sagaciously is...

« July 2007 | Main | September 2007 »

August 29, 2007

Study Abroad - Lessons Learned & Final Thoughts

Now, having put some time behind me - and with the day-to-day of being back squarely surrounding me...what did I really come away with? What could've been better? Worse? What could I have handled better? What did I really learn? Hm...I mean, I am a bad bytch, but other than that....

C.R.E.A.M. This I could definitely have handled better, but I know better next time. Traveling doesn't have to be super-expensive, but it does come with a price. Today's price...and it behooves one to find out what today's price is. Our student advisor suggested $XXX dollars would suffice for the entire trip, and I spent 3X that. Google is a tool, and I could've easily done my due diligence to find out how much money I really needed to take with me. The other thing is that I needed to have fund a-v-a-i-l-a-b-l-e, meaning if I didn't have cash: ATM, Credit Cards, a family member, good friend, supportive husband or financier would've sufficed. But I seem to have burned a lot of those bridges (for better, no doubt) in the last few months. I know better next time.

Speaken ze Portuguese? We were advised that fluency in foreign languages (or even a baseline of "how do I get to the bathroom?") isn't necessary for foreign travel. No, it's not necessary. But imagine being in the US, and trying, in broken Spanish, to ask the clerk making minimum wage at Mickey D's how to get to the bathroom - and their response. Psssht. Extend that to shopping malls, street vendors, policemen, cab drivers and the average person that bumps into you on the street. They were considerably more gracious in Argentina and Brazil than I imagine any US citizen would be. My advice: try to learn at least a little of the native language wherever you travel.

theREALRealWorld:: I could easily regale you with gossip...drunken nights, partying, drunken hookups, drunken clumsiness and injuries, folks getting pissed off and verbally berating each other - but then what would we learn? We've seen all this stuff often enough on TV, so there's no need** to recount the glory gossip details here. Suffice it to say that although the parties on reality shows always say "it's the editing", the producers can't edit in what didn't happen.

Hows-n-ever, I have to add that we (American people) are sorely lacking in communal spirits, and even in close quarters/circumstances such as these - it shows. I love my country, and it's people, but we are rather intolerant. Myself included. It's funny, because even 5000 miles away, racial/cultural lines/boundaries were drawn rather quickly. I'd like to try to do better in the future.

oh, and about that cultural sensitivity Opinions, views, perspective, behavior, frame of reference - they're all build upon a foundation of values, which are squarely subjective based on culture. This is not just International Business 101, but should be Human Rationale 101. We're all guilty of it, and subject to it. So given that, when encountering or engaging or a guest of someone from another country, in trying to communicate, get a point across, argue with, sway, convince, question, etc. - it's crucial to be culturally sensitive, and to keep the other person's viewpoint in mind. Our hosts were incredibly gracious in the face of comments, questions or behaviors that were very Western-centric and either (at least) vaguely annoying or (at worst) offensive. It's best to err on the side of cultural conservatism, and try very hard not to offend your audience/hosts.

Grace is a Virtue:: I *get* where the image of the angry, obnoxious, ignorant American comes from. I observed some of my colleagues, at one point or another:

• getting frustrated that no one:
  
  
  • spoke English
    
  • would accept US dollars
    
  
  
• mocking some local custom / practice
  
• ignoring the advice of our advisors about cultural differences
  
• trying to enforce parallels between the US and our destinations
  
• being loud and obnoxious, i.e. "woo-hoo"-ing at a cultural event that didn't involve cowboys
  
• asking blatantly dumb questions about our host countries, companies, economies, or business in general
  

Grace : the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful; a charming or attractive trait or characteristic; a pleasing appearance or effect; CHARM; ease and suppleness of movement or bearing.

Gracious (ness): marked by kindness and courtesy; marked by tact and delicacy; URBANE; characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, and the tasteful leisure of wealth and good breeding.

You see the difference? Grace implies attractiveness. Resilience (in this instance) implies unattractiveness. Grace, gracefulness, graciousness, quietness, tact, charm, flexibility, courteousness, delicacy, consideration, thoughtfulness - would all be attractive, Virtuous qualities in this instance.

aside: as I live and breathe, being classified as Urbane will make me eternally grateful ;-)

capitalism Can have a conscience, and a cultural identitiy:: one of the things I noticed in both Argentina and Brazil was their communal spirit eeking out of the country's very pores. While in Rio, I noticed that identification with Rio, and the "Rio way of life" branded everything, and this colors the collective social conscious. There's no Ferreria Lexus, or de Souza Ford in Rio - its Toyota Rio, or Rio Mercedes, or McDonald's of Buenos Aires. It's all indicative of the companies' adapting to the local environment, not forcing customer to adapt to the company.

And on that note, I have to touch on the mom & pop-ness of a lot of South America's stores, shops and businesses. From massive companies like YPF/Repsol and TV Globo, to the leather "factories" on the Avenue Florida, to the street vendors in marketplaces, to the Regional Manager at Sendas... you got the distinct feeling that this business was also about family. The employees, owners, managers - all family. The took care of one another. And they took care of their customers. Profits are good, common good is better. It seems that's where their collective spirit comes from. I didn't know I missed this about the US, until I traveled.

It is a small world:: and humans are not all that different. From Rio to Buenos Aires, to the US to Colonia, to NY to Boston, To TX, to Venezuela, to California...we all love to love, to laugh, to enjoy life. It sounds really cliche, but it's true. So, sitting on Copacabana beach, or watching Brazilians toss a beach ball around on Copacabana beach in a Pepsi commercial - we're all connected, intertwined - and we should all treat each other accordingly. And I should be more tolerant of those who don't get that.

Other lessons:
I am a bad bytch, but that's a useful thing.
Traveling internationally is a strong possibility that can be a probability - this is completely within your grasp.
Every American should visit another country, and get some perspective on their own. That would definitely color your feelings about our foreign policies, and affect your vote accordingly.
The US could definitely stand to import some collective spirit and cultural values from its trading partners and its "immigrant populations", into its social conscience/conscious.

One other thing I learned: trying to keep a blog up to date while busy is pretty challenging. I want to thank you, kind readers, for bearing with me while I finished documenting this, and for your patience in allowing me to ramble on. I hope you enjoy reading these posts, as much as I enjoyed writing them. So now - back to my regularly, infrequent ramblings...lol.

**I could be persuaded to gossip at little - but you have to email me to persuade me. And send chocolate...lol.

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 18, 2007

Day 14 - Homecoming

I...don't...want....to...leave.... :-(

theMantra:: After sitting on the beach baking for 8 hours, then having a leisurely steak dinner, with caiprinhas (of course), I come to realize that no matter how painful some of the trip, company visits, rooming with strangers, and being in a mini-hipped seat for 11 hours may have been, I really do not want to leave.

But, my professors won't let me sell my return-ticket for a one-way for Hammy. So honestly, at the airport, I grab some alone space. I take the opportunity to absorb the last 13 days, which were kind of a whirlwind, and get my mind right to go home. I literally had a mantra in my head, to make the trip more pleasant, a list even:

1. I have kids.
   
2. My kids need me.
   
3. I'm finishing my MBA.
   
4. I only need one more class.
   
5. I have a house.
   
6. I like my house.
   
7. I have a good job. Wait, GTFOHWTBS...I can find a job, hell. Start over at #1.
   

The flight home is pretty much uneventful. But coming back through customs is worthy of a mention.

