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Winter in Brazil, working at Cenibra
During the Finnish summer Brazil is freezing cold. When the temperature drops below +20 degrees Celsius, the news is all about how you should dress warmly. So, mostly the cold has not been a problem for a Finn, you could even say that the weather is pleasant, during daytime even hot at times.
Brazilian people are great, and even more so after they learn that you are not an American even though you speak English. Cenibra pulp mill is situated in a small town Belo Oriente in the state of Minas Gerais and the nearest city is Ipatinga. Ipatinga has more residents than Turku in Finland but still it is considered a minor city in Brazil. The people around here are very friendly and curious about strangers (and yes, I apparently really look that different from them so that they can tell much before I open my mouth to speak) but the problem is that there are not many people who speak English and I only know a few words of Portuguese so it takes a while sometimes to get the message across.
At Cenibra people have been nothing but helpful. They are very friendly; practically my first week here my name shortened from Anna-Maria to Anna and that is what everybody is calling me now. The project I am working with is about fines and vessels and it is interesting. What frustrates me though is that there have been some problems at the mill that have delayed my project and changed the schedule. Also, when these delays happen, sometimes it is boring to wait around for busy people to take time out of their own work to help me find something to do. I think that experiencing the international workplace and doing research in my field of study will give me much to offer to my future employers. In the future there hopefully will be some interesting doors and windows open to me on my career.
Work takes the weekdays including nights for me because I am staying at Casa de hospedés of Cenibra, the guest house, from Monday to Friday. Weekends are my free time and I move to a hotel to Ipatinga as the guest house only has service on weekdays. One of the high points of my stay in Brazil has been when I traveled to Rio de Janeiro with my fellow trainees from Finland who are in two other pulp mills in Brazil. We all took a bus from our respective cities and met in Rio. The time there was great and I really want to go back there. One weekend is not long enough to spend there.
I am looking forward to hopefully traveling at least to Vitoriá and Ouro Preto at least before I leave. The time is flying when having fun.
Reporting from Belo Oriente, Minas Gerais,
Over and out,
Anna-Maria
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August 9th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Approximately 2 more weeks and I’m done with my summer job here…wow, passed so fast! That’s a good sign I think, it means I’ve been enjoying here and didn’t get bored! heheh!! Indeed!!! My time here has been great!
I’ve heard finnish people are not so easy to get in touch with, a bit introspective (actually I also read this in a book a finnish guy gave me, its called “From Finland, with love”…it says something like: “try to speak to a finnish in an elevator about a random subject…he’ll start to get anxious, sweat, and look down…that’s because finnish people don’t like small talks…why bother ask a friend how the family is or if he is ok…if there is something wrong, he will tell you, after all, he’s your friend! hahah!!”)… I had some experience about that, especially in the building where I live…the kitchen and the TV room are shared…but you know, I was the only one to use them! People got from work, just passed by to get some food in the refrigerator and then right back to their room again! It took some time to have someone to talk…but of course, I had to make the first step! No way I would spend 3 months living in a place without talking to anybody, without at least one friend! And that’s pretty much what I got there…one person only heheh, even after more than 2 months! But at least a great one…and despite that, outside the building, I’ve known so many nice, fun and helpful people…Starting here in my work, my boss, is an example…I’m grateful for the patience and time he spent to show me all the areas in the mill and make sure I was well set here…
The first week I was here he brought me to this DNA store so I could get my internet connection…and guess what…the guy who was selling me the stick, when found out I was from Brazil, started speaking a bit portuguese to me!!! How come, in Kemi, I could meet someone who had been in Brazil 4 times and just loved my country!! Hahaha!! And through him I ended up meeting more and more great finnish people that contributed to make my stay in here really nice so far…
I’ve travelled to some places around the country…Helsinki, Raahe, Imatra, Haaparanta/Tornio, Oulu (about 5 times! it’s so close from here…saved many of my weekends because actually I live in Rytikari, near the mill and about 10 km far from “keskusta” (yeah, I’ve learned some finnish words heheh)…it’s like a village and there isn’t much to do and not even many people of my age…most of times I said I live there people give me like a “pity face”…no wonder why hahah!!!).
I got the chance to experience some traditional finnish culture as well…summer cottage, sauna, swimming in cold sea (few seconds!), sausage on the fire (even if its raining a little!!), going to an island by boat…So much fun!!!…and this week I’m going to pick up some berries in a finnish forest hehehe!! Oh, and one thing I forgot to mention…here people love bicycles! Looks like they think if you have a bike, you can do whatever you want! heheh!! I got really surprised when they instead of giving me directions about bus schedules, they gave me a bike! When I got it, they said: “now you can go to the city!” Come on!!! It’s 10 km far!!! No way!!…haven’t tried that so far and probably won’t…Can’t even remember last time I rode a bike in Brazil… it felt a bit weird first time I got back from work with it… must confess I even laughed myself on the way heheh!! Especially because of the brand they gave me…Ainos…people say it’s for old ladies…have to agree!!
And thank God most of people here speak English (although sometimes even English is a bit tricky… older people don’t give up the finnish accent!)…but Jesus, this finnish language is so hard!! With all those ä, ö, å and words that have the size of a hole sentence!! And I gotta say as well, it doesn’t sound very nice either…except in rap songs hahaha!!! Yes, I could experience some music styles here and even got the chance to see Fintelligens! My favourite!
