All work, and some play

I have talked a lot about the 'sabbatical' part of the social sabbatical, and not the hours where I am spending the majority of my time... At work! I did mention a few weeks ago that my project is focused on neighborhood revitalization, which is fascinating, exhausting and really important - all at the same time.

To imagine what my day looks like... it goes smthg like this... a run at 715 AM with the guys. We have formed a great little running group, and its a fun way to catch up and get some exercise at the same time. I then get ready, we meet for breakfast in our hotel (which is still very modest, and I am still only semi used to.. I will like not wearing socks at all times when I get home :)). After that, Piotr, Senta and I get picked up by our Brazilian client - Walker Massa.

Walker is one of the kindest souls I have maybe ever met. He has been an unbelievable host and guide through the City of Porto Alegre. He owns a company that provides Entrepreneurs a place to work - but also a creative place to network and 'co-work'...as opposed to working from home, or some other remote location. Its a very cool concept, and he is a cool guy. For as much as we've learned from him, I think he has learned from us, too.

We then work on the neighborhood revitalization program... half in ENGL and typically at least half in Portuguese.  It is exhausting to be working in a language which you do not speak.. I do understand a lot, but I obvsly cannot speak much.  Senta and Piotr are in the same boat, and dont necessarily want to, either. (Which I totally get!) We interview constituents, business people, government officials and do research on what the 4th district 'could be' - for Porto Alegre and in 10 years...

A normal work day includes a long lunch (I have NEVER had lunches away from my desk in the States - so its totally foreign to me!) , and questions/commentary from the co-workers at different points during the day. Often, we have extracurricular activities, as well. This means the day normally stretches from my 715 AM run - 730 or 8 PM... after which - we go out for dinner.  #yikes!  #moreeating!

Oh - and remember - this is all on Brazilian time, too. Meaning... the time fluctuates... but we usually run 10 - 30 mins behind for every meeting or engagement and the phrase 'Take it easy' is used a lot.  A lot. : ) #whome #doineedtotakeiteasy?

Regardless - I will take back the balance in life, the focus on the right things and the right time, and the camaraderie this experience has brought into my sphere.  Again, I am one lucky girl!!! 

Ok - more soon! This week brings more shoe shopping, PT lessons, and a trip to Rio!!!! Woo hoo!!!

Cant wait to share... And then, I am back home! I leave next Friday.. so the downward slide home is definitely in full force. I look forward to hearing from you!  Notes from home help a lot. 

XOXO  
 

Brochure from a Workshop I participated in with some colleagues.  Design thinking in action

Our workplace!  From L to R... Senta, me, NOS Logo, Piotr, Walker, Raphael, Marco (from Nos)

A little salt in the wound....

...So sorry for the delay with this entry, as I  had an extremely busy week....and now I write this from....Florianopolis....which I will forever affectionately call the 'Hamptons of Brazil'....
My 11 colleagues and I took a trip to this amazing island for a bit of  R&R, some bonding and a lot of sun! Yes - yes, it's true, it's sort of like 'Real World SAP' . But I guess that is sort of what this trip is, right??!... 12 strangers picked for a trip of a timeline to South America, staying in one (less than desirable) hotel....but I digress.  (On the R&R piece, I know many of you think I am here on full time R&R...but it really is the opposite!!!)

Annette, Amy and I at dinner on Friday

  We heard the island (Floripa, as they call it, that is) was amazing, and I almost don't want to share too much as things get colder back in the States....but I feel it my obligation to share the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth... #sorryimnotsorry... I will confirm...it IS amazing. Picturesque, in fact. 85 degrees and sunny...the entire time. Oh and it's not peak season.

The beach...Yea...#winning

The flight was abt 45 mins from Porto Alegre, and it feels like I am in a whole different world.  To begin painting the picture of the beach vaca, along with the buffet, the thong bikini is quite alive here still and worn by many. (LUCKILY it isn't necessarily the people eating at the buffets wearing the thongs!) ....But there are a few of those too...
 
The beaches are beautiful here....like amazing....  But I can perhaps dispel a myth at the same time....although there are certainly nice looking people in Brazil, it is surely not a country of Gisele Bunchens running around... It is one thing we have all been a bit surprised about. Please note - I have only been in the south - but will confirm or deny from Rio next weekend..!!