Why You Should Never Smuggle Anything:: Let me frame this for you: US-Argentina, typical US moderate massage, while Argentina kinda waves their hands over you, then lets you go with a stern glance. Argentina-Brazil: pay your taxes, get your weight up (down) and they wave their hand over you as well. Brazil-US? Full blown deep tissue massage, with a colonic thrown in for good measure. I really thought US Customs was going to cavity search us all. US citizens go through immigration, bag reclaim, then Customs AND TSA - Again?!!! Like, I'm really going to have a bomb on the plane, bring it off, and then blow up the airport instead. Sheesh.

But given all that...who in their right mind gets caught with illegal substances going through airport check-ins these days? I mean, is it that NECESSARY to save money on your weed connection?

homeComing:: one of the drawbacks of living near the airport is being that close to home, and yet having to wait to get there. I literally can see my subdivision as the plane approaches the airport. So after the TSA-cavity search, I'm really ready to say adieu to my travelling companions, professors, airport security guards et. al and vegetate on the couch for three days. I can smell my couch. Literally. I do love theChaos for driving all across Atlanta to pick me up, and drive me the 6 miles from airport to home. I reward her by giving her Brazilian candy, and then boring her and her SO for hours with stories of my trip. I'm such a good mom.

transitioningBack:: While I'm boring her, I open my mail, and come across a letter from school. It's a congratulatory letter, a reminder about my service agreement (I have a few lectures I have to deliver about he trip), as well as a Helpful Hints Guide for Transitioning Back to the US. I assume that this is for students with more than 14 days abroad, but read it anyway. One of the things that stood out is to not harbor resentment for your US colleagues, friends, neighbors, politicians, etc. It suggests that they haven't shared your experience, may never have travelled abroad, and have no knowledge of any non-US countries. I'll admit, I kinda dismissed it. Then slept for about 6 hours.

But it's funny - that's pretty helpful advice. I get up, and run out to get some gas, something to eat, etc. As I'm entering the store, the guy (a black man) in front of me lets the door slam in my face. The clerk (another black man) is unfriendly, and never thanks me for my purchase. I overhear a complaint about how different things are for black people in this country. No one offers to pump my gas...well, let me take that back...a homeless (black) man offers to pump my gas: for change. I decline, get my gas, head home, and watch the news. More violence in S. Fulton county, N. Fulton (white people) is still trying to divorce S. Fulton, the war rages on in Iraq, and black people are protesting something marginally significant. I turn to another channel, and on some reality show, women of multiple races degrade themselves for the affection of some star.

I sic my teeth at the whole thing in resentment.

And I think...about the street corner hustlers in Rio/Buenos Aires/Colonia, selling everything from homemade empadas, to recycled Coke-bottle artwork, to bootlegged candy. I think about the shantytowns, made of corrugated steel, sweltering in summer, freezing in winter, and the lack of running water. I think about strange men of many different colors, who I cannot speak to because of language barriers, who help me in/out of my car, carry my bags, and hold my hand as I walk up and down stairs. And they're not just the taxi drivers, waiters and bellmen, either. They're just men, who think that helping a woman is what men are supposed to do (sexism be damned, I could use a lil more of that on the reg). I think about the bicycle courier who loses his load in downtown Rio, and the crowd of people that gather to help him recover it. I think about the disenfranchised indigent Argentines, unable to supplements the agricultural jobs lost to other agricultural countries, and asking the Cathlolic Bishop for favor. I think about Gaulo, and what life would be like to make, market and sell your own products, and live on/near the beach. I think about the elderly being deferred to on buses/trains, on the street, and in most public places. I think about state-subsidized colleges, and global competition in education as well as for "skilled" or "professional" jobs. And I think about how many opportunities Americans have, have not and squander. And it does, really, piss me the f*ck off. Particularly at my own people.

So I re-read the letter, and acknowledge that yes, Dorothy - it takes a bit of effort to really get back to Kansas. And I unwillingly adjust.

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 17, 2007

Day 13 - Ipanema & Copacabana

Ahhhh...the Beaches. I look forward to chilling with no agenda, no rush, and no reason to do anything but lounge. With that in mind, I wake up late, eat a late breakfast, and lazily put on some water-tolerant gear to take in the beaches in Rio.

Ipanema and it's Boys:: I was unaware of this before traveling to Brazil, but Rio has a healthy, active gay community - and it definitely has its markers. Now, Brazilians are pretty uninhibited, and very friendly, so as we walk and I ogle (a little), I'm struck by the beauty of the location, and how beautiful....wait, let me stress this...


BEAUTIFUL (bodies below the jump)

...it was to admire Ipanema's boys. We also pass a travel agency that sells t-shirts, stating "I am the Boy from Ipanema" I almost want to meet one...lol. But these boys are not for me, so my companions and I decide to take a leisurely stroll, take in the sites, but move on to heterosexual waters.

walking in Sunshine: and in 75 degree weather, Ipanema and Copacabana are about a 25 minute walk apart, so we hoof it from one beach to the next. On the way, we past stands selling coconut milk, beer, caiprinhas and empanadas, and lovely, lovely, LOVELY people. This was so different from Argentina, in that the people are open (instead of reserved), laid back, friendly and diverse. We'd noticed on previous occasions that the beaches are never really empty - even at 7AM, there are grandmothers running in the sand, rowers making laps, ad hoc volleyball games, soccer practice, and of course...the booties (more later).

We also pass through a residential area, where school children were about to take recess - on the beach. More street markets selling fresh sweet sop, papaya and mango. Newstands selling beautiful posters of Corcovado, shops selling the latest fashions and jewelry. Still geared for tourists, but it was good to get away from the malls, and shopping centers we'd been frequenting all week.

Copacabana:: ...and peace...sand...wind...sea...

I can't begin to tell you how serene and peaceful it was to just sit and drink in the sun. My companions went to explore, but all I wanted to do was sit & look at the water. And I did. ALL DAY.

A few things though: the vendors are really aggressive, and there are tons of vendors. From huge fresh shrimp, pre-skewered and ready for grilling, to every imaginable trinket/souvenir you can find. Jewelry made from raffia & beads, or agate, or other stones, leather jewelry, bikini's, cover-ups, towels, key chains, hats, sunglasses, visors, chairs....fruit, candy, cotton candy....anything you can possibly want, someone will come by trying to sell it.

Gaulo, the boy-toy:: Which is how I met my Brazilian boy-toy, Gaulo. Gaulo was selling necklaces made from black quartz, which were really pretty, and stopped to see if I wanted one. My poor Portuguese and his non-existent English only got us to the point of "No, Obrigado" (no, thank you), but he still hung around and tried to get us to meet in the Portuguese-Spanish middle. He found me "bonito" (beautiful), wanted to know if I was in Brazil "solo" (single) and if he could come by my "dormitorio" (hotel room) later on that evening. Dayum Gaulo - I guess you're not shy, eh? Despite Gaulo being perfectly sun-kissed, and having both skin, eyes and hair the color of tigers-eye: I had to decline. Gaulo was old enough to be my dad, and I wasn't sure if his offer required a "honorario/taxa" (fee).

Don't sleep, the sex trade is really serious in South America. We saw plenty of kids, in both Downtown Rio, Buenos Aires and in the favelas, both begging/tricking people for money, as well as offering themselves. Young boys, 8-10 yrs old. So, I was more than a little wary of whether Gaulo's affection was real/free, or came at a price. Either way, I enjoyed the attention, and Gaulo made sure to kiss me on both cheeks, before he left.

And no, he did not give me a necklace - damnit.

later....:: my colleagues catch up after Gaulo leaves, and we walk about to Ipanema, and pick up a few souvenirs along the way. I'm most fond of this wrap that was left over from the recent Pan American Games 2007 held in Brazil, so I made myself a shrug, and used it to keep myself warm.

