Friday, September 5, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
more brief news
the chicken was delicious :)
what else?
- the sun sets really fast in Brazil; at 6pm, almosty exactly, it disappears. and it's tricky, because every day around 5:55 you still think its high enough in the sky, you thin you have the time to finish your beer, to go back to your room to take your camera, or to climb one more hill by bike... but the sun has steadily escaped us for 11 days in a row now, except for a half-success earlier this week. in case you wonder,m I still find that the sun rise on Tioman's easter coastline (Malaysia) is more beautiful than the sunset here :p
- long distance bus is, as expected, the best way to travel in the contry. you get a seat that you can adapt almost as a bed, a good blanket (if you get an "executive" ticket), free water, a some movies on the way!
some random info I got from IC about energy, that I still have to go through and analyze:
- Costa Rica does not have a single refinery. therefore all of its oil is exported, to be refined, then gasoline is imported again. you can see the obvious energetical and economical consequences...
- Brazil, second largest ethanol producer, faces the issue of transport of ethanol: most of it is produced around Sao Paulo, there fore its still more expensive in the far north and far south of the country, compared to gasoline.
and not related to energy, but personal career and leadership:
- "if you have talent, and put it at the disposal of who pays you more, then you are just a mercenary. YOu need to have a purpose. When you are looking for a job, you select the company, not the other way round."
from O. Motomura, founder of Amana-key Group, and member of the Earth Charter.
enough food for thought today, meet you again later ;)
Jean
what else?
- the sun sets really fast in Brazil; at 6pm, almosty exactly, it disappears. and it's tricky, because every day around 5:55 you still think its high enough in the sky, you thin you have the time to finish your beer, to go back to your room to take your camera, or to climb one more hill by bike... but the sun has steadily escaped us for 11 days in a row now, except for a half-success earlier this week. in case you wonder,m I still find that the sun rise on Tioman's easter coastline (Malaysia) is more beautiful than the sunset here :p
- long distance bus is, as expected, the best way to travel in the contry. you get a seat that you can adapt almost as a bed, a good blanket (if you get an "executive" ticket), free water, a some movies on the way!
some random info I got from IC about energy, that I still have to go through and analyze:
- Costa Rica does not have a single refinery. therefore all of its oil is exported, to be refined, then gasoline is imported again. you can see the obvious energetical and economical consequences...
- Brazil, second largest ethanol producer, faces the issue of transport of ethanol: most of it is produced around Sao Paulo, there fore its still more expensive in the far north and far south of the country, compared to gasoline.
and not related to energy, but personal career and leadership:
- "if you have talent, and put it at the disposal of who pays you more, then you are just a mercenary. YOu need to have a purpose. When you are looking for a job, you select the company, not the other way round."
from O. Motomura, founder of Amana-key Group, and member of the Earth Charter.
enough food for thought today, meet you again later ;)
Jean
brief news
in brief, news from the southern half of Brazil.
- many penguins have been found on the shore, onthe Island of Santa Catarina, also known as the city of Florianopolis. they seem to have lost their wayfrom the south pole. theyr were very small!! at first we couldnt believe we were seeing a penguin, by 25 degrees outside.. but then other ppl told us they saw some too.
- now in Iguacu, with a japanese roommate. I was wearing an Aiesec tshirt as I entered the room, and he said "hey I know that organization!". and he isnt even a member. but he was in Rio ealrier, and met some @ers there.
- our food has arrived! im heading for dinner :)
- many penguins have been found on the shore, onthe Island of Santa Catarina, also known as the city of Florianopolis. they seem to have lost their wayfrom the south pole. theyr were very small!! at first we couldnt believe we were seeing a penguin, by 25 degrees outside.. but then other ppl told us they saw some too.
- now in Iguacu, with a japanese roommate. I was wearing an Aiesec tshirt as I entered the room, and he said "hey I know that organization!". and he isnt even a member. but he was in Rio ealrier, and met some @ers there.
- our food has arrived! im heading for dinner :)
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing IC + Alumni congress
what to say, where to start, how to express....
