Sunday 06/07/08
at 5.40
Day 1
After a 11 hrs flight from Paris I had a soft landing in Sao Paulo, my home for the time coming.
"Soft" was the landing as far as it goes for the plane. I myself had quite a re-integration 'awakening' :). The 6 months in Estonia had left its marks and the contrasts stroke more vividly than about 2 years ago when I first came to Brazil.
It was still dark in the morning (at 6 am), when I arrived since it's a winter time in Brazil. Though, it ain't during summer neither that the paulistanos can enjoy the 19 hrs daylight that the nordics can enjoy.
The air smells sweet of pollution (never knew that CO2 smells sweet!!!), there's a chaos in traffic (I'm still not able to block out that noise, since it's sooo vivid, it's like as if I was in the boiling pot), and from my 24th floor window I can see kilometers of stone and glass - the skyscrapers!!
It is such a contrast to my home or even to Holland where I had a 2 day stop over before changing the continents.
All in all, day one was a bit shocking - part of it because home had got deeper and stronger under my skin within these last 6 months of waiting for the visa, and secondly, for the contrasts really being huge.
Only relief was seeing some Brazilian friends at night for a beer - Marcio, Monika, Dea, Guga, and Zoe, of course - helped a lot to ease the re-integration hurdles.
Day 2
It's a night of the day 2, and I'm content. The weird sort of shivering anxiety that I had yesterday due to the initial "shock" is almost gone. Or I have found a way to handle it. It has turned into a positive movement in me...
I spent a whole day in the company I'm going to work - and got assurance regarding the decision to stay in Brazil.
Also met up with Pioneers of Change at night - many special people I had not met for a while, and good, deep conversations. Good energy that I would need more time to write about...
Now off to sleep...my new start in Brazil will require a total lifestyle makeover :) - I'm a night person, but need to somehow turn into a morning person (that's basically cos my work starts at 8 and it'll take an hour at least to get to work...so you can only imagine :).
Boa noite queridos!!
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Ask a Brazilian!
I realized the other day that I hadn't written much about the life in Brazil in general. So having that in mind, here's a quicky - www.gringoes.com (gringo = foreigner in Brazil) to learn more about Brazil.
There's a special section - Ask a Brazilian - which has Brazilians answering the questions foreigners have had about Brazil, Brazilians, cultural differences (dating for ex) etc.
There's a special section - Ask a Brazilian - which has Brazilians answering the questions foreigners have had about Brazil, Brazilians, cultural differences (dating for ex) etc.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Continuing along the lines ...
... of my last posting - the midsummer's day was "mõnus" (translates something like "great", but with a special flavour to it)! A bunch of us, old friends, were road-tripping around the South of Estonia for the long weekend. Started out on Saturday afternoon at Peep's summer cottage in the middle of the forest in Valgemetsa with some BBQ and drinks, good company and talks that lasted until 4 am. (Ohh I had been waiting for years (!!!) to meet up with you, Sarah and Peep!!)
Woken up by the ring of my cell phone by Elina after a few hours sleep in the tent (or in the cottage for some), we had a quick brunch (more BBQ :)) and off we took. Our intention to (re-)discover some local events/people took us to Vastseliina for a country fair, then to Suur Munamägi (the highest point in Estonia, which indeed ain't too high afterall - mere 318 m it is).
We landed in Triin's place in Elva for the night. Wonderful!! Home cooked meal, lovely dinner in the garden catching the last rays of the setting sun, beautiful, relaxing atmosphere, and of course SAUNA! Ahh I guess no foreigner (unless Finnish or so :) can imagine the feeling of walking on the night-wet grass after a hot sauna, sipping beer and then, when a bit chilled already, head back to the sauna... mmmm...
Oh and, of course, more BBQ that night!
Then another late 'n' relaxing morning, some good moments at Triin's home and off we took for a 1 hour trip to Antsla to Uku's place to spend the actual Midsummer's Day there. The trip later ended up being a 2 hour-discover-estonia journey, but was fun, and luckily we caught all the rain while on the way. The late sun came out right when we got to Uku's.
I know I'm going to repeat myself here a bit, but :P ... the night was adorable - great people, lovely landscapes and country house atmosphere (huh I wish I had photos of the trip with me right now!!), more BBQ (Uku's parents grilled some lamb for the crowd that night!), more sauna, more fun and great memories.
ps. I think I had more meat in the last 4 days than in the last 4 months altogether!
pps. To know a bit more about Jaanipäev or the Midsummer's day, click here or search internet. For the curious, we didn't exactly follow all the Midsummer's day traditions - like jumping over the bonfire, for example.
ppps. (that's the last one) Once again I was reminded that Estonia, my home country, has got its wonders and my friends are simply 5+.
Woken up by the ring of my cell phone by Elina after a few hours sleep in the tent (or in the cottage for some), we had a quick brunch (more BBQ :)) and off we took. Our intention to (re-)discover some local events/people took us to Vastseliina for a country fair, then to Suur Munamägi (the highest point in Estonia, which indeed ain't too high afterall - mere 318 m it is).
We landed in Triin's place in Elva for the night. Wonderful!! Home cooked meal, lovely dinner in the garden catching the last rays of the setting sun, beautiful, relaxing atmosphere, and of course SAUNA! Ahh I guess no foreigner (unless Finnish or so :) can imagine the feeling of walking on the night-wet grass after a hot sauna, sipping beer and then, when a bit chilled already, head back to the sauna... mmmm...
Oh and, of course, more BBQ that night!
Then another late 'n' relaxing morning, some good moments at Triin's home and off we took for a 1 hour trip to Antsla to Uku's place to spend the actual Midsummer's Day there. The trip later ended up being a 2 hour-discover-estonia journey, but was fun, and luckily we caught all the rain while on the way. The late sun came out right when we got to Uku's.
I know I'm going to repeat myself here a bit, but :P ... the night was adorable - great people, lovely landscapes and country house atmosphere (huh I wish I had photos of the trip with me right now!!), more BBQ (Uku's parents grilled some lamb for the crowd that night!), more sauna, more fun and great memories.
ps. I think I had more meat in the last 4 days than in the last 4 months altogether!
pps. To know a bit more about Jaanipäev or the Midsummer's day, click here or search internet. For the curious, we didn't exactly follow all the Midsummer's day traditions - like jumping over the bonfire, for example.
ppps. (that's the last one) Once again I was reminded that Estonia, my home country, has got its wonders and my friends are simply 5+.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
My life in Brazil, vol 2 - OUT SOON!
Yeap, my Brazilian work visa was approved (after 5 months waiting, and, of course, enjoying Estonia, my dear home, family and friends meanwhile:).
That means my life in Brazil, vol 2. will be out soon :). More about it shortly!
BEIJOS!!!
That means my life in Brazil, vol 2. will be out soon :). More about it shortly!
BEIJOS!!!
Monday, September 17, 2007
The update
This one will be shortly to cover what I've been up to in the last month or so! Just figured if I don't write it now, it might take a while when I get to it again!
So firstly, I'm still in Brazil, and will still stay a bit ;), which is exciting news from my personal point of view since I totally love what I'm doing!
- Therefore, one of the key things this last month, I guess, was going to Uruguay in the end of July/beginning of August to apply for a new visa. I got an offer from the company to stay until January, so just one thing missing was the visa.
Huh, crazy stuff! You might already imagine (especially if you are from any 'exotic' country like India, Ghana etc), but the visa process really is a pain! For the type of visa that I have (trainee visa) it's a bit easier, but still. In the end, persistance and a lucky star (Felipe!!! who mentioned me the Uruguay-option) proved to work out well and I returned from Uruguay with a new visa!
- And since I was already in Uruguay, I stopped in Buenos Aires for a weekend! Magnificient! You have to go there!!!
- After coming back to work, everything got kinda a new start, except for me on an whole new level. I can actually feel myself more or less equal with others and comfortable with working in Portuguese, which is a conquest, really!! And comfortable with working in an organization that has in just our building 4000 people (it took me a while...I honestly was rather lost in the beginning).
Have got a few new projects started, and it's really really exciting. Some days staying in the office 12 hrs, but mmm...it's great stuff! Check out some of our sustainability action in the latest report. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!
- Outside of work, I've got involved with the Pioneers of Change network, and should you be interested in going through a great learning experience on sustainability and visit Brazil, keep in mind the dates of 1st - 8th of December this year, when the Global Journey of PoC will take place.
- Oh and another great great experience has been building the Hub with Pablo and Henrique and many more people involved. It's pretty much the first stage of action right now and we are literally building it ourselves... or should is say de-building :))
Right now it's the destruction phase of 500 sqm space, which then will procede to a design and actual construction (by proffessionals :)) phase. We've been out there quite a few weekends alreay. The work is about clearing the space, breaking walls, tearing down ceilings and taking all the trash out - um tabalho bem pesado!! But it's really fun!! I want to write more about it!
- After Uruguay/Argentina I moved to live with Zoe! It's been great, not only as I get faster to work and have a nice view from the balcony :)), but mostly and more importantly because the similar experience we share here in Brazil and the opportunities we have to learn from each other. The discussions we have had so far, have already helped me personally a lot. So I'm really satisfied and excited! And at the same time I would like to say thanks for Pir, my previous house mate, the year together was great! I still get a few good smiles thinking back to that time :))
- Related to moving and the fact that our building has a gym (and a pool!) downstairs, I'm trying to go to the gym more regularly, at least twice a week is the goal. I was guite good on this for about 6 months, until in May my old gym pass expired, so I kinda stopped, but there I go again ;).
Actually, this week I went just once, but I think the 2 days working in the Hub will do for gym this week!
- Some travels (other than the Uruguay trip) have been exciting snapshots out of the daily things. Last weekend we went to Belo Horizonte (8 hrs by bus!) to visit some AIESEC friends there. Was really really nice...heheh especially the Zeze and Luciano show in Pará de Minas!
And next weekend I´ll be travelling to Curitiba to chair a local AIESEC conference there, thus things to look forward to!
- Oh and I went to see an astrologist. A friend recommended. And it fact it was really interesting experience, I never really ... hmm.. how to say, trusted these kind of things, but I was surprised to recognize how many things actually made a good sense to me.
I came out more secure about a few things and more clear about others, so yeah I think it was a good and interesting experience. Not sure I'd necessarily go again...One thing I realized that if I trust myself and take these necessary moments to put things in the right perspective, then I make pretty "right" decisions (if such thing as right or wrong exists at all, in this sense).
I think, that's all for now. I still have many things in mind to write about, but I hope to keep posting these as I go along.
I'm happy and content regarding the way things are going and have gone so far. Come to think about it, I meant now more of the professional things, work, also friends. On the personal level, regarding relationships and all, it's been quite "interesting", quite some things happening for me personally, just not sure how that end turns out in some time. Let's see.
So firstly, I'm still in Brazil, and will still stay a bit ;), which is exciting news from my personal point of view since I totally love what I'm doing!
- Therefore, one of the key things this last month, I guess, was going to Uruguay in the end of July/beginning of August to apply for a new visa. I got an offer from the company to stay until January, so just one thing missing was the visa.
Huh, crazy stuff! You might already imagine (especially if you are from any 'exotic' country like India, Ghana etc), but the visa process really is a pain! For the type of visa that I have (trainee visa) it's a bit easier, but still. In the end, persistance and a lucky star (Felipe!!! who mentioned me the Uruguay-option) proved to work out well and I returned from Uruguay with a new visa!
- And since I was already in Uruguay, I stopped in Buenos Aires for a weekend! Magnificient! You have to go there!!!
- After coming back to work, everything got kinda a new start, except for me on an whole new level. I can actually feel myself more or less equal with others and comfortable with working in Portuguese, which is a conquest, really!! And comfortable with working in an organization that has in just our building 4000 people (it took me a while...I honestly was rather lost in the beginning).
Have got a few new projects started, and it's really really exciting. Some days staying in the office 12 hrs, but mmm...it's great stuff! Check out some of our sustainability action in the latest report. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!
- Outside of work, I've got involved with the Pioneers of Change network, and should you be interested in going through a great learning experience on sustainability and visit Brazil, keep in mind the dates of 1st - 8th of December this year, when the Global Journey of PoC will take place.
- Oh and another great great experience has been building the Hub with Pablo and Henrique and many more people involved. It's pretty much the first stage of action right now and we are literally building it ourselves... or should is say de-building :))
Right now it's the destruction phase of 500 sqm space, which then will procede to a design and actual construction (by proffessionals :)) phase. We've been out there quite a few weekends alreay. The work is about clearing the space, breaking walls, tearing down ceilings and taking all the trash out - um tabalho bem pesado!! But it's really fun!! I want to write more about it!
- After Uruguay/Argentina I moved to live with Zoe! It's been great, not only as I get faster to work and have a nice view from the balcony :)), but mostly and more importantly because the similar experience we share here in Brazil and the opportunities we have to learn from each other. The discussions we have had so far, have already helped me personally a lot. So I'm really satisfied and excited! And at the same time I would like to say thanks for Pir, my previous house mate, the year together was great! I still get a few good smiles thinking back to that time :))
- Related to moving and the fact that our building has a gym (and a pool!) downstairs, I'm trying to go to the gym more regularly, at least twice a week is the goal. I was guite good on this for about 6 months, until in May my old gym pass expired, so I kinda stopped, but there I go again ;).
Actually, this week I went just once, but I think the 2 days working in the Hub will do for gym this week!
- Some travels (other than the Uruguay trip) have been exciting snapshots out of the daily things. Last weekend we went to Belo Horizonte (8 hrs by bus!) to visit some AIESEC friends there. Was really really nice...heheh especially the Zeze and Luciano show in Pará de Minas!
And next weekend I´ll be travelling to Curitiba to chair a local AIESEC conference there, thus things to look forward to!
- Oh and I went to see an astrologist. A friend recommended. And it fact it was really interesting experience, I never really ... hmm.. how to say, trusted these kind of things, but I was surprised to recognize how many things actually made a good sense to me.
I came out more secure about a few things and more clear about others, so yeah I think it was a good and interesting experience. Not sure I'd necessarily go again...One thing I realized that if I trust myself and take these necessary moments to put things in the right perspective, then I make pretty "right" decisions (if such thing as right or wrong exists at all, in this sense).
I think, that's all for now. I still have many things in mind to write about, but I hope to keep posting these as I go along.
I'm happy and content regarding the way things are going and have gone so far. Come to think about it, I meant now more of the professional things, work, also friends. On the personal level, regarding relationships and all, it's been quite "interesting", quite some things happening for me personally, just not sure how that end turns out in some time. Let's see.
Friday, May 25, 2007
"It is like that because it has always been like that"
It was freezing outside today! +5 degrees...brhhh...I know it's nothing compared to the Estonian winters that sometimes reach up to minus (actually down to!) 30, yet it's soooo cold compared to the 30ies we have had here for the last 6 month or more. Nice and warm, which I've very much got used to already.
Not to mention, it's 25th of May!
It doesn't feel like 25th of May...funny...May always has this sentiment of blossoms, spring, warmth, growth, new beginnings etc.
And I'm here, it's May and it's cold; cold like September! It's really weird to experience how the time, the date, the month of the year doesn't feel like they have pretty much always felt like! And it's not as simple as that...you only need to think a bit more to realize how many associations are connected to this small fact.
For example,
I have a Brazilian friend who has a b-day in May. Earlier, when I found out, it brought the exact May-feeling to my mind! You know, of a spring child! And now it's May and it's cold. Twisted!