Am I fly ova here, or what? lol

All told, this was the perfect way to end a pretty much excellent vacation - even if it wasn't truly a vacation...lol. We grab empadas on the way back, and head to the hotel to get ready for our night flight back to Atlanta.

more Nekkidness?Oh wait - did I promise more nekkidness? Well, here's the thing....Brazilians are not shy, but I felt like a real perv taking pictures of semi-naked sunbathers. Let me say this, the people are beautiful, but they aren't all supermodels waiting for Pharrel and Snoop to sing about them. I saw everything from bold grandfathers, to bikini-clad grandmothers - some of whom have all the right "stuff" sitting up as high and perky as is exercise-diet-and-surgically possible, feel me? It's nothing to them to wear a thong while they're out swimming with their kids and grandkids, and frankly - it was pretty refreshing.

Next up: why I should've spent ALL my money, and transitioning back (or why I'm still looking cross-eyed at my neighbors).

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 16, 2007

Day 12 - Sendas, Ação Comunitária & Samba!

I know...you want the nekkidness...but u have to wait for it....lol. It's coming...below the jump.

Sendas:: Apparently, it takes no time whatsoever to get used to the "big pimpin'" lifestyle. 'Cause honestly, when our professors told us we were visiting a grocery chain called Sendas - I was expecting a trip to the corporate headquarters, to meet with the Marketing VP, and then some samples of the flagship Senas products. Methinks the trip went to my head just a lil bit.

We ended up going to the 'hood (?) - a local Sendas in Leblon. According to the regional manager of this area, who also served as our guest host for this visit, Leblon is a neighborhood in "transition", with lower income favelas nearby, but also many middle income households in the area as well. This was apparent even as we approached the store, as street vendors outside offered us 2 for $1(real) empadas, with a free Guarana drink thrown in.

This visit was pretty colorful, as you can see even from their website (at right). According to our host, Brazilian love "everything exaggerated" - from the way advertising is presented in their mailings, to the way that food is presented in the store. He showed us a fresh seafood counter that rivaled that flying fish market in Seattle. We also saw that they sell liquor (LIQUOR!) in the store, as well as fresh, local favorites, like the corn-based Bolo de milho Carioca (corn cake).

theInformalEconomy::He also expanded on our knowledge of the "Rio way of life". It's not all sandy beaches and thong-clad big bootied chicks, by a long shot. 50% of the grocery industry revenue is generated by the "informal" (bootleg) economy. So, between farmers that sell directly to consumers (literally the empada-selling dude) to those who buy/sell fake merchandise - they cut deeply into the formal economies market share, and therefore - the bottom line.

"everyone has a maid..." But it's funny - they take care of their own. He also talked about how common it is for middle income households to have "help", like nannies and housekeepers. Live in help, even on a (compared to the US) low salary. Why, you ask? Well, they take care of their own. Everyone needs to work, and this ensures that the 'help", has some form of income, and that the family has someone to look out for the kids, while they're not at home.

aside:: I'm beginning to understand that people have "help", not because they're lazy or well-off. They do it because they're busy, and may have other things to do...but i digress.

Ação Comunitária do Brasil:: Full of carioca, and other products purchased at sendas, we head over to Ação Comunitária do Brasil. ACB is "a Non-Governmental Organization, founded 40 years ago by individuals and companies concerned with improving the quality of life for people who live in the favelas".

It also happens to be right in the heart of the favelas in Cidade Alta-Cordovil, featured in the movie "City of God". Mind you, I'm ignorant of ALL of this. I knew we were headed to an impoverishd area, but I didn't realize how impoverished until we were pretty much already there. I'd seen shantytowns in both Argentina and Brazil from afar, but hadn't gotten a close up look yet. I knew we were getting close, when the buildings became more open - missing walls, windows, doors, etc, and with clothes hanging outside, and the streets turning to cobblestones. When the road narrowed so much that our minivans could barely get through, and a beer truck completely blocked the street, I figured we'd arrived. Maybe because it was mid-day, because we went straight from the vans to the community center, or because I'd seen Perry Homes and Techwood here in Atlanta, and lived in the "pj's" back in Buffalo, but the favela, while poor, wasn't all that intimidating.


But in the midst of this "ghetto", we had Ação Comunitária. It stood out from the area, brightly painted and inviting - a safe haven perhaps? We were escorted in, and provided a tour. From the beauty salon where young women learned cosmetology skills, to the sewing studio where the unique designs are featured in Brazil's annual fashion week, and prominent designers come to look for talent and interns, to the artwork on the walls, to the woodworking shop, the center boasts many programs to assist the neighbors in the surrounding flavelas. I can't front - I really wanted this dress something fierce, or the silk screen t-shirts that celebrate Brazilian beauty.

But the crown jewels are the children. They seemed less hardened by their situation, than excited about performing, and gossiping about their US visitors.

We were then graced with several performances, from capoeira to samba, by children ranging from 4-5 yrs old, all the way up to the late teens/early twenties. They had a scheduled performance the following day, so our guide allowed us to see their dress rehearsal. The performances were all beautiful, and the kids seemed excited to perform, and happy to have an audience for their dress rehearsal. I honestly was in awe, and happy that I'd had a chance to watch them perform.

Plataforma:: But that wasn't the end of our day. Later that night, our professors treated us to a real Brazilian "folklore" show at Plataforma. Covering dances from folklore dances, to capoeira, and or course, Carnivale and samba, the show had briliiant costumes, dancers..and scantily clad dancers, both male and female. Now brothas - I know you like the Brazilian booties, but honestly...some of them were a little manly. Ladies - the men were THOROUGH, m'kay? The dancing was, er - decent, but it didn't match the energy of the dancers at ACB. 'Cept the capoeira - these brothers were bananas.

Plenty more pic - click the pics for more pics.

I think I ended up walking the beach alone at the end of this day - it was a lot to take in, we'd been in close quarters the last few days, and honestly - I needed to process it all. Yeah, it was probably risky - with me not speaking Portuguese, being a tourist, and my classmates not really knowing where I was. But...it was peace, yanno? In the moonlight, sea air, mist over Pao de Acucar, and with Christ the Redeemer looking over my shoulder, I was good. Content. Absorbent like Bounty, even....lol.

Sipping a coconut water, I made up my mind that I needed sand in my toes, wind in my hair, and...sea water in the.....oh, neva mind that. For my last day, I just wanted the beach.

Next up: Ipanema and it's Boys, Copacabana, the Departure...and my Brazilian boy-toy Gaulo. ;-)

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 15, 2007

Day 11 - Petrobras & BACEN

UGH - life has me hemmed up....I'm playing catch up again. I started 6 posts like 2 weeks ago, and am just now finishing them. The full story is below the jump, along with my trouser sock obsession.

Petrobras:: Back to the schoolwork, we still have planned company trips to attend to. So, we're scheduled to visit Petrobras, the Brazilian oil refinery, and a direct competitor of YPF/Repsol of Argentina. So this visit is to really contrast the companies, and get Brazil's take on their industry position, etc.

Now, after yesterday's festivities I gotta be honest - my brain has kinda checked out. Yeah, I'm an MBA, and I have an interest in technology, and development in emerging economies, but I also like fun. Knowledge is great, but I'm daydreaming of helicopter rides and caiprinhas....lol. But I'm also distracted by the fact that a sister is BR-IZOKE, and after yesterday's little subway fiasco, I'm focused on getting that taken care of.