- the largest hotel in Brazil, situated in sao Paulo
- over 1000 people at the venue, among which 140 alumni from 45 different countries, who were part of the organization in the past
- oldest alumnus was the 3d president of aiesec international, in 1951
- youngest alumni... they are attending their last conference right now
- integrated session agenda for members, alumni, partners...
Today is open Space day: people offered topics to discuss in groups this morning and afternoon.
I offered the topic "what jobs will exist in 5-10 years, that dont exist now?
for guidance, I offered sub-topics:
-how can we prepare for these jobs, for us to remain competitive individuals on the job market?
- how can aiesec prepare its members to be ready for those jobs?
- can we as individuals, or aiesec as an organization, influence what those new jobs will be?
but for now, I joined the morning topic "energy and sustainability", a topic offered by a Costa-rican delegate, Julio.
we had two japanese, a new-zealender, a russian, a mexican, a puerto rican, a brazilian, and me. 3 continents represented, ages from 21 to 38, giviing their insights onte current state of the energy issue in their countries/continents, and learning from each other and offering solution for the global issue.
i should be surprised that such a thing is possible, that such discussions can happen. and actually I am. we started the day with a quote from eistein: "there are two ways to live your life: you can chose to live like nothing is a miracle. or like everything is a miracle."
at the moment, it is pretty easy to feel like everything is a miracle.
Besides, I was expecting to meet people whom I didnt know were attending the conference. I happened!!
a lot of ppl that I met in China last year are here: Mino, Nina, Jolin, echo, Andrew (!!!!!! from the US!), Florent, Vincent, Juan...
but also "old" brazilian, like Vedana, Guga, jow, Elisa and Virginia. Vini and rafita, you are the missing ones!!
and former AI members like Cornelia and maria who were inspiring facis at EuroLDS back in 2004, in Malaga.
Im here with Fred and Ngoc, they are a bit lost coz they dont know so many people, but it's still pretty goog to have three people coming all the way from France to Brazil for the congress!
it's a lot of emotions, to sum it up. im going back to sessions, maybe wirting more later next week, from Florianopolis.
Aiesecly yours,
Jean
- the largest hotel in Brazil, situated in sao Paulo
- over 1000 people at the venue, among which 140 alumni from 45 different countries, who were part of the organization in the past
- oldest alumnus was the 3d president of aiesec international, in 1951
- youngest alumni... they are attending their last conference right now
- integrated session agenda for members, alumni, partners...
Today is open Space day: people offered topics to discuss in groups this morning and afternoon.
I offered the topic "what jobs will exist in 5-10 years, that dont exist now?
for guidance, I offered sub-topics:
-how can we prepare for these jobs, for us to remain competitive individuals on the job market?
- how can aiesec prepare its members to be ready for those jobs?
- can we as individuals, or aiesec as an organization, influence what those new jobs will be?
but for now, I joined the morning topic "energy and sustainability", a topic offered by a Costa-rican delegate, Julio.
we had two japanese, a new-zealender, a russian, a mexican, a puerto rican, a brazilian, and me. 3 continents represented, ages from 21 to 38, giviing their insights onte current state of the energy issue in their countries/continents, and learning from each other and offering solution for the global issue.
i should be surprised that such a thing is possible, that such discussions can happen. and actually I am. we started the day with a quote from eistein: "there are two ways to live your life: you can chose to live like nothing is a miracle. or like everything is a miracle."
at the moment, it is pretty easy to feel like everything is a miracle.
Besides, I was expecting to meet people whom I didnt know were attending the conference. I happened!!
a lot of ppl that I met in China last year are here: Mino, Nina, Jolin, echo, Andrew (!!!!!! from the US!), Florent, Vincent, Juan...
but also "old" brazilian, like Vedana, Guga, jow, Elisa and Virginia. Vini and rafita, you are the missing ones!!
and former AI members like Cornelia and maria who were inspiring facis at EuroLDS back in 2004, in Malaga.
