April 30, 2008
Marketing 102 - Branding Yo Dayum Self
I gave the introduction to this a long time ago - if you missed it, go read Marketing (ya dayum self) 101: the intro.
I alluded to discussing my volunteer work in more detail - again, I'll recount my volunteer project in another post. I really wanted to share some things I learned the other day as part of one of my volunteer activities for Dress for Success.
As part of a professional women's group seminar, Cheryl Scales, of DSG Solutions Group and Magnificent Women shared her presentation on "The Power of Personal Branding". Her background's in corporate marketing – she was an Associate Director at Proctor and Gamble & Marketing Director at Delta Air Lines, Princeton Grad, etc. But now she does motivational speaking, has been on ABC's American Inventor, she's a Personal Branding Guru, proponent of entrepreneurship etc – see her website at http://www.cherylscales.com/.
Her presentation focused on creating your personal brand, and using it in whichever environment/forum you choose (corporate to climb the ladder, or entrepreneurship to start/promote your business).
So – I wanted to share the key points I got out of her presentation, as well as from Tarona and Dina of DonationNation08 (blogged about them on Monday). Their keypoints:
- Create a personal board:: that's from Tarona & Dina. The personal board is your own "board of directors" – as simple as a group of friends that you share your ideas/vision with, who helps motivate you, keep you on task, inspire you with ideas, or provide networking opportunities – they provide "governance" over you reaching the positive goals you set in your life – whether it's career, life, job, start-up business, educational – or relationships with your husband and children. The idea is to check-in regularly, and to follow/follow-up on the things that you really identify as important.
- Creating your own brand statement:: this is your PERSONAL ELEVATOR PITCH. That's from Cheryl – and it's the "Overview" section of your resume that you submit everytime you meet someone/anyone. And it's about the pitch that gets you where you ultimately want to be – not where you are right now, or where you've been previously. Her example was from P&G, when she was a field marketing rep, and she met Ed Artzt (former P&G CEO) at their equivalent of management conference. She said her pitch was "Hi, my name is Cheryl Scales – and I wanted to shake my hand and introduce myself and just tell you up front that very soon you're going to know me very well." Four years later, he introduced her at their management conference, as the leading global sales representative for P&G. And he remembered that conversation.
- Promoting your personal brand:: As I mentioned – I really like the blogging-videotaping-distributing your own press releases ideas from Tarona & Dina. The tie-in's from Cheryl, and that's to register your name – your god-given government name, the one you'll use to promote your business, etc – as a website, and use that as a promotional tool. It can be as simple as creating 1-2 pages, that's your bio, or whatever you're doing right now, or what you'd like to do, etc. Or, blog about whatever's important to you. The important thing is that when your 15 minutes of fame comes along, whether you're famous or infamous – your bio is already there. You've already created a certain amount of "buzz" – you've already put out the "image" that you want to project to the world. And I've learned via blogging – you'll get the most obscure visitors – and some surprises. I've gotten emails from some people I'm a real fan of, like – Trisha R. Thomas, the author of 'Nappily Ever After', and Lynne D. Johnson (who is my mentor & namesake, even though I don't think I've ever told her that *blushes*). I've also gotten tons of page hits off of crazy topics like Buffie the Body, Brian Nichols and political topics. The point is....that site will gain interest, with little effort on your part.
- Staying true to your personal brand & vision:: I'm so guilty of this one – and it's so important. To truly identify with who you want to be, or what you want to do – you have to stop identifying with your immediacy. Which means – I'm the owner/developer/designer or New Saga, LLC and http://www.sagaciously.net – and NOT a web developer for theCorporateGig, Inc. Which means, only the New Saga, LLC business cards EVER get distributed, I only TALK about New Saga, LLC, and only promote those things which help me make New Saga (and me) more money. Nothing comes before that. EVER.
- Volunteering/Networking for fun & profit & non-profit:: I honestly joined DFS so I could ultimately pledge Delta, and that was so I could get a new corporate gig. HONESTLY. But you know, when people talk about God "ordering their steps" – that's my testimony. He really does it when I least expect it. I exchanged cards with quite a few people this weekend during my volunteer activities – the ones mentioned above, along with some other folks I met at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, etc. Now – even if NOTHING ELSE COMES OF THAT EXCHANGE – I can honestly say I already got more out of joining DFS than I've put in. I can't wait until the next event.