But the Jokester is here to entertain us - see pic at left. He's one of our tour guides for Petrobras, and speaks NO English at all. What he does speak is the international language - love! Yes, he's quite the charmer, flirting with the students, managing to crack jokes in Portuguese and Spanish, and overall keeping us engaged. He's a few months from retirement, and plans to expand his music business immediately after. There you see him hugging his imaginary girlfriend ;-)

The one thing I do observe at Petrobras, is that while the Brazilian work ethic is very different from what we typically consider "American", it's no less thorough, or business savvy. Though laid-back and jovial during our tour, they're very knowledgeable about their industry and competition. And we're seriously overdressed in our business casual, compared to their jeans, t-shirts and sweats, we seem much more appropriate for a refinery. However, it's never clearer than when we join them in the cafeteria for lunch, and we see their recycling stations, and feedback mechanisms. They actually have a rating system where employees can electronically rate how their lunch was, based on smiley faces. :-D is great, :-) is good, :-| is okay, :-( is poor, and then you can add comments, and submit - all while you're dumping your trays and tossing away your recycled bottles/cans/paper. My multibillion dollar global company employee company can't even get the recycling part right....lol.

From there, we travel back to downtown Rio, and stop briefly by the Cathedral do Brasil. It's beautiful, and sorta decaying, but we barely have time to pose for pics, before we're off to our next stop....

Banco do Brasil::We have a planned visit to the Central Banco do Brasil. We expect another economic overview, discussion of their financial crisis, fiscal responsibility, and measures that they're taking to stabilize the economy. Yes, it's all thrilling stuff here!

Don't let the headiness of the topics fool you, this visit is major. The Banco do Brasil is the equivalent of the Federal Reserve, and responsible for setting/directing Brazil's monetary policy. So when it's deputy director spoke with us about hedging for currency fluctuations, the accumulation of reserves to offset economic downturns, inflationary spending vs. accumulating those reserves, etc - it is major. Yes, I was listening intently...

...Even as my mind is still on my br-i-zoke-ness, and handling my financial biz. I mention to our other host that I need to make a Western Union payment, and he mentions very casually that he'd like to do what he could to help.

The next thing I know I'm shepharded into a private branch of the bank, reserved for employees. After taking my information and my passport, I'm assured that I will have no difficulty being helped...and then I'm invited back to my presentation, to have coffee and cookies, and wait for my gracious host to handle my request. No lines, no numbers, no waiting. So, I return to the presentation....and....

10 minutes later, my host comes back with a few forms to sign...and my cash. In hand. Along with an apology for yesterday's fiasco. And a little extra bonus cash, thanks to the fluctuating exchange rate. Nicccce.

thePowerofRelationships:: What happened, you ask? I benefitted from the power of relationships, and relationships are the fuel that drives non-Western society. One day, I'm just some silly American, unfamiliar with the way things work in a foreign country. But with the right relationships, the next day, I'm an honored guest from a prestigious university, that happens to have a long-standing relationship with the Central Bank of Brazil, and who may work for a company that does business in Brazil. You feel me? I've never been one to put much stock in the whole "who you know" notion, but I truly understand and appreciate that the world, particularly outside the US, works exactly that way. I've definitely got to work out my networking-using-relationships muscle.

myTrouserSockObsession:: No, I do NOT have a foot fetish, at ALL. But I will say that the deputy director of the Banco do Brasil struck me as really sexxy, as did the deputy director of the Central Bank of Argentina, even though he was a shawty (< 5'7", and I'm 5'8"). So, my female companions and I were trying to figure out what it was.....


companion1:: He's too short, you're on your own with this one....
companion2:: The other guy was way cuter, that pink shirt was working for me, even though I hate men who wear pink.
me:: He was cute, pink shirt and all.
companion1:: Yes, he was - but he was well put together. From the shirt, suit, shoes...even the cuff links. I love a man that's well put together...
me:: see, you're a woman after my own heart. I love a man who can pull off a serious set of cuff links.
companion1:: Yesss!!
companion2:: And their clothes fit so well, that European fit, kinda slim, but not tight? Yum!
companion1 & me (in unison):: Yesss!!
companion2:: But I still don't see what you see in his short guy here....
me:: yo, did you peep his Trouser Sock game.
companion1 & companion2 (in unison):: What???!!
me:: I am a sucker for a guy in a mean pair of Trouser Socks.
companion1:: Here again, you're on your own with that one....

I know, I know...but I'm saying , if you can pull off a distinctive, but non-flashy/non-fruity trouser sock (a nice small disparate paisley perhaps?), with your (of course) mean suit, shoes and cuff links...*sighs*. I'll melt, I swear.

And don't throw in a hat. A nice small-brimmed Dobbs, or a Bailey...*swoons*

Whew. But I digress. Next up: why every brazilian household has a maid, volunteering abroad, and SAMBA!

...oh, and yes there will be partial nudity. Stay tuned....lmao.

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 14, 2007

Day 10 - Sugarloaf & US Consulate

Helicopters, cable cars and an Angela Bassett look-a-like: oh my?!

Sugarloaf:: it pays to know someone who's traveled to your destination, because they're sure to hip you to the best places to eat, sightsee, chill out, etc. My friend B told me to make sure I check out Sugarloaf before I leave, and my professors organized a 1/2 day trip to Pão de Açúcar. This name of this cluster of mountains literally translates to Loaf of Sugar - for it's resemblance to a mound of sugar. However, did my friend B mention the cable car to the top, or the helicopter ride, particularly given my fear of heights??? Somehow B managed to miss all of that - and I'm sure this was accidental (yeah, right).

I had no idea until we arrived, and the cable cars literally hovered about 1000 feet above us. Methinks B did me a favor.

Not one to puss out at the last minute (and with a lil prodding from a classmate who's also afraid of heights, yet parasails (crazy kid), of COURSE I have to get on. The view is beautiful. You can see both Ipanema and Copacabana beach, lagoons, most of Rio, Corcovado and the Cristo Redener (Christ the Redeemer statue) from the cable cars going up Sugarloaf. I'm cool, the ride is only like 3 minutes, so I'm happy I faced my fear. We take a few pics, and then another classmate (crazy kids) suggests a helicopter ride around Crist Redener.

Hellous Nouous. An acrophibic sister (with a lint-filled wallet) has her limits.

But the convincing doesn't let up, and I sign up for what I'd though 2 minutes prior, as madness. 5 of us sistas sign up for the helicopter ride. Each copter should comfortably seat 3-4 (excluding the pilot), but with the sista booties, we opt for 3. (aside: I also had no idea what the Portuguese translation for "booty weight limit" was, so better to be safe, than have a bootylicious inspired tragedy, yanno?).

Just in case you're really curious about the ride, it's very smooth. It's scarier to watch, than to actually ride. It's sorta like an elevator with multi-direction. Except when it banks - then you can lose your lunch...lol.

Anywho, the views were crazy!!!! It's really hard for me to describe, but I have to say this was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had in my life. I tried to snap pics as I enjoyed the ride, but my camera's batteries kept dying, so I was switching (no-look) batteries between snapping pics. The whole thing was AMAZING.

aside: how can you possibly take a bad pic from a helicopter? All the pics that I managed to take with my lil bootleg digital, batteries running out and all, came out CRAZY...just look: (crazy pics after the jump)

Yes, that's me chillin' - sipping a caiprinha immediately after the helicopter ride. How ballerific is that? lmao...ok, see I have no baller in me, period. But it's nice to dream....lol.

There are more pics on Flickr

Ok, so the rest of the day.... I can't even front, recovering from that was something else. We had lunch at a military base on Sugarloaf, and the food was decent. YO, SON - DID YOU SEE THOSE PICS THOUGH??!!!

USConsulate & the Angela Bassett lookalike:: Yeah, my professors are no joke - no rest or recovery for the weary. We head directly from Sugarloaf to the US Consulate. There, we meet with Commercial Service Officer Camille Richardson, who helps facilitate Brazilian businesses that want to globalize, and begin exporting to the US. She gives us an economic overview, and discusses the challenges these companies face on a macro & micro economic level. Heady stuff, no?