Beautiful beach scape

So as to not completely alienate my reading public, I will move away from the weekend for a bit a rewind to the week for a moment...which was a complete whirlwind!  There were so many cultural and work activities that I think I only slept 5-6 hrs a night...
 
On Monday my friend Annette and I took the capoeira class I mentioned in my last entry... It was such a cool cultural experience and a good workout! Annette was very good, I, not so much, but will definitely do it again. (This time ill know what I am getting myself into and the instructor will likely not be speaking. Portuguese to me! :)). Class starts with the playing of musical instruments and singing - then you stretch, etc - learn the 'moves' and then you 'play' capoeira.  After you play a while, you play music again and sing some more and play in 2s to the music...
 
Capoeira came to be as a means by the slaves who were not allowed to talk to one another nor were they allowed to fight communicated with one another. They fine tuned this way to communicate with one another through song and dance...and play fighting. This also allowed them to train and get strong. You never touch your opponent but you are trying to best them with your skills. It's such a culturally rich activity that I was thrilled to do. After that, we had Portuguese class.... And that was just Monday....after work!
 
So an update on my language skills.... I am improving, but certainly not at the clip Id like to... But wow is it frustrating to not be able to effectively and fluently communicate - especially when your comprehension is high. Also, the one sentence I need to know - "i have a gluten allegery" is something I havent mastered yet... and I need to. 
 
Ok - I know this was a long one - more to come soon!

It’s the big and little things that make an experience…(And of course the shoes you do them in!)

When my family was in South Africa earlier this year, we were told by our safari guide that we needed to look at the large and small things in the ecosystem to really get the fullest out of the safari experience… Certainly these words can be leveraged in situations far broader than just that. And I have been really trying to refocus on that advice since being in South America. It’s so easy to just run fast (especially – please hold your breath – since I have been wearing FLATS most of the time! Seeing is believing...so see below!) and try to fixate on the next thing (and the next) instead of being in the moment. 

So just a couple of stories on this topic as we roll out of the weekend… (I am at least an hour – and maybe a few hours ahead of most of you) – sadly my weekend ended before yours… and work week start before yours.  TEAR!

(And these are in no particular order...! And THANK YOU to some of my friends and colleagues for helping to make this list meatier!)

1.  The Brazilian butt lift is alive and well here...both real and fake!  Jeans, in fact, are sold with removable pads in the the back pockets to give the Brazilian girls that extra 'umph'.... Hmmm... (In fact, I met a girl this weekend who is going to start importing jeans to the States because she thinks that may be missing from our wardrobes. :) Get ready, ladies!)

Learning Portuguese from a very reputable source!

2. The Brazilians are actually more focused on fitness than I perhaps thought they were.  Each morning when we go running, there are a number of Brazilians also working out in the park... Interestingly enough, though, that they do not have a sock color choice... Meaning.. if you go to Europe and work out, everyone is wearing dark / black socks with their workout gear - and in the States we typically opt for white. Here - anything goes!  You cant judge a Brazilian by their sock color choice, that is for sure. :)

3. Grass roots community involvement is very important and ever present. The amount of opportunities we have had to participate in the one-off movement, activity, class, etc has been unparalleled. Yesterday, Annette, Amy and I got to participate in 2 different Afro Brazilian cultural events taking place in the park. The first was a 'activity' we participated in was focused on 'white magic' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quimbanda)... It basically consisted of a drum and singing circle and lots of swaying...!  And after, many of those folks would participate in Sunday evening 'capoeira' in the park. 

Brazilian community movement in the park. Afro Brazilian culture

Speaking of that - I am doing capoeira tonight after work, before Portuguese class. Get ready, Chicago, I plan to bring some of my surely new sick moves back with me!! : ) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira)  Quickly - capoeria is a 'work out' which combines dance, arcobatics, and musical instruments... Right up my alley!  Supposedly you just do squats and lunges for about 2 hours.  #justintime because we are going to the beach next weekend!!!

4. The buffet is ALIVE AND WELL in Brazil.  And I think my internet radio (Spotify) must know I have been to a few, because I keep hearing advertisements for Longhorn steakhouse.  (Barf!)  The same is on my face even just typing about this...!!  And now the real question - Which came first - the buffet or the capoeria?!

5. And last but not least - because I am sure you are all dying to know... I acquired my first Brazilian 'mitbringsel' (souvenir) leather goods this weekend!  SHOES!  (Annette got 2 pairs, so I was the well behaved one!)  The leather goods here are certainly beautiful, hand made, etc.  