Ok, I'm off to talk to my "personal board". Handle yours.
Posted by saga_30311 at 09:50 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 22, 2008
the belt is slowly tightening....
I noticed it a couple of weeks ago, when some hot coffee I was carrying back to my desk burned my hand.As I continued pulling the cup out of the coffee machine, while I looked around for a lid...
my coworker glibly responded:: they're all gone, and I don't think the vendor's coming back for a coupla days. I did the same thing. The cups are smaller.
me: wha?coworker:: You burned your hand, right? Yeah - I did the same thing. They replaced the large cups with a cup slightly smaller, I guess to save money. Problem is - they didn't reset the machine - so it's dispensing the same amount of coffee.
So I looked, and yes - the cup is about 2oz. smaller - so that the coffee spilled over. By the time the vendor came in with the lids, the machine was properly reset, and our 16 oz cup is now 14. Nice.
this isn't how it begins:: but this is how we begin to notice the inevitable tightening belt. With smaller cup sizes, and a lack of free feminine hygiene products in our bathrooms. And removal of the lotion dispensers in our fitness center. And smaller, thinner napkins and toilet paper in our restrooms. Yes, I know those are all wonderfully expensive amenities that I shouldn't necessarily expect. But these are all signs, of a much bigger, more pervasive economic reality. Companies are going to cut costs by any means necessary.
Don't get it twisted. I work for a very large multinational company, that has been in the Fortune 500, longer than the Fortune 500 has actually existed. And while the profits decline for the top US companies in the Fortune 500 list, $10-Trillion dollars is nothing to sneeze at. These companies are making money hand over foot. And yes, fuel prices are killing mid size companies, who either have to pass those costs on to consumer - or bear them and face financial insolvency. But big a$$ companies like mine keep reserves, and invest in fuel futures, and foreign currencies - to offset fuel price fluctuations. So the problem isn't just that fuel prices are rising, and the problem won't be resolved if fuel prices drop.
I told y'all a long time ago:
Greed isn't just good. Greed is inevitable
Global economic growth is predicted to slow (what with the cost of capital)...but it's not decreasing. It's decelerating. And there's a definitive shift away from the declining US dollar, to more attractive markets and currencies (emerging economies, anyone). So large multinationals are doing what they gotta do, to ensure that shareholder value is preserved. What is it about again class?
Profit.
Net Income (Profits) = Sales - Cost of Goods/Services. Simple math....if you decrease the cost of goods/services, you can increase profits. EVEN IF SALES DECREASE, you can still increase/maintain profits by cutting costs MORE than the sales decrease.
Hence my lil a$$ cup o' joe. And the missing tampons. And some marginally necessary positions at my organization not being refilled. And contractors being laid off. And changes to my company's retirement plan. And increases in my out-of-pocket health care costs.
fire sale:: I'm having a yard sale at my house, within the next few weeks. Whatever is at my house that I'm not currently using will either be in my front yard, or on eBay. Expect a whole lotta wonderfully cheap, new/slightly used plus size fashions, Nine West/Via Spiga shoes, decor from Pier 1, Crate and Barrel, West Elm and Target, and random stuff (manual treadmill, other fitness equipment, and lots of random "stuff" that needs to go). I need to simplify - and replenish my savings account. F*ck an economic stimulus package. Stakes is high.
The lil a$$ cup o' joe isn't the big problem here, it's a symptom of a much bigger problem. What happens when my job becomes one of those marginally necessary positions?
Posted by saga_30311 at 09:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 28, 2008
The Day of Jerusalem’s Fall - Reverend Jeremiah Wright
I heard this on 3/25/08 on the Michael Baisden show. Apparently, Roland Martin made this available, and Michael Baisden played most of it in context, so people would understand exactly what Pastor Wright was saying. On the Michael Baisden show, the point was also made that the media's use of the sermon out-of-context was a targeted attempt to make the democratic campaigns about race.
I'm also ecstatic that it's posted on Roland Martin's website, and Anderson Cooper's CNN Blog . You can listen to the sermon below.