No, Camille keeps it real. A US native, she also talks about how she came into the Commercial Service office, and dispels some stereotypical Western thinking held by my classmates:

classmate:: So, if I were thinking of relocating, how much does it cost to live here?
Camille, with signature Angela Bassett smile & voice:: Well, it depends. Housing may be cheaper than in the states, depending on where you live but some utilities, like telephone service, cable and internet, are priced similar to what's charged in the US. I pay about $100/month for my cellphone.
classmate:: Oh, that's not so bad.
Camille, raises eyebrow á la Angela:: Not bad?
classmate:: well, that's about what I pay for my cellphone.
Camille, smiling again (only slightly patronizingly):: Hm. That's interesting, but let me remind you. You're not in Kansas anymore. The cost of living here, salaries, etc. are significantly lower than in the US. *smiles more*. So, given that....$100 for a cellphone is *chuckling* definitely bad.

I liked Camille a lot.

aside: I assure you that we did study the economics of both Argentina and Brazil before we boarded the plane, along with reviewing cultural differences, political differences, et. al. Maybe it was the caiprinhas, but some of our studies got lost in translation.

No pics of Camille or the Consulate - they're not allowed, even if the consulate is "US soil".

Lost in Rio:: did I mention my lint-filled wallet? Again (lesson learned), I run out of cash. I phoned home and my homeboy T looked out by wiring me $ via Western Union. So (I thought) I just needed to stop by my local grocery store/bank/check cashing spot, to pick up the money.

Note to Dorothy: Camille TOLD YOU you're not in Kansas anymore. Western Union is a banks-only priviledge in Brazil.

At 3:53pm I'm pointed towards the nearest branch, that closes at 4:00pm. I make a mad dash for the door, and slide through at 3:58pm. Just to get in line behind 10 other people waiting in line. So, at 4:35, Escualdo (sp) tries to merge his poor English with my poor-er Portuguese, and help me out. But, to our combined horror, Western Unions electronic system shuts down at 4:35PM.

By this time my whole class is back at the hotel, and remember? Lint-filled pockets. Camille and her entourage at the Consulate are also headed home. I have a few reals (Brazilian dollars), but not enough to take a taxi back to the hotel. Shyt.

theSubwayExcursion:: The cabdrivers (who don't speak English) have a little pity on me, and point me in the direction of the subway. Mind you, we've had no subway rides/discussions with anyone since arriving in Rio. Oh, and I don't run into anyone that speaks English. I guess a lesser chick would burst into tears right about now, but I'm a bad bytch. I write out the full hotel address, and ask the ticket seller "¿cuanto questa?" (How much is..?) to which she smiles, takes my 5 real (dollars), gives me change, and points to a subway map, stating "metro y onibus". I check out the map, and yes! It shows the route (Zona Sul - South) to Ipanema, and the station at which I need to switch to the bus. See, sometimes it is Smarta to have riden MARTA (or MTA, or any other public transportation).

The ride is uneventful, I get off at the transfer point and....see 10 buses pulling in/out of the station, none of which say Ipanema. Shyt. I also see a lot of friendly faces, so I show a kindly older lady my hotel name, and she points me to a bus, and says "Rua Prudente de Moraes & Rua Joana Angelica", which reminds me that I need to get off at that intersection to walk to the hotel. 20 minutes later, and I'm there. Sweet.

Brazilian imports:: the whole subway excursion just provides a list of things the US could stand to import from Brazil:

• neat, civil lines waiting politely for buses/subways/taxis (versus mobs that rush the door when it stops)
  
• men who hold open doors, and help ladies out of cars
  
• caring for our elderly - carrying their bags, helping them down stairs
  
• recycling EVERY DAYUM THING
  
• flex fuel cars
  
• manners and tolerance for those who don't speak the native language

What I learned:: I'm a bad bytch, right?

Next up, Petrobas, the flirty jester, hottness at the Central Bank (and my trouser sock obsession), and Samba!

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 13, 2007

Day 9 - TVGlobo

Baby...I'm a star! Who knew I'd be in pictures? Ok, touring a movie studio...ok so I wasn't actually in any scenes...stop hating! :-)

Telenovellas & a language admission:: I didn't pick up Spanish or Portuguese before I left, and I've never been dedicated to watching the Spanish/Portuguese soaps. So going into this, and with Rede Globo (TV Globo) as the company I needed to write a mini-dissertation about, I had to do a bit of background research. Oh, and try to pick up some Portuguese along the way.

For you, the quick and dirty: the novellas are very popular in many Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries, more popular than other programs, and translated into many languages...so their market penetration is off the charts. More people will probably recognize Paraiso Tropical than will recognize Flight of the Conchords, even if it is my new favorite show, but I digress. I had to get a leg up on the telenovellas, and one of the companies responsible for their popularity.

theTVGloboPresentation:: we got some background on the company, it's founder, it's signifigance to the Brazilian culture, and the many shows it produces. TV Globo's the leading network in Brazil, responsible also for the Live Earth broadcast in Rio, Jornal Nacional - a national news program (that also tried to sink President Lula's chances in the 1989 election - more later), the telenovellas, futbol (with contracts with many soccer tournaments and championships), the Pan American Games 2007, World Cup, and Formula One Racing. Whew, that's a mouthful. It's imitated by Rede Record (who's also trying to steal their talent), and President Lula isn't happy with the programming - hence the Brazilian Broadcasting Company (a state-owned competitor).

More pics after the jump....

aside about the 1989 election:: well, apparently they recorded a debate between then candidate Lula de Silva and his rival Collor de Mello, then broadcast an edited version of the debate that place more favorable light on Collor. Despite this, Lula won, and the station later apologized about the incident. The whole story was recounted in the Jornal Nacional offical book, published in 2006. But back to the tour....

theTVGloboTour:: after the presentation (coffee, presunto e queijo, and biscuits), we took a tour of the facility. It was fascinating seeing the level of detail they put into the sets, costumes, characters, scripts, etc. We even got samples of the fake food they use on the show.

Never thought you'd see ya girl in motion pictures, eh?The picture at right is the pool at the Hotel Duvalier, a fully built 3 story hotel used in Paraiso Tropical. It has a full lobby, sitting area, elevators, bars, the pool...it was like being at a resort. To see more pics, click the pic.

The studio facilities also build their sets, and have a tile-making facility (although the tiles are made of melamine resin, but they are pretty), and artists studio (for portraits of the stars hung inside the sets), and several "remote locations" that are actualy on-site.


later that night... we check out the shopping areas near our hotel. We stayed at the Ipanema Towers which was very close to the Ipanema shopping areas. Now, the shopping here (IMHO) was better than Argentina, because Brazilians have booties, which meant I could find things that actually fit. (Argentines are generally shorter than me, and really fit, with avg to small booties. No shopping in Buenos Aires for me.)

We turned in early - with all of the running around, traveling & shopping, my roommates and I were tired - so it was an Uno night. That pic is from the hotel lobby, which was the hotness - even if our room was not. There were 4 humans there, but we boarded with a bunch of sugar ants (bleh) due to a formerly minimalist, but mostly nastiness couch that hadn't been cleaned in years. Good thing we're never in our room ;-)

More on the beach, the bodies, the helicopter, and the Samba later......

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 12, 2007

Day 8 - Brazil!

why I love TAM:: Can I just say that despite some luggage mishaps, I love TAM Airlines?

We leave Buenos Aires early Sunday afternoon, for a 2 hour flight to Rio. Again, there is much stamping of passports, immigration and customs checks, and much of me thinking I should really have smuggled something.