No, I dont have cankels...and if I do, its from all of the buffets!  But those ARE my new shoes! #OMGIBOUGHTFLATS

So many to love!  So little room in my suitcase

More to come after another day of work, and a few classes this evening...! 

Love, peace and shoes-

Sarah

  

My SAP colleagues and friends in Brazil. We did a month of service project on Sat (before another buffet lunch) by painting an orphanage #givingback #internationalservice

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Pimps & Hoes....

Ok....I figure the shock factor is at least work a read, right?  Maybe she is going to talk about her colleagues? Maybe she is going to talk about her hotel? Maybe she is trying to shock her mother?! She really doesnt like the way they dress there, does she?!!?

Well - this is all incorrect... She is going to talk about work! Um..yes...that is correct. Com licesenza.

So...I am in Brazil for work (as I know you know).  And was chosen as a part of a Leadership program (as was my sister @jenniferalarson) and we are going to different parts of the world to work with non-for-profits... To this end, I thought I was coming to Brazil to work with an NGO/NPO that supports Entrepreneurs.. But instead, I am supporting a tangential initiative.. an urban revitalization project, in the neighborhood where the NGO is located.

This is a neighborhood with a ton of culture and history that has fallen on hard times... To net it out..we have a big problem to solve. We are still not quite sure what our City plan is going to look like, but this task makes my day job look like a piece of cake. (gluten free cake, certainly!). There are some amazing buildings and people who live in this neighborhood -but this task is way bigger than the month we have to dedicate to it. It has been very eye opening and a great way to bond with my teammates (who are lovely, BTW). 

SO - stay tuned for updates on this...and what we come up with...  

But before I close... a few quick things... 

1. This has been an awesome experience thus far  
2. I am working harder and longer hours than normal  
3. I am thrilled to hear from all of you!!!  
4. I had my first Portuguese class tonight (thanks to my colleague Annette for arranging!!!!) and it was so fun. I have gotten to speak a lot of German since being here -and my Portuguese is still awful - but I am learning (and thats half the battle!?!)  
5. I am running every morning with about half of the guys, which has been a fun experience.  
6. My next post will be about how I am going to style Brazil fabulous... or the capybaras... I havent decided yet.  #ireallywanttoseeone!!!

Email me, skype me, miss me, miss you! Boa noite! 
Sar xx
 

How to get stuck in an elevator without really trying....

Since I have basically eaten my way through Southern South America... maybe a bit more about that now?  Food and drink are a huge part of Brazilian culture -and the part of the country where I am was equated to the 'Texas of Brazil'... This is cowboy country, y'all.... Lots of steak, potatoes (MORE FRENCH FRIES!), gauchos...but maybe not so much big hair?  The Rio Grande del Sul even tried to pull away from Brazil at the turn of the century.

To that end, I have learned a few interesting things about Brazilian food and beverage culture... and they are as follows...

1. The 'Brazilian Early Bird Special' starts around 8 PM (for dinner)....You can get a seat ANYWHERE you want in ANYPLACE you want at this time...even for 15 people. However, you may have to wait for the kitchen and waitstaff to roll into work if you do show up at that time...
2. Their big meal is lunch, but dinner is nothing to shake a stick at either.... Trust me... (#Iwontgetfat, #Imaketheguysrunwithmeeverymorning #Thefoodisamazing)
3. Long live the french fry!  And the meat.  And pumpkin (or pumpking! :))
 (SIDE BAR - I KNOW WHY THE BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT WAS INVENTED!!!!) - see below...
4. Its not a party until the band starts....and the band typically wont start in at least 1030.. Oh yea - and this is a normal Tuesday. see below....
5. Drink caipirinhas - early and often... Especially if you are going to a churrasco .. see below
(or Brazilian BBQ joint...where they serve copious amts of meat on skewers and your waiter may or may not double as a dance with knives and ropes and heavy objects on the end - that he swings at you ...now really, see below!! )  - or just in general...

My friend / colleague Amy and I holding a spit of some kind of meat... :)

The post-1030 PM entertainment... they were really good...

The gaucho that made me a part of his sideshow act...by twirling a rope very fast over my head/hair and only whipping me twice... while my colleagues watched with delight!!!

