Sunday, July 30, 2006
- 29/7 retour en Belgique,
- 31/7 visite de la famille car anniversaire de mon grand pere. Il a toujours revé de voir le foret amazonien, mais c'est un peu loin... Si Mohamed ne vient pas à la montagne, faudra que le foret amazonien vienne a lui, donc j'ai amené quelques sémences pour son jardin...
- 1/8 a Charleroi, fete d'au revoir de Pedro Ruquoy, un pretre belge qui travaillait avec les haitiens en République Dominicaine, et qui va se rendre en Zambie maintenant.
- 2 et au 6 aout : Paris, retrouvailles avec des amis
- 7 au 9 aout: retour en Belgique a nouveau...
- 10 et 11 aout: vers les Pays Bas... Ca bouge, d'etre a l'interieur de l'europe!
- 12 et 13 aout : a Liege
- 14/8 tout le monde invité pour feter le fameux 14-15 aout a Liege, avec plein de peket (jenever local, a tous les parfums possibles)
- 21 au 31 aout: suivre conference sur migration a Université de Liegé ?
- debut septembre (du 1er au 10 probablement?): petit passage en Angleterre, a Londres, Brighton et Oxford
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
de santiago de compostella
Du 22 au 29 juillet, je suis avec mon frangin, sa copine et un autre couple dans le nord d'espagne, a Galicia. On a fait le saint Jacques a Santiago, avec le meilleur feu d'artifice que j'ai jamais vu, surplombé par la vieille cathedrale, sublime, meme de trop.
July 25 Feast of St James the Great
This Apostle was a son of Zebedee, a fisherman of Galilee, and Salome (cf. Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1), and brother of John the Evangelist. He is sometimes called 'James the Greater', and sometimes 'Jacob'.
James was apparently a disciple of St John the Baptist and left everything when Jesus called him to be a fisher of men. James was among the circle of people closest to Jesus, was present with Peter and John at the Transfiguration, and again at the Agony in the Garden, sleeping while Christ prayed. He was tried and executed in Jerusalem in the year 44 CE by Agrippa I, son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great. There is a tradition that James founded an Apostolic in Spain; this tradition was current as early as 700, but no certain mention of such tradition is to be found earlier.
Once, he resurrected a boy who had been wrongly executed, and had been dead for five weeks. The boy's father, notified of the miracle while he sat at his dinner table, pronounced the story nonsense, saying his son was no more alive than the roasted fowl on the table. The cooked bird promptly sat up, sprouted feathers, and flew away. Or, so it is said.
St James the Great is the patron saint of, among other things, apothecaries, arthritis sufferers, blacksmiths, Chile, druggists, equestrians, furriers, Guatemala, horsemen, knights, labourers, pharmacists, pilgrims, soldiers, Spanish conquistadors, tanners, and veterinarians .
He is also the patron of Spain, where he is said to have preached, and it was in Spain that a remarkable transformation came over the legend of this fisherman. At the Battle of Clavijo, 841, between Ramiro, King of Leon, and the Moors, when the Christians were losing, St James appeared in the field, on a charger decorated with scallop shells, and armed, he slew 60,000 of the Moors. In his honour, the Spaniards founded the Order of St James of the Sword (Santiago de Espada).
For centuries, the Spanish army rode to battle with the cry "Santiago!" ("Saint James!"). An example of this was at the Battle of Cajamarca, Peru on November 16, 1532, when only 168 conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro (1471 - 1541) defeated 80,000 Incan warriors led by their emperor, Atahualpa. Tradition has it that over the centuries, James has appeared, and been seen fighting at Flanders, Italy, India and America. Charles V (1500 - 1558) conquered Tunis on St James's Day.
The Pilgrimage of Compostela, Spain is Europe's greatest pilgrimage.
The city of Santiago de Compostela became the seat of the saint, from the legend of his body having been miraculously translated there.
When his relics were being conveyed from Jerusalem, where he died, to Spain, in a ship of marble, the horse of a Portuguese knight plunged into the sea with its rider. When rescued, the knight's clothes were found to be covered with scallop shells.
It might be that the use of the scallop device derives from the pilgrims' using shells as primitive cups and spoons, or it might derive from the earlier Roman festival of the sea god and goddess, Neptune and Salacia (July 23, qv). Pilgrims to the shrine wore, and often still wear, a scallop shell on cloak or hat.
Medieval Galicians (from Galicia, Spain 'the land of the Gaelic, or Celtic/Gallic people' – first cousins to the Irish, Welsh, Scots, Cornish and Bretons; living in northwest Spain around Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain) who were willing to accept passing pilgrims into their homes also hung scallop shells over their doors. In French, 'une coquille Saint-Jacques' – literally, a 'St James shell' – is the term for 'scallop'.
The remains of the Apostle lay forgotten until the year 813, when a hermit named Pelayo was led to their hidden site by a shining star (campus stellae), thus giving the name to the city, or from the latin word for cemetary compostela). The local bishop had the cathedral erected at this location where the bones of the saint lie in a chapel located in the basement of the church.
The pilgrimage to Compostela became almost as popular and important in medieval Europe as that to Jerusalem. Because of this, seventeen English peers and eight baronets have scallop shells in their arms as heraldic charges.
The pilgrimage, known as the Camino, is as popular today as it was in the Middle Ages. Tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world, not all of them Roman Catholic, make the journey on foot. The pilgrimage, probably the most famous on the planet, goes for about 900 kilometres, from France to Spain, and takes about a month.