My thoughts: he's stating what many people felt, both immediately after 9/11, and now. America's foreign policy, particularly in areas were there are violent conflicts and American soldiers are deployed to protect American economic interests (not the "freedom" which we keep seeing raised and bandied about like the American Flag, every time patriotism is used to justify some shady military interference) is questionable at best. This isn't a revelation, and I'm glad someone intelligent, articulate and with enough clout to pull the listening ears of some masses said it. What is even MORE interesting to me (and this is a whole 'nother blog post) is that whenever an entity, with any social capital/clout, questions the American government, American military actions, or the validity of America's foreign policy, et. al. - they're tarred and feathered as Anti-American and un-patriotic.
I keep wondering when the 187th Amendment was added to the Constitution: Thou Shalt Not Question American Authority?
Posted by saga_30311 at 10:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 19, 2008
The Marriage Cure
In 2003, The New Yorker published an article from Katherine Boo (of New America), which discussed "The Marriage Cure", as a possible cure for poverty. You can read the full article here: "The Marriage Cure". A warning that this post is Panama-length, but it's worth it. Trust me.
Some background:
Oklahoma has rarely found itself in the vanguard of antipoverty thinking, but the class to which the two women were heading embodies a vigorous new idea -- something known locally as "the marriage cure." Traditionally, singleness has been viewed as a symptom of poverty. Today, however, a politically heterodox cadre of academics is arguing that singleness -- and particularly, single parenthood -- is one of poverty's primary causes, for which matrimony might be a plausible tonic. For the past few years, the state of Oklahoma has been converting this premise into policy. In an initiative praised by the Bush Administration, which aims to seed marriage-promotion programs nationwide, the state has deputized public-relations firms, community leaders, and preachers (among them the pastor at Holy Temple Baptist Church) to take matrimony's benefits to the people. Last summer, that marriage drive reached Sooner Haven. "Come learn about relationships!" said the recruiter who knocked on the housing project's beat-up doors.
And more (a passage that hits way too close to home):
Her husband had remarried six months after the divorce; Corean had had one second date in twelve years...One unacknowledged consolation of struggling in the inner city is the lack of time one has to indulge romantic discontent. It was letting go of her children, more than losing her husband, that had caused the Reverend Doctor Mom to notice that she was alone.
and more:
As Orlando Patterson, of Harvard, a scholar of black marriage patterns, recently observed, African-Americans remain "among the most un-partnered and estranged individuals in the world."
and even more:
From this counseling, Pastor Young has come to share the belief of many marriage-initiative advocates: that men more than women need convincing on this point. Thus he sees it as an unhappy but unavoidable fact that women are this social policy's beasts of burden. Having already complied with social and economic pressures to work, poor women were now being asked to do something that their government had so far failed at: push their male counterparts into the cultural and economic mainstream.
whew. Ok, the background is set, so I can delve into my thoughts. Meanwhile, you really should read the entire article. Katherine Boo's writing really illustrates not only what is right and wrong with these programs, but a robust portrait of what poverty in post-welfare reform affected areas (Oklahoma, South Georgia, etc.) really looks and feels like.
My thoughts after the jump...I came through the door, and said it before:: It's imperative to our community to fix our relationship issues. The marriage-initiatives provide another reason why: to combat poverty. And whether you think it's a holdover from an organized plot formulated and executed by the government, or a symptom of a shift in overall societal values that hit the African-American community a bit harder, it's beyond dispute: we as a people aren't getting married. Hit the archives above if you want more info. But the article either explicitly or implicitly states some important points that I'd like to revisit:
Black Men & Marriage:: getting women to the table for this discussion is the easy part. It's the menfolk that need convincing. After all, "Marriage is for White People". Ask black men why they aren't getting married, and they'll say having grown up in single parent households, they have no examples of the benefits of marriage, the don't understand the spiritual significance of marriage, it's impact on raising children and they fear that one woman can't satisfy all their needs.