Aside: ok, yes - I'm new to international travel, but can I just say I was so ecstatic to get more stamps in my passport, I didn't know what to do. They blew out 4 pages between the trip to Uruguay, and going from Argentina to Brazil....*grins sheepishly*. I'll complain about having no pages MUCH MUCH later....

So, back to why I love TAM. About 10 minutes after takeoff, the stewardess come by bearing.....Lunch? No, on TAM you do not get a bag of peanuts during your 2 hour flight. You get beef bourginon, with risotto, a ceasar salad...and Malbec. And even though I'm not a big fan of Argentine wine (yet - I'm still working on it), I do appreciate that their "lunch" was about a kazillion times better than Delta's dinner. The stewardesses were very nice, even with my unbearable Spanish (and my even more horrible Portuguese). And the one steward - Marco - was to-die-for (although I think he was the legendary Boy from Ipanema). The luggage thing...well...let's just say that some candy, another classmate's outside zipper pocket, and a checked bag were casualties of this trip.

Another aside: yes, I am aware of the TAM flight that crashed...we discussed this while drinking the Malbec. The consensus was we were glad to not be flying near Sao Paulo. The Malbec didn't remove any fears we may have had about flight safety, but it did numb them a bit. The most eventful thing on our flight was lunch.

More after the jump...

And then - Brazil!



We have dinner at the Garota de Ipanema , which is the Portuguese translation of the Antonio Joabim song "Girl from Ipanema" that legend has it was written there. Over more wonderful bife - this perfectly seasoned, btw - and caiprinhas, we review our plans for the week, and I hatch out a plan to check out the beach.

Later, I take a moonlit stroll, with professor in tow (offtopic:: BOOOOOO). However, he gives me the scoop on some things to see, which beaches are better than others, and a short history lesson about the area. I really would like to have his job, for this week at least....lol. Click the pics for more pics.....

We hit the hay early - much to do this week, and only 5 days left. Coming up: Sugarloaf and a helicopter ride around Cristo Redentor, more company visits, two live capoiera shows, Ação Comunitária , televovellas and my boyfriend Gaulo ;-)

Posted by saga_30311 at 10:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 11, 2007

Day 7 - Colonia, Uruguay

So now that I've been in Argentina for a week, who am I to pass up on an opportunity to see ANOTHER country (and get more stamps in my passport....lol)?!

Our professors, needing a break from us, kindly suggest a day trip to Colonia, Uruguay for our Free Day. Although my funds are depleting (I will post a lessons learned with some notes about real costs later), I decide to take advantage of the opportunity - it may never come again.

So, for about $50USD i buy a ticket for Colonia, and much stamping and customs/immigration checking ensues. It almost makes me wish I'd actually smuggled something. We end up on a large passenger catamaran traveling from de Puerto de Buenos Aires, and 45 minutes later, we arrive in Uruguay.

More sexxiness below the jump...

That's a sexy beast, isn't it? Well truthfully, it's sexier without than within (click the pic for inside pics). But it's a smooth ride with nice views. aside: for a second or two, the Rio de la Plata resembles the ocean, and you lose sight of both coastlines (damnedeth mine overactive imagination - but scenes of Open Water come to mind).

So, Colonia del Sacramento. It seems to be a sleepy resort town, complete with "ruins" - historical relics of the Portuguese occupation, contrasting with newly built coastal homes, and Spanish influences. We spend most of the day exploring the ruins, checking out the tourist shops, artisan markets and local flavor.

One common thing about the people in the S. American countries we visited: they've got hustle. In all 3, we see examples of the people making positives out of extremely negative circumstances. In Colonia, we find recycled plastic soda bottles, cut into spirals, edges smoothed, and colored vibrantly to make decorative wind catchers. We find scrap aluminum shaped into winged angels, and broken glass turned into smooth necklaces. It seems there's no waste - everything that can be recycled, is recycled.

The coastline provided a beautiful backdrop for romantic walks amongst the rocks, and stolen kisses. Well, no boyfriend (yet) for me, so we keep pushing, to take as much in as possible in our 4 hour excursion. We stumble across a nest of doves, a marching band (below), a lighthouse towering over the whole city, and as the sun bleeds into the water, we head back to Buenos Aires. It was...magical...lol.


There are more pics on Flickr....but we have to hit the hotel and pack. Next stop......

...Laaaaa....la, la, la, la, la, la, la, La....la, la, la, la, la, la, la, La.....la, la, la, la, la, la, la, LA.....Brazil, Brazil.......

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 10, 2007

Day 6: Universidad Católica, Gourmet Porteño & Señor Tango

Got tango? If not - it's below the jump

Universidad Católica:: One of the cool things about being an international student is the opportunity to interact with students and professors from universities in other countries. So, Professor Marina Cunningham of Pontifica Universidad de Católica shared with us Argentina's Foreign Commerce Outlook. The quick & dirty is that they're focusing their efforts heavily on facilitating the export process for small & medium sized Argentine businesses. We got a brief tour of the college, and then we walked along the Rio de La Plata riverbank in Puerto Madero, until we arrived....

it's below the jump....lol

Gourmet Porteño:: Oh, those crazy Argentines and their buffets! But seriously, Gourmet Porteño was beautiful. It's right along the riverbank, so it has a decent (but developing) view, but the tile floors, cherry accents, white linen table cloths just enhance your dining experience. Combined with the artisan chefs, open grills and sculptures of animals, made from breads and cheese, the whole effect takes "tenedor libres" to a whole other level. This is definitely not "Golden Corral".

And the food...the offerings ranged from grilled scallops to traditional Argentinean bife de lomo, bife de chorizo and brochettes, to a cheese bar, salad bar, and dessert bar - which included made-to-order crepes with the standard dulce de leche (sugar milk - which is a caramelized sweetened condensed milk). This was served with Argentinean Malbec (red wine) and the whole meal was fabulous.

But that's not it.....

Señor Tango:: To celebrate our last night in Argentina, our professor treated us to Señor Tango. A fixture in the Argentine cultural landscape, the show at Señor Tango includes traditional tango dances and themes, along with aerialists, horses, rock stars (and a version of the Police's "Roxanne" that is crazy!) and Señor Tango himself, serenading the audience.

We were lucky to attend on the night when Señor Tango was commemorated by the Congress for it's cultural contribution, and the show ended with a chorus of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina". Sorry, I couldn't take pictures, but you can find pictures on their website.

Yes, the rose floating in a glass was from Señor Tango. Is that not the hottest pic? *patting herself on back* ;-)

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 09, 2007

Day 5- Arcor & Congreso de la Nación

ARCOR:: ok, how's about Willie Wonka's factory as a stop on your trip to another country? Yes, we got to visit the Arcor headquarters, and sampled some of the candy manufacturer's best loved chocolate products. Arcor produces sweets, including chocolates, biscuits, candy, biochemicals and other food products, and is the leading producer of corrugated packaging (boxes, etc.) in Argentina. Arcor was also heavily affected by the Argentina financial crisis of 2001 (notice a theme here?) but has managed to continue successfully despite those setbacks....

...note: while the presentation was absotively stirring, it was repetitive...and I temporarily lost consiousness, then recovered by eating several Bon A Bon's. And yes, they are the shiznit. My diet is completely BLOWN. The only saving grace is that my professor (who we've lovingly renamed Magellan, because of his penchant for leading us on long walking journeys exploring Buenos Aires) refuses to call a cab for any trips less than 12 miles, so working out is unnecessary.

running Magellan joke:
me: "Where are we heading? Are we lost?"
classmate: "Who the hell knows, we're following Magellan."