More folklore
Apples were blessed on this day by the priests, and at Cliff in Kent, England the rector traditionally distributed a mutton pie and a loaf to as many as ask for it.
At the Fiesta de Santiago in Loiz Aldea, Puerto Rico, villagers still act out the characters from the battle of St James against the Moors. Some wear their faces painted white, dressed as Spanish conquistadors, while others impersonate the Moors, who are represented (of course) as grotesques, with carved, horned masks. Some villagers become clowns, and others “crazy women” (men dressed in women’s clothes).
There is an old English saying that “Who eats oysters on St James's Day will never want”. In Britain, St James's Day falls during what also became known as the close season for oysters, meaning that by act of parliament they are prohibited to be harvested until today. We may assume that oysters obtainable so early in the season would be a luxury only eaten by the rich.
Quotes
Omnis homo velox est.[Let every man be swift (to hear).] In art, the motto of St James the Greater
Until St James Day be come and gone
You may have hops or you may have none.Traditional English proverb
If it be fair three Sundays before St James’s day, corn will be good; but wet corn will wither.English traditional proverb
Whoever eats oysters on St James's Day will never want money. English traditional proverb
I think oysters are more beautiful than any religion. Saki: The Chronicles of Clovis
July 25 Feast of St James the Great
This Apostle was a son of Zebedee, a fisherman of Galilee, and Salome (cf. Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1), and brother of John the Evangelist. He is sometimes called 'James the Greater', and sometimes 'Jacob'.
James was apparently a disciple of St John the Baptist and left everything when Jesus called him to be a fisher of men. James was among the circle of people closest to Jesus, was present with Peter and John at the Transfiguration, and again at the Agony in the Garden, sleeping while Christ prayed. He was tried and executed in Jerusalem in the year 44 CE by Agrippa I, son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great. There is a tradition that James founded an Apostolic in Spain; this tradition was current as early as 700, but no certain mention of such tradition is to be found earlier.
Once, he resurrected a boy who had been wrongly executed, and had been dead for five weeks. The boy's father, notified of the miracle while he sat at his dinner table, pronounced the story nonsense, saying his son was no more alive than the roasted fowl on the table. The cooked bird promptly sat up, sprouted feathers, and flew away. Or, so it is said.
St James the Great is the patron saint of, among other things, apothecaries, arthritis sufferers, blacksmiths, Chile, druggists, equestrians, furriers, Guatemala, horsemen, knights, labourers, pharmacists, pilgrims, soldiers, Spanish conquistadors, tanners, and veterinarians .
He is also the patron of Spain, where he is said to have preached, and it was in Spain that a remarkable transformation came over the legend of this fisherman. At the Battle of Clavijo, 841, between Ramiro, King of Leon, and the Moors, when the Christians were losing, St James appeared in the field, on a charger decorated with scallop shells, and armed, he slew 60,000 of the Moors. In his honour, the Spaniards founded the Order of St James of the Sword (Santiago de Espada).
For centuries, the Spanish army rode to battle with the cry "Santiago!" ("Saint James!"). An example of this was at the Battle of Cajamarca, Peru on November 16, 1532, when only 168 conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro (1471 - 1541) defeated 80,000 Incan warriors led by their emperor, Atahualpa. Tradition has it that over the centuries, James has appeared, and been seen fighting at Flanders, Italy, India and America. Charles V (1500 - 1558) conquered Tunis on St James's Day.
The Pilgrimage of Compostela, Spain is Europe's greatest pilgrimage.
The city of Santiago de Compostela became the seat of the saint, from the legend of his body having been miraculously translated there.
When his relics were being conveyed from Jerusalem, where he died, to Spain, in a ship of marble, the horse of a Portuguese knight plunged into the sea with its rider. When rescued, the knight's clothes were found to be covered with scallop shells.
It might be that the use of the scallop device derives from the pilgrims' using shells as primitive cups and spoons, or it might derive from the earlier Roman festival of the sea god and goddess, Neptune and Salacia (July 23, qv). Pilgrims to the shrine wore, and often still wear, a scallop shell on cloak or hat. Medieval Galicians (from Galicia, Spain 'the land of the Gaelic, or Celtic/Gallic people' – first cousins to the Irish, Welsh, Scots, Cornish and Bretons; living in northwest Spain around Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain) who were willing to accept passing pilgrims into their homes also hung scallop shells over their doors. In French, 'une coquille Saint-Jacques' – literally, a 'St James shell' – is the term for 'scallop'.
The remains of the Apostle lay forgotten until the year 813, when a hermit named Pelayo was led to their hidden site by a shining star (campus stellae), thus giving the name to the city, or from the latin word for cemetary compostela). The local bishop had the cathedral erected at this location where the bones of the saint lie in a chapel located in the basement of the church.
The pilgrimage to Compostela became almost as popular and important in medieval Europe as that to Jerusalem. Because of this, seventeen English peers and eight baronets have scallop shells in their arms as heraldic charges.
The pilgrimage, known as the Camino, is as popular today as it was in the Middle Ages. Tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world, not all of them Roman Catholic, make the journey on foot. The pilgrimage, probably the most famous on the planet, goes for about 900 kilometres, from France to Spain, and takes about a month.
More folklore
Apples were blessed on this day by the priests, and at Cliff in Kent, England the rector traditionally distributed a mutton pie and a loaf to as many as ask for it.
