Me Ol' China, first week in SP, actually first 72 hours

Hello Me Ol' China!

My First week in Brazil and my first considerations, after 3 days, about this place, Sao Paulo. Let me start saying that if a year ago someone would have shown me some pictures of Beijing and Sao Paulo, I would have certainly said that those with the run down places, favelas and poverty would have been China... I always disliked Latin American poverty, compared to the Asian one. Poverty in Latin America steals the dignity from the individuals while in Asia seems more like an acceptance of the status. Of course there are differences and, i think, that they are more due to religious reasons rather than country wise. I am thinking of the Philippines where poverty is like the Latin American one, while the Indian or the Chinese one seem to preserve dignities.

In Beijing you see the Hutongs, sometimes behind walls, but still you do not see the sadness in those beautiful oval eyes, here in Sao Paulo skyscrapers and favelas are side by side and the impression you get is the one you get from nature documentaries when you see scavengers side by side with predators. The impression is that on one hand you got the poor benefiting from the leftovers of the rich ones while the rich benefits of the presence of the poor in terms of safety and waste disposal.

Even in terms of technology Brazil seems to be behind China. I am having serious difficulties in communicating via mobiles with the rest of the world and I am still condemned to use the Italian mobile card. Accommodations at parity of price are much more basic. Food is good but pricey. Still too early to comment about people. I will have time to do that too...

Safety... I never feel safe here, I have to admit. In the morning, Rede Globo transmit the war bulletin covering car accidents, murders and police raids. Frankly, at 6:30 in the morning it's not the best way to start the day but this is the reality and cannot be ignored, especially when you are in a hotel gym and there are the usual guys coming over putting the TV on regardless of the others...

I know it sounds like I have already decided that I do not like to be here but this is not entirely true. I always give my impressions as they come along and I am sure I will find many positive aspects with time.

Work wise seems to be ok. The job I am going to perform here is different from the one I did in Beijing: much less stress and no people to manage! This should allow me more time to think and even travel around at weekends. We have planned already a first Team Weekend for November 7th-10th, to Rio de Janeiro and, in December a weekend in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina.

(to be continued)