Im here with Fred and Ngoc, they are a bit lost coz they dont know so many people, but it's still pretty goog to have three people coming all the way from France to Brazil for the congress!
it's a lot of emotions, to sum it up. im going back to sessions, maybe wirting more later next week, from Florianopolis.
Aiesecly yours,
Jean
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
breaking the rules
As most of you might know it, I'm not a big fan of uniformism.\
I stand for glocalization, meaning global standards with a dose of local customization.
When it comes to taking pictures, I think the usual and common pictures are already taken, or will be very soon, by someone else, so I try to make something different.
The picture below is dedicated to the person with whom I first saw the real version of that sculpture, in Paris. I was thinking about you, and thought that might best express it ;)
I miss you.
Jean in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
I stand for glocalization, meaning global standards with a dose of local customization.
When it comes to taking pictures, I think the usual and common pictures are already taken, or will be very soon, by someone else, so I try to make something different.
The picture below is dedicated to the person with whom I first saw the real version of that sculpture, in Paris. I was thinking about you, and thought that might best express it ;)
I miss you.
Jean in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Merci! Thank you! Obrigado! Gracias! Danke! Grazie! Xiexie! Domo arigato gozaimasu!
Thanks to all the people who wished me a ahppy anniversary, from around the planet :)
Tonio from Paris was the first I received, by sms ;) (after that, my battery died, and since my cherger is in my lost luggage I havent received any sms since then, but thanks if you sent an sms too!!)
thanks for all the facebook messages on my wall!!
Thanks to Vic, writing for 7000 km away (I haven't checked, I trust you on the distance ;) )
thanks to my family for the call and emails and messages ...
thanks to my banker & nevertheless friend...
thanks to Carol and Cel for the e-cards! I was surprised, hadnt received this type of greeting for some time, it's a nice idea!!
when you're far and away, it's not always easy to know whats happening in the world, whats going on in your home country, whats th day of the week... so those signs of sympathy and celebration are always welcome, to remind me that I have somewhere to go back to, and some people whom are important to me.
see you soon in France, for the most part, or somewhere around the planet ;)
Jean in BH
Tonio from Paris was the first I received, by sms ;) (after that, my battery died, and since my cherger is in my lost luggage I havent received any sms since then, but thanks if you sent an sms too!!)
thanks for all the facebook messages on my wall!!
Thanks to Vic, writing for 7000 km away (I haven't checked, I trust you on the distance ;) )
thanks to my family for the call and emails and messages ...
thanks to my banker & nevertheless friend...
thanks to Carol and Cel for the e-cards! I was surprised, hadnt received this type of greeting for some time, it's a nice idea!!
when you're far and away, it's not always easy to know whats happening in the world, whats going on in your home country, whats th day of the week... so those signs of sympathy and celebration are always welcome, to remind me that I have somewhere to go back to, and some people whom are important to me.
see you soon in France, for the most part, or somewhere around the planet ;)
Jean in BH
Turning 25, the quarter of a century
That was just before I turned 25. Alright, actually it was aleady after, but it really shows the state of mind: what's behind the door, what to expect?
Immediately after turning older than a quarter of a century, I got a bit stressed.
Looking to all my friends who stayed behind, wondering how it was to still be young and feel that everything was still to come, belonging to the future.
guys, what's it like to still be there? tell me, I forgot already?
Well in the end, I think it's really not a big deal. On a day to day basis.
But in my mind, it does make a difference. there is the feeling of responsibility: if the 1st quarter was all about learning and acquiring the skills, then the second should be all about action? or should it? and when/ how to prepare the 3d quarter of the century???
Besides, one of the main differences on my daily life is that beard problem: now that I know that my backpack is absolutely lost over the atlantic ocean, I NEED to buy a razor and shave!! beard makes people look even older! God...
Cheers from Belo Horizonte, where Fred/Alfredo/"Fredji" and I are enjoying a well-earned rest of 3 days.
Immediately after turning older than a quarter of a century, I got a bit stressed.