At the Fiesta de Santiago in Loiz Aldea, Puerto Rico, villagers still act out the characters from the battle of St James against the Moors. Some wear their faces painted white, dressed as Spanish conquistadors, while others impersonate the Moors, who are represented (of course) as grotesques, with carved, horned masks. Some villagers become clowns, and others “crazy women” (men dressed in women’s clothes).
There is an old English saying that “Who eats oysters on St James's Day will never want”. In Britain, St James's Day falls during what also became known as the close season for oysters, meaning that by act of parliament they are prohibited to be harvested until today. We may assume that oysters obtainable so early in the season would be a luxury only eaten by the rich.
Quotes
Omnis homo velox est.[Let every man be swift (to hear).] In art, the motto of St James the Greater
Until St James Day be come and gone
You may have hops or you may have none.Traditional English proverb
If it be fair three Sundays before St James’s day, corn will be good; but wet corn will wither.English traditional proverb
Whoever eats oysters on St James's Day will never want money. English traditional proverb
I think oysters are more beautiful than any religion. Saki: The Chronicles of Clovis
how I felt coming back - sand in my shoes (Dido)
"Sand In My Shoes"
Dido
Two years away
it feels like the whole world should've changed
But I'm home now
And things still look the same
I think I'll leave it till tomorrow to unpack
Try to forget for one more night
That I'm back in my flat on the road
Where the cars never stop going through the night
To a life where I can't watch sunset
I don't have time
I don't have time
I've still got sand in my shoes
And I can't shake the thought of you
I should get on, forget you
But why would I want to
I know we said goodbye
Anything else would've been confused but I wanna see you again
Tomorrow's back to work and down to sanity
should run a bath and then clear up the mess I made before I left here
Try to remind myself that I was happy here
Before I knew that I could get on the plane and fly away
From the road where the cars never stop going through the night
To a life where I can't watch sunset
And take my time
Take up our time.
Two years away,
all it takes to change and turn me around,
I've fallen
I walked away and never said that I wanted to see you again...
I've still got sand in my shoes
And I can't shake the thought of you
I should get on, forget you
But why would I want to
I know we said goodbye
Anything else would've been confused but I wanna see you again
And I can't shake the thought of you
I should get on, forget you
But why would I want to
I know we said goodbye
Anything else would've been confused but I wanna see you again
Thursday, July 20, 2006
la belgique en fete...
En ja, morgen, grote dag, mijn broertje verjaart, dertig jaar! Voor een keer zal hij in Belgie zitten... Gaan het vieren in Gent, net tijdens de gentse feesten.
En de dag erna, la fete nationale belge. Deux copains d'Haiti viennent, faire la fete. Chouette de les retrouver...
En de dag erna, la fete nationale belge. Deux copains d'Haiti viennent, faire la fete. Chouette de les retrouver...
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Tips for the lonely traveller
Just some things I thought handy while traveling by myself:
- remember, you meet a lot more people while travelling alone, and traveling makes you establish much stronger bonds in a short time, so don't worry about getting lonely (in my opinion, people should worry more about being able to stand the person they would be traveling with for 24/24-7)...
- take along an iPod, jukebox, whatever brand you want to. It's so nice to have a big selection of music, to fill the gaps while sitting in buses or at stations. And, as anti-social as it might seem, it's sometimes actually nice to shut down and not invite any random person to start chatting with you... If you do, try putting some audio books on them. Good to listen to while driving, or when it's dark... A good website to get some from is www.audiobooksforfree.com
- take a hammac: so nifty, and they can be really compact (especially in South America, they can make them out of parachute material). Safer and more hygienical since you don't sleep on the ground. Only problem is each time finding two things to attach it to.
- for hitchhiking: great for meeting people and getting to know local ways of thinking, especially during long distance trips: all you can to do is just chat and ask questions.... A lot of people still stress, about kidnappings, rape, whatever. Keep in mind thoug that statistically, more people die at home than outside, but does that make more people stay outdooors? Just come safety tips:
- remember, you meet a lot more people while travelling alone, and traveling makes you establish much stronger bonds in a short time, so don't worry about getting lonely (in my opinion, people should worry more about being able to stand the person they would be traveling with for 24/24-7)...
- take along an iPod, jukebox, whatever brand you want to. It's so nice to have a big selection of music, to fill the gaps while sitting in buses or at stations. And, as anti-social as it might seem, it's sometimes actually nice to shut down and not invite any random person to start chatting with you... If you do, try putting some audio books on them. Good to listen to while driving, or when it's dark... A good website to get some from is www.audiobooksforfree.com
- take a hammac: so nifty, and they can be really compact (especially in South America, they can make them out of parachute material). Safer and more hygienical since you don't sleep on the ground. Only problem is each time finding two things to attach it to.
- for hitchhiking: great for meeting people and getting to know local ways of thinking, especially during long distance trips: all you can to do is just chat and ask questions.... A lot of people still stress, about kidnappings, rape, whatever. Keep in mind thoug that statistically, more people die at home than outside, but does that make more people stay outdooors? Just come safety tips:
- Study the map before lifting your thumb so you know which villages are on the way, which route exactly you want to follow.
- Watch the cars that drive by, also in opposite directions. If a car drove by and then comes back for you, he/she could have other strong motivations than just helping you out, he/she could be a Really Bad Person.