Congreso Nacional:: a classmate asked me what I thought of the trip so far. My response: when have you ever had a chance to meet heads of Fortune 100 companies, senators, congressmen AND directors/administrators of large colleges, all in one shot? Yes, that's exactly what we're doing, so being greeted by a congressman from Argentina begins to "seem" routine. It's still not, and Congressman Jaque from the Mendoza province was extremely gracious with us, even when presented with the most ungracious of questions about immigration, and the "strain on healthcare and other free services" being posed by the influx of immigrants into Argentina.

aside on grace & the western perspective:: when traveling, particularly for college students and those allegedly "versed" in cultural differences, it's EXTREMELY insensitive to ask questions loaded with editorial commentary from a Western/American perspective. When asked the loaded question above (healthcare is free in Argentina, along with college educations), the Congressman politely but firmly pointed out that Argentina's population is 80% immigrants, and they're very proud that they accept anyone into the country (unlike America). All travelers SHOULD be VERY conscious that cultural/political/economic variances between America and the rest of the world abound, and phrase their questions/statements accordingly.


But back to the Congreso - after our chat, we were given a tour of the building, and were allowed to see Eva Peron's veils, the stained glass ceilings, conference rooms and the voting floor of the congress. I'm jes saying...I'm loving the whole experience.

Er, I'm guessing you can see why? Yeah, the stained glass ceiling looks EXACTLY like that. ;-)

Up next....The college, more bife & pastries, and....Tango!

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 08, 2007

Day 4 - Plaza de Mayo & Central Bank

Our days keep getting busier and busier, and we're covering a lot of ground in a short period of time, so I apologize for how sparse the posts are.

Plaza de Mayo:: This stop on our trip was an interesting kluge of contrasts. On the one hand, the Plaza de Mayo is considered the city center, with great historical signifigance in the Casa Rosada, Cabildo, City Hall and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires. On the other hand, this square is also a place of protest - and 5 protesters where shot here during the Argentine Financial Crisis of 2001.

As a matter of fact, as we approached the Metropolitan Cathedral, some indigenous people from the southern provinces of Argentina were marching through the square, to protest fiscal spending (heavier in urban areas than the rural provinces) and unemployment Although the square faces city hall, and both the Senate and Congress are nearby, the Catholic Church has more influence than the grass roots groups representing the provincial people, so they hold their protests to get the attention of the Cardinal, and hope the Cardinal will sway the politicians. We could not take pictures of the protest at all, for this would attract the attention of the military police, and we'd be jailed.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires:: after listening to the protesters, we entered the cathedral. It was the middle of mass, so again - no pictures, but you can find pictures on Wikipedia. It was at once moving and strange, because I felt like we (as tourists) were invading their space. All the parishoners (sp) were deeply moved, and some cried (particularly the indigeous people) as they listened silently, or prayed to the statues of Mary in the hall.

Central Bank of Brazil:: after leaving the plaza, we met with Martin Castellano, of the Banco Central de la República Argentina. He covered the financials for Argentina as a whole, in great detail. The summary is really that Argentina's economy is very cyclical, with huge upturns and downturns, and while in recovery from the 2001 crisis, the bank's role is to plan for those downturns, and minimize the impact of the cycles, thus "normalizing" the economy.

aside for the ladies: he was a COMPLETE hottie. The pic here really doesn't do him justice, because he was not only handsome, but well put together from his cufflinks down to his trouser socks. To the brethren: pink is STILL a hot color, if you pull it off right...step up your game, please!


Bife!!:: have I ever mentioned my love for half-raw beef? Or the fact that both Argentina as well as Brazil are known for their beef production AND consumption? No? Ok, I'll try to do this justice by saying that Bife was offered EVERYWHERE - from 5 star restaurants to corner diners, to open-air markets to fast (well, sorta fast) food places. Bife de Lomo, Bife y Chorizo, bife brochettes.....chile, Bife! was everywhere, so much that after a while, I was sick of Bife! But we also checked out a couple of buffets that sold jamon y queso (ham & cheeses), bife, pollo (chicken), assorted salads, and sweets. Matter of fact, the only thing that outweighs the Argentinean presentation of beef, may be their presentation of pastries. But more on the whole pastry thing later....


Video below- street tango on Avenue Florida:: we caught this while shopping & sight seeing. It's ok, but it's definitely not Senor Tango...lol.



Day 6...Senor Tango! stay tuned.... ;-)

Posted by saga_30311 at 06:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 07, 2007

Day 3 - YPF/Repsol and Simmons

It's weird, but by Day 3 I'm getting used to the time change and the hours we're putting in. We're up at about 7 ish (6AM EST), getting ready etc - even though it's pitch black out. We normally don't get in before 11, and don't go to sleep until well after 12, go figure?
Breakfast at Hotel Presidente:: I gotta say this about Argentineans: they eat and they love their beef and sweets. Breakfast in the hotel is complimentary, and so not your typical "Continental" breakfast. They serve pastries...wait, I must say that again...they serve PASTRIES. Everyone you can imagine, from honey laced croissants, to cheesecake, from fruit tarts, to a choclate lattice raspberry pie, from cookies and sweetbreads, to fruitcake. Oh yes, since this is an "American breakfast" they add a few slices of ham, cheese, scrambled eggs, and mini hot dogs, and even some fruit and cereal, but the pastries are outta control. Many a day i've had to skip it, and stick to the yogurt....lol.

Simmons:: we visit the Simmons plant in the Gerli barrio of Buenos Aires (note: barrio actually translated to neighborhood). We tour the plant, and they also share quite a few of the impacts of the Argentine Financial crisis, and also discuss their relationship with the American companies: Sealy, it's american Simmons counterparts, etc. Then we get to watch the mattresses as their being built from start (literally from the wire used to make innerspring coils) to them being wrapped in plastic for distribution. We head from there, to YPF.

A note on the neighborhoods:: the barrios are interesting for their - er - narrowness, and the diversity. Our bus driver has to be credited for turning through some street where it would be hard to get a Peugeot or Volkswagen through, to be honest. Everything is compact, because the population is pretty large and concentrated in the city. We saw stucco neighborhoods, with modest homes and courtyards. We also saw some shantytowns that resembled those in Africa. According to our professor, people are emigrating to Argentina from poorer countries, and settling this area by any means necessary. From what we see, it's a pretty meager existence. It highlighted the inequity between the decent off (or well to do) and the really poor. You can see more pics here. We see this again when we get to the Avenue Florida...


YPF/Repsol:: we travel by bus to the Mar de La Plata, to the YPF/Repsol plant in La Plata. It's an oil refinery, and our host gives us a presentation on their products, import/export status, the impact of the Argentine Financial crisis, as well as their future goals/objectives. The companies we're visiting are leading Argentine companies, and very modern considering what most of the students actually imagined. We then head back to our hotel.


Avenue Florida:: unfortunately I don't have pics of Avenue Florida, because I'm a little scared to pull out my camera, and I'm rarely scared anywhere. Avenue Florida is at once: full of shops, both tourist and non-tourist, as well as eateries and currency exchanges, street vendors and high-end stores. The closest visual analogy I can come up with is walking through a mall in the movie Blade Runner, because the stores are all street facing, built up 1, 2 and 3 floors overlooking the street, and with neon signs, awnings and other visual cues (such as a 10 foot high replica of a woman's frame wearing a red leather jacket that floats over the street), all geared to capture the attention of the foot traffic walking the streets. It's kind of overwhelming.

It also offers a variety of entertainment, as well as crime. We've seen singers with ad hoc kareoke (sp) concerts, and free tango demonstrations, and magic shows. We've also seen tons of beggars, homeless folks that live on Florida, picking through the vendors' garbage when they close up shop. I've seen families, mother, father AND children, out as early as 9 AM, and staying well past 11. I've seen a man missing both legs, that sings for his dinner. Apparently, the tango lessons also draw pickpockets (similar to NY) so we're warned to avoid the street version. We're also warned not to travel alone.

