Written by Antoine Robbesom
Dutchman in Brazil (05)
APR 2005:
Working, Working, Partying
- ENGLISH GOOGLE TRANSLATION,
FOR YOUR BETTER UNDERSTANDING -
(original article (in Dutch) in VK blog) / (artikel in het Nederlands)
Overview of the months already published:
12-2004 / 01-2005 / 02-2005 / 03- 2005 / 04-2005 / 05-2005 / 06-2005 / 07-2005 / 08-2005 / 09-2005 / 10-2005 / 11-2005 / 12-2005 / 01-2006 / 02-2006 / 03-2006 / 04-2006 / 05-2006 / 06-2006 / 07-2006 (I) / 07-2006 (II) / 07-2006 (III) / 07-2006 (IV) / 07-2006 (V) / 07-2006 (VI) / 07-2006 (VII) / 07-2006 (VIII) /
Experiences of a Dutch living in Belo Horizonte, since December 2004, from month to month.
April 2005: Working with my thesis, amongst the students, and partying with the students.
South of Belo Horizonte, as seen from Mangabeiras
Creative
Like in March in April 2005 was a quiet month for me. Again one months without traveling. It was one months I spent in college, I made nice progress with the completion of my thesis. I got more used to the ins and outs of this section. The differences with the Netherlands in departments where I've done my scientific work, are huge. Brazilian universities are simply less (financial) resources to carry out research, and is therefore a strong dose of resourcefulness essential.
Daily patrol of horse-riding military police on the big university campus.
Good Contacts
In the Netherlands we did as employees, but to kikken and one or more days later it arrived at our table requested. Whether in the city itself or from the United States had come. Only in the case of large sums was required permission to the department leader. In Belo Horizonte it that bit different. It is also regularly ordered, but it is uncertain when it actually arrives ordered. Particular goods to many outside Brazil is delayed. Interim by the investigators combed the other departments in the hope it anywhere you want to be able to find the orders came. Thanks to the work, the employees can find good contacts, it is very well aware what's playing on the other departments, much less in the Netherlands while I was aware of the ins and outs of the departments, we were only informed through the seminars and working meetings.
Butterfly stroke, als performed by a colleague, at the CEU
Dance Floor
The mutual contacts in Belo Horizonte are also maintained through the many social activities. Regular churrasco's (barbecues) organized for student and teacher. While enjoying bits of roast meat and cold beers are exchanged the necessary information. Every Friday, the biology students gather for their weekly drinks. So midnight, students can stop by for a snack and drink, while enjoying music from the sixties and seventies. Many students are real freaks dance on the dance floor and are often available on the sizes of samba, forró and pagoda. These drinks and I made many friends through these friends, I quickly learned more from the university know.
South of Belo Horizonte, as seen from Buritis
Drunk
Life consisted of work and more than college for me. In April I had regular meetings and parties. There was a farewell party (despedida) of the Uruguayan student I had met in January. I was invited by her and her prof for a long evening in which the beer flowed generously and cachaça. Not that I drank Lavelöss, but many of this group did. The next morning we left for Confins, Belo Horizonte International Airport, to accompany her to the plane. We still have good contact with each other. She is also working on completing her thesis.
Bourgundy life...
Fairy Tale
Jessica, who I have met in January, often invited me to join her boyfriend and some other friends a drink or somewhere to go. So I went with the regular bus to the south of the city (a bus trip of at least one hours) where I had to climb a very steep road to arrive at her home. The south of Belo Horizonte is on the slopes of the Serra do Curral built a ridge upon which the park is located Mangabeiras. One evening I accompanied Jessica and Fábio to Mangabeiras, where we enjoyed the beautiful evening panorama of the illuminated mega city below us. From that great height seemed no mega city, but a huge backdrop of a miniature city, with buildings as match boxes and lights and micro lights. A fairy scene.