About the work, it’s been great…In Stora Enso Veitsiluoto mill I’ve been doing a research about a product they wanna use during cooking, and also making some wastewater analysis…at the end I will give a presentation about that…Also I spent some time at the lab…overall learning a lot since in Brazil I specialized in the field area, Eucalyptus plantations, physiology, tree growth…actually all the events that happen before the wood gets to the mill.
One more subject: the weather!! Well, it’s not that kind of summer I’m used to…a bit cold sometimes (for me of course! a brazilian that lived in “Piracicaba” city before coming here…just checked the temperature there…+28!!! and its winter!!! heheh!!)…oh, that’s a habit I got in Finland…check the weather forecast many times a day…it changes so much! In one same day we can have sunny and warm, rain and then cold! And gotta mention…the wind!!! So hard and cold most of the times! But to be honest, I prefer when it’s windy…otherwise we have mosquitos!!! Lots of them here up north!!! And they say in Brazil we have mosquitos!! Nooooo way!!! To have an idea, they have shirts with mosquitos printed on them which say: “Finnish Army Force!” Indeed!!!
But at least I could enjoy some hot days at the “beach”…it comes between “” because for me it’s more like a sand box with a calm lake haha!! But it’s really nice to have so much nature around…and I’m glad I came during summer because from what I’ve heard here…winter…-30 and dark!!! God!! No wonder why at the introduction of the book I read, when the author (who is german) explains that he came to Finland because he fell in love with a finnish girl, says: “How come I didn’t fall in love with a brazilian girl??” hahah!! But he also says…”be careful, because you might fall in love with Finland”…and I kind of did…I’m glad I got this opportunity…
Terveisin,
Ana Heloisa.
August 11th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Two months down, one to go. Indeed time has passed by quickly, and already I can say I have got some life-long memories.
I can’t talk about Brazil without beginning with churrasco. I love it, it’s so good! The Brazilian BBQ is something that everyone should have at least once in a life time. And it’s more then just food here; it’s part of cultural life and important social event as well. One thing I still haven’t learned to eat is grilled chicken heart, but it’s more like an appetizer anyway. Besides the churrasco, in general, food is very good here. Every day at the mill restaurant we have rise, beans and meat prepared in various ways. Salads, vegetables and fruits plays minor part in average nutrition.
If you ask anyone in Finland about Brazil, it’s all about beaches, sunshine, leisure, carnivals, samba and beautiful people. Well, maybe that’s the case in some parts of the country, but I have seen very different Brazil. I’m in southern Brazil, in state of Santa Catarina. This small city of Lages is almost 1000 meters above sea level in the mountains, so here are no beaches, no carnivals, no samba and hardly any sunshine nether. Most of the time it’s raining, and just last week we had a nice little snow fall, about 20cm!! Yep, really didn’t see that one coming, but I heard it’s not normal; last time was 10 years ago. The weather really is chilly, even for a Finnish guy. Last weeks we have had something around 10C on day times. Of course it will be different in summer, but now in winter, the only thing I can agree with is the beautiful people. They really put effort on their appearance here.
Leisure really doesn’t fit in the picture. They are active, ambitious and hard working people here. Every day I leave home 6:30am and come back 6:30pm, so it’s 12 hour day, which includes bus rides back and forth. In the evenings I basically eat and go to sleep, so all the social activities are limited to weekends. The job I have is just great! It’s interesting, challenging, flexible, focuses right on a field of my studies and is very beneficial from educational point of view. I’m doing a research project, where I review all the existing barrier coating applications, and make proposal how to improve the current one at the paper machine. Even though there aren’t too many English speakers at the mill, everyone is willing to help me, especially those few who do speak English.
That’s the case here anyway; people are very open, friendly and always ready to help you anyway they can. People invite me to their homes and parties and want to take me out just to make me feel welcome. It’s very easy to make friends if we just have a language in common. Usually it means if someone knows English, because unfortunately I don’t speak Portuguese, yet. I was little disappointed how few knows English here, even among younger people. Ana, you told about the Portuguese speaking guy in Kemi, well, happened to me also that I met one Brazilian guy who was wearing Saku Koivus’ national team hockey jersey and speaking Finnish, here in Lages. He have spent one year as an exchange student in my home town Tampere. That was unexpected!
I haven’t been traveling as much as I originally planned, due to rather limited free time, but I went to Buenos Aires for a long weekend with some Finnish friends. What a beautiful city it is! Definitely worth of visiting if you ever are given an opportunity. Also, I have visited Florianopolis couple of times, which is state capital two hours away on a cost side. It is a big island, surrounded by beaches and blessed with one of the most beautiful sceneries I have ever seen. It’s a big city with warm atmosphere, so there’re my beaches, parties and all that you can imagine.
Furthermore, I have to tell you about my housing arrangement here in Lages, which is something very cool. I live in a house owned by an old couple, who also lives in the house. Their kids have moved away already, so they are renting bedrooms for students. It’s a big house and besides me there are four Brazilian students. The rent, considerable low, includes room cleaning, laundry and two warm meals on a table by the old lady. It’s like an all inclusive hotel! Also some brain food is offered, when we are tasting and comparing local wines and listening political radio show with the old gentleman. What a nice people. I haven’t had that good position since I was five years old.
All in all, Brazil is treating me very well and I’m really enjoying my stay. I’m vary clad I participate this program and I want to thank every party involved. I have got some very unique memories and made a lot of new friends. Finland is a beautiful place and I bet you can fall in love with that, but if one falls in love with Brazil, I really can’t blame. These two countries are very different in all aspects, but I guess it is like I was told; there’s no right or wrong, there’s only different.
August 2010, Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Tomi Harjula