We almost got 'Got':: meaning ROBBED. This traveling in pairs advice came in handy. On the way back to our hotel, walking down Avenue Pelligrini, past a dimly lit hotel, with no visible police presence around, my classmate suddenly felt something wet hit her in the back of her head. Clutching her hair, and her purse, she tried to figure out where it came from. An Argentinean man appeared, offering us napkins and trying to get closer to her. She kept walking away from him, trying to figure out what had hit her. So, he started trying to approach me, napkins in hand. I took the napkins, but held my purse and stayed at arms' length. He then reached toward me, wiping a napkin on my coat. I told my friend "let's hurry and get back to the hotel", and we pretty much trotted back to a better lit area. Apparently, he'd thrown a bit of tomato at her hair, to get us to stop. When she wouldn't let him near her, he wiped the remaining tomato on my jacket, to get closer to me. Oh well...all he got for his trouble was dust, and a waste of a good scam...lol. I've never seen this before, but apparently this is big in larger cities.

We did end up having dinner later....I still have to tell you about the buffets in BA, and the bife (the meat here is OUT OF CONTROL)....

Posted by saga_30311 at 05:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 06, 2007

Day 2 - Salavador Univ and AmCham

So yes, this is a study abroad class, and most of our days are focused on schoolwork, which is really about getting background information about the countries and companies we're visiting, and the people of the area. My second MBA concentration is in International Business, so the goal of the trip is to gain a wealth of knowledge about the international business environment, and issues impacting these areas.

AmCham:: For Day 2, we walk over to the American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina. We're greeted by the Adminstrative Director Eduardo Alsado, who gives us an overview of the business and economic perspective, and discusses how AmCham encourages foreign direct investment into Argentina by providing services to both Argentine firms and American investors. It was an interesting presentation, and an excellent preface for company visits we have planned for the remainder of the week. The AmCham building also offered a beautiful view of Avenue Viamonte - there are more pics on Flickr.

Universidad del Salvador:: we then had lunch, and then traveled to the Universidad del Salvador, which has a relationship with Georgia State's business school, so students from both schools benefit. The college is in a beautiful stucco building in downtown Buenos Aires, with tradtional tile and ironwork accents, and an open courtyard in the middle. We're greeted by the Dean of the Social Sciences department, Eduardo Suarez, who along with Associate Professor Michael Segundo, they present background material (history, economics, etc.) and put this into a social context. The summary for those unfamiliar is that Argentina was a developentally leading Latin American country through the 1990's, drawing many Europeans down to settle here. However, due to many factors including their pegging their currency to the American dollar, financial management, and political instability, they suffered a severe economic crisis in 2001. Today, their economy is recovering, but signs of the crisis are everywhere, and the impacts are still being felt. If you want more information, wikipedia is a decent source.

We spend the evening checking out the shopping in Avenue Florida, which i'll save for another time, since some interesting things happened there this week, and I've gotta leave you with something to look forward to (even when I'm blogging 5 days later). More posts in a bit....lol

Posted by saga_30311 at 08:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 05, 2007

Day 1 - The Arrival

Ok, so yes - I'm SO far behind. I'm posting this on like day 3 of our trip, although it says Day 1. We've been REALLY busy, and I haven't had an opportunity to think straight.

Where to begin? Hm...maybe the beginning.....

We meet at Hartsfield airport at 6-ish for our 8:40 flight. Needless to say, between our late arrival and plane delays, we don't leave Atlanta until nearly 11PM, but this should be par for the course for most travelers. I'm prepared for my 10 hour flight, with books in hand, snacks in purse, and MP3 player in ears.

Or so I think.

Two things I forgot:
a) it's a 10 hour flight. Getting up and walking around is essential.
b) There's just no way to get comfortable enough to read quietly in coach. The seats are a bear for a 5'8" woman on an empty flight, and international flights are not empty.

So, I pretty much fall asleep over Florida, and wake up over Rio de la Plata. About 45 minutes later we're in Buenos Aires, finding our bags.

Travel Tip #1 - keep an open mind about everything:: this is VERY important, but I think my class is a good example of this. You have to remember that the whole point is to get AND stay out of your comfort zone.

Travel Tip#2 - pack your patience:: we spent a whole lot longer standing in line, waiting for planes, currency exchanges, baggage, buses and customs clearance than most people are normally used to. You have to be ready to hurry up and wait.

San Termo:: So, we get to our hotel, get settled in, get acclimated - and we're set free for our first playday. Me and a few colleagues head to San Termo, for a street fair/artists market and in search of authentic food. While we're there, we run into not one, but two bands - a traditional Tango orchestra, and the other was this:

I had a good time in San Termo, browsing the street vendors' wares, picking up a few souvenirs, mingling with both locals and touristas and getting acclimated. We walked around for a while, then spent the rest of the evening eating empanadas and drinking wine @ Cafe Nefertiti. It was the perfect end to the first day.

Posted by saga_30311 at 10:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 03, 2007

T minus 24...

It's less than 24 hours away...and....

• I'm not packed....
  
• I'm not prepped...
  
• I'm doing homework...
  
• II'm eerily calm
  

aside: It's been a LOONG day.

I was going to share some tips for packing light for a trip like this, but....frankly....I'm not motivated. However, OneBag.com has a good one bag checklist.

That's it I think. In less than 24 hours, I'll be on my flight, and on my way. I'm not sure when I'll be able to post again, but as soon as I can, I'll upload pics and provide details. Wish me luck ;-)

Posted by saga_30311 at 10:56 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 02, 2007

2 days and counting....theStress

Ha! Did you think your girl had it all together for this trip? Yeah, so did I..until it was time to put the nails in the planning coffin...

I went to Walmart in search of a travel iron, and some other sample size stuff from my shopping list. It then occurred to me that I'd neglected to tell Hammy's teacher about my trip. Along with the garbage man, mailman, Wall Street Delivery Person, etc....you get the idea. So I had a lil anxiety incident at BigBlue, and phoned-a-friend for a lifeline:

me: It just hit me. I'm terrified.
friend: girl, please - you have it under control.
me: I don't, I swear.....
friend: whatever...I am so ENVIous of you
me: I'm freaking completely out...I've been wandering around in Walmart for 20+ minutes, and I can't find any irons.
friend: why?
me: beCAuSe I’m scAReD I’M goNnA leAVe thE oVeN On,oR fOrGEt to PlAn FoR soMEthInG, LiKe I FOrGOt to CaLl HaMmY’s ScHOOl aNd I dON’t HaVe a WiLl aNd WhAt If sOMeTHinG hAPpENs aNd ThEy CaN’T gEt IN ToUCh wiTh Me or tHEchaOs aNd HaMmY’S dAD is MIA
friend: ooo-kaaaaay. Got Vicodin?

I proceeded to wander around the housewares section of the store for another 25 minutes, until I spotted a clerk carrying a returned ironing board, and I followed her until it was put back on the shelf in the (lo and behold) laundry aisle! So much for cool & collected. aside: how could travel stuff add up to $100, all in tester size amounts?

I felt like I was falling out of a plane, so I reached out to a friend who travels a lot, and his response; Go home, get some sleep. You'll be fine in the morning. The thing he so aptly pointed out to me is that living, i mean really living, means you take risks. Mitigate all you want, but the limb has GOT to be stepped out on.

That's it...I'm officially tossing my lists in the trash. Maybe if I 'wing it" a lil more,,,,,

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:41 PM | Comments (0) |