Other things to note...
1. When you enter a bar or restaurant - they will give you your own ticket where your individual drinks and food noted... You must hold onto this ticket to pay with it - and present it to the 'guard' at the front of each establishment....  Dont lose your ticket, people!  (Just trust me...per waiters doubling as dancers with knives)
2. People walk around with trays of food / bevs, etc - that noone ordered just to tempt you... If you opt in, it will be added to the aforementioned ticket
3. You dont tip...which means service is on Brazilian time...for sure. And remember - I was told not to wear a watch here...#theydonteither

... SO I forgot to mention that our first night in Porto Alegre - after our first team dinner and evening enjoying Brazilian fare, that me and a few boys went out for one more Caipirinha... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caipirinha). For me, it really was only one more...because I am slightly nervous about being kidnapped - or at least getting lost :)... and I also negotiated our start time for the meeting the next day, so wasnt allowed to go home... 

Regardless - we get back to the hotel (which is 3 small stars, at best!) - and 7 of us pile into the elevator... and we go all the way up...and then plummet to about a foot below the lobby floor...and get stuck... No up, no down...and lots of 'panic button' pushing... The night guard got us out (luckily) - and suffice it to say, I plan to keep the churrasco LBS off by taking the stairs to my 8th floor room from now on...

(Oh - and a HUGE wedding party had to check out the next day - by lugging their luggage down many flights of stairs.  Good thing I dont speak Portuguese yet.)

Lots of love (handles!) :)
XO - Sar

The biggest small City youve never heard of....

To quickly finish the Argentinian portion of our trip, the rest of the time in BA was really awesome. Amy and I ended up meeting some new friends from Chicago who we were able to share part of the experience with, too - which made it even more fun!  We also had the chance to take a couple of private yoga sessions... A wonderful and hysterical activity at the same time... Perhaps more to come on that.. 

And then we flew to Brazil... 

The flight from BA to Porto Alegre (PA) was painless...until we had to fill out the Brazilian customs form... Ha.  I can confirm my Portuguese is worse than my Spanish, but also that Brazilian people are very nice... We had many a man come to our rescue en route.  We got help with our customs forms (thankfully!!), tips for things to do in and around the City and in general.  My mom told me I shouldnt talk to strangers. Per the above about my terrible Portuguese, I dont think that is a problem...

My initial impression of PA was that of...'Wow...this is truly the largest City that noone has ever heard of'....On the way from the airport into the City (where our hotel is), I was on the hunt for Capybara's (aka the world's larget rodent - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara) - which I didnt find. But I did see a number of wild horses...(First time for everything, I guess!) I am still hopeful about the capavara's (en portuguese).. but we shall see. 

Our hotel is in the City center - close to a lot of restaurants, and bars... and city life in general.  We can easily walk around from here... People are generally quite happy to help in English and Portuguese and my colleagues from SAP are lovely.  There are 12 of us who are a part of this program...none of whom had ever been to Brazil, so we will experience this together.

I am glad my trip began in BA, and then moved to Brazil, because I am not sure I wasfully prepared for this... Although Porto Alegre is allegedly quite wealthy... there is also poverty which I dont know if I have seen like this...even with all of my travel and living different places. On our walk to the grocery store yesterday afternoon, Amy and I saw many, many people eating out of dumpsters, and sleeping on the street. I  dont know what I was expecting, but I did need a bit of time to recover.. I can already tell this is going to be eye opening for me on many levels.

Last night, the SAP team had dinner at a local establishment (steak and fries! YESSSS!!!) - and listened to some local music - which was awesome.  Oh and of course, had a caiparihna or 2... Delish!

I am thrilled to have another few weeks here getting to know the language, City and Brazilian cultture... Especially since Spring is springing as I type.. Hello nice weather!

More to follow.. More to come... Obridgada. Bom Tarde. Agua sem gas. Con lisenze... :)

XO - Sar

 

The cats and dogs of Buenos Aires....

For those of you who have been to Buenos Aires, I can only assume you feel like I do... It is amazing.  It’s a mix of cultures and oh so cosmopolitan... European, South American, big City and small town all in one. The people have been lovely, the food has been amazing (and plentiful!), and the experience thoroughly pleasing, thus far. Net net - days 1 + 2 + most of day 3 = Success!

