Paper #1 – Introduction – Mariza

My name is Mariza Mota. I was born in Mar de Espanha, Minas Gerais state. I have lived in this city for 15 years. After that, my family moved to Juiz de Fora and in 1990 I graduated in medicine at Juiz de Fora University. In 1991, I moved to São Paulo to do my speciality, Hematology in São Paulo University, later I worked at many hospitals. Now, I am working  at Albert Einstein Hospital and my job is supervisor blood groups and serology laboratory and work with quality control system.  I love my work.

Paper # 1 – Introduction – Renato’s life

My name is Renato. I graduated in law at PUC University and Economics at USP. I chose to work as a tax lawyer and I have been very satisfied with my career so far.  I also teach tax law in BM&F. I sometimes get upset with my job and with some problems in the corporate world, such as selfishness, competition and hard working. However, I can say a like what I do.

My favorite hobby is to travel and visit different places in world. Last year I’ve been in London, Paris, Rome, Venice and Amsterdam. I had a great time there and I wonder I can do it again soon. London is my favorite place to go and I think I could stay there forever.

I have two sisters and a one-year-old nephew. I try to be with him in all my free time and I’ve had a lot of good moments since his birth. 

In 2006 I decided to live by myself and I left home. My parents got a little upset with such decision, but nowadays we have a normal relationship. Sometimes I miss the advantagesof living with parents, such as a full refrigerator, a well made dinner and specially someone to talk. On the other hand, the feeling of freedom is always grateful.

I’ve been dating my girlfriend for 3 year. Although she is 4 years younger, we like to do the same things and we have a similar tastes, such as travel and drink a lot. Howerver, I do not plan to get merried soon.

Paper # 2 – Being abroad

Once my father asked me if I would like to live abroad. At same moment I said yes. And after responding to him in this simple word, my life changed a lot. I was 16 years old at the time, and I did not know what life had in reserve for me.I applied for an exchange student program sponsored by the Rotary Club anxious for a quick response. It was May, 1996, when I received an unexpected call in which the person scheduled an interview and some tests with me. I was successful in those tests, which involved knowledge of the Basic English language, knowledge in general, and so far. My parents were glad that I would be sponsored to live abroad in a cultural exchange program, knowing that the only burden would be the airplane ticket to get to the chosen country.

I had a choice between Mexico, Argentina or Indonesia. I must confess that I wanted to go anywhere in Europe for that the cultural environment there attracts me a lot; however, it was too late to apply to any place in Europe. Facing those options I picked Indonesia beyond doubt, supporting in the idea that Indonesia was the only place outside America and it has a totally different culture than Brazil.

There I had really good experiences; I lived in a Muslim house, studied in a protestant school in country with a majority of Islam’s people; also, I traveled around the Java Island, explored the mystic and famous Island named Bali, dived in incredible and fantastic reefs. The truth is one year was not enough to know and discover all the Indonesian culture.

 

Despite theses expediencies, the most important thing in this trip was the personal growth that I had when being outside Brazil. Certainly, I got more responsibility, learning how to manage the budget that I had and knowing the limits; also, I understood how important is respect the differences, regardless of color, religion or culture.

 

It is not wrong to assert that this experience definitely shaped me as person, demonstrating to me and to my parents that we picked the right choice.

 

Paper # 2 – The Advantage of Being a Pionneer

The oldest child is a pioneer and this brings some advantages. In fact, as an oldest child, I didn’t need to follow the steps of anyone, I still am a role model, having the chance to write my own destiny. I feel like a “lab rat”. It’s exciting!

 

During the last years, I had the opportunity to watch the influence of my lifestyle on my youngest sister crucial decisions such as which career would she follow, which company should she work for. This is an influence that I had not experienced. I freely chose my career and my job.

 

Moreover, the oldest child has the opportunity to deal with leadership very soon. I really believe that it had influenced me in a way that in my job I always lead teams for new projects.