- Always ask where the person is going, don't let them ask where you are going, cause then a Really Bad Person can just say: "Oh, what a coincidence, that's where I am heading, jump in"...
- Wave goodbye to somebody when getting into the car, so the Really Bad Person thinks some witness will be able to identify his car.
- Never hesitate to turn down a car, if you don't feel comfortable or have a bad feeling about it. Especially girls, who always worry about hitch hiking by themselves: there will be tons and tons of cars stopping for you (unlike for us boys, who have to stand there fopr hours sometimes), so be picky : don't get into cars with men, or mixed couples, just take the women by themselves or, mothers...
- Take minute when getting into the car of really studying the make of it, its interior (see any weapons or bottles lying around?) and the driver, so if necessary you could identify them.
- Always have as a hobby karate and judo, or some other lethal sports. It might prevent a RBP from trying it out for truth.
- They usually recommend to say that somebody is waiting for you at your destination, though I have never understood that tip: how does it protect you??
- Try being "in charge" of the conversation... If you dominate the situation (or appear to be so) you seem less vulnerable.
- If you have doubts, just pull out a mobile/cell phone when getting into the car, and send (or pretend to send) an text message with the car's licence plate to someone ("Yeah, my mom made me promises to do this, cause she worries sick about me if not"). The RBP thus knows that he can better stay clear...
- Always have a boy/girl friend-husband/wife - with children, it is less inviting, especially in some cultures.
- Should the RBP pull over and start getting annoying or threatening, try pulling the keys out and throwing them away (don't take them with you!!). Run in the opposite direction. He'll go after the keys before being able to chase you on foot or by car....
- Girls, heaven forbid, but should it get really really bad, try throwing up on yourself, some say it has been clinically proven that men can't get it up with the smell and everything. Other liquid preventing them from "performing" would be blood, especially his own, easiest obtainable by hitting his nose.
- Some say: "Don't, cause I have AIDS", though that always makes me worry that he's gonna answer : "Me too"...
Allright, gotta run, hope this is usefull...and that you won't ever have to use some of these tips.
le retour en douceur
Eh ben oui, la Belgique m'a accueilli les bras ouverts. Ca fdait du bien de retrouver famille, amis, de l'eau chaude... Passé la première journée a faire des formalités administratives, puis les prochains à revoir des amis.
Alors, maintenant que je me suis un peu plus posé, quels projets pour l'avenir proche?
Le 22 juillet 06, je vais tenir la chandelle pour mon frere, sa copine et un autre couple d'amis lors d'un voyage vers le nord d'Espagne (ou devrais-je dire "pélérinage", car on se rend pour le 25 a Santiago de la Compostella). Haut temps que je me fasse pardonner mes pechés etc, je suppose. Je compte passer style une semaine dans la région, puis vers le 2 aout, ou bien je rentre en Belgique ou bien en Angleterre (merci Ryan Air, Viorgin Expres), histoire de visiter quelques amis a moi que je n'ai plus vu depuis longtemps!! C'est chouette d'avoir trois mois en Euroope pour une fois,c a me permet de ne pas me limiter qu'au Belgique (quand meme relativement petit, non)?). Apres une semaine la-bas, le 10 aout retour vers ce petit pays, et voir si je peux reprendre mon ancien travail en donnant des cours de neerlandais ou d'anglais a Liege. Septembre, peut etre des cours de portugais, histoire d'ameliorer la petite base qu'Asimil et le dois et demi que j'ai passé la-bas m'ont fourni...
Et pendant tout ce temps, faudra que je mette le paquet pour chercher des organisations qui envoient a l'étranger, émettant une forte préférence pour le Brésil. Mon billet de retour au Brésil actuellement est valable entre octobre 06 et janvier 07. Si je n'ai rien trouvé avant ce moment, ou bien je vais faire du volontariat la-bas, dans une des associations que j'ai visité et qui était très intéressant (et heureusement était interessé par mon profil également) ou bien je décide d'explorer un peu plus le reste de l'Amérique latine, jusqu'à épuisement de fonds...
The future is bright...
Alors, maintenant que je me suis un peu plus posé, quels projets pour l'avenir proche?
Le 22 juillet 06, je vais tenir la chandelle pour mon frere, sa copine et un autre couple d'amis lors d'un voyage vers le nord d'Espagne (ou devrais-je dire "pélérinage", car on se rend pour le 25 a Santiago de la Compostella). Haut temps que je me fasse pardonner mes pechés etc, je suppose. Je compte passer style une semaine dans la région, puis vers le 2 aout, ou bien je rentre en Belgique ou bien en Angleterre (merci Ryan Air, Viorgin Expres), histoire de visiter quelques amis a moi que je n'ai plus vu depuis longtemps!! C'est chouette d'avoir trois mois en Euroope pour une fois,c a me permet de ne pas me limiter qu'au Belgique (quand meme relativement petit, non)?). Apres une semaine la-bas, le 10 aout retour vers ce petit pays, et voir si je peux reprendre mon ancien travail en donnant des cours de neerlandais ou d'anglais a Liege. Septembre, peut etre des cours de portugais, histoire d'ameliorer la petite base qu'Asimil et le dois et demi que j'ai passé la-bas m'ont fourni...
Et pendant tout ce temps, faudra que je mette le paquet pour chercher des organisations qui envoient a l'étranger, émettant une forte préférence pour le Brésil. Mon billet de retour au Brésil actuellement est valable entre octobre 06 et janvier 07. Si je n'ai rien trouvé avant ce moment, ou bien je vais faire du volontariat la-bas, dans une des associations que j'ai visité et qui était très intéressant (et heureusement était interessé par mon profil également) ou bien je décide d'explorer un peu plus le reste de l'Amérique latine, jusqu'à épuisement de fonds...
The future is bright...
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
If this is Tuesday, it must be Belgium
Yes yes,
Back home again - pretty petty Belgium. Trying to get used to the azerty typing once again... Feels strange to be back and yet still familiar.
My mom, brother and his girlfriend were waiting for me at the airport, as well as two of my Haiti friends, which was a very pleasant surprise...
Found all my Haiti-stuff that I had send home with my mom and DHL, stange feeling. Until now, I could still tell myself I was just traveling, exploring another countruy; just having a break, but now, finding half my life in boxes, and the other half in my closests here, I know the Haiti chapter is closed, the page turned.
And not knowing what exactly the future will bring, or which choices I should make. Let's just enjoy these couple of weeks, meeting old and newer friends, shall we? See who got married, who is pregnant and admire the houses they bought... And see who I still connect to.. Missing you all, and hoping you wil still be there!
Back home again - pretty petty Belgium. Trying to get used to the azerty typing once again... Feels strange to be back and yet still familiar.
My mom, brother and his girlfriend were waiting for me at the airport, as well as two of my Haiti friends, which was a very pleasant surprise...
Found all my Haiti-stuff that I had send home with my mom and DHL, stange feeling. Until now, I could still tell myself I was just traveling, exploring another countruy; just having a break, but now, finding half my life in boxes, and the other half in my closests here, I know the Haiti chapter is closed, the page turned.
And not knowing what exactly the future will bring, or which choices I should make. Let's just enjoy these couple of weeks, meeting old and newer friends, shall we? See who got married, who is pregnant and admire the houses they bought... And see who I still connect to.. Missing you all, and hoping you wil still be there!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Back in Belgium
Just so that you can get a hold of me in small Belgium, should you feel the need:
Dad:
Rue de Tawes 19
4000 Liege
+32 2 251 2674
Dad:
Rue de Tawes 19
4000 Liege
Mom:
Leopold Luypaertstraat 124
1850 Grimbergen
Belgique
cell: +32 486/562704+32 2 251 2674
last day in Rio
Hi,
So glad I made the most of this last Sunday in Rio. Saturday I was in a lethargic mood, only able to drag myself to the beach accross from the street of my hostal, and lay there. We had gone out on Fridaynight, thus the vegetable state I was... Although we went out again on Saturday night, I was a lot more reasonable and managed to get home sober (and with the same amount of money that I had left with, always a great feeling!). So, this morning, leaving at 11h, and trioed to see all of Rio in one day, it seems. El bonde, the traditionnal tramway through Santa Teresina, nice old neighbourhood. Next, the park with a visit to the zoo. Filled with families and street performers, great, all Sundays should include this! Next stop, the Feira Nordestina, market with products from all over Brasil but specifically the North East. Bought some gifts for people back home, all those weddings going on in my absence, I´ll be ruined! Then, dropping them off at the hostal, a quick peak at the finals for t´he World Cup and then of to Lagoa, a nice lake in the west of Rio. Wanted to go see this park that statues in it, but it was closed. Managed to squeeze throught the gates thousgh and saw the most amazing sunset this trip, over the lake and with the dear Christ in the background...
Okay, haven´t fallen in love yet with Rio, but it was close... Definitely a little crush... And now, the last night, going out eating with Daniela (Chilian girl from my hostal, so easy to talk to it is amazing..) in this nice candomble restaurant, and that´ll be it... Tomorrow, and don´t think we´ll be in Brasil anymore Toto...
Looking forward to seeing everybody again, it has been too long, but will miss traveling as well... They´ll see me soon enough again though, October isn´t that far.
There is no greater power than the power of goodbye...
So glad I made the most of this last Sunday in Rio. Saturday I was in a lethargic mood, only able to drag myself to the beach accross from the street of my hostal, and lay there. We had gone out on Fridaynight, thus the vegetable state I was... Although we went out again on Saturday night, I was a lot more reasonable and managed to get home sober (and with the same amount of money that I had left with, always a great feeling!). So, this morning, leaving at 11h, and trioed to see all of Rio in one day, it seems. El bonde, the traditionnal tramway through Santa Teresina, nice old neighbourhood. Next, the park with a visit to the zoo. Filled with families and street performers, great, all Sundays should include this! Next stop, the Feira Nordestina, market with products from all over Brasil but specifically the North East. Bought some gifts for people back home, all those weddings going on in my absence, I´ll be ruined! Then, dropping them off at the hostal, a quick peak at the finals for t´he World Cup and then of to Lagoa, a nice lake in the west of Rio. Wanted to go see this park that statues in it, but it was closed. Managed to squeeze throught the gates thousgh and saw the most amazing sunset this trip, over the lake and with the dear Christ in the background...
Okay, haven´t fallen in love yet with Rio, but it was close... Definitely a little crush... And now, the last night, going out eating with Daniela (Chilian girl from my hostal, so easy to talk to it is amazing..) in this nice candomble restaurant, and that´ll be it... Tomorrow, and don´t think we´ll be in Brasil anymore Toto...Looking forward to seeing everybody again, it has been too long, but will miss traveling as well... They´ll see me soon enough again though, October isn´t that far.
There is no greater power than the power of goodbye...
Friday, July 7, 2006
Brasilian Odysee 2 : near the end
Dames en heren,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Querid@s,
Mes ami-e-s,
Hoog tijd dat ik nog maar eens iets van me liet horen, zeker aangezien mijn Braziliaanse rondzwervingen tot een einde komen. Morgen maandag vertrek ik terug richting Belgenland. Ter herinnering, mijn laatse email kwam uit het Braziliaanse regenwoud in het noord westen, terwijl ik nu in mijn laatste halte zit, Rio de Janeiro. Heb intussen zo´n 5,000km afgelegd, in boot, bus, vliegtuig, liften en zelfs eventjes terug het plezier gehad om weer een motto tussen de benen te voelen. Gestopt in 13 van de 26 braziliaanse staten, doch heb mij geconcentreerd op de kustlijn en de drie steden die mij het meest aantrekken, als backpacker en om eventueel te gaan werken, zijnde
High time I sent out a last word, before departing from Brasil tomorrow Monday morning... It has been a great (in every sens of the word) trip, and so nice to be free again to discover, no dates, no ties. Had been to long since my last trip like this. After the tropical rainforest, went down as planned by the coastline, doing about 5,000km and stopping in (only!) 13 of the 26 Brasilian states, though focussed mostly on three cities:
Maintenant, pour le boulot et les perspectives de retour, de travail au Bresil. J´ai visite une vingtaine d´organisations ici, la plupart actif dans le domaine des droits humains, aussi traite et trafic, theatre populair, assistance aux enfants etc.
Tous ces discussions avec ces personnages m´ont inspiré et je pense que ce sera dommage de ne pas en faire quelque chose. J´ai donc pris la bonne résolution d´ecrire un petit texte pour comparer le travail dans ces domaines de la societe civile entre Haiti et le Bresil. C´est interessant a voir, comment deux pays, avec un candidat a la presidence sorti de la base a été élu, avec beaucoup d´espoir de changement. Puis, Superman ne revient jamais vriament dans la vie réelle, cet espoir a ete au fil du temps perdu. Les protestations devenaient de plus en plus violent et des compromis semblent difficle a atteindre. Pourtant, Haiti est beaucoup plus pauvre, et la communaute internationale y investit massivement. Le Bresil par contre a beaucoup d´atouts economiques et devient de moins en moins une priorite internationale. Cependant, comme laboratoire sociale, des projets et dynamiques tres fascinants y prennent lieu, et les reflexions, les analyses, aussi academiques ainsi que des visions a plus long terme me semblent souvent plus avances que ceux mené en général en Haiti.
Je me demande ce que des ONG comme Volens devraient priviligier, travailler avec la base de la base, des situations aussi difficile mais aussi indispensable qu´en Haiti, ou est ce que le travail au Bresil ne represente pas un plus-value, est aussi plus un echange reel de competences et de connaissances entre le coopérant et le partenaire local. Personnellement, j´ai eu beaucoup de chance de tomber dans un partenaire de haut niveau, mais ils sont rares quand meme en Haiti. Par contre, il ne manque pas de culture a echanger...
Ce ne sont que des reflexions comme ca, des impressions furtives, sur le coup, mais c´est dur de ne pas comparer. Une amie a moi m´avait dit une fois qu´avec le travail comme cooperant, lors de la premiere mission, on adore ou on deteste. Si on a detesté, en général, on arrete et on passe a autre chose. Si on a adoré, parfait, mais lors de la deuxieme mission, dans un autre pays, on a toujours tendance a comparer avec la premiere. Pas le bon plan quoi, pour en faire une reussite... A ce qu´il parait, ce n´est qu´a partir de la troisieme que cela devient comme une mode de vie, et on s´y fait...
Perspective interessante mais egalement aussi un peu terrifiant. Ainsi que je me suis tourné vers le Brésil, espérant que ce sera un candidat assez fort que pour ne pas palir lors de la comparaison avec l´intensité d´Haiti ;-)
Je vous tiendrai au courant.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Querid@s,
Mes ami-e-s,
Hoog tijd dat ik nog maar eens iets van me liet horen, zeker aangezien mijn Braziliaanse rondzwervingen tot een einde komen. Morgen maandag vertrek ik terug richting Belgenland. Ter herinnering, mijn laatse email kwam uit het Braziliaanse regenwoud in het noord westen, terwijl ik nu in mijn laatste halte zit, Rio de Janeiro. Heb intussen zo´n 5,000km afgelegd, in boot, bus, vliegtuig, liften en zelfs eventjes terug het plezier gehad om weer een motto tussen de benen te voelen. Gestopt in 13 van de 26 braziliaanse staten, doch heb mij geconcentreerd op de kustlijn en de drie steden die mij het meest aantrekken, als backpacker en om eventueel te gaan werken, zijnde
- (1) Recife: minder bekend, maar met persoonlijke charme voor mij ;-)
- (2) Salvador de Bahia: de zwartste, afrikaanse stad van Brazilie, en
- (3) Rio de Janeiro: dat geen voorstelling meer nodig heeft.
High time I sent out a last word, before departing from Brasil tomorrow Monday morning... It has been a great (in every sens of the word) trip, and so nice to be free again to discover, no dates, no ties. Had been to long since my last trip like this. After the tropical rainforest, went down as planned by the coastline, doing about 5,000km and stopping in (only!) 13 of the 26 Brasilian states, though focussed mostly on three cities:
- - Recife
- - Salvador de Bahia: the most african city of Brasil
- - Rio: no need for introduction there I think...