Don't get me wrong. Marriage definitely isn't a cure-all.
economics, the Chicken or the Egg?:: The article illustrates other reasons, that fall under one umbrella: economics. If you're at a bus stop, and a guy is hitting on you, the two of you getting hitched ain't gonna put the two of you in a Lexus. We need jobs, we need an education, we need equal access to reasonable credit instruments, we need...a whole lot of other economic "things" to get us back treading water. But did we get swept away by economic forces that forced us to not get married, or did we not get married, so that economic forces hit us harder than most? Steven Ruggles and Catherine Fitch, of the Minnesota Population Center, completed a 2005 study that discusses part of this paradox. The results weren't conclusive, and more investigation was suggested - the chicken vs. egg paradox remains. Their study includes some graphics that show how dramatic the marriage decline in our community really was/is, and also how women were hit a bit harder (interracial marriage). I uploaded an abbreviated version of their presentation for those with a short attention span.
marriage as a panacea:: that's cure-all in laymen's terms. On first, second and third readings, it sounds like the equivalent of putting Neosporin on a broken arm with an infection. Maybe it'll cure some of the infection. Maybe it'll make some of the pain dissipate. But it won't set the arm, and it won't heal the arm, and it won't get rid of all the problems associated with said arm. Marriage won't "fix what's broke". So when reading about healthy marriage initiatives, and govenment progams/policies to promote them, I have an eye out on what other programs or policies are also being implemented to "fix what's broke". Our community needs economic programs in tandem with this.
Hows-n-ever - I've had numerous professors, both of the Social Sciences departments and even in B-school, profess the benefits of marriage. Most recently, a professor tied the success of entrepreneurs, particularly the truly "wealthy", to their marital status. The hypothesis there is simple (and a lil "hood"): "chasing p*ssy is expensive and time-consuming...and the cash/time you save as a married entrepreneur can be better invested in your budding business". No empirical data here, but it sounds like common sense. And that's where I stand as far as marriage is concerned....I don't think it's a cure all, but when applied properly...it helps.
A recommendation: If you want reasons why you should get married, the Institute for American Values provided a report on "The Consequences of Marriage for African Americans" (including a pseudo top ten list), which is detailed here. But I'll give you just the list (sans details):
- Marriage clearly appears to promote the economic, social, familial, and psychological well-being of African American men and women.
- While both Black men and Black women receive a marriage premium, this premium in most cases appears to be larger for men.
- Economically, marriage appears to benefit Blacks more than Whites.
- Overall, Black women appear to benefit from marriage substantially less than do White women.
- Black-White differences in marital quality seem to constitute an important reason why Black adults, and particularly Black women, typically benefit less from marriage than do Whites.
- Parental marriage produces important benefits for African American children.
- Parental marriage appears to be especially important for the well-being of young African American males.
- # In some areas, Black children seem to benefit more from parental marriage than do White children, whereas in other areas, the reverse is true.
- The reasons for some apparent racial differences in the consequences of marriage for children are not clear, and further research in this area is needed.
- For policy makers who care about Black America, marriage matters.
Posted by saga_30311 at 10:32 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 13, 2008
Bulls and bears: School promotes financial literacy
I find creative ideas for accomplishing typical & atypical goals, pretty darn attractive.
Now, how attractive is this story from the Chicago Tribune, about giving 1st graders $20K to invest in the stock market?The Ariel school is an experiment in financial literacy with real-life oomph: Each incoming first-grade class gets $20,000 that the children ultimately get to pick stocks for and manage. The goal is to add an I -- investing -- to the three R's, according John Rogers Jr., chairman and CEO of Ariel Capital Management, the Chicago-based money management firm that established the school in 1996.
At a time when pensions are being phased out and people must rely more on their own investment smarts, Rogers thinks saving and investment should be an integral part of the curriculum at schools across the country.
Experts say easy credit, aggressive marketing and the dizzying array of financial products and cashless spending options have led many American consumers astray, making it more essential than ever for kids to learn about money.
Iowa State University professor Tahira Hira, a member of the newly formed President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, is among those advocating that personal finance be required teaching at every elementary school.
Suddenly, HIlary's $5,000 baby bond is so much more attractive.....Give it to the kids (not the parents) and in 1st grade, let them learn how to manage it. Interesting....