Sometimes, when writing a date etc, I really need to remind myself what date or time of the year it is, because the time seems kinda..."timeless"!
The same with Christmas and New Years. The last ones went missing actually. It just didn't seem like a Christmas nor New Years with 30 degrees outside laying on the beach. Being in the middle of all the decorations and stuff just felt like being on a stage that is set up for Christmas almost in the middle of summer.
This simple stuff brought me thinking (again) today, how many things could possibly be there that I take for granted, that I am sooo used to that I don't even notice to wonder about. Yeah, with weather it's simple - it feels cold in May and thus it is immediately different from "normal".
How about the mindsets, attitudes, stereotypes created by the daily experiences and situations where I never might not take another angle to look at it from.
I am glad though, I have so far had quite a few opportunities to look at things from other angles...living here in Brazil is just another one of these opportunities.
Sifaan (my Sri Lankan teammate with whom we worked together for 1 year in AIESEC), among many others, I have to thank you as well for different angles and perspectives. The title of this posting was inspired by you! I can even hear you saying that :))), stress on the word "always" :)))
Another bit from the past: bunch of us went for our first international conference in AIESEC, to Norway in 2000, Nordic Management Seminar it was. Great experience by all means. An inspiration I brought home was a sentence from one of the sessions, which said "Nothing is normal, everything is possible". I wrote it with black marker on an A4 paper and sticked it to my dormitory wall in Uni afterwards. Kept it there for a while...hmm...I wonder if I still have it packed somewhere....
Not to mention, it's 25th of May!
It doesn't feel like 25th of May...funny...May always has this sentiment of blossoms, spring, warmth, growth, new beginnings etc.
And I'm here, it's May and it's cold; cold like September! It's really weird to experience how the time, the date, the month of the year doesn't feel like they have pretty much always felt like! And it's not as simple as that...you only need to think a bit more to realize how many associations are connected to this small fact.
For example,
I have a Brazilian friend who has a b-day in May. Earlier, when I found out, it brought the exact May-feeling to my mind! You know, of a spring child! And now it's May and it's cold. Twisted!
Sometimes, when writing a date etc, I really need to remind myself what date or time of the year it is, because the time seems kinda..."timeless"!
The same with Christmas and New Years. The last ones went missing actually. It just didn't seem like a Christmas nor New Years with 30 degrees outside laying on the beach. Being in the middle of all the decorations and stuff just felt like being on a stage that is set up for Christmas almost in the middle of summer.
This simple stuff brought me thinking (again) today, how many things could possibly be there that I take for granted, that I am sooo used to that I don't even notice to wonder about. Yeah, with weather it's simple - it feels cold in May and thus it is immediately different from "normal".
How about the mindsets, attitudes, stereotypes created by the daily experiences and situations where I never might not take another angle to look at it from.
I am glad though, I have so far had quite a few opportunities to look at things from other angles...living here in Brazil is just another one of these opportunities.
Sifaan (my Sri Lankan teammate with whom we worked together for 1 year in AIESEC), among many others, I have to thank you as well for different angles and perspectives. The title of this posting was inspired by you! I can even hear you saying that :))), stress on the word "always" :)))
Another bit from the past: bunch of us went for our first international conference in AIESEC, to Norway in 2000, Nordic Management Seminar it was. Great experience by all means. An inspiration I brought home was a sentence from one of the sessions, which said "Nothing is normal, everything is possible". I wrote it with black marker on an A4 paper and sticked it to my dormitory wall in Uni afterwards. Kept it there for a while...hmm...I wonder if I still have it packed somewhere....
Monday, October 09, 2006
Family weekends
Meet my roommate Piret!! In fact there's 8 more of them: Filipe who works with Piret in the SSGN, and 7 members of the national team of AIESEC in Brazil. I shall introduce them to you later!
Wanted to share about nice weekends we are spending with Piret and the others here! The following was supposed to come out on my blog already 2 weeks ago, but never really got that far :), here it comes now!
Family weekend at home 23.-24.09.2006
Piret has now been back after almost a month in Europe, she participated in the International Congress in Poland as she’s working in AIESEC, she’s the Social Entrepreneurship Talent Development Coordinator in Spanish Speaking Growth Network (eheh sounds fancy eh!!). So now our family is complete :)
During the weekdays we don’t see that much, I leave home at around 8:30, and get back around 20.00..depending on the schedule and social program in the City :D, the work finishes officially at 18.00, but usually people stay a bit later, for example staying until 19.00 wouldn’t be unusual at all. Paulistas work hard!
Some things about our family life :) - after realizing that since the food here in Brasil is sooooo good (and thus „dangerous“ for anyone who tries to get ready for the beach season), we started our sports program :D, going running at least twice a week! We thought of taking it easy for the beginning.
There’s a park nearby our house, called Aclimacao where we go in the evenings. It’s open until 20.00, so we have to leave at least 19.15 to get there. Sometimes Gabiru from the MC joins us as well.
This weekend we had a „family weekend“ with Piret :). On Saturday we first went jogging, then did laundary and cleaned the house! We also wanted to go to churrasco at Alexandra’s, but since we got soaking wet in the rain, we turned back to the house, ordered pizza, watched TV in the upstairs TV room, and enjoyed a bottle of Argentinean wine Piret brought along from her trip....mmmm....was delicious!! (ooo I love red wine!)
Today we kept on the same spirit :D (I mean the family weekend not the wine), after jogging and swimming (Piret went swimming), we went to Ana Rosa to do shopping for our house: a frying pan, bed covers and sheets, floor cover for bathroom (a green fish...hehe you should see that one!), some tableware were some of the things we got...we came back like camels! and as we walked by a shoeshop, we both got a pair of black shoes for just 25 R each...hehe we really needed these ;))))
Family weekend in Curitiba 29.09 - 01.10.2006
That weekend we travelled to Curitiba, 6 hours away from Sao Paulo. Left on Friday nite and got back on Monday morning, went pretty much straight to work!
The afternoon with feijoada and wine, the eye museum and Japanese exhibition there, the tower (Torre do smth) for grasping a sight across the city in lights at night, bar with Brazilian music, visit to Maria's house, the fair on Sunday morning in the city center, visit to the movies... It was all soooooooooooooooo perfectly niiiccceeeee and relaxing weekend!!
Thanks Lizi for that!!!
Some pics here!
And another one, family weekend in Sao Paulo 7.-8.10.2006
On Saturday we went to Ashoka event: it was meant for young entrepreneurs, I think about 16 to 24 years old youth that want to contribute to the society. Ashoka usually works with older people, but that was the first event they had for the youth, more than 100 selected people attended. What was really really good was that there were people from different social backgrounds, even from favelas. It amazed me how socially aware the youth were!! They had all their own ideas what they wanted to do, what to change in the society, in the community around them: projects for people with special needs, educational projects on how improve the literacy rate, awareness of sustainable development in their community, how to market handicrafts made by the poorest in society, how to improve the use of recycled materials, and these are just a few examples!
Amazing, and really really inspiring!
Sunday, that is today, was a total sports day...heheh if we continue like that we can soon run a marathon :D
After getting up at 10 in the morning, me, Piret and Rod went pretty much straight to Ibirapuera, which is a huge park 45 minutes walking distance from our house. So we walked to the park, me and Piret went running and Rod played basketball. And we run for 1 hour non-stop!! whiew..I think I am beating my personal records soon. After that we were exercising and streching for another hour!! oooh it was very very relaxing and it felt amazing!
The park is packed with people running, walking, cycling, playing basketball or soccer, having picnic etc etc. It has perfect trails for running and walking - I think even the least interested person in physical excercises, would become a sports fan there (eventually at least :).
After 3 hours in the park, we headed back to our house - yeah another 45 minutes walk!! - actually it took more, since we walked "a bit" further to have dinner together.
Ohhh soooo perfect eh!!
Footnote: I look at myself from aside and it's amusing to see myself getting into the sports again. I've always loved sports, but after being one of the top atheletes in my high school I went to 1-excercise-a-month-if-I-have-time kinda person some time later, just didn't prioritize regular physical activity that much...mmm...now that I do it again, feels great!!
And doing it with Piret helps! If one feels lazy, the other kicks ass!
Wanted to share about nice weekends we are spending with Piret and the others here! The following was supposed to come out on my blog already 2 weeks ago, but never really got that far :), here it comes now!
Family weekend at home 23.-24.09.2006
Piret has now been back after almost a month in Europe, she participated in the International Congress in Poland as she’s working in AIESEC, she’s the Social Entrepreneurship Talent Development Coordinator in Spanish Speaking Growth Network (eheh sounds fancy eh!!). So now our family is complete :)
During the weekdays we don’t see that much, I leave home at around 8:30, and get back around 20.00..depending on the schedule and social program in the City :D, the work finishes officially at 18.00, but usually people stay a bit later, for example staying until 19.00 wouldn’t be unusual at all. Paulistas work hard!
Some things about our family life :) - after realizing that since the food here in Brasil is sooooo good (and thus „dangerous“ for anyone who tries to get ready for the beach season), we started our sports program :D, going running at least twice a week! We thought of taking it easy for the beginning.
There’s a park nearby our house, called Aclimacao where we go in the evenings. It’s open until 20.00, so we have to leave at least 19.15 to get there. Sometimes Gabiru from the MC joins us as well.
This weekend we had a „family weekend“ with Piret :). On Saturday we first went jogging, then did laundary and cleaned the house! We also wanted to go to churrasco at Alexandra’s, but since we got soaking wet in the rain, we turned back to the house, ordered pizza, watched TV in the upstairs TV room, and enjoyed a bottle of Argentinean wine Piret brought along from her trip....mmmm....was delicious!! (ooo I love red wine!)
Today we kept on the same spirit :D (I mean the family weekend not the wine), after jogging and swimming (Piret went swimming), we went to Ana Rosa to do shopping for our house: a frying pan, bed covers and sheets, floor cover for bathroom (a green fish...hehe you should see that one!), some tableware were some of the things we got...we came back like camels! and as we walked by a shoeshop, we both got a pair of black shoes for just 25 R each...hehe we really needed these ;))))
Family weekend in Curitiba 29.09 - 01.10.2006
That weekend we travelled to Curitiba, 6 hours away from Sao Paulo. Left on Friday nite and got back on Monday morning, went pretty much straight to work!
The afternoon with feijoada and wine, the eye museum and Japanese exhibition there, the tower (Torre do smth) for grasping a sight across the city in lights at night, bar with Brazilian music, visit to Maria's house, the fair on Sunday morning in the city center, visit to the movies... It was all soooooooooooooooo perfectly niiiccceeeee and relaxing weekend!!
Thanks Lizi for that!!!
Some pics here!
And another one, family weekend in Sao Paulo 7.-8.10.2006
On Saturday we went to Ashoka event: it was meant for young entrepreneurs, I think about 16 to 24 years old youth that want to contribute to the society. Ashoka usually works with older people, but that was the first event they had for the youth, more than 100 selected people attended. What was really really good was that there were people from different social backgrounds, even from favelas. It amazed me how socially aware the youth were!! They had all their own ideas what they wanted to do, what to change in the society, in the community around them: projects for people with special needs, educational projects on how improve the literacy rate, awareness of sustainable development in their community, how to market handicrafts made by the poorest in society, how to improve the use of recycled materials, and these are just a few examples!
Amazing, and really really inspiring!
Sunday, that is today, was a total sports day...heheh if we continue like that we can soon run a marathon :D
After getting up at 10 in the morning, me, Piret and Rod went pretty much straight to Ibirapuera, which is a huge park 45 minutes walking distance from our house. So we walked to the park, me and Piret went running and Rod played basketball. And we run for 1 hour non-stop!! whiew..I think I am beating my personal records soon. After that we were exercising and streching for another hour!! oooh it was very very relaxing and it felt amazing!
The park is packed with people running, walking, cycling, playing basketball or soccer, having picnic etc etc. It has perfect trails for running and walking - I think even the least interested person in physical excercises, would become a sports fan there (eventually at least :).
After 3 hours in the park, we headed back to our house - yeah another 45 minutes walk!! - actually it took more, since we walked "a bit" further to have dinner together.
Ohhh soooo perfect eh!!
Footnote: I look at myself from aside and it's amusing to see myself getting into the sports again. I've always loved sports, but after being one of the top atheletes in my high school I went to 1-excercise-a-month-if-I-have-time kinda person some time later, just didn't prioritize regular physical activity that much...mmm...now that I do it again, feels great!!
And doing it with Piret helps! If one feels lazy, the other kicks ass!
Friday, September 29, 2006
One month later!
Actually I intended to post this piece already a few days ago, but for various reasons, it got delayed :))), in any case it's more or less update of my first month in Brazil!
Precisely, on the 13th of September 1 month passed since I arrived in Sao Paulo. Whieww time flies, really!! Hehe I already feel 1 year sill go wayyy too fast. But well, just need to take the max out of it I guess...
Just to put down, short and simple, the highlights of the first month:
- getting settled in my new home! Piret was away for almost one month (attending IC, going home), so I was on my own in our downstairs apartment of the MC house. Good that the MC gang is just a few staircases up, so whenever I’d feel toooo alone (which actually happens quite rarely, but still), I’d have the chance to go upstairs, where the TV room is the most common place for gathering in the evenings, sometimes through the whole night as well :D
- getting settled at workplace - it’s amazing! I know I am really really lucky to have been selected for the job in eduction and sustainable development department here in Banco Real. I believe it’s one of the leading companies globally in integrating CSR/SD in the daily practice. And to part of it, is amazing! Of course the company has a long way to go still compared to ideals, but it’s so inspiring to be part of the process. The first month went pretty much on meeting with all my collegues about their projects, attending some trainings and lectures, and project meetings, also getting myself assigned to one particularly intesting one on the business case of CSR. Good stuffs! Oh, and my collegues are super, I really enjoy being part of the team there!
- Learning portugese is another big task of mine. I haven’t been as tough on myself as I should be, meaning that I don’t try to speak Portugese in any possible moment (huuh I know I know, I should!!). I’m particularly lazy about that in our house, since everyone here speaks perfect English! Huh, I shall try to improve! Me and Diana from Canada started to take Portugese classes twice a week, have had it for 2 weeks now, surely helps! Gustavo – our teacher – is really cool guy as well!
But imagine that, all the meetings at work are in Portugese! After day full of meetings, my brain is really fried! Havent experienced learning a new language in a while, so I was wondering how it would feel :))), frustrating sometimes, but exciting at the same time.
I am persistant in a sense that I keep attending all possible events even if I don't understand much. I shall do that in some time for sure! Right now it goes with ups and downs, sometimes I feel I understand almost everything and the next day is as if I didn't know a word!!! huuhh!!!
- AIESEC involvement :), hehehe I still (after 7 years of being in AIESEC) feel very very motivated about number of AIESEC stuffs, discussing national and local strategies and their implementation, participating in meetings etc. Like always there’re are some issues related to exchange management, but I haven’t seen an LC that doesn’t face these challenges, and my conduct with the LC GV here has been really constructive, I like the AIESEC people here.
A week ago I was participating at TREMN (seminar for new members), where I also gave a session on CSR (no surprise eh :D), I really enjoyed. Got additional motivation to give my contribution in AIESEC in Brasil. I think it'll be more or less around CSR though.