So, what good stories came out of all of these efforts?
Et voila, cette fois-ci pas en espagnol car plus de temps. Le cyberspace ici a Rio est tellement cher. Mais, apres mon retour en Belgique demain, j´aurais a nouveau acces plus facilement dans ce pays civilisé. Apres mes périples au jungle tropical, voyagé encore un 5,000km avec bateau, avion, bus, voiture et meme un peu de moto (nostalgie nostalgie - merci Benoit), descendu par la cote brésilienne (la partie la plus agréable, n´est ce pas?), s´arretant dans 13 des 26 etats du Brésil mais me concentrant essentiellement sur trois villes, pour découvrir comme routard et pour rencontrer des ONG sur des possibilités d´emploi:
- - Recife: avec une touche personnelle
- - Salvador de Bahia : la ville la plus africaine du Bresil
- - Rio : plus beosin d´introduction, pas vrai?
Maintenant, pour le boulot et les perspectives de retour, de travail au Bresil. J´ai visite une vingtaine d´organisations ici, la plupart actif dans le domaine des droits humains, aussi traite et trafic, theatre populair, assistance aux enfants etc.
Tous ces discussions avec ces personnages m´ont inspiré et je pense que ce sera dommage de ne pas en faire quelque chose. J´ai donc pris la bonne résolution d´ecrire un petit texte pour comparer le travail dans ces domaines de la societe civile entre Haiti et le Bresil. C´est interessant a voir, comment deux pays, avec un candidat a la presidence sorti de la base a été élu, avec beaucoup d´espoir de changement. Puis, Superman ne revient jamais vriament dans la vie réelle, cet espoir a ete au fil du temps perdu. Les protestations devenaient de plus en plus violent et des compromis semblent difficle a atteindre. Pourtant, Haiti est beaucoup plus pauvre, et la communaute internationale y investit massivement. Le Bresil par contre a beaucoup d´atouts economiques et devient de moins en moins une priorite internationale. Cependant, comme laboratoire sociale, des projets et dynamiques tres fascinants y prennent lieu, et les reflexions, les analyses, aussi academiques ainsi que des visions a plus long terme me semblent souvent plus avances que ceux mené en général en Haiti.
Je me demande ce que des ONG comme Volens devraient priviligier, travailler avec la base de la base, des situations aussi difficile mais aussi indispensable qu´en Haiti, ou est ce que le travail au Bresil ne represente pas un plus-value, est aussi plus un echange reel de competences et de connaissances entre le coopérant et le partenaire local. Personnellement, j´ai eu beaucoup de chance de tomber dans un partenaire de haut niveau, mais ils sont rares quand meme en Haiti. Par contre, il ne manque pas de culture a echanger...
Ce ne sont que des reflexions comme ca, des impressions furtives, sur le coup, mais c´est dur de ne pas comparer. Une amie a moi m´avait dit une fois qu´avec le travail comme cooperant, lors de la premiere mission, on adore ou on deteste. Si on a detesté, en général, on arrete et on passe a autre chose. Si on a adoré, parfait, mais lors de la deuxieme mission, dans un autre pays, on a toujours tendance a comparer avec la premiere. Pas le bon plan quoi, pour en faire une reussite... A ce qu´il parait, ce n´est qu´a partir de la troisieme que cela devient comme une mode de vie, et on s´y fait...
Perspective interessante mais egalement aussi un peu terrifiant. Ainsi que je me suis tourné vers le Brésil, espérant que ce sera un candidat assez fort que pour ne pas palir lors de la comparaison avec l´intensité d´Haiti ;-)
Je vous tiendrai au courant.
Les fameuses trans - Election de Miss Bahia 2006
Eh oui, juste lors de mon passage, il y a eu l´election de Miss Bahia Travestit, et comment pouvoir rater un evenement ainsi, avec la reputation que le Bresil a dans ce domaine?
Il faut admettre que de plus loin, elle avait l´air plus belle. ;-)
Mais chapeau, on ne considerait pas du tout cette election comme une farce ou une parodie, (peut etre meme un peu trop serieusement parfois) mais tres professionnelle. But de s´approcher le plus possible des elections de Miss Brazil... Mais avant que ce soit des vraies beautes... Note comme autre point impressionnant, la presence d´une cinquantaine de... Golden Girls, des femmes d´une soixainte annees, qui venaient temoigner leur solidarite ainsi que leur amusement... Je ne sais pas qui etaient plus folles de temps en temps, les vraies folles ou ces maison de repos en follie? Admirable, non?
http://mixbrasil.uol.com.br/farofadigital/special_mb.htm
Il faut admettre que de plus loin, elle avait l´air plus belle. ;-)Mais chapeau, on ne considerait pas du tout cette election comme une farce ou une parodie, (peut etre meme un peu trop serieusement parfois) mais tres professionnelle. But de s´approcher le plus possible des elections de Miss Brazil... Mais avant que ce soit des vraies beautes... Note comme autre point impressionnant, la presence d´une cinquantaine de... Golden Girls, des femmes d´une soixainte annees, qui venaient temoigner leur solidarite ainsi que leur amusement... Je ne sais pas qui etaient plus folles de temps en temps, les vraies folles ou ces maison de repos en follie? Admirable, non?
http://mixbrasil.uol.com.br/farofadigital/special_mb.htm
From Rio de Janeiro, city of cities, city of lights...