Posted by saga_30311 at 12:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 25, 2008
my people {we got to do better}
shouts to jam Donaldson at HGM for the {we got to do better} line....
ok, here it is in a nutshell: yes, we are (still) a Hot Ghetto Mess. But what are we gonna do about it?
campaign2008 & our reasons for our choices:: I've got real issues with people's anti-intellectual reasons for picking their candidate. And I'm putting myself on blast. Prior to me doing my election "homework", I was entertaining Clinton. I originally thought, given our current state of race relations, that Americans would turn out in droves to vote against Obama, hence not wanting to throw away my vote. Silly me. I've since read their platforms, watched the primaries (starting with NH and IA), watched the debates, and decided based on the issues, to support Obama.
Now, it's a long minute later - and I still hear my people saying ig'nant things like: "I don't want to vote for Obama 'cause they'll shoot him in office, and I don't want him to get killed", "I think he's related to Sadam Hussein", "I'm voting for Obama 'cause he's black", "I'm voting for Hilary because she's a woman", or "I'm voting for ______ because __________ endorsed them (insert pundit/so-called-leader's name there)". Ok, seriously - it's time for us to get off our collective a$$es, do some homework, and make our own decisions, for real. It's 2008 - we're well into the information age - the platforms, senatorial voting records and their stances are readily available. We need to stop being quite so sheep-like, so that all parties (Repub, Dem, Libertarian, Green, etc - and the pundits who love them), and the non-parties (random pundits who won't commit to a "party"), all take our votes more seriously.
aside:: I'm really tired of candidates being able to pander to the "urban voter" in general by either appealing to, or by manipulating, their emotions.
punditry beef:: Baisden v. Frank Ski? Tavis Smiley vs. Obama? We barely got pundits and access to airwaves, and they're already going at each other, or our "leaders", not over issues or opinions, but because they got "snubbed" or "shouted someone out" or forgot to "shout someone out". Are you friggin kidding me?
ClayCo Board of Ed & Kwame Kilpatrick:: or when keeping it black goes wrong. If you haven't heard about Clayton County's Board of Education, the quick & dirty is that the entire school system is facing a potential loss of accreditation, due to corruption ethics violations, ineptitude, and policy violations. You can click here for more information. This means students and teachers, as well as administrators records would be "wiped clean". Students wouldn't be eligible for scholarships, and their acceptance into colleges would be in jeopardy. Staff would lose their certifications and employment history, of the timeframe of the board's tenure.
and Kwame?:: Well - the "hip-hop" mayor, amongst other things, is accused of: "allegations of marital infidelity involving his chief of staff, lawsuits, and an investigation of perjury. Kilpatrick could could be disbarred, sentenced up to 15 years in prison, and forced to resign as mayor. The controversies have prompted an ethics probe investigation, and a recall election campaign to have Kilpatrick removed from office." Excerpts of his text exchanges with his chief of staff are all over the 'Net, and his wife's leased Navigator is appearing as the Red Flag & last straw for his frustrated constituency. Read more here.
the talented tenth:: It's not enough, in 2008, that we should want black representation in all areas of life: media, politics, government - both local and national, industry, etc. We should want our leaders, the "talented tenth" of which DuBois so elegantly wrote, to be not only influential leaders throughout the world, but also beyond reproach. Or at least approaching moral excellence.it's not enough that our leaders should be black. They should be qualified to lead, and possessing character traits that can inspire us as a people: honesty, integrity, fortitude
Too often, we're so desperate to see ourselves duly and dutifully represented, that we let shyt slide.
they do it, so why...?:: should we be held to a higher standard, you ask? Because the playing field has never been level, and will not be getting flat any time soon. Because the bar is higher for us. Because there is a black tax, and because we are all well aware of it. Because we are well aware that when we "do what they do", the scrutiny is much more intense. Because our two steps back takes not only us (as individuals) back, but also us (as a people). Because there is backlash. And because we deserve, like any other race, to prove our merit. To show we can be qualified, and can do a good job, and be considered based on merit. Not just because we're black. And because the exceptions (like the ClayCo commission or Kwame) shouldn't be the measure of those that are performing to or outperforming expectations. We're not shooting for mediocrity here - the goal isn't the best of the average. We should want to excel. All of us. We should want to do better.
back to campaign2008:: which is what I find so fascinating about the Obamas. So far, they are those people. "Grace under fire", "eloquence", "elegant', "of outstanding character", "grace under pressure" have become so clichéd, that they're more likely to appear in the title of a sitcom, than a description of a political candidate. But the Obamas are that. As i watch Michelle withstand attacks about her patriotism, which I'm sure is very personal to her, and Barack address charges of plagiarism, rumors about his religious beliefs, shallowness and the transparency of his platform - these phrases are the ones that come to mind.Yeah, I'm gushing a lil, but not trying to sway your vote. Look at them as black people, as African-Americans, as leaders, as icons. That, my friend - is what I find inspiring. Columbia U., Princeton U. and Harvard Law. Community activists. {apparently} Happily married and raising their children, together. And supporting their people the best way they know how, by setting an example.