Since I live in the MC house, I am still in the middle of it all!! Oh and one of my tasks at work is to support the delivery on ABN-AIESEC partnership :P
- Paraty. 7th of September was an independence day for Brasil, so it meant a long weekend for the working people ;). So 10 of us (mostly trainees here in Sao Paulo) went for a 4 day trip to Paraty, a wonderful small town by the beach near Rio...mmm....we went by 2 cars, rented a lovely chalet just by the beach 5 minutes from Paraty, enjoyed the beaches, the town, took a whole day long boat trip to the nearby islands, went trecking to cachoeiras (waterfalls) with Gerardo and Alexandra etc! Was really really relaxing and enjoyable weekend! I shall get some pictures up here as well!
- Social life in Sao Paulo - the city here never sleeps! One could go clubbing every day of a week here, not to mention numberous restuarants of all sorts of cuisines from all around the world, museums, shows, concerts etc. That all naturally means we cant stay in the house either – Tuesday nights in Buena Vista dancing salsa with other trainees, occassional beers in Opcao with collegues or trainees, clubbing with friends, b-day parties of friends of friends’, churrascos etc etc.
mmm...so that's shortly (but really shortly though) it, I promise to improve with updates on my blog!
oh and some great news!! Taavi and Kadri are coming to visit!!! Yehuuuu!!! on 25th of Feb they shall arrive!
Precisely, on the 13th of September 1 month passed since I arrived in Sao Paulo. Whieww time flies, really!! Hehe I already feel 1 year sill go wayyy too fast. But well, just need to take the max out of it I guess...
Just to put down, short and simple, the highlights of the first month:
- getting settled in my new home! Piret was away for almost one month (attending IC, going home), so I was on my own in our downstairs apartment of the MC house. Good that the MC gang is just a few staircases up, so whenever I’d feel toooo alone (which actually happens quite rarely, but still), I’d have the chance to go upstairs, where the TV room is the most common place for gathering in the evenings, sometimes through the whole night as well :D
- getting settled at workplace - it’s amazing! I know I am really really lucky to have been selected for the job in eduction and sustainable development department here in Banco Real. I believe it’s one of the leading companies globally in integrating CSR/SD in the daily practice. And to part of it, is amazing! Of course the company has a long way to go still compared to ideals, but it’s so inspiring to be part of the process. The first month went pretty much on meeting with all my collegues about their projects, attending some trainings and lectures, and project meetings, also getting myself assigned to one particularly intesting one on the business case of CSR. Good stuffs! Oh, and my collegues are super, I really enjoy being part of the team there!
- Learning portugese is another big task of mine. I haven’t been as tough on myself as I should be, meaning that I don’t try to speak Portugese in any possible moment (huuh I know I know, I should!!). I’m particularly lazy about that in our house, since everyone here speaks perfect English! Huh, I shall try to improve! Me and Diana from Canada started to take Portugese classes twice a week, have had it for 2 weeks now, surely helps! Gustavo – our teacher – is really cool guy as well!
But imagine that, all the meetings at work are in Portugese! After day full of meetings, my brain is really fried! Havent experienced learning a new language in a while, so I was wondering how it would feel :))), frustrating sometimes, but exciting at the same time.
I am persistant in a sense that I keep attending all possible events even if I don't understand much. I shall do that in some time for sure! Right now it goes with ups and downs, sometimes I feel I understand almost everything and the next day is as if I didn't know a word!!! huuhh!!!
- AIESEC involvement :), hehehe I still (after 7 years of being in AIESEC) feel very very motivated about number of AIESEC stuffs, discussing national and local strategies and their implementation, participating in meetings etc. Like always there’re are some issues related to exchange management, but I haven’t seen an LC that doesn’t face these challenges, and my conduct with the LC GV here has been really constructive, I like the AIESEC people here.
A week ago I was participating at TREMN (seminar for new members), where I also gave a session on CSR (no surprise eh :D), I really enjoyed. Got additional motivation to give my contribution in AIESEC in Brasil. I think it'll be more or less around CSR though.
Since I live in the MC house, I am still in the middle of it all!! Oh and one of my tasks at work is to support the delivery on ABN-AIESEC partnership :P
- Paraty. 7th of September was an independence day for Brasil, so it meant a long weekend for the working people ;). So 10 of us (mostly trainees here in Sao Paulo) went for a 4 day trip to Paraty, a wonderful small town by the beach near Rio...mmm....we went by 2 cars, rented a lovely chalet just by the beach 5 minutes from Paraty, enjoyed the beaches, the town, took a whole day long boat trip to the nearby islands, went trecking to cachoeiras (waterfalls) with Gerardo and Alexandra etc! Was really really relaxing and enjoyable weekend! I shall get some pictures up here as well!
- Social life in Sao Paulo - the city here never sleeps! One could go clubbing every day of a week here, not to mention numberous restuarants of all sorts of cuisines from all around the world, museums, shows, concerts etc. That all naturally means we cant stay in the house either – Tuesday nights in Buena Vista dancing salsa with other trainees, occassional beers in Opcao with collegues or trainees, clubbing with friends, b-day parties of friends of friends’, churrascos etc etc.
mmm...so that's shortly (but really shortly though) it, I promise to improve with updates on my blog!
oh and some great news!! Taavi and Kadri are coming to visit!!! Yehuuuu!!! on 25th of Feb they shall arrive!
Monday, August 21, 2006
One week after & intro to SP
It's been a week since I arrived here in Sao Paulo, but really feels as I have been here for a while already. I feel at home in our house, the other guys that live here - the national team of AIESEC in Brazil and Filipe and Piret from the regional board - are great, I know already a little bit around the city. The basic places like my work place, local AIESEC office (AIESEC Getulio Vargas), way home, where to buy food etc.
Today I even managed to find my way to the Ibirapuera park alone; met up with other trainees and enjoyed a jazz concert there. Finding the place was fun :D...I had the directions and bus numbers and everything, but still I had to practice some Portunol (the mix of Spanish and Portugese) to find the right bus stop, to take the bus to the right direction, to get off at a right place...etc...I could make myself more or less clear to the person I was talking to, but the challenge was to understand the response...was funny :D, I enjoyed :D:D
A few words about Sao Paulo:
It's grreattt!!
It is huge cosmopolitan city, with more than 10 million (probably a way more) people from all shapes and sizes - you can see here people with roots from Europe, Africa, Asia, Americas.
While in Ecuador I stood out as blond European, here's not much of a significance - you can see many blond people here as well as people from all other places!! Mixture of nationalities!! One can never know if a random person on the street is Brazilian or not, because their looks vary greatly and even I myself could pass for a Brasileira (IF I spoke Portugese...with proper accent of course!!).
Everyone seems to love it here - the trainees, the AIESEC people, everyone else I've talked to.
They say it's the best place in terms of food: you can find better Italian food here than in Italy (no offence Italians, that's what I have heard)!
Life never stops here, one has enormous opportunities here in terms of entertainment, going out to clubs, museums, shopping etc.
It's the heart of business of Brasil, and maybe even in the whole South America. It surely is the largest city in South America.
People say that SP is not Brasil :) - it's soooo huge, diverse, cosmopolitan...like a NYC...and people here have respective life style.
Paulista Avenue is one of the main streets - they even call it the Wall Street of SP -, and that's were I am also going to work. Most other trainees also work in the neighbourhood. Imagine, how the surroundings of my work look like at day time: endless number of skyscrapers, 4 lines of cars on the streets (at least, or maybe 6, havent counted actually), businessmen and -women on their daily tasks rushing somewhere, holding a briefcase/laptop, wearing nice suits, dresses...I guess you can imagine!
Banco Real office is 17 storeyed building on Paulista, they say there's around 4-5000 people working in this building alone!!! Beats the largest companies in Estonia.
Earlier I thought I'd like to try living in a huge city like SP, and here it is - all open for me to discover. I am happy that I ended up in Latin America, so far (Ecuador, Colombia, a bit of Panama and now Brasil) I love it!!
Today I even managed to find my way to the Ibirapuera park alone; met up with other trainees and enjoyed a jazz concert there. Finding the place was fun :D...I had the directions and bus numbers and everything, but still I had to practice some Portunol (the mix of Spanish and Portugese) to find the right bus stop, to take the bus to the right direction, to get off at a right place...etc...I could make myself more or less clear to the person I was talking to, but the challenge was to understand the response...was funny :D, I enjoyed :D:D
A few words about Sao Paulo:
It's grreattt!!
It is huge cosmopolitan city, with more than 10 million (probably a way more) people from all shapes and sizes - you can see here people with roots from Europe, Africa, Asia, Americas.
While in Ecuador I stood out as blond European, here's not much of a significance - you can see many blond people here as well as people from all other places!! Mixture of nationalities!! One can never know if a random person on the street is Brazilian or not, because their looks vary greatly and even I myself could pass for a Brasileira (IF I spoke Portugese...with proper accent of course!!).
Everyone seems to love it here - the trainees, the AIESEC people, everyone else I've talked to.
They say it's the best place in terms of food: you can find better Italian food here than in Italy (no offence Italians, that's what I have heard)!
Life never stops here, one has enormous opportunities here in terms of entertainment, going out to clubs, museums, shopping etc.
It's the heart of business of Brasil, and maybe even in the whole South America. It surely is the largest city in South America.
People say that SP is not Brasil :) - it's soooo huge, diverse, cosmopolitan...like a NYC...and people here have respective life style.
Paulista Avenue is one of the main streets - they even call it the Wall Street of SP -, and that's were I am also going to work. Most other trainees also work in the neighbourhood. Imagine, how the surroundings of my work look like at day time: endless number of skyscrapers, 4 lines of cars on the streets (at least, or maybe 6, havent counted actually), businessmen and -women on their daily tasks rushing somewhere, holding a briefcase/laptop, wearing nice suits, dresses...I guess you can imagine!
Banco Real office is 17 storeyed building on Paulista, they say there's around 4-5000 people working in this building alone!!! Beats the largest companies in Estonia.
Earlier I thought I'd like to try living in a huge city like SP, and here it is - all open for me to discover. I am happy that I ended up in Latin America, so far (Ecuador, Colombia, a bit of Panama and now Brasil) I love it!!
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Leaving home, coming home
Just now finished my second day in Sao Paulo, my new home city for the next one year at least.
By the end of today I already feel settled in at home, kinda... quick adaptation :), at least to the immediate surroundings here.
I know I have loooootttsss to learn about the city, the people, the life styles and tradtions, the language (!!!!) etc etc...and I am excited!! I think I've kept telling that to all the people I have met today :))), my new collegues at work, AIESEC members in the LC office etc etc. That's cos I really feel that, I am soooooo excited!!!
I am living with Piret, another Estonian girl who is working in AIESEC here. We share an apartment in the MC house: 3 storeyed house in a neighbourhood called Vila Mariana, nice peacful place just about 30 minutes from my work (by metro of course :).
First impressions of SP, you ask - whohoooo whatta metropol!!! was what came to my mind when I first saw the area, where I am going to work: Paulista Avenue. It's one of the high avenues in SP, one skyscraper after another...read from somewhere it's called NY of Latin America. No doubt it seems to be that, but with a Latin touch ;)...compared to Guayaquil, it's like another world.
Yet, I cant continue without expressing my gratitude to the people that made my stay in Ecuador just so great!! Meeli, Tommaso, Aga, Aneta and Ina, the ATAMI family, David, Jorge, Carlos and many many others from AIESEC, Thanks!! I had super good time!
And I've got all the pics!! That was funny :D:D - burnig CDs in the airport lobby from Tommaso's laptop so that the airlines officials were already looking for me and I was the last person to run to the plane!! (But at least I got the pics :D)
Leaving Ecuador felt weird, I was emotionally confused as I was having this empty creepy feeling of leaving behind the people that I had met, lived with, and become good friends with - the people that were already part of my living abroad experience -; instead of being excited for the new start awaiting ahead in Brazil...in a sense it was different from when I left Estonia in the end of June. Then, after saying the good-byes, I pretty much focused only on what was waiting for me ahead, no looking back then.
Leaving Ecuador...had to look back :))), so again, thanks guys, we'll keep in touch! And remember, now it's your turn to visit me in SP ;)
By the end of today I already feel settled in at home, kinda... quick adaptation :), at least to the immediate surroundings here.
I know I have loooootttsss to learn about the city, the people, the life styles and tradtions, the language (!!!!) etc etc...and I am excited!! I think I've kept telling that to all the people I have met today :))), my new collegues at work, AIESEC members in the LC office etc etc. That's cos I really feel that, I am soooooo excited!!!
I am living with Piret, another Estonian girl who is working in AIESEC here. We share an apartment in the MC house: 3 storeyed house in a neighbourhood called Vila Mariana, nice peacful place just about 30 minutes from my work (by metro of course :).
First impressions of SP, you ask - whohoooo whatta metropol!!! was what came to my mind when I first saw the area, where I am going to work: Paulista Avenue. It's one of the high avenues in SP, one skyscraper after another...read from somewhere it's called NY of Latin America. No doubt it seems to be that, but with a Latin touch ;)...compared to Guayaquil, it's like another world.
Yet, I cant continue without expressing my gratitude to the people that made my stay in Ecuador just so great!! Meeli, Tommaso, Aga, Aneta and Ina, the ATAMI family, David, Jorge, Carlos and many many others from AIESEC, Thanks!! I had super good time!
And I've got all the pics!! That was funny :D:D - burnig CDs in the airport lobby from Tommaso's laptop so that the airlines officials were already looking for me and I was the last person to run to the plane!! (But at least I got the pics :D)
Leaving Ecuador felt weird, I was emotionally confused as I was having this empty creepy feeling of leaving behind the people that I had met, lived with, and become good friends with - the people that were already part of my living abroad experience -; instead of being excited for the new start awaiting ahead in Brazil...in a sense it was different from when I left Estonia in the end of June. Then, after saying the good-byes, I pretty much focused only on what was waiting for me ahead, no looking back then.
Leaving Ecuador...had to look back :))), so again, thanks guys, we'll keep in touch! And remember, now it's your turn to visit me in SP ;)
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Last days in Ecuador
I still have 10 more days in Ecuador.
By the end I will have spent 1,5 months here in this unexpectedly nice country. Regarding the last notion, a comment. I've read some other people's blogs about Ecuador and their experiences here and not all of them are so pleasant.
Although I like the nature here (the mountains, the playas!), I think for me the main difference comes from actually knowing people who live here (not all locals, but who at least stay here for longer time like the AIESEC trainees), and enjoying the usual everyday moments being part of a great bunch of people. Feeling like in a family :)), that usually doesn't happen if one is a tourist in any country.
What's amazing is that AIESEC has enabled me (and shall do that in the future as well) to create such a network that I'd have an opportunity to feel quite like at home in any place I go. Amazing!! Makes the world really small, in spite of the fact that distances are sometimes wayyyy tooo long.
Just a few days ago I was e-mailing with my old friends from Rotary, other exchange students that were in USA in 1996-97 - a year that I spent in high school in Illinois. They are Brazilians living in Sao Paulo and one will be almost my neighbour there!!! How cool is that!!!!
But back to my life here...Meeli has a vacation right now, so we are both taking it rather easy: wake up at 9-10, take bakeries, yoghurt, milk from across the street, check e-mails in a nearby internet cafe, go to the city for a little while or to the AIESEC office.
Then meet the others coming from work and see what happens, usally something for sure!!