Yep, am finally down here. Last stop of this trip to Brasil (my return ticket in October is already lurking though), and supposed to be a bit of a climax as well. Only five days to spend here though so it´ll be a bit like a teaser...
Salvador was great though. Was lucky enough to be hosted by couchsurfing.com Fausto, who took good care of me, and made me feel, not like a tourist but as part of the family ;-)
Will miss him. Salvador in itself was interesting, though didn´t fall in love. Maybe the fact that I was in ONGmeeting-mode that made me less enjoy it, or maybe compared to the connection I had in Recife, but left the city with less remorse...
Tuesday, July 4, 2006
in Salvador, druk bezig
Jaja, we zijn in Salvador de Bahia geraakt, groot, groter, grootste stad van het noord oosten, en zozat het officiele begin van het noordoosten.
Jammer genoeg weinig tijd om dit allemaal te ontdekken, want ben van deur tot deur aan het gaan bij allemaal NGO s, wat het wel allemaal interessant maakt, maar weinig toeristisch... ach, zo n beach fan zijn we toch niet, maar een beetje meer van een vakantie stemming zou misschien toch wel deugd hebben gedaan.
Wat hebben we zoal al bezocht:
- CESE www.cese.org.br : een van de oudere mensenrechtenorganisatie van salvador, en met een kerkelijke doch interessante achtergrond en analyse dan de huidige context.
- Teatro Popular: werkt met kinderen in achtergestelde buurten en leert hun circuskunsten en jongleren enzo... schitterende mensen, en zo fijne kinderen... wat is er nu magischer dan een achtjarige die kan jongleren!
- CEDECA : www.cedeca.org.br/ werkt met de psych-sociale opvang van kinderen die seksueel misbruikt of uitgebuit zijn geweest. In de lijn met ons werk in Haiti, hulp aan slachtoffers van kinderhandel. Wel met USAID geld en dus niet direct mijn favoriete organisatie, maar toch de moeite waard...
- Vida Brasil www.vidabrasil.org.br : geleid door een franse directeur, en meer gericht op gehandicapten en kidneren, bref, "veiligere" publieken. Toch een interessant en filosofischere discussie. Is het doel van mensenrechten de persoonlijke ontplooing of het welzijn van de gemeenschap, kan de een gaan ten koste van de andere en dergelijke. Toch wel grappig, soms leek hij er nooit eerder bij hebben stilgestaan...
Ah, en ticket gekocht naar Rio, via Brasilia, de hoofdstad, aan een spotprijsje, bijna de helft van een busticket - bus die er anders 24u over doet! Reden dat het zo goedkoop is, is dat het tijdens een wedstrijd is van de wereldbeker. Wist wel dat er iets goeds voor mij uit al die gekte moest komen!
Het is de zwartste stad van Brazilie, met het meeste capoeira, reggae, bref laid back, alles wat mij aanstaat.
De vergelijking tussen Haiti en Salvador is treffend. Veel elementen van de Afrikaanse cultuur zijn terug te vinden, zoals in het haitiaanse voudou of het braziliaanse candomble. Daarvan staan er hier in het park zelfs reuzengrote standbeelden, die de afrikaanse godinnen (Oirixu) uitbeelden. Ben naar een ceremonie geweest, en heel gelijkaardig, in kledij, muziek en rituelen.. Grappig genoeg geraken hier wel alleen vrouwen in trance!
Jammer genoeg weinig tijd om dit allemaal te ontdekken, want ben van deur tot deur aan het gaan bij allemaal NGO s, wat het wel allemaal interessant maakt, maar weinig toeristisch... ach, zo n beach fan zijn we toch niet, maar een beetje meer van een vakantie stemming zou misschien toch wel deugd hebben gedaan.
Wat hebben we zoal al bezocht:
- CESE www.cese.org.br : een van de oudere mensenrechtenorganisatie van salvador, en met een kerkelijke doch interessante achtergrond en analyse dan de huidige context.
- Teatro Popular: werkt met kinderen in achtergestelde buurten en leert hun circuskunsten en jongleren enzo... schitterende mensen, en zo fijne kinderen... wat is er nu magischer dan een achtjarige die kan jongleren!
- CEDECA : www.cedeca.org.br/ werkt met de psych-sociale opvang van kinderen die seksueel misbruikt of uitgebuit zijn geweest. In de lijn met ons werk in Haiti, hulp aan slachtoffers van kinderhandel. Wel met USAID geld en dus niet direct mijn favoriete organisatie, maar toch de moeite waard...
- Vida Brasil www.vidabrasil.org.br : geleid door een franse directeur, en meer gericht op gehandicapten en kidneren, bref, "veiligere" publieken. Toch een interessant en filosofischere discussie. Is het doel van mensenrechten de persoonlijke ontplooing of het welzijn van de gemeenschap, kan de een gaan ten koste van de andere en dergelijke. Toch wel grappig, soms leek hij er nooit eerder bij hebben stilgestaan...
Ah, en ticket gekocht naar Rio, via Brasilia, de hoofdstad, aan een spotprijsje, bijna de helft van een busticket - bus die er anders 24u over doet! Reden dat het zo goedkoop is, is dat het tijdens een wedstrijd is van de wereldbeker. Wist wel dat er iets goeds voor mij uit al die gekte moest komen!
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