Looking to all my friends who stayed behind, wondering how it was to still be young and feel that everything was still to come, belonging to the future.
guys, what's it like to still be there? tell me, I forgot already?
Well in the end, I think it's really not a big deal. On a day to day basis.
But in my mind, it does make a difference. there is the feeling of responsibility: if the 1st quarter was all about learning and acquiring the skills, then the second should be all about action? or should it? and when/ how to prepare the 3d quarter of the century???
Besides, one of the main differences on my daily life is that beard problem: now that I know that my backpack is absolutely lost over the atlantic ocean, I NEED to buy a razor and shave!! beard makes people look even older! God...
Cheers from Belo Horizonte, where Fred/Alfredo/"Fredji" and I are enjoying a well-earned rest of 3 days.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Rio de Janeiro - more
Ola gente,
sorry that I´m writing so little, but its kinda difficult to get a straight half hour that we actually want to sacrifice at an internet cafe, when there is so much to do and see outside.
so here am I in Recife, taking this time to write about 11th - 13th august, when we were in Rio.
the whole area is very nice seen from above, as there are many small and large beaches, very wide with white sand, and clear waters (we got pictures, but cannot yet upload them here; next week probably). As we were on top of the "sugar loaf", and also at the Christ, there was a dense mist just above the ground, covering the whole city and beyond. we asked a couple of taxi drivers, who disagreed on the question whether it was pollution or not. it seems it depends on the time of the day, and day in the month. it makes everything further than a few km a bit fuzzy and white.
From up there, you can look in every direction, but the large hills all around Rio block the view in some places. The Favela da Rocinha, the biggest urban "slum" in the world, is visible from pretty much any high point of the city.
Rio de Janeiro was named like that because the bay was discovered in January (Janeiro), and the sailors thought they had found a large river (Rio). There is one, but it´s not so big ;)
We haven`t seen any of the supposedly-omnipresent violence. but we haven´t taken too many risks either.
Taxis are cheap and many areas are crowded with tourists even at this time of the year.
more on the city later, as we`ll be back there on august, 29th.
Cheers,
Jean
sorry that I´m writing so little, but its kinda difficult to get a straight half hour that we actually want to sacrifice at an internet cafe, when there is so much to do and see outside.
so here am I in Recife, taking this time to write about 11th - 13th august, when we were in Rio.
the whole area is very nice seen from above, as there are many small and large beaches, very wide with white sand, and clear waters (we got pictures, but cannot yet upload them here; next week probably). As we were on top of the "sugar loaf", and also at the Christ, there was a dense mist just above the ground, covering the whole city and beyond. we asked a couple of taxi drivers, who disagreed on the question whether it was pollution or not. it seems it depends on the time of the day, and day in the month. it makes everything further than a few km a bit fuzzy and white.
From up there, you can look in every direction, but the large hills all around Rio block the view in some places. The Favela da Rocinha, the biggest urban "slum" in the world, is visible from pretty much any high point of the city.
Rio de Janeiro was named like that because the bay was discovered in January (Janeiro), and the sailors thought they had found a large river (Rio). There is one, but it´s not so big ;)
We haven`t seen any of the supposedly-omnipresent violence. but we haven´t taken too many risks either.
Taxis are cheap and many areas are crowded with tourists even at this time of the year.
more on the city later, as we`ll be back there on august, 29th.
Cheers,
Jean
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
jour 1 : Rio de Janeiro
O Christo redentor :
an impressive statue, seeable from all parts of the city and providing and unmateched panoramic view on the whole area... very imposing when you are at its feet !!
o Pao de Acucar tambem vale muito a pena para ver o por do sol ^^
an impressive statue, seeable from all parts of the city and providing and unmateched panoramic view on the whole area... very imposing when you are at its feet !!
o Pao de Acucar tambem vale muito a pena para ver o por do sol ^^
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Welcome Bienvenue Bem-vindos
I'll make sure to post regular news items, and pictures, or videos when possible.
Cheers,
Cheers,
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