Monday night we enjoyed a nice cafe in Las Penas until past midnight, called Arthur's (or smth). Very nice place on the hill with a romanitic view to the river, especially so at night!
Yesterday had Luigi's B-day dinner (an Italian dude working for AIESEC here) at Roxanas, and today...who knows :))
We plan to see a butterfly exhibition with Meeli now :D
Here some pics of the ATAMI family:
By the end I will have spent 1,5 months here in this unexpectedly nice country. Regarding the last notion, a comment. I've read some other people's blogs about Ecuador and their experiences here and not all of them are so pleasant.
Although I like the nature here (the mountains, the playas!), I think for me the main difference comes from actually knowing people who live here (not all locals, but who at least stay here for longer time like the AIESEC trainees), and enjoying the usual everyday moments being part of a great bunch of people. Feeling like in a family :)), that usually doesn't happen if one is a tourist in any country.
What's amazing is that AIESEC has enabled me (and shall do that in the future as well) to create such a network that I'd have an opportunity to feel quite like at home in any place I go. Amazing!! Makes the world really small, in spite of the fact that distances are sometimes wayyyy tooo long.
Just a few days ago I was e-mailing with my old friends from Rotary, other exchange students that were in USA in 1996-97 - a year that I spent in high school in Illinois. They are Brazilians living in Sao Paulo and one will be almost my neighbour there!!! How cool is that!!!!
But back to my life here...Meeli has a vacation right now, so we are both taking it rather easy: wake up at 9-10, take bakeries, yoghurt, milk from across the street, check e-mails in a nearby internet cafe, go to the city for a little while or to the AIESEC office.
Then meet the others coming from work and see what happens, usally something for sure!!
Monday night we enjoyed a nice cafe in Las Penas until past midnight, called Arthur's (or smth). Very nice place on the hill with a romanitic view to the river, especially so at night!
Yesterday had Luigi's B-day dinner (an Italian dude working for AIESEC here) at Roxanas, and today...who knows :))
We plan to see a butterfly exhibition with Meeli now :D
Here some pics of the ATAMI family:
Friday, July 28, 2006
A letter home vol 2 (in Estonian)
Holaaaa!!
1 kuu Ecuadori on seljataga ja see kõlab nagu hea võimalus järjekordne kirjatükk teele saata. Tegelt võiks siin vist igast päevast raamatu kirjutada, aga selle mõtte matan maha juba eos :D.
Niisiis, lühidalt öeldes on viimase 2 nädala tippsündmusteks olnud: nädal Colombias Albertol külas (supervastuvõtt ja superriik, soovitan!!), kiirpeatus Panamal, tagasi Guayaquilis töö AIESECis ja chill siinsete sõpradega, mida kroonis viimane nädalavahetus väikelinnas Cuencas, kus muu hulgas teise Eesti tüdrukuga jõe ääres väikse õlle võtsime folgi meenutuseks :)
Lugejakirjade põhjal on tänase kirja „teemadeks“: mehed, naised,
seks ja jalgpall
Taustaks pean veel ütlema, et seltskond, kellega kõige rohkem kokku puutun, on väga rahvusvaheline, nimeks ATAMI family. ATAMI tuleb Agnieszka, Tommaso, Aneta, Meeli ja Ina nimetähtedest. Nad pärit Poolast, Itaaliast, Eestist ja Rumeeniast ja töötavad kõik Guyaquilis.
Kõik ägedad tegelased, nii et ma tunnen ennast siin täiesti koduselt.
Ja „family“ on absoluutselt õige sõna...heheh...tegelt on meil selline Simpsonite perekond :D..Homer ja Maggie ja kõiksevärk.
Pea igal õhtul toimub midagi ning lisaks meie oma „perele“ on meil siin ka kohalikke sõpru/tuttavaid, nii et igav ei hakka...st veel ei ole hakanud ja tõenäoliselt ei hakka ka :D
MEHED
Nagu öeldud, puutun lisaks praktikantide seltskonnale kokku ka muu aieseci rahvaga ja siis mõnel määral kohalikega...nii igapäevase suhtluse käigus. Et ühesõnaga, kui meestsest rääkida, siis mõned sellised huvitavad tähelepanekud:
- viisakad. üks reegel tundub olevat, et naised lastakse igal juhul enne uksest sisse, olgu neid või 20, aga mehed ikka uksest enne läbi ei lähe. Ma pole kindel, kas see päris alati kehtib, aga igaljuhul on see vahel päris naljakas. Ka buss peatub alati, kui naised peale või maha tahavad minna. Mehed peavad kohati ka liikuvast transpordivahendist maha saama (ma peaks vist natuke pikemalt sellest bussisüsteemist rääkima mingil hetkel).
- meeldib tantsida. üldiselt tundub, et neil on see tantsimise värk sisse sündinud. Eestlastega võrreldes hakkab eriti silma...heheh..tõsijutt noh... Samas on ka neid, kellele üldse ei meeldi tantsida...hm...aga kui mõtlema hakkan, siis oskavad isegi need, kellele üldse ei meeldi, ikka päris hästi seda teha...nii et järeldus: see on
neil juba veres, meeldib see neile või mitte.
- tänaval tahavad põhimõtteliselt igat sorti meestele Euroopast päris naisterahvaid kiigata bonita, linda, hi, how are you, welcome jms asju öelda, vilistada jms. Kohati päris naljakas, sest tavaliselt ei hõiguta kaugelt, vaid öeldakse midagi suht tasasel häälel täpselt sinu kõrval olles, isegi juba mööda minnes, nii et mitu korda on selline tunne, et „ehmisseenüüdoli“. Väga hull olukord siiski ei ole ja päris staari tunnet ikka ei ole :D
NAISED
Pikad lahtised mustad juuksed ja pruunid silmad, kerge ülekaal alates keskeast (või vahel ka varem), soov tingimata kanda kõrge kontsaga kingi (lühema kasvu tõttu), topid ja teksad (jah siin kantakse hoolimata 30+ kraadist teksasid väga palju), samas miniseelikud on siin ka siiski suht popid. Ise käisin eile esimest korda sellise lühemat sorti kleidiga...heheh...päris imelik oli alguses :D. Ma muidu pole soovinud nii suurt tähelepanu tõmmata tänaval, sest nii või naa on tähelepanu
ikka kogu aeg peal.
Keskmine pikkus on siin ehk mingi 155 võrreldes 164-ga Eestis. Mina olen 170, nii et ikka suht pikk - ka meestega võrreldes.
Kuna käisin nädal aega tagasi Colombias Albertol külas, põhjarannikul Cartagenas, Barranquillas ja Santa Martas, siis veel üks tähelepanek sealtkandist: reisides hakkab hästi silma, et rannapiirkondades elavad naisterahvad pööravad oma välimusele väga palju rohkem tähelepanu kui mägede (Quito, Bogota jne) elanikud. Ka Quayaquil, kus preagu elan, pole iseenesest suurem suvituspiirkond, siit lähimasse randa on nii tunni tee jagu. Samas Colombia põhjarannik Kariibi mere ääres on suvitajate paradiis ning sellest tulenevalt usun, et ka Eesti meestele pakuks sealne naispere päris suurt silmarõõmu...hehe...Siia veel täienduseks, et ka iluoperatsioonid on Colombias väga populaarsed ning ka näiteks ülikoolis õppivate tüdrukute hulgas suhteliselt tavaline nähtus. Pidi suhteliselt mõistliku hinnaga olema...nii et kel huvi, siis....
Silmaoperatsioonid laseriga, mis Eestis on 22 000 EEKu pidid Ecuadoris olema 1000 USD ja Colombias veel odavamad, nii et „väike“ hinnavahe on olemas.
SEKS
Siinmail pidavat olema arusaam, et väga mõistlik pole enne abiellumist „keelatud“ maailma avastada. Selle kõrval tundub jällegi huvitav see, et tänaval avalikult suudlemine, kallistamine, pargipingil semmimine jne tundub täiesti aktsepteeritav olevat. Ka noori emasid (kohati ka alla 20) näeb päris palju, mistõttu ma arvan, et see esimene väide siiski päriselt praktikas paika ei pea. Samas siin vist ongi vastuolu tavade/traditsioonilise maailmavaate ja muutuvate aegade vahel: üks asi
on vanema põlvkonna arvamus sellest, „kuidas asjad võiks/peaks
olema“ ja teine noorema põlvkonna poolt „kuidas nad tegelikult on“.
Kui ma nüüd õigesti aru saanud olen, siis pidavat siinmail näiteks abort keelatud olema. Religioosse ühiskonna sündroom, arvan ma. Päris paljudes Ladina-Ameerika riikides on sama seis. Teisest küljest pidi erakliinikute abil kõik võimalik olevat, mistõttu ma preaguse hetke seisuga ei saa täpselt „keelatuse“ mõistest aru (ei tea, kas see hõlmab siis vaid riigi poolt pakutavat „teenust“).
JALGPALL
On siin kuum!! Jalka MMi ajal olid tänavad täis kollastes särkides noori-vanu, tänavail lehvisid bännerid ja kui Ecuaodor mängis, seisis elu igalpool mujal! Ecuadori tiimil on viimaste aastate jooksul aina paremini läinud ning seekordne edasipääs teise ringi oli senini parim tulemus.
„Ecuador - si se puede“ (Ecuador, jah sa suudad) oli slogan, mida kasutati kõikjal. Guayaquilis on ka kaks põhilist tiimi, millest ühe nimi on Barcelona ja teise nime olen unustanud (oops :), mängude ajal ei pidavat igav hakkama, fännid teevad kõvasti möllu oma meeskonna toetuseks!
Olen ka ise mõelnud omale jalkasärki soetada, aga oma eelarvet vaadates esialgu veel kõhklen. Originaalid maksavad nii 20-30 dollarit, tänavaturult saab ka 5 usd’iga, aga see pole ju ikka see!! Üldse saab siin tänavalt osta igasugust kraami, alustades Nike’ist ja lõpetades D&G’ga, hindu nagu arvata võib ei anna originaaliga võrrelda.
Vastused lugejakirjadele:
- Kas lennujaamas ajavad eskalaatoreid ringi väiksed nukrad eeslid?
Nope :D, eesleid on, aga ainult külades olen kohanud.
- Kas kohviautomaatide asemel on külamehed priimustega vankritelt oma
laste väikeste mustade kätega korjatud värskeid kohviube keetmas:):):)?
Hehe…jällegi eitav vastus. Kusjuures nende kohviubadega on nii, et nad
joovad siin üldse lahustuvat kohvi enamasti (täiesti seletamatu!!).
Café con leche tähendab vahel koguni ainult kuuma piima lahustuva kohviga. Iseenesest pole paha, aga see pole siiski see kohvi, millega ma harjunud olen.
Külameestest (ja –naistest) rääkides, nemad on siin küll ägedad! Ehe värk! Väikest kasvu, kohe päris indiaanlased, põnevad värvilised riided seljas. Rauno blogis (www.rauno.org/latina) on ka mõned ägedad pildid üleval.
Minu plaanid edasi: veel ca 2 nädalat siin (äkki jõuan Peruusse ka, aga hetkel veel ei tea) ja siis Brasiiliasse. Loodan, et kõik sujub, mu pass on parasjagu Brasiilia saatkonnas Soomes ja sellega lähebki veel nata aega.
Pean nüüd kiirelt veel Portugali keele crash course'i võtma, et kohapeal päris häbisse ei jääks :)))
Espanolist rääkides - ega ma ausalt öeldes ikka ei jaga muffigi...hihih...iga kord küsi umbes 3 korda üle, et mis sa nüüd ütlesid! a noh nata rohkem ikka mõistan, kui tulles. Nad lihtsalt räägivad siin nii teistmoodi ja kõik "s"'id sõna lõppudes on kas
üldse kadunud või kõlavad nagu "h"d...siis ongi nii, et iga kord peab jupp aega mõtlema, mis see siis nüüd jälle oli!
Olen ikka seda learning by doing rida ajanud ja õpik seisab ikka kotis...huh...luban endale, et Portugali keele võtan tublimalt käsile!
saludos!
1 kuu Ecuadori on seljataga ja see kõlab nagu hea võimalus järjekordne kirjatükk teele saata. Tegelt võiks siin vist igast päevast raamatu kirjutada, aga selle mõtte matan maha juba eos :D.
Niisiis, lühidalt öeldes on viimase 2 nädala tippsündmusteks olnud: nädal Colombias Albertol külas (supervastuvõtt ja superriik, soovitan!!), kiirpeatus Panamal, tagasi Guayaquilis töö AIESECis ja chill siinsete sõpradega, mida kroonis viimane nädalavahetus väikelinnas Cuencas, kus muu hulgas teise Eesti tüdrukuga jõe ääres väikse õlle võtsime folgi meenutuseks :)
Lugejakirjade põhjal on tänase kirja „teemadeks“: mehed, naised,
seks ja jalgpall
Taustaks pean veel ütlema, et seltskond, kellega kõige rohkem kokku puutun, on väga rahvusvaheline, nimeks ATAMI family. ATAMI tuleb Agnieszka, Tommaso, Aneta, Meeli ja Ina nimetähtedest. Nad pärit Poolast, Itaaliast, Eestist ja Rumeeniast ja töötavad kõik Guyaquilis.
Kõik ägedad tegelased, nii et ma tunnen ennast siin täiesti koduselt.
Ja „family“ on absoluutselt õige sõna...heheh...tegelt on meil selline Simpsonite perekond :D..Homer ja Maggie ja kõiksevärk.
Pea igal õhtul toimub midagi ning lisaks meie oma „perele“ on meil siin ka kohalikke sõpru/tuttavaid, nii et igav ei hakka...st veel ei ole hakanud ja tõenäoliselt ei hakka ka :D
MEHED
Nagu öeldud, puutun lisaks praktikantide seltskonnale kokku ka muu aieseci rahvaga ja siis mõnel määral kohalikega...nii igapäevase suhtluse käigus. Et ühesõnaga, kui meestsest rääkida, siis mõned sellised huvitavad tähelepanekud:
- viisakad. üks reegel tundub olevat, et naised lastakse igal juhul enne uksest sisse, olgu neid või 20, aga mehed ikka uksest enne läbi ei lähe. Ma pole kindel, kas see päris alati kehtib, aga igaljuhul on see vahel päris naljakas. Ka buss peatub alati, kui naised peale või maha tahavad minna. Mehed peavad kohati ka liikuvast transpordivahendist maha saama (ma peaks vist natuke pikemalt sellest bussisüsteemist rääkima mingil hetkel).
- meeldib tantsida. üldiselt tundub, et neil on see tantsimise värk sisse sündinud. Eestlastega võrreldes hakkab eriti silma...heheh..tõsijutt noh... Samas on ka neid, kellele üldse ei meeldi tantsida...hm...aga kui mõtlema hakkan, siis oskavad isegi need, kellele üldse ei meeldi, ikka päris hästi seda teha...nii et järeldus: see on
neil juba veres, meeldib see neile või mitte.
- tänaval tahavad põhimõtteliselt igat sorti meestele Euroopast päris naisterahvaid kiigata bonita, linda, hi, how are you, welcome jms asju öelda, vilistada jms. Kohati päris naljakas, sest tavaliselt ei hõiguta kaugelt, vaid öeldakse midagi suht tasasel häälel täpselt sinu kõrval olles, isegi juba mööda minnes, nii et mitu korda on selline tunne, et „ehmisseenüüdoli“. Väga hull olukord siiski ei ole ja päris staari tunnet ikka ei ole :D
NAISED
Pikad lahtised mustad juuksed ja pruunid silmad, kerge ülekaal alates keskeast (või vahel ka varem), soov tingimata kanda kõrge kontsaga kingi (lühema kasvu tõttu), topid ja teksad (jah siin kantakse hoolimata 30+ kraadist teksasid väga palju), samas miniseelikud on siin ka siiski suht popid. Ise käisin eile esimest korda sellise lühemat sorti kleidiga...heheh...päris imelik oli alguses :D. Ma muidu pole soovinud nii suurt tähelepanu tõmmata tänaval, sest nii või naa on tähelepanu
ikka kogu aeg peal.
Keskmine pikkus on siin ehk mingi 155 võrreldes 164-ga Eestis. Mina olen 170, nii et ikka suht pikk - ka meestega võrreldes.
Kuna käisin nädal aega tagasi Colombias Albertol külas, põhjarannikul Cartagenas, Barranquillas ja Santa Martas, siis veel üks tähelepanek sealtkandist: reisides hakkab hästi silma, et rannapiirkondades elavad naisterahvad pööravad oma välimusele väga palju rohkem tähelepanu kui mägede (Quito, Bogota jne) elanikud. Ka Quayaquil, kus preagu elan, pole iseenesest suurem suvituspiirkond, siit lähimasse randa on nii tunni tee jagu. Samas Colombia põhjarannik Kariibi mere ääres on suvitajate paradiis ning sellest tulenevalt usun, et ka Eesti meestele pakuks sealne naispere päris suurt silmarõõmu...hehe...Siia veel täienduseks, et ka iluoperatsioonid on Colombias väga populaarsed ning ka näiteks ülikoolis õppivate tüdrukute hulgas suhteliselt tavaline nähtus. Pidi suhteliselt mõistliku hinnaga olema...nii et kel huvi, siis....
Silmaoperatsioonid laseriga, mis Eestis on 22 000 EEKu pidid Ecuadoris olema 1000 USD ja Colombias veel odavamad, nii et „väike“ hinnavahe on olemas.
SEKS
Siinmail pidavat olema arusaam, et väga mõistlik pole enne abiellumist „keelatud“ maailma avastada. Selle kõrval tundub jällegi huvitav see, et tänaval avalikult suudlemine, kallistamine, pargipingil semmimine jne tundub täiesti aktsepteeritav olevat. Ka noori emasid (kohati ka alla 20) näeb päris palju, mistõttu ma arvan, et see esimene väide siiski päriselt praktikas paika ei pea. Samas siin vist ongi vastuolu tavade/traditsioonilise maailmavaate ja muutuvate aegade vahel: üks asi
on vanema põlvkonna arvamus sellest, „kuidas asjad võiks/peaks
olema“ ja teine noorema põlvkonna poolt „kuidas nad tegelikult on“.
Kui ma nüüd õigesti aru saanud olen, siis pidavat siinmail näiteks abort keelatud olema. Religioosse ühiskonna sündroom, arvan ma. Päris paljudes Ladina-Ameerika riikides on sama seis. Teisest küljest pidi erakliinikute abil kõik võimalik olevat, mistõttu ma preaguse hetke seisuga ei saa täpselt „keelatuse“ mõistest aru (ei tea, kas see hõlmab siis vaid riigi poolt pakutavat „teenust“).
JALGPALL
On siin kuum!! Jalka MMi ajal olid tänavad täis kollastes särkides noori-vanu, tänavail lehvisid bännerid ja kui Ecuaodor mängis, seisis elu igalpool mujal! Ecuadori tiimil on viimaste aastate jooksul aina paremini läinud ning seekordne edasipääs teise ringi oli senini parim tulemus.
„Ecuador - si se puede“ (Ecuador, jah sa suudad) oli slogan, mida kasutati kõikjal. Guayaquilis on ka kaks põhilist tiimi, millest ühe nimi on Barcelona ja teise nime olen unustanud (oops :), mängude ajal ei pidavat igav hakkama, fännid teevad kõvasti möllu oma meeskonna toetuseks!
Olen ka ise mõelnud omale jalkasärki soetada, aga oma eelarvet vaadates esialgu veel kõhklen. Originaalid maksavad nii 20-30 dollarit, tänavaturult saab ka 5 usd’iga, aga see pole ju ikka see!! Üldse saab siin tänavalt osta igasugust kraami, alustades Nike’ist ja lõpetades D&G’ga, hindu nagu arvata võib ei anna originaaliga võrrelda.
Vastused lugejakirjadele:
- Kas lennujaamas ajavad eskalaatoreid ringi väiksed nukrad eeslid?
Nope :D, eesleid on, aga ainult külades olen kohanud.
- Kas kohviautomaatide asemel on külamehed priimustega vankritelt oma
laste väikeste mustade kätega korjatud värskeid kohviube keetmas:):):)?
Hehe…jällegi eitav vastus. Kusjuures nende kohviubadega on nii, et nad
joovad siin üldse lahustuvat kohvi enamasti (täiesti seletamatu!!).
Café con leche tähendab vahel koguni ainult kuuma piima lahustuva kohviga. Iseenesest pole paha, aga see pole siiski see kohvi, millega ma harjunud olen.
Külameestest (ja –naistest) rääkides, nemad on siin küll ägedad! Ehe värk! Väikest kasvu, kohe päris indiaanlased, põnevad värvilised riided seljas. Rauno blogis (www.rauno.org/latina) on ka mõned ägedad pildid üleval.
Minu plaanid edasi: veel ca 2 nädalat siin (äkki jõuan Peruusse ka, aga hetkel veel ei tea) ja siis Brasiiliasse. Loodan, et kõik sujub, mu pass on parasjagu Brasiilia saatkonnas Soomes ja sellega lähebki veel nata aega.
Pean nüüd kiirelt veel Portugali keele crash course'i võtma, et kohapeal päris häbisse ei jääks :)))
Espanolist rääkides - ega ma ausalt öeldes ikka ei jaga muffigi...hihih...iga kord küsi umbes 3 korda üle, et mis sa nüüd ütlesid! a noh nata rohkem ikka mõistan, kui tulles. Nad lihtsalt räägivad siin nii teistmoodi ja kõik "s"'id sõna lõppudes on kas
üldse kadunud või kõlavad nagu "h"d...siis ongi nii, et iga kord peab jupp aega mõtlema, mis see siis nüüd jälle oli!
Olen ikka seda learning by doing rida ajanud ja õpik seisab ikka kotis...huh...luban endale, et Portugali keele võtan tublimalt käsile!
saludos!
Monday, July 17, 2006
PANAMA - a quick one
15.-16.th of July, 2006
Flying with COPA means always transiting in Panama since it’s Panaman airlines. Soooo...once that was the case I thought I definitely should see the City even for a little bit since I am anyway there in the aiport on my route Ecuador-Colombia-Ecuador.
Thus on my way back from Colombia to Ecuador, I took a 1 day stop in Panama arriving on Saturday and leaving on Sunday night.
Hehe...I must say I saw more of the night life than sightseeing around, but surely was super fun cruising the city at night (thanks Ricky :D), checking out what the place has to offer in terms of entertainment for club and pub lovers, and dancing till morning!
Some say that Ciudad de Panama is the Miami of Central America. It seemed to be true with it’s 24 hours shops, eating places etc available at any moment you crave for something.
Sleeping late on Sunday meant limited time for sightseeing (3 hours) before I already had to head to the airport. But couldn’t still resist the opportunity to look around as much as I could. Since my host was at work, I took a recommended bus to „the city center“, which eventually, when I got off the bus, did not seem much of a center, but more like some sort of ghetto....hehe...it must have been one of the few buses that did not go to the center :D:D...but no problems, the situation offered me a little adventure!
As my Spanish was, and still is, quite limited asking directions to the city center was a bit difficult, people kept poiting at one direction, but after having walked about 10 minutes, I felt myself no closer to the center as before. Hehehe...and to make the situation a bit more challenging, I didn’t have the map of the city either :D:D
What should always more or less work is taking a taxi to the destination you need, so that was my next thing to do.
Found a taxi on the street, a nice 26 year old guy who spoke only Spanish, who eventually offered me a 2 hour tour in the City to see the Isla de Flamenco and some other places for only 7 USD, and who later turned out to be a cop working on criminal investigation during weekdays and being a taxi driver on weekends...hehehe
So I got a nice sightseeing tour as well!
Time went by fast and I already started to run late for my flight, thus got home with the same taxi driver dude, packed quickly and headed to the airport...whiew..by that time I had only 2 hours left for my flight and about 40 minutes bus ride to the Airport ahead of me.
There ought to be a bus to the airport, but after 10 minutes waiting in the bus stop I decided to take a taxi (which ought to be 25 USD, and 15 if you bargin). Stopped a passing by taxi, and offered my last 8 USD that I had in cash. Worked! He took me to the airport. Got there just an hour before the flight – no problemos ;), I think that’s what one could call just-in-time-management...hehehe
Last good-byes and off I took to Guayaquil, back home to my ATAMI family (Thanks, Ricky for the message on the plane :).
Flying with COPA means always transiting in Panama since it’s Panaman airlines. Soooo...once that was the case I thought I definitely should see the City even for a little bit since I am anyway there in the aiport on my route Ecuador-Colombia-Ecuador.
Thus on my way back from Colombia to Ecuador, I took a 1 day stop in Panama arriving on Saturday and leaving on Sunday night.
Hehe...I must say I saw more of the night life than sightseeing around, but surely was super fun cruising the city at night (thanks Ricky :D), checking out what the place has to offer in terms of entertainment for club and pub lovers, and dancing till morning!
Some say that Ciudad de Panama is the Miami of Central America. It seemed to be true with it’s 24 hours shops, eating places etc available at any moment you crave for something.
Sleeping late on Sunday meant limited time for sightseeing (3 hours) before I already had to head to the airport. But couldn’t still resist the opportunity to look around as much as I could. Since my host was at work, I took a recommended bus to „the city center“, which eventually, when I got off the bus, did not seem much of a center, but more like some sort of ghetto....hehe...it must have been one of the few buses that did not go to the center :D:D...but no problems, the situation offered me a little adventure!
As my Spanish was, and still is, quite limited asking directions to the city center was a bit difficult, people kept poiting at one direction, but after having walked about 10 minutes, I felt myself no closer to the center as before. Hehehe...and to make the situation a bit more challenging, I didn’t have the map of the city either :D:D
What should always more or less work is taking a taxi to the destination you need, so that was my next thing to do.
Found a taxi on the street, a nice 26 year old guy who spoke only Spanish, who eventually offered me a 2 hour tour in the City to see the Isla de Flamenco and some other places for only 7 USD, and who later turned out to be a cop working on criminal investigation during weekdays and being a taxi driver on weekends...hehehe
So I got a nice sightseeing tour as well!
Time went by fast and I already started to run late for my flight, thus got home with the same taxi driver dude, packed quickly and headed to the airport...whiew..by that time I had only 2 hours left for my flight and about 40 minutes bus ride to the Airport ahead of me.
There ought to be a bus to the airport, but after 10 minutes waiting in the bus stop I decided to take a taxi (which ought to be 25 USD, and 15 if you bargin). Stopped a passing by taxi, and offered my last 8 USD that I had in cash. Worked! He took me to the airport. Got there just an hour before the flight – no problemos ;), I think that’s what one could call just-in-time-management...hehehe
Last good-byes and off I took to Guayaquil, back home to my ATAMI family (Thanks, Ricky for the message on the plane :).
Colombia - mi casa es tu casa!
After 5-6 visits to the embassy of Colombia in Guayaquil, 2 weeks of waiting instead of the initally promised 4 days, changing 3 times the plane tickets as the visa was not ready (56 USD!), me and Rauno finally arrived in Barranquilla on the 8th of July.
Yet, in spite of the trouble with the visa my experience in Colombia was SUPER SUPER SUPER GREAT!! (Thank you Alberto and your family!! Muchos Gracias!!!)
When arriving in B’quilla Alberto was already awaiting for us in the airport with his dad and we took a car directly to Cartagena – one of the most touristic cities in Colombia I guess, a real jewel as they say!
And I understand why!! The most wonderful beaches I have ever seen (we took a one day cruise with Alberto’s family to the Island de Baru), super bueno ciudad de antigua (the old town), nice climate, friendly people, delicious food!!
Oh and it was good to meet up with Maris – she had already arrived a week ago from Costa Rica where she did a 6 months internship in a local NGO teaching English. Me, Maris and Alberto were in the same MC team in AIESEC in Estonia in 2003-2004, living and working together for one year. The other 3 team mates - Uku, Helena and Sifaan – couldn’t join this time, but we are planning to hold our team re-union in 2010 in Colombia as well ;). I know now I should take like 3 months for the next visit to Colombia – that's how much the country offers to discover!!
After Cartagena, we returned back to Barranquilla – Alberto’s home town. It’s another nice city on the North Coast of Colombia. And that’s where we enjoyed the true hospitality of Colombian people!! We stayed in Alberto’s house, and the saying they use „mi casa es to casa“ was soooooo much in place!! Thanks again to you, Alberto and Caro and your Mom and Dad for taking us around, feeding us with the best food ever and just being sooooo super nice!!!
Heheh staying at Alberto’s house was a nice practice for my espanol also :) as his parents’ don’s speak English...huh, I surely learned a few new words!!
On Thursday we took a little trip to Santa Marta – one more place for tourists that like la playas ;). Alberto and his family returned to B’quilla in the evening since Alberto was to leave to Estonia the next day, but me and Rauno stayed on in a little fishermen village just after Santa Marta, it’s called Taganga and it is a good place to get your scuba diving license should you want one. 3 day course was for about 400 000 pesos (2000 EEK). Additinal 2 days advanced course was also offered, and room for bargining the price is there as well. Rauno was gonna take the 3-day one, but I couldn’t since I had my flight back to Ecuador via Panama already on Saturday the 15th of July.
Friday nite party with Alberto’s friends Sergio and Carlos in the Bolivar’s house in Santa Marta – musica electronica!! – a few hours sleep, 2 hours bus strip back to Barranquilla, nice time with Alberto’s family (Alberto, when you left to Estonia, they really really missed you!!), and then off to Panama.
My experiences in Colombia were super!! I’d really like to recommend it to anyone who’s thinking of visiting Latin America, it surely is a country of the kind of „must visit“ ones!
True, there are things to watch out for, but...in contrary and one the positive note, the country as tons to offer and aren't the things more challenging just the most precious ones ;)
Yet, in spite of the trouble with the visa my experience in Colombia was SUPER SUPER SUPER GREAT!! (Thank you Alberto and your family!! Muchos Gracias!!!)
When arriving in B’quilla Alberto was already awaiting for us in the airport with his dad and we took a car directly to Cartagena – one of the most touristic cities in Colombia I guess, a real jewel as they say!
And I understand why!! The most wonderful beaches I have ever seen (we took a one day cruise with Alberto’s family to the Island de Baru), super bueno ciudad de antigua (the old town), nice climate, friendly people, delicious food!!
Oh and it was good to meet up with Maris – she had already arrived a week ago from Costa Rica where she did a 6 months internship in a local NGO teaching English. Me, Maris and Alberto were in the same MC team in AIESEC in Estonia in 2003-2004, living and working together for one year. The other 3 team mates - Uku, Helena and Sifaan – couldn’t join this time, but we are planning to hold our team re-union in 2010 in Colombia as well ;). I know now I should take like 3 months for the next visit to Colombia – that's how much the country offers to discover!!
After Cartagena, we returned back to Barranquilla – Alberto’s home town. It’s another nice city on the North Coast of Colombia. And that’s where we enjoyed the true hospitality of Colombian people!! We stayed in Alberto’s house, and the saying they use „mi casa es to casa“ was soooooo much in place!! Thanks again to you, Alberto and Caro and your Mom and Dad for taking us around, feeding us with the best food ever and just being sooooo super nice!!!
Heheh staying at Alberto’s house was a nice practice for my espanol also :) as his parents’ don’s speak English...huh, I surely learned a few new words!!
On Thursday we took a little trip to Santa Marta – one more place for tourists that like la playas ;). Alberto and his family returned to B’quilla in the evening since Alberto was to leave to Estonia the next day, but me and Rauno stayed on in a little fishermen village just after Santa Marta, it’s called Taganga and it is a good place to get your scuba diving license should you want one. 3 day course was for about 400 000 pesos (2000 EEK). Additinal 2 days advanced course was also offered, and room for bargining the price is there as well. Rauno was gonna take the 3-day one, but I couldn’t since I had my flight back to Ecuador via Panama already on Saturday the 15th of July.
Friday nite party with Alberto’s friends Sergio and Carlos in the Bolivar’s house in Santa Marta – musica electronica!! – a few hours sleep, 2 hours bus strip back to Barranquilla, nice time with Alberto’s family (Alberto, when you left to Estonia, they really really missed you!!), and then off to Panama.
My experiences in Colombia were super!! I’d really like to recommend it to anyone who’s thinking of visiting Latin America, it surely is a country of the kind of „must visit“ ones!
True, there are things to watch out for, but...in contrary and one the positive note, the country as tons to offer and aren't the things more challenging just the most precious ones ;)
Friday, July 07, 2006
A letter home, VOL 1 (in Estonian)
Hola a todos!!
Kohevarsti lõpeb mu teine nädal Ecuadoris, täpsemalt pühapäeval. Selle aja jooksul olen kuidagi totaalselt teise maailma sattunud ja kõik, mis Eestis, tundub praegusel hetkel suhteliselt kaugena...aga nojah...elu siin ongi kõvasti teistmoodi – elan teiste AIESECi pratkikantidega koos ühe kahekordse maja esimesel korrusel (5 tuba on meil siin, suur elutuba, köök ja siis veel üks ruum, mida eile näiteks kasutasime sissetunginud roti kinnipüüdmiseks ja ...khm...“kõrvaldamiseks“). Koos minuga siin praegu 3 eestlast, 2 poolakat, 1 itaallane ja 1 rumeenlane. Siiasamasse jäängi kuni augustini va siis need ajad, kui hea õnne korral õnnestub Kolumbias, Panamas ja Peruus ära käia...a sellest täpsemalt allpool.
Mu siinsed elukaaslased käivad tööl, aga minul on praegu pigem fiesta-season ...hehe...AIESECi töös ikka löön kaasa, aga kuna senini olid kõik eksamitega hõivatud, siis oli ka minu elu asjalik pool tagasihoidlik, chillin ühesõnaga ning kasutasin aega ka riigiga tutvumiseks – Raunoga käisime mägedes ja teiste sõpradega Montanitas, hipide ja surfarite paradiisis.
Mõned väiksed „pildikesed“ kohapealsest elust:
Ilm
Lennujaamast väljudes oli mul India-tunne. Õhk on siin selline soe, kerge kleepekas ja mulle tundub nagu nata sellise magusa lõhnaga...ma ei oskagi seda seletada, selline troopika-värk vist. Nüüd on õnneks India-tunne üle läinud, aga soe on siin sellegipoolest.
Ecuadoris võib aasta jooksul eristada kahte aastaaega, tinglikult siis „talv“ ja „suvi“. Praegu on talv, mis tähendab, et rannikul on nii 30-35 kraadi sooja ja enamasti on taevas pilvine so rannikul (costa). Sellest hoolimata on ikka väga lõunamaine ja suvine tunne. Ja päike võtab ka läbi pilvede. Guayaquil – 2-miljoniline linn, kus praegu elan – ongi rannikulinn.
Mägedes olles on nagu teine riik – öösiti on vaevalt 10 kraadi sooja, päeval läheb ikka vast 25 kraadi kanti ja kui päike lagipähe paistab, siis on ikka parajalt kuum. Eriti mägede vahel, kus on suhteliselt tuulevaikne. 40 faktoriga päevituskreemi kasutades õnnestus end ikka veidi ära põletada, õnneks siiski ei midagi katastroofilist.
Suvi on siin detsembrist maini (umbes). Mujal sajab ka vihma, aga rannikul pidi siis olema ilus ja pilvitu ning sooja siis juba 40 kanti.
Inimesed
Vastuvõtt on olnud sõbralik, tunnen end nagu täitsa kodus kohe – osa sellest on muidugi see, et AIESECi punt oli mul juba lennujaamas vastas ja mu uued elukaaslased on ka igati toredad, koos ikka veedame nii õhtuid kui nädalavahetusi.
Üldiselt tundub Ecuadoris Euroopa turiste olevat suhteliselt vähe, kuigi aeg-ajalt ikka kohtab, eriti Lonely Planeti poolt soovitatud sihtpaikades. Kindlasti on ka siinsest regioonist turiste, aga need ei paista ju tänavapildis nii silma.
Ka tänaval tunnevad autojuhid võõramaalased kohe ära, lasevad signaali; taksod üritavad pidevalt küüti pakkuda ja vastutulevad (meesterahvad) ikka tervitavad, ššš-itavad või vilistavad. Aga noh see pole häiriv, harjumise asi, mingil hetkel ei panegi enam tähele.
Valvas tasub tänaval siiski olla, sest ikka on lugusid selle kohta, kuidas väljamaalasi on rünnatud, neilt läpakad, raha ja muid väärisasju röövitud jne jne, mistõttu mina näiteks kannan (kui üldse) oma läpakat kaasas linasest riidest üleõlakotis, mitte kergesti silma hakkavas läpaka kotis. Ettavaatlik tasub olla, aga see ei ole kindlasti põhjus end nelja seina vahele lukustada.
Kusjuures tuleb tunnistada, et ka politsei on siin agar. Vähemalt olen mina kui välismaalane neile korduvalt silma hakanud: minu käest on juba 2 korda nädala jooksul politsei tänaval küsinud, kust ma pärit olen ja ega ma juhtumisi illegaal ei ole. Uhkusega pean ütlema, et viimane kord seletasin hispaania keeles, et kõik on korras ja ma pole illegaal ja et mul pole passi vaid sellepärast kaasas, et see juba varsti 2 nädalat on Kolumbia saatkonnas turistiviisa templit ootamas (õppetund: latiinode-viisi asjaajamine võib aega võtta!! Ja mitte vähe!!). Varsti ongi juba nii, et Alberto ja Maris, kellele pidime Kolumbiasse külla minema, lähevad sealt tagasi Eesti poole. Ja meie peame Barranquillas omapäi passima. Ilmselge saatuse iroonia: käisin ju Peebul ka niimoodi Ühendemiraatides külas, et Peep ise passis Indias viisavangis!
Espanol
Nagu arvasingi räägivad siin kõik espanoli. Ka aieseccarid, kes küll kõik mas o menos (enam-vähem, siin kõlab see nagu „mah o meno“) ikka inglist ka pursivad, räägivad üldiselt kogu aeg hispaania keelt. Ka mujalt tulnud praktikandid õpivad keele kiiresti ära. Nii paari kuuga, öeldakse. Kuigi olen keelt varem nata õppinud (3 aastat tagasi kaks semestrit), siis siia tulles oli ikka tunne, et muhvigi ei mõista. Esiteks on kuulamine ikka teine asi kui lugemine, pluss tegusõnade pööramine ja erinevad ajavormid ka veel lisaks. Nii et ikka päris keeruline. Nüüd on 2 nädalat möödas ja ikka nata saan juba igapäevasest vestlusest aru (võit!!), kaasa rääkida nii palju veel ei oska (grammatika vajaks „veidi lihvimist“, et mitte öelda õpikust tuupimist, aga ma praegu olen ikka rohkem seda learning-by-doing varianti püüdnud kasutada ning pole nii palju raamatuis sobranud. Kõvasti aitab see, et kõik ümberringi enamasti espanoli räägivad. Alguses oli omal muidugi päris imelik tunne, et tahaks nagu rääkida, aga ei oska :D:D (maakeeli öeldes „nagu tumm leilis“).
A noh õpin, aprendo! Praegu räägingi sellist Spanglish’i – inglise-hispaania segakeelt st kui hispaaniakeelsed sõnad otsa lõppevad (ja see juhtub suht ruttu), siis võtan inglisekeelsed appi. Minu keelealane töövõit seisnes selles, et ma hakkasin korraga aru saama, et nad siin ütlevad kõikide s-tähtede asemel sõna lõpus ’h’, näiteks las on lah jne. Jälle jupp maad rohkem saan aru, millest nad räägivad!!
Internet
On täiesti olemas, aga internetikohvikutes. WiFit on vast paaris kaubanduskeskuses, isegi pole seda jõudnud katsetada veel. Ma ise tunnen end muidugi suht ahistatuna, sest mul ikkagi nii umbes pool elu ju arvutis/internetis, kogu senine tööalane ja muu kommunikatsioon ka ikka arvuti vahendusel, andmehaldus ja kõik muu värk ka, nii et suht tüütu on kogu aeg mälupulgaga üle tee olevasse netikohvikusse joosta ja veebipõhiselt maile lugeda. Soodsamas kohas maksab tund netikasutust 1 USD, kallimas aga koguni 8 USD (viimane oli Hiltoni hotellis, kus huvi pärast hinnakirja kiikasin).
Loodus
On super!! Ma olen täiesti hämmastunud kui mitmekesine ja ilus siin on! Ja seda arvestades, et olen senini päris palju reisinud.
Mäed on vapustavad, käisime Andides kohas nimega Riobambas, mille kõrgeima tipu Chimborazo (6310 m) peaaegu alistasime – jõudsime 5000 m kõrgusele. Järgmisel päeval võtsime ette 6-tunnise rongisõidu Riobambast Alausi’sse. Eriti vahva oli see, et sõit oli rongi katusel. Alustasime kell 7 hommikul, kui väljas oli veel selline mõnus hommikune mägede jahedus. Lahkuvat rongi saatsid indiaanlastest käpiku- ja mütsikaupmehed. Paari tunni pärast rääkis aga Ecuador enda eest: praadisime 30-kraadises kuumuses ning 40 faktoriga päevituskreem õigustas enda olemasolu täielikult.
Mägede ilule ei jää alla ka siinsed vapustavad rannad Vaikse ookeani kaldal. Meie käisime Montanitas, mis on kohalik hipide ja surfarite paradiis (ja seda aastaringselt ja ka pilves ilmaga :D). Hoolimata sellest, et me kehvavõitu ilma tõttu randa peesitama ei jõudnud nautsime kohapealset elu-olu täiega. Kahest päevast ei piisanudki. Selleks, et sealsesse rütmi sisse elada oleks vist 3-4 päeva vaja. Noh eks vaatab, ehk veel jõuan sinna tagasi....see tähendaks siis Guayaquilist 4 tundi bussisõitu.
Kindlamast kindlam on see, et julgen Ecuadori kõigile reisimiseks soovitada: mäed, rannad, surfamine, päike, soojad inimesed, rafting, hiking ja mida kõike veel! Raha ja aega on vaja ainult
Ahjaa...soovitan lugeda ka Rauno reisimuljeid rauno.org/latina, kus ka mitmeid pilte kohalikust elust-olust.
Salsa, merengue, bachata...ja reaggeton!!
Siinne muusika, mille järgi siis ka vastavad tantsud a’la nagu valss ja rumba jms. Siin kuuleb sedasorti muusikat kogu aeg: tänaval möödasõitvas autos kõmiseb kõva reaggetoni beat, bussipeatuses hängival mustanahalisel teenager’il on õlal tümpsuv makk, ühistranspordis mängib mõnus salsa või merengue-rütm jne jne. Klubides ja noorte hulgas on eriti kuum reaggeton, mille kohta on öeldud ka, et see olla justku „sex on the dance floor“...hm...noh minu arust siiski natuke ülepakutud, aga see nimi annab vist siiski mingi ettekujutuse, millega tegu.
Salsat, merenguet, bachatat tantsitakse ka päris palju – need on aga eriti kuumad just Kariibi mere saartel, Dominikaanis näiteks. Erinevalt Eestist tantsitakse ka house-party’idel („house“ nagu korter mitte nagu muusikastiil), eelmisel reedel andis sellele kinnitust mu welcome party (loe: tants ja trall hommikuni).
Sellega siin lõpetangi praegu. Praegu ootab mind ja Raunot ees umbes 5. visiit Kolumbia saatkonda, et lõpuks ometi saada kätte oma turistiviisa (millega mõnelpool läheb aega 1-2 päeva ja mida meie juba kaks nädalat ootame....grrhhh). Tõesti loodan, et seekord läheb õnneks, olen oma lennupiletit juba 3 korda muutnud!!!
Ma senini ei arvanud, et selline asi üldse võimalik on!! Kuidas võtab esialgu lubatud 4-päevane viisa väljastamise protsess aega 2 nädalat, kusjuures viimastel päevadel antud vabandused nagu koosolek, konsuli haige laps, kulleri teel olek jms on ju täiesti jaburad!!! Whieww!!
Niih aga nüüd küll lõpetan, sest asi läheb juba liigseks kurjustamiseks kätte :D:D. Kui kuidagi ei saa, siis kuidagi ikka saab – rule of life no 1, eriti vist siinkandis...hehehe
Adios ja andke ikka endist ka märku!!
Triinu
Kohevarsti lõpeb mu teine nädal Ecuadoris, täpsemalt pühapäeval. Selle aja jooksul olen kuidagi totaalselt teise maailma sattunud ja kõik, mis Eestis, tundub praegusel hetkel suhteliselt kaugena...aga nojah...elu siin ongi kõvasti teistmoodi – elan teiste AIESECi pratkikantidega koos ühe kahekordse maja esimesel korrusel (5 tuba on meil siin, suur elutuba, köök ja siis veel üks ruum, mida eile näiteks kasutasime sissetunginud roti kinnipüüdmiseks ja ...khm...“kõrvaldamiseks“). Koos minuga siin praegu 3 eestlast, 2 poolakat, 1 itaallane ja 1 rumeenlane. Siiasamasse jäängi kuni augustini va siis need ajad, kui hea õnne korral õnnestub Kolumbias, Panamas ja Peruus ära käia...a sellest täpsemalt allpool.
Mu siinsed elukaaslased käivad tööl, aga minul on praegu pigem fiesta-season ...hehe...AIESECi töös ikka löön kaasa, aga kuna senini olid kõik eksamitega hõivatud, siis oli ka minu elu asjalik pool tagasihoidlik, chillin ühesõnaga ning kasutasin aega ka riigiga tutvumiseks – Raunoga käisime mägedes ja teiste sõpradega Montanitas, hipide ja surfarite paradiisis.
