!
Agora no aerporto, em trânsito. Mais um.
A Copa do Mundo (claro, de futebol, mas se fosse falar só assim "copa do mundo" na África do Sul, eles pensariam sempre em rúgbi!) começa em 10 dias, temos que procurar os public viewing lá em Cape Town.
É frio aqui, uma peninha, porque na França já estava o maior verão.
Faz tempo que não falo com minhas amigas. Kate, I haven't talked to you for a while!!! I phoned Annette though, and the good news that a baby is coming made my day!
Claudia faz anos hoje, parabéns pra você!
Meu preto chegou!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tchauzinho....
Depois de montar a casa na França, com todas as pinturas (só a garagem ainda precisa de tabalho...) nos preparamos para mais uma viagem. Antes de sair, fomos fazer o passeio inaugural de bicicleta, e foi tão bom que eu acho que dessa vez vai pegar, como nos tempos da Alemanha, quando andar de bicicleta era básico, primário, normal, rotina.
Minha amiga Rita me conecta com as fotos do passeio dela de bike, por muitos e muitos quilômetros, e num bando alegre. Essa minha amiga, sempre me surpreendendo com sua energia. Ela diz que eu não posso só pensar em trabalho. Bom, não é que eu "pense" em trabalho, eu trabalho o trabalho, por assim dizer. Isso porque eu me comprometi com um projeto GRANDE e não tenho como fugir... As pausas têm que ser curtas pro tempo funcionar e eu poder ir relaxada pro casório do Anand (imagine se eu tenho que trazer trabalho pro Brasil!).
Esse fim de semana foi de curtir minha amiga Claudia e participar da Virada Cultural em Bonn, um evento atrás do outro e a gente correndo de um lugar pro outro. Conseguimos nos manter até as 3 da manhã, num show de ska, mas eu já tava morta, porque já tínhamos festado no dia anterior! Ufa!
Agora no aerporto, em trânsito. Mais um.
A Copa do Mundo (claro, de futebol, mas se fosse falar só assim "copa do mundo" na África do Sul, eles pensariam sempre em rúgbi!) começa em 10 dias, temos que procurar os public viewing lá em Cape Town.
É frio aqui, uma peninha, porque na França já estava o maior verão.
Faz tempo que não falo com minhas amigas. Kate, I haven't talked to you for a while!!! I phoned Annette though, and the good news that a baby is coming made my day!
Claudia faz anos hoje, parabéns pra você!
Meu preto chegou!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tchauzinho....
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