You can find your own examples, but please - find them. My people... {we got to do better}
Posted by saga_30311 at 05:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 23, 2008
state of the {black} union
or what i'd like to term as why we can't just get along?
pre-post disclaimer: this has nothing whatsoever to do with "The Covenant with Black America" or the Tavis Smiley's impending State of the Black Union conference.
This does have a whole lot to do with the black union - marriage that is. Marriage, our communities and one of the things that I think is fatally flawed and working to our collective detriment.We just don't seem to get along anymore. At all.
I spend a lot of time surfing. A LOT of time. I troll on a lot of "african-american" portals, skimming what's foremost in our minds and what hot topics are burning in our online communities. I also skim website outside our community, to see what we're presenting to the world. So what's hot in the streets you ask?:
Black women are the biggest hoes on earth times 3000000
Where are the NORMAL brotha's at???
ARE BLACK WOMEN THE MOST SHALLOW WOMEN OF ALL THE RACES?
why are you strong black women chasing strong black men to other races?
DO MEN REALLY WANT A WOMAN WHO HAS HIS BACK???
how do i get me a good white woman, like you other black brothers out there
Black men who went Barbie white now back to Quashanda or Barbie Black
*dryheaves* ok, sorry - but most of these 'forums' have that effect on me. I promise I didn't cherry pick those titles/topics.
More under the cut...
To say that this saddens me is a gross understatement. When I consider the "state of the black union" it's these titles that come foremost to my mind. What union? The more I read those titles, the more it seems like at least a compound fracture (mending is a challenge), and at most - a full blow secession.
We're divided as a community on many, many topics and in many, many areas (politics, social justice, unemployment, economic stability, class, education) - but this one area IMHO is fundamental to making progress.
The family:: as a unit - IMHO - is the building block upon which our community is founded. No family unit = community in disarray. Think about our history as a people - the family was the pillar of our financial strength. Pooled money = solution to a lack of financial instruments (credit) that we were denied as a people. Pooled resources = broadened access to resources that were unavailable to us. The support that this unit brings helped us overcome adversity, focused our efforts and strengthened our self-regard. Our families, immediate AND extended, where were we talked shop, ironed out our differences, determined our politics, goals, vision and where we turned when external forces either oppressed us, or failed us.And now?:: we appear to truly hate us. Only a strong self-hatred embedded in a whole lot of us would fuel so MANY discussions about how sorry we as a people are. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of self-analysis and self-criticism, when done constructively. Calling black women "hoes", "shallow" and stating they're "forcing you to turn to white women" isn't constructive, obviously. Calling black men "trifling", "sorry" and "abnormal" isn't constructive either.
We pass around emails about the Willie Lynch letter, the purported speech that initiated our self-hate, based on color, caste and the emasculation/subjugation of black men. The truth of the letter (whether it's fact/fiction) remains a mystery. However, the letter, real or fake, is of little import, given what we continue to spread at this point. It's a disease. The cause is beyond significance now - now we need a treatment plan.
a non-Black perspective:: I asked a friend/colleague, who is from another country, what they thought about the topics above. His response had two main points: a) the person who'd start such a discussion probably has mental health issues, and b) the internet creates a lot of false courage and anonymous posturing. Both true and valid points, but what about the offline discussions that mirror these ideas? And the people who carry these ideas unspoken within? Same sickness, no cure? He mentioned that many countries have the same issues, but the solutions are different - but that in a "developed", "civil" country, he'd expect more.
My thoughts:: are that for all the discussion about progress, and demanding equality, we've got major healing to do in our own house. This may not be the sole starting point. In looking externally for justice, equality, rights, etc - are we overlooking the mess that's accumulating in our own backyards?