Mõned väiksed „pildikesed“ kohapealsest elust:
Ilm
Lennujaamast väljudes oli mul India-tunne. Õhk on siin selline soe, kerge kleepekas ja mulle tundub nagu nata sellise magusa lõhnaga...ma ei oskagi seda seletada, selline troopika-värk vist. Nüüd on õnneks India-tunne üle läinud, aga soe on siin sellegipoolest.
Ecuadoris võib aasta jooksul eristada kahte aastaaega, tinglikult siis „talv“ ja „suvi“. Praegu on talv, mis tähendab, et rannikul on nii 30-35 kraadi sooja ja enamasti on taevas pilvine so rannikul (costa). Sellest hoolimata on ikka väga lõunamaine ja suvine tunne. Ja päike võtab ka läbi pilvede. Guayaquil – 2-miljoniline linn, kus praegu elan – ongi rannikulinn.
Mägedes olles on nagu teine riik – öösiti on vaevalt 10 kraadi sooja, päeval läheb ikka vast 25 kraadi kanti ja kui päike lagipähe paistab, siis on ikka parajalt kuum. Eriti mägede vahel, kus on suhteliselt tuulevaikne. 40 faktoriga päevituskreemi kasutades õnnestus end ikka veidi ära põletada, õnneks siiski ei midagi katastroofilist.
Suvi on siin detsembrist maini (umbes). Mujal sajab ka vihma, aga rannikul pidi siis olema ilus ja pilvitu ning sooja siis juba 40 kanti.
Inimesed
Vastuvõtt on olnud sõbralik, tunnen end nagu täitsa kodus kohe – osa sellest on muidugi see, et AIESECi punt oli mul juba lennujaamas vastas ja mu uued elukaaslased on ka igati toredad, koos ikka veedame nii õhtuid kui nädalavahetusi.
Üldiselt tundub Ecuadoris Euroopa turiste olevat suhteliselt vähe, kuigi aeg-ajalt ikka kohtab, eriti Lonely Planeti poolt soovitatud sihtpaikades. Kindlasti on ka siinsest regioonist turiste, aga need ei paista ju tänavapildis nii silma.
Ka tänaval tunnevad autojuhid võõramaalased kohe ära, lasevad signaali; taksod üritavad pidevalt küüti pakkuda ja vastutulevad (meesterahvad) ikka tervitavad, ššš-itavad või vilistavad. Aga noh see pole häiriv, harjumise asi, mingil hetkel ei panegi enam tähele.
Valvas tasub tänaval siiski olla, sest ikka on lugusid selle kohta, kuidas väljamaalasi on rünnatud, neilt läpakad, raha ja muid väärisasju röövitud jne jne, mistõttu mina näiteks kannan (kui üldse) oma läpakat kaasas linasest riidest üleõlakotis, mitte kergesti silma hakkavas läpaka kotis. Ettavaatlik tasub olla, aga see ei ole kindlasti põhjus end nelja seina vahele lukustada.
Kusjuures tuleb tunnistada, et ka politsei on siin agar. Vähemalt olen mina kui välismaalane neile korduvalt silma hakanud: minu käest on juba 2 korda nädala jooksul politsei tänaval küsinud, kust ma pärit olen ja ega ma juhtumisi illegaal ei ole. Uhkusega pean ütlema, et viimane kord seletasin hispaania keeles, et kõik on korras ja ma pole illegaal ja et mul pole passi vaid sellepärast kaasas, et see juba varsti 2 nädalat on Kolumbia saatkonnas turistiviisa templit ootamas (õppetund: latiinode-viisi asjaajamine võib aega võtta!! Ja mitte vähe!!). Varsti ongi juba nii, et Alberto ja Maris, kellele pidime Kolumbiasse külla minema, lähevad sealt tagasi Eesti poole. Ja meie peame Barranquillas omapäi passima. Ilmselge saatuse iroonia: käisin ju Peebul ka niimoodi Ühendemiraatides külas, et Peep ise passis Indias viisavangis!
Espanol
Nagu arvasingi räägivad siin kõik espanoli. Ka aieseccarid, kes küll kõik mas o menos (enam-vähem, siin kõlab see nagu „mah o meno“) ikka inglist ka pursivad, räägivad üldiselt kogu aeg hispaania keelt. Ka mujalt tulnud praktikandid õpivad keele kiiresti ära. Nii paari kuuga, öeldakse. Kuigi olen keelt varem nata õppinud (3 aastat tagasi kaks semestrit), siis siia tulles oli ikka tunne, et muhvigi ei mõista. Esiteks on kuulamine ikka teine asi kui lugemine, pluss tegusõnade pööramine ja erinevad ajavormid ka veel lisaks. Nii et ikka päris keeruline. Nüüd on 2 nädalat möödas ja ikka nata saan juba igapäevasest vestlusest aru (võit!!), kaasa rääkida nii palju veel ei oska (grammatika vajaks „veidi lihvimist“, et mitte öelda õpikust tuupimist, aga ma praegu olen ikka rohkem seda learning-by-doing varianti püüdnud kasutada ning pole nii palju raamatuis sobranud. Kõvasti aitab see, et kõik ümberringi enamasti espanoli räägivad. Alguses oli omal muidugi päris imelik tunne, et tahaks nagu rääkida, aga ei oska :D:D (maakeeli öeldes „nagu tumm leilis“).
A noh õpin, aprendo! Praegu räägingi sellist Spanglish’i – inglise-hispaania segakeelt st kui hispaaniakeelsed sõnad otsa lõppevad (ja see juhtub suht ruttu), siis võtan inglisekeelsed appi. Minu keelealane töövõit seisnes selles, et ma hakkasin korraga aru saama, et nad siin ütlevad kõikide s-tähtede asemel sõna lõpus ’h’, näiteks las on lah jne. Jälle jupp maad rohkem saan aru, millest nad räägivad!!
Internet
On täiesti olemas, aga internetikohvikutes. WiFit on vast paaris kaubanduskeskuses, isegi pole seda jõudnud katsetada veel. Ma ise tunnen end muidugi suht ahistatuna, sest mul ikkagi nii umbes pool elu ju arvutis/internetis, kogu senine tööalane ja muu kommunikatsioon ka ikka arvuti vahendusel, andmehaldus ja kõik muu värk ka, nii et suht tüütu on kogu aeg mälupulgaga üle tee olevasse netikohvikusse joosta ja veebipõhiselt maile lugeda. Soodsamas kohas maksab tund netikasutust 1 USD, kallimas aga koguni 8 USD (viimane oli Hiltoni hotellis, kus huvi pärast hinnakirja kiikasin).
Loodus
On super!! Ma olen täiesti hämmastunud kui mitmekesine ja ilus siin on! Ja seda arvestades, et olen senini päris palju reisinud.
Mäed on vapustavad, käisime Andides kohas nimega Riobambas, mille kõrgeima tipu Chimborazo (6310 m) peaaegu alistasime – jõudsime 5000 m kõrgusele. Järgmisel päeval võtsime ette 6-tunnise rongisõidu Riobambast Alausi’sse. Eriti vahva oli see, et sõit oli rongi katusel. Alustasime kell 7 hommikul, kui väljas oli veel selline mõnus hommikune mägede jahedus. Lahkuvat rongi saatsid indiaanlastest käpiku- ja mütsikaupmehed. Paari tunni pärast rääkis aga Ecuador enda eest: praadisime 30-kraadises kuumuses ning 40 faktoriga päevituskreem õigustas enda olemasolu täielikult.
Mägede ilule ei jää alla ka siinsed vapustavad rannad Vaikse ookeani kaldal. Meie käisime Montanitas, mis on kohalik hipide ja surfarite paradiis (ja seda aastaringselt ja ka pilves ilmaga :D). Hoolimata sellest, et me kehvavõitu ilma tõttu randa peesitama ei jõudnud nautsime kohapealset elu-olu täiega. Kahest päevast ei piisanudki. Selleks, et sealsesse rütmi sisse elada oleks vist 3-4 päeva vaja. Noh eks vaatab, ehk veel jõuan sinna tagasi....see tähendaks siis Guayaquilist 4 tundi bussisõitu.
Kindlamast kindlam on see, et julgen Ecuadori kõigile reisimiseks soovitada: mäed, rannad, surfamine, päike, soojad inimesed, rafting, hiking ja mida kõike veel! Raha ja aega on vaja ainult
Ahjaa...soovitan lugeda ka Rauno reisimuljeid rauno.org/latina, kus ka mitmeid pilte kohalikust elust-olust.
Salsa, merengue, bachata...ja reaggeton!!
Siinne muusika, mille järgi siis ka vastavad tantsud a’la nagu valss ja rumba jms. Siin kuuleb sedasorti muusikat kogu aeg: tänaval möödasõitvas autos kõmiseb kõva reaggetoni beat, bussipeatuses hängival mustanahalisel teenager’il on õlal tümpsuv makk, ühistranspordis mängib mõnus salsa või merengue-rütm jne jne. Klubides ja noorte hulgas on eriti kuum reaggeton, mille kohta on öeldud ka, et see olla justku „sex on the dance floor“...hm...noh minu arust siiski natuke ülepakutud, aga see nimi annab vist siiski mingi ettekujutuse, millega tegu.
Salsat, merenguet, bachatat tantsitakse ka päris palju – need on aga eriti kuumad just Kariibi mere saartel, Dominikaanis näiteks. Erinevalt Eestist tantsitakse ka house-party’idel („house“ nagu korter mitte nagu muusikastiil), eelmisel reedel andis sellele kinnitust mu welcome party (loe: tants ja trall hommikuni).
Sellega siin lõpetangi praegu. Praegu ootab mind ja Raunot ees umbes 5. visiit Kolumbia saatkonda, et lõpuks ometi saada kätte oma turistiviisa (millega mõnelpool läheb aega 1-2 päeva ja mida meie juba kaks nädalat ootame....grrhhh). Tõesti loodan, et seekord läheb õnneks, olen oma lennupiletit juba 3 korda muutnud!!!
Ma senini ei arvanud, et selline asi üldse võimalik on!! Kuidas võtab esialgu lubatud 4-päevane viisa väljastamise protsess aega 2 nädalat, kusjuures viimastel päevadel antud vabandused nagu koosolek, konsuli haige laps, kulleri teel olek jms on ju täiesti jaburad!!! Whieww!!
Niih aga nüüd küll lõpetan, sest asi läheb juba liigseks kurjustamiseks kätte :D:D. Kui kuidagi ei saa, siis kuidagi ikka saab – rule of life no 1, eriti vist siinkandis...hehehe
Adios ja andke ikka endist ka märku!!
Triinu
Friday, June 30, 2006
Chimborazo: 5000 meters conquered
Since aiesecars are having exams this week I`m using the time to get to know the country. Me and Rauno decided to go for a 3 day trip to Riobamba, a small town with 126 000 inhabitants in the Andes.
After a 4,5 hours bus trip from Guayaquil, crossing the altitude of 3600 m on the way we made it to Riobamba. Today our conquest was the local peak of Chimborazo (6310 m) - well we made it to 5000 m only, but still :D - which is the highest peak from this point up to all across North America.
Actually I have to admit that a car - local taxi with a cool and extremely talkative driver Alfonso (or smth like that) - took us to 4800 m, and we only rose the last 200 m walking.
However it was totally new experience for me to be in this altitude, let alone make my way up there: heart beating as if I was heavily excercising and all that. And we made it! Pictures coming up soon!
Tomorrow, we`re gonna take a hell ride on the roof of the train for 6 hours, it`s called Nariz del Diablo!!! whiew...let`s see how that`s gonna be! I`m already pretty sure, I`ll freeze my arse off!!
I still refused the idea of buying additional warm clothes since I most probably won`t come to the mountains again so soon, my luggage is already overweight and my budget ought to be tigher than I`ve practiced so far :D. All that considered I think my the Air Madrid blanket will prove to be useful, as it has for a number of times already in this week :D:D.
And then, tomorrow nite - should I still be alive and kicking - is my welcome party to Guayaquil :)))...an excellent introduction to the weekend on the beach with bunch of AIESECcers and trainees here in EC!
After a 4,5 hours bus trip from Guayaquil, crossing the altitude of 3600 m on the way we made it to Riobamba. Today our conquest was the local peak of Chimborazo (6310 m) - well we made it to 5000 m only, but still :D - which is the highest peak from this point up to all across North America.
Actually I have to admit that a car - local taxi with a cool and extremely talkative driver Alfonso (or smth like that) - took us to 4800 m, and we only rose the last 200 m walking.
However it was totally new experience for me to be in this altitude, let alone make my way up there: heart beating as if I was heavily excercising and all that. And we made it! Pictures coming up soon!
Tomorrow, we`re gonna take a hell ride on the roof of the train for 6 hours, it`s called Nariz del Diablo!!! whiew...let`s see how that`s gonna be! I`m already pretty sure, I`ll freeze my arse off!!
I still refused the idea of buying additional warm clothes since I most probably won`t come to the mountains again so soon, my luggage is already overweight and my budget ought to be tigher than I`ve practiced so far :D. All that considered I think my the Air Madrid blanket will prove to be useful, as it has for a number of times already in this week :D:D.
And then, tomorrow nite - should I still be alive and kicking - is my welcome party to Guayaquil :)))...an excellent introduction to the weekend on the beach with bunch of AIESECcers and trainees here in EC!
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Ecuador Ecuador!!!
That’s my first post from the other side, the other side of the world! Yeah, I made it. It’s my second day in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where I’m going to stay for another 1,5 months. I haven’t actually wrote about the purpose of my visit here.
I’m going to be engaged with an AIESEC project Yo Creo En Ecuador (I Believe in Ecuador), which is a project enchancing social responsibility and responsible entrepreneurship among under- and young graduates. My exact role is still to be clarified though :). I hope to meet with my „boss“ Carlos today or the day after, he’s currently busy with his exams...
I didn’t have much time to write about my preparations for the trip...hehe...I actually didn’t have that enourmously much time to focus on preparation either.
I came up with this plan to come to Latin-America for a CEED (as we call it in AIESEC, basically it’s being involved with AIESEC and also experienceing different culture in another country) about 2 months ago since I hadn’t found any internship on CSR that I was looking for. Found out that AIESEC Guayaquil would be ready to host me for 1-2 months, and I would have an opportunity to contribute to a project on corporate responsibility.
So I bought the ticket (one way, just in case) about 2 months ago, and left the rest of the preparations for a little later. Was busy to still work on my other things here in Estonia (finish internal auditing work, graduate masters, work on CSR projects, give a few trainings with the European Youth etc).
As the date of leaving Estonia came closer:
- I got the injections done (yellow fever, the others I had from previous travels already)
- Started to work a bit on my Spanish (I actually failed my ambitious program on studying Spanish every day),
- Checked the visa conditions, appeared that Estonian don’t need visa if they come as tourists for up to 90 days, and that is possible to also extend it for another 90 days. So no worries with that.
- Did last minute shopping for some souvenirs from Estonia as well as the got the materials about Estonia from Eesti Instituut
A week – actually 5 days – before leaving Estonia, I got the hit news about being selected for the traineeship in Brazil!!! Yehuuu, great news!!! And a slight panic situation with now knowing that I’m going to stay abroad for at least 14 months (2 months Ecuador + 1 year in Brazil). Tried to get all possibly necessary papers with me to apply for the Brazilian visa in Ecuador (fingers crossed for that!! Still have to negotiate with the Embassy here in EC). In the worse case scenario I will need to apply via the Embassy in Helsinki. Let’s see how that goes...