My main observation from the last days revolves around animals...So let’s talk about the dog and cats of my current home away from home (away from home, away from home... wait - do I even technically have a home yet?!).  So - first of my, my sister @jenniferalarson.blogspot.com - you would LOVE this place. There are dogs everywhere!  And - for any aspiring dog walkers out there... do I have an idea for you... move to BA!  It doesn’t seem like the market is cornered...trust me on this one.   Even in the aforementioned cemetery… (see below)

 

From the Recoleta cemetery

But it’s the dog walkers that are really amazing... or at least the herds of dogs they amass are.  I think the real collective for dogs is a 'pack' - so apologize if that is the case. Seriously; I’ve never seen anything like it.  To my dear friend Teresa Hamm.. Lola and Rocco would either LOVE or hate this... The dogs are big, small, loud, quiet, and definitely in a pack of at least 10 – 15 of their closest compatriots.  And when a new dog joins the herd, they get tied up to the nearest fireplug or tree… Crazy!

Schatzi...because I was never quick enough to take a picture of one of the packs of dogs... :(

So now let’s talk about the cats… or the cat calls, rather.  Amy and I seemingly stick out like sore thumbs here… She is a tall redhead and I a small toe head (as you all knowJ)… And the Argentinian men seem to have taken note. We have been cat called, trilled at, yelled at, honked at, grabbed at…and the list continues…  It has been quite an experience to be such the object of so many a man’s verbal focus…  We shall see if the spectacle continues in Brazil – but for now, it is at lease amusing... and has helped me learn a bit more Spanish… (i.e. No, Nada, etc )  Oh yea... I also bought a scarf depicting ' El Tigre'... uns uns uns... See below...

 

Regardless – BA has been so worth it. I’ve loved every minute of it – and can’t wait for the rest of the time here – and for the journey to continue to Porto Alegre. We fly out in the early afternoon tomorrow… Wish us luck!   (There will be another entry about BA though... about the food, and yoga... Stay tuned for that.) 

Buenos Dias, Buenos Noches, Buenes Aires! 

Xoxo – Sar

(also – EXTRA SHOUT OUT TO MY SISTER @jenniferalarson@blogspot.com and her new FIANCEE John Beason!  They made my trip even more special by getting engaged – and being SOOOOO EXCITED FOR THEM!!!!!!!!!!)

Dont cry for me, Argentina..!!!

...Or lets be honest.. feel free to,  Buenos Aires!  And by cry, because you are so happy that you are my VERY FIRST stop on this amazing South American journey. (Also, that you are my 2nd new continent to visit in one calendar year...!! Check!)

So, after about 13 hours or travel, I landed in bustling BA. The airport was quite a mob scene, then the traffic brought me home... aka - it felt like driving in or out of Chicago, as it was so bad, it took us close to an hour to get to our hotel. (I am traveling with one of the other girls who I'll be spending the next month in Brazil with, Amy.)

It has been a truly great day, and this is a beautiful City!  Certainly very culturally and otherwise rich (or at least the neighbor we are staying in.. the Recoleta)- but also just lovely. I think we have hit it just before the tourists decent upon Argentina for the spring and summer seasons.  

We spent a long time meandering around the City, winding up and down streets and corridors...and graveyards.  Well, one graveyard.  La Recoleta Cemetary is one of the City's most renown sites... It is really beautiful...and was fascinating to walk around... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Recoleta_Cemetery). Built in 1822, there are many famous past Argentinians who have been laid to rest here. The most famous of them, in my eyes, is Eva Peron...  but there are past Presidents, the founder of the Argentine Navy and many prominent citizens of lovely BA.

We followed this up by finding some delicious food (um - can you say stuffed patatas and pollo...oh and I am DEFINITELY going to eat a cazuela tomorrow..aka casserole!), and a bit more walking around. Tomorrow we plan to go to the 'Teatro Colon' and perhaps head to Palermo Soho for some shopping.  Who me, what shopping?  (Good thing my mom isnt here to reverse haggle!) :)  ...Of course after this afternoons' siesta and a bit of Argentine fare this evening...!!

An aside - my Spanish is bad. Real bad. Or at least should be better... If this is a sign for what is to come in Brazil...even after hours of practicing with my Portuguese apps, I am totally hosed. 

Buenos Dias. Buenos Noches.  Buenos Aires!

XOXO - Sar

(BTW - these will be coming more frequently now...and I will even back up and share a bit about the last few weeks, too!!)