I've said this before, and I'll say it again - yes, Divorce rates climbed thru the 1970's - then they plateaued, and have remained pretty flat since. But the marriage rate in the african-american community is declining. You can find the stats from the Census bureau, or Google black marriage statistics, and find a whole slew of "chicken first of egg first?" discussions about why we're not getting married. Poverty? Unemployment? Crime & Jail Terms? Is it these reasons that cause the decline in marriage, or does not being married cause these? *shrugs* Both and either. I know I'm a lot less inclined to rob a bank and risk my good gub'ment job because I have a family.
The problem with our unions (at this point) isn't that we're getting divorced. The problem is that we're not even attempting to get married...not attempting to create that unit. Some of "us" are opting to not even associate with "us". We're throwing up our hands, throwing in the towel, not wanting to be bothered. There is a part of me that thinks: "g'on then - that's another brotha/sista that we don't need around muddying up the collective". But that's just me not "getting along" either.
The state of our union, my friends, isn't a problem that we can keep ignoring.Posted by saga_30311 at 07:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 21, 2008
an unhappy partnership
I've been thinking about partnerships lately. About marriage, about work, about this country, our government and our responsibilities as individual American citizens. About how most relationships, business relationship or personal relationships, are all built on the foundations of a partnership.By definition:
1: the state of being a partner : participation2 a: a legal relation existing between two or more persons contractually associated as joint principals in a business b: the persons joined together in a partnership3: a relationship resembling a legal partnership and usually involving close cooperation between parties having specified and joint rights and responsibilities
Nicely done. Given that, we get who's involved, and some idea that a) there should be some agreement (contract) between the partners and b) the roles of each partner should be defined as well as c) there should be some cooperation between said partners as well. Think that's all well and good, and the average person could agree on that and extend all that to most relationships...here's where I think it gets tricky....
Joint rights. Joint responsibilities. Ugh - that means all partners must do something and be accountable for something, and are entitled to somethings, eh? Yah, methinks that's where the proverbial rubber hits the road.In marriage:: I think generally people tend to forget about that last piece. A lot. I was talking with a friend about their recent divorce, and their "never again" attitude, and while I could understand it, I'm definitely a "never-say-never" kind of person. I have a few, er - friends (ex-dates, but let's not make this about me....lol) that have stated that whole "never-again" position. Typically, it's due to financial reasons. Understandable. Sometimes, it's due to a lack of a compelling reason. Hm.
As always, I have an ancedote: an extended late-night visit to the dentist (from 5:30PM to 5:00 AM. don't ask). But around 9PM-ish, the dentist's wife came in, put on some latex gloves, and played assistant, prepping rooms, checking to see if patients were comfortable, processing payments, making appointments and taking phone calls.
When I temporarily got the dentist outta my mouth, I had to tell her that I admired their partnership, how they worked together, the support, etc. She laughed, and we discussed it. She said "It wasn't always like this.....it's a second marriage for both of us....we're older now....our kids are grown....our reasons for getting married this time are definitely different than the first time, and our reasons for staying married are even slightly different than they were for getting married...." ....which I think is as it should be.
Marriage (and personal relationships between lovers) are at their core, a partnership. An agreement, with a contract - that can be modified as well as broken. But the terms of that partnership are completely up to the parties involved. It's their responsibility to define those terms, to define that contract and add/subtract whatever clauses are necessary.
In any partnership, even if one partner is ecstatic, and the other partner is miserable, the partnership alone isn't necessarily the compelling reason to remain. The MBA in me says as long as there's a valid ROI that's within expectations, the partnership's viable.The desire to retain the partnership, due to the other things derived from it (companionship, support, well-founded faith, financial reasons, lust, passion, spiritual reasons, agape love, or even desperation) as long as both partners are willing and agree, should be the reason to "stay in" and "work it out", whether it's a marriage, work relationship, or something else...
More under the cut....
Ah, work:: You may want to think this scenario is different, that your job/company/boss is huge, and you're just some little guy taking orders, but the same logic applies. My boss likes to say that to "do the right thing" we should be "good partners" with our company. We've allegedly got the same mission, goals, corporate values, etc. Sounds sorta like a partnership, yes? We have parties to it, there are agreements and contracts, and each has rights & responsibilities. Ha, I know you're wondering...? Yes, I have an anecdote ;)A coworker got recruited to assist with an important presentation, at the 25th hour (not long before flights were departing, and long after hotels had been fully booked). Although his wife and 2 small (<5 yrs old) children weren't ecstatic, he's a "good partner" so he did what he had to do. Lots of last-minute rescheduling/cancellations and a few travel mishaps later, and he was at a pretty large conference of upper-level managers, including a whole slew of C-levels (that's MBAspeak for the CEO, CIO, CFO and the Board of Directors, amongst others).
Now, he's a geek, like I'm a geek - we both work on projects (software) that come from the business development folks. The presentation was a business development presentation. He was serving as tech support - ensuring that the C-levels got their presentation sans technical glitches. And, yes - technical glitches are somewhat unavoidable. So, he's really just mitigating risks (minimizing/avoiding). At hour 27 however, late the night before, with the C-levels sleeping peacefully, a major glitch occurred. He had to make a decision to minimize the risk, which he did. And went to sleep very late, and very fitfully that night.
The next day 5 minutes before the presentation, as the C-levels are sipping coffee in anteroom, he gets a call from his manager. His hiring/promotion/firing manager::
manager:: I heard we had a problem last night.
him:: We did, but I decided to do Action X. That should address the issue.
manager:: Why didn't you decide to do Action Y?
him:: Action Y was riskier and had less chance of a positive response than Action X. I didn't want to risk it.
manager:: Are you sure? Action Y is still possible....?
him, thinking risky Action Y will take at least 30 minutes (and more C-level delaying) and safe Action X is already available:: I considered the alternatives, and I'm sure.
manager:: Ok. It's your job on the line. *click*
him:: hunh?
business development dude next to him We're going to need you to talk through the intro to the presentation, and you've got about 3 minutes.
him:: *gulp*
Can you imagine?
I gotta give it to him for pulling it off, and not walking out. But it just demonstrates that work relationships are a partnership. It was/is his choice to stay and work at it. Even when the terms change. I'm glad it worked out for him, but it made me reexamine whether this partner is the right partner for me. And what I'd be willing to do to continue making it work.
The good 'ole USofA:: Our government is a partner, whether we believe it or not, are willing or not. We have tacit and implicit agreements with it, some which we condone, some that we do not. Many parties are involved, willing and unwilling. We both have (semi) defined roles, and (semi) defined responsibilities. And we have contracts.
The nice thing about it, however - is that those contracts with the government are formally renegotiated and renewed periodically. Every 2-4 years.
Yeah, there's a campaign going, and I'll comment on that later. For now, I believe that even the most resistant, most apathetic, most disenfranchised Americans need to examine this race, and the direction our country has been headed in, and determine where they'd like our leaders to take us. As a partner, is our government working for you, and is it taking you where you'd like to go? Are you happy with the current partners? The current contracts?
A quick story:: a good friend of mine refuses to vote. Refuses to "participate in a System of corruption between the oppressive and corrupt government and multi-national corporations that continues to propogate racist and classist behaviors" etc. I understand this. However, if you're really going to "not participate", you have to make a universal stand. Don't be a consumer. Don't pay taxes. Don't work, directly or indirectly, for any multi-national corporations. Don't drive. Don't buy gas. Don't be entertained. If you're going to secede, you have to secede from everything...otherwise you're still a participant, and the only thing you're abdicating is your right to potentially change things..
Don't get me wrong - I agree. The system has major issues. But we (as a partner) have rights and responsibilities. The right to voice our dissatisfaction in one way or another. Griping is one (ineffectual, but valid). Voting is another. Not voting gives a freebie on the plus side to everything that you stand against.
Partnerships. We all choose how we participate in them. We choose our role, we help define our responsibilities and the contracts, and we decide whether they will continue. Or not.
If you're in an unhappy partnership, isn't it time to leave? Or can you do what it take to work things out?
Posted by saga_30311 at 08:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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
- spoke English
- 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 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 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.
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:
- Marriage clearly appears to promote the economic, social, familial, and psychological well-being of African American men and women.