So now I’m here – after about 48 hour trip, firstly with Czech Airlines to Barcelona, then waiting for about 24 hours for the next flight with Air Madrid from Barcelona to Guayaquil. The flight was 5-6 hours delayed, so initally set departure of 9 am from Baca took finally place at 2 pm.
Not much of a problem for me though, I used the time for napping around in various chairs in the airport, since I had been up the whole last nite in Estonia, celebrating mid-summer’s day with friends, after that finalise packing...huh still ended up with 5 kilos overweight, although took at least another 5 out in the airport and left it for my brother to pick up from there.
Not surprisingly the 13 hour flight (with a stop in Tenerife) went smoothly as I used the opportunity to sleep some more :)). At my few awaken moments I ate and took a crash course in Spanish...red the Spanish book I had brought along. When I finally arrived (5 hours later than intended) my Estonian friends Meeli and Rauno were waiting for me together with Jorge and Hector from AIESEC in Gye.
First impressions you ask!
Hehe funny enough...when I stepped out of airport the country reminded me of India :), that was for the way the air smells and feels here. It’s not too hot (about 32-35 degrees, the city is near the ocean), the air somehow has this sort of slightly sweet tropical scent to it. The houses reminded me of India again – mostly 1 or 2 storied houses with flat roofs (something that you dont see so often in Estonia), the traffic is busy but again nothing beats India I think :)). Generally the streets are quite clean I’d say, couldn’t really spot trash laying around or anything.
I’m staying in trainee house with 1 Estonian, 1 Romanian, 2 Polish and 1 Italian – mix of nations like you often meet in AIESEC!!
It’s my second day in Ecuador now, and by now I’ve managed to almost get rid of the India-like feeling. Afterall it’s Ecuador where I am!! (Si se puede!!).
Yesterday – the day no 1 – was great, I think Rauno wrote in his blog about it so I’m using the opportunity to refer to his experiences in Latin America :).
I’m going to be engaged with an AIESEC project Yo Creo En Ecuador (I Believe in Ecuador), which is a project enchancing social responsibility and responsible entrepreneurship among under- and young graduates. My exact role is still to be clarified though :). I hope to meet with my „boss“ Carlos today or the day after, he’s currently busy with his exams...
I didn’t have much time to write about my preparations for the trip...hehe...I actually didn’t have that enourmously much time to focus on preparation either.
I came up with this plan to come to Latin-America for a CEED (as we call it in AIESEC, basically it’s being involved with AIESEC and also experienceing different culture in another country) about 2 months ago since I hadn’t found any internship on CSR that I was looking for. Found out that AIESEC Guayaquil would be ready to host me for 1-2 months, and I would have an opportunity to contribute to a project on corporate responsibility.
So I bought the ticket (one way, just in case) about 2 months ago, and left the rest of the preparations for a little later. Was busy to still work on my other things here in Estonia (finish internal auditing work, graduate masters, work on CSR projects, give a few trainings with the European Youth etc).
As the date of leaving Estonia came closer:
- I got the injections done (yellow fever, the others I had from previous travels already)
- Started to work a bit on my Spanish (I actually failed my ambitious program on studying Spanish every day),
- Checked the visa conditions, appeared that Estonian don’t need visa if they come as tourists for up to 90 days, and that is possible to also extend it for another 90 days. So no worries with that.
- Did last minute shopping for some souvenirs from Estonia as well as the got the materials about Estonia from Eesti Instituut
A week – actually 5 days – before leaving Estonia, I got the hit news about being selected for the traineeship in Brazil!!! Yehuuu, great news!!! And a slight panic situation with now knowing that I’m going to stay abroad for at least 14 months (2 months Ecuador + 1 year in Brazil). Tried to get all possibly necessary papers with me to apply for the Brazilian visa in Ecuador (fingers crossed for that!! Still have to negotiate with the Embassy here in EC). In the worse case scenario I will need to apply via the Embassy in Helsinki. Let’s see how that goes...
So now I’m here – after about 48 hour trip, firstly with Czech Airlines to Barcelona, then waiting for about 24 hours for the next flight with Air Madrid from Barcelona to Guayaquil. The flight was 5-6 hours delayed, so initally set departure of 9 am from Baca took finally place at 2 pm.
Not much of a problem for me though, I used the time for napping around in various chairs in the airport, since I had been up the whole last nite in Estonia, celebrating mid-summer’s day with friends, after that finalise packing...huh still ended up with 5 kilos overweight, although took at least another 5 out in the airport and left it for my brother to pick up from there.
Not surprisingly the 13 hour flight (with a stop in Tenerife) went smoothly as I used the opportunity to sleep some more :)). At my few awaken moments I ate and took a crash course in Spanish...red the Spanish book I had brought along. When I finally arrived (5 hours later than intended) my Estonian friends Meeli and Rauno were waiting for me together with Jorge and Hector from AIESEC in Gye.
First impressions you ask!
Hehe funny enough...when I stepped out of airport the country reminded me of India :), that was for the way the air smells and feels here. It’s not too hot (about 32-35 degrees, the city is near the ocean), the air somehow has this sort of slightly sweet tropical scent to it. The houses reminded me of India again – mostly 1 or 2 storied houses with flat roofs (something that you dont see so often in Estonia), the traffic is busy but again nothing beats India I think :)). Generally the streets are quite clean I’d say, couldn’t really spot trash laying around or anything.
I’m staying in trainee house with 1 Estonian, 1 Romanian, 2 Polish and 1 Italian – mix of nations like you often meet in AIESEC!!
It’s my second day in Ecuador now, and by now I’ve managed to almost get rid of the India-like feeling. Afterall it’s Ecuador where I am!! (Si se puede!!).
Yesterday – the day no 1 – was great, I think Rauno wrote in his blog about it so I’m using the opportunity to refer to his experiences in Latin America :).
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
BRAZIL, here I come!!!
WHOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I GOT SELECTED FOR THE ABN AMRO INTERNSHIP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT and CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY!!!
EXACTLY MY THING!!
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!
I AM SOO SOOOOO LUCKYYYY!!!!
From my future colleague:
*********************************************
We have selected our trainee!
We selected Triinu from Estonia and are very excited to have her join our team beginning on August 14th.
Can you help Triinu with the process from here on - work permit, preparation, reception, etc.? Also, if a meeting with the person will be handling the process in Brazil can be set up so that we are clear about the process, that would be great.
I will be away for the next few weeks but Thais will be here and can facilitate the process from our end.
Thanks again for the support with our first trainee in the Education and Sustainable Development Department!
All the best,
******************
And here's a bit more about the organization and the field work I'm also going to be involved with: "ABN AMRO - the emerging markets bank of the year"
I GOT SELECTED FOR THE ABN AMRO INTERNSHIP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT and CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY!!!
EXACTLY MY THING!!
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!
I AM SOO SOOOOO LUCKYYYY!!!!
From my future colleague:
*********************************************
We have selected our trainee!
We selected Triinu from Estonia and are very excited to have her join our team beginning on August 14th.
Can you help Triinu with the process from here on - work permit, preparation, reception, etc.? Also, if a meeting with the person will be handling the process in Brazil can be set up so that we are clear about the process, that would be great.
I will be away for the next few weeks but Thais will be here and can facilitate the process from our end.
Thanks again for the support with our first trainee in the Education and Sustainable Development Department!
All the best,
******************
And here's a bit more about the organization and the field work I'm also going to be involved with: "ABN AMRO - the emerging markets bank of the year"
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Grand tour de 2005: India - Bangladesh - UAE
August 23rd to September 18th. I had fantastic time :))))....it'd be too long to write my memories...I planned to do that while on the way, but did not manage...thus here just come some bits of memories in chronological order :)
ON THE WAY...
Last minute panick, MA entrance exams & packing - MariLiis sending me off at Balti Jaam - chocolate candies & pictures - overnight train to Moscow - Elina joining from Jõhvi - me: sleep, Elina: work :)) - morning in Moscow - Bangladesh embassy & getting my visa done - sightseeing in Moscow: the red square - getting lost on my own - the visa & rushing to Domodetovo alone (Elina experiencing the Turkmenistan Airlines) - Fly Emirates! - welcome to sauna!! & sleepless hours in Dubai airport...
INDIA
4 am flight to Delhi - the Lebanese businessmen - huh! it's hot in here!! - Pancheel Park 118 & meeting Elina - welcome back to India: paneer, rikshaws etc etc - a day in sarees - Partners in Change & meeting with Viraf - getting our business cards done - - mmm...Indian food is delicious :)) - Bedi, his friends & the night out (hmm...what club was it?) - shopping, shopping & more shopping - Hyatt, clubs, jaguars, Rajat & friends, no time to sleep...3 hrs still!! - train to Agra - Gaurav Jain from Agra - Jaypee Palace & AIESEC International Congress 2005 - PEEP & the Estonian MC team!!! - long time, no see: reunion with many many people from AIESEC - the AIESEC spirit!! - Sustainability Drive Team meeting - Corporate Responsibility Learning Network Day - India night - Estonian "meeting" ;) - 4 days flew by and off to Jaipur the Pink City - stolen laptop & 'police station' in Jaipur - Kunal Khetan -jewellery & shoe shopping in Jaipur - Elina back to Delhi (off to Himalayas) - Jaipur LC office again, managing urgent e-mails - meeting the EB - Cooba's place & Veronica's T-shirt :)))) - gossip - emotion management... - 02. september: train to Mumbai!!
....ok that was abt half way of my trip :)...i'll try to continue until the end some day :)))
20th of January, 2006
I promised to continue the snapshots of the journey - here I'm doing that...abt 5 monts later!!
continued where I left off:
- meeting friend Ronak in Mumbai - Juhu beach & dancing monkeys - wondering around in the neighborhood - judo competition :D - nite out in Mumbai - Vikram & 37 hours travel from Mumbai to Kolkata - early arrival - oh, Kolkata ain't as crazy place as I had heard of - SRFTI - movies, movies, movies - a 8 hours bus trip to Dhaka!!!
BANGLADESH
hehe...the border control :D - wow didnt think Bangladesh would be such a green country, reminds me of Kerala, India - arrive in Dhaka & meeting Kristel!! - late dinner - staying at Kristel & Helen's place - a bit of sightseeing - to Cox's Bazaar with Kristel, Rajon and Rajon's friend - the longest beach in the World - our nice beach houses - Angel Drop restaurant on the beach - meeting Daan - making fire on the beach - next day sightseeing tour & boat to the island - rainy day - back in Dhaka - us: the Bengalese women :) - some more sightseeing & rain - at the office of Lalmai Group - Hindi streets - shopping at the market for 4 hrs!! - eating out with Kristel - next day off to UAE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Peep still stuck in India!!! - figuring out my visa solution - 4 day transit - wow, Dubai is nice and HOT!! - + 40 degrees - London Creek Hotel - Dubai museum - some shopping - meeting Ana and Pieter - Daan also arrived for 1 day - Desert Safari with Daan: jeep safari, the camp, camel rides and belly dancing :)) - later pubing with Ana, Pieter and Daan - the DHL dancing team :D:D - FUNFUNFUN - Daan off to airport - sleep in - the SMART car and the 3 of us: me, Ana, Pieter - Lebanese restuarant, Jumeira beach, the soaks of Dubai - had a wonderful time!
Saturday the 17th of September - back home: flight to Moscow and a train to Tallinn from there!!
The whole trip was simply SUPER!!!
A week after I already thought of where to go next :)))
Let's see ;)
ON THE WAY...
Last minute panick, MA entrance exams & packing - MariLiis sending me off at Balti Jaam - chocolate candies & pictures - overnight train to Moscow - Elina joining from Jõhvi - me: sleep, Elina: work :)) - morning in Moscow - Bangladesh embassy & getting my visa done - sightseeing in Moscow: the red square - getting lost on my own - the visa & rushing to Domodetovo alone (Elina experiencing the Turkmenistan Airlines) - Fly Emirates! - welcome to sauna!! & sleepless hours in Dubai airport...
INDIA
4 am flight to Delhi - the Lebanese businessmen - huh! it's hot in here!! - Pancheel Park 118 & meeting Elina - welcome back to India: paneer, rikshaws etc etc - a day in sarees - Partners in Change & meeting with Viraf - getting our business cards done - - mmm...Indian food is delicious :)) - Bedi, his friends & the night out (hmm...what club was it?) - shopping, shopping & more shopping - Hyatt, clubs, jaguars, Rajat & friends, no time to sleep...3 hrs still!! - train to Agra - Gaurav Jain from Agra - Jaypee Palace & AIESEC International Congress 2005 - PEEP & the Estonian MC team!!! - long time, no see: reunion with many many people from AIESEC - the AIESEC spirit!! - Sustainability Drive Team meeting - Corporate Responsibility Learning Network Day - India night - Estonian "meeting" ;) - 4 days flew by and off to Jaipur the Pink City - stolen laptop & 'police station' in Jaipur - Kunal Khetan -jewellery & shoe shopping in Jaipur - Elina back to Delhi (off to Himalayas) - Jaipur LC office again, managing urgent e-mails - meeting the EB - Cooba's place & Veronica's T-shirt :)))) - gossip - emotion management... - 02. september: train to Mumbai!!
....ok that was abt half way of my trip :)...i'll try to continue until the end some day :)))
20th of January, 2006
I promised to continue the snapshots of the journey - here I'm doing that...abt 5 monts later!!
continued where I left off:
- meeting friend Ronak in Mumbai - Juhu beach & dancing monkeys - wondering around in the neighborhood - judo competition :D - nite out in Mumbai - Vikram & 37 hours travel from Mumbai to Kolkata - early arrival - oh, Kolkata ain't as crazy place as I had heard of - SRFTI - movies, movies, movies - a 8 hours bus trip to Dhaka!!!
BANGLADESHhehe...the border control :D - wow didnt think Bangladesh would be such a green country, reminds me of Kerala, India - arrive in Dhaka & meeting Kristel!! - late dinner - staying at Kristel & Helen's place - a bit of sightseeing - to Cox's Bazaar with Kristel, Rajon and Rajon's friend - the longest beach in the World - our nice beach houses - Angel Drop restaurant on the beach - meeting Daan - making fire on the beach - next day sightseeing tour & boat to the island - rainy day - back in Dhaka - us: the Bengalese women :) - some more sightseeing & rain - at the office of Lalmai Group - Hindi streets - shopping at the market for 4 hrs!! - eating out with Kristel - next day off to UAE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Peep still stuck in India!!! - figuring out my visa solution - 4 day transit - wow, Dubai is nice and HOT!! - + 40 degrees - London Creek Hotel - Dubai museum - some shopping - meeting Ana and Pieter - Daan also arrived for 1 day - Desert Safari with Daan: jeep safari, the camp, camel rides and belly dancing :)) - later pubing with Ana, Pieter and Daan - the DHL dancing team :D:D - FUNFUNFUN - Daan off to airport - sleep in - the SMART car and the 3 of us: me, Ana, Pieter - Lebanese restuarant, Jumeira beach, the soaks of Dubai - had a wonderful time!
Saturday the 17th of September - back home: flight to Moscow and a train to Tallinn from there!!
The whole trip was simply SUPER!!!
A week after I already thought of where to go next :)))
Let's see ;)
Sunday, August 14, 2005
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