 

For this reason, the oldest child is expected to be more responsible. I remember when I was young, for many times I was accused of some bad behavior of my youngest sisters, for instance, not take shower in time to go to school.

 

Hence, I was always pushed to be responsible. Therefore, there are interesting advantages being the oldest child: as a pioneer, I will take precious qualities for the rest of my life.

 

 

Paper # 1 – The One with Many Siblings

My name is Janaína, I’m 23 years old and have 5 siblings – 1 sister and 4 brothers – that I love with all my heart. Nowadays is difficult to find a family so big, so people always get surprised when I tell them how many siblings I have. This “baby explosion” happened because my parents broke up when I was 15, and both of them formed new families.

I was the only woman of the family until 4 years ago, so my parents always treated me like the “fragile girl” that should be protected from the brother who was always fighting with her, and the cruel world full of competition. This overprotection made me a dependent spoiled daughter who was always asking for help and used to imagine the world as a scary place to live. The situation was so critic that I’ve refused to catch a bus alone and couldn’t stay in a place without my mother, even if this place was my grandma’s house.

As I grew up, I realized that I had to take control of my life because my parents would’t be there forever. One of the main reasons that made me see that was the birth of my brother, because all my mother’s time and attention were dedicated to him and I had to do my chores alone. The same happened at my father´s side when he had another child, and with each one of the babies’ birth I learned important values like sharing and being responsible for someone, that form my personality today.

I graduated in Adverstising 2 years ago, and since 2004 I’ve been working at de Marketing department of Sony Pictures Entertainment with the cable TV channels Sony Entertainment Television, AXN and Animax. Working there I discovered my passion for TV series, specially Lost, Grey´s Anatomy and 30 Rock, which I watch every week. My other hobbies include listening to music, reading, watching movies and spending time with my friends at some good restaurant or someone´s house. Oh, and also love taking care and playing with my little siblings, that strongly influenced my grownth and independence.

Paper # 1 – Introduction – My Private Life

My name is Daniela Audrá and I’m 35. I have a older brother and we a have a great contact with our parents. Once a week we go out to have a dinner or lunch. I got married 12 years ago with a wonderful man, Felipe, that  is a worker man, kind and patient. I have many friends, but I think my family and my husband comes first. When something happens to me, independent that it is good or  bad, I don’t have doubt, I want to tell them, because it is confortble for me to talk with them. I remember last july when I had a problem. The first person who I talked about was my husband. In fact, I need their opinion. I trust them.

I Like to read and to travel a lot. All the weekends I go to Guarujá carrying a lot of books and magazines. Twice a year me and my husband travel abroad for 15 days. We prepare all vacation with datails and love. Last month we went to Italy and Turkey. It was wonderful!

I really like my job. I’m a lawer and I have been work at Valor Econômico for 6 years. Last year a had a promotion. and I became the manager of the legal departament. I’m very strict and like that all the things happen in my way. I don’t think it is good, because I know that it is necessary to hear all the opinions. But, in fact, I think that I have this strong personality because I studied 13 years in the same and strict school. It is dificult for me to change.

Otherwise I like very much my job, my work doesn’t come before my private life. Therefore, I think I’m really satisfied with my life. Actually, I have just one doubt. I don’t know If I want to have a child or not. I like children, but I when I think about I feel afraid, because if I have, my life will be change. The responsability will be grow and we are going to save more money. Consequently, nowadays this is my unique doubt about my life.

Paper # 1 – Introduction – My Life in Short

My name is Roberta. I’m 33 years old and I work at the Export Department of Ficap S.A., a manufacturer of power cables.  I’m graduated in Liberal Arts, and I will get married as soon as I find a place to live. Meanwhile, I live with my parents and my young sister. I have another sister, she’s married and lives at her own place. I have three dogs and I love them: Tuca, Felipe and Alberto. I’m the oldest child. My father is a hero, he had to share his home with three women. I like to read, every kind of literature, most of them in portuguese. I used to write poems, a long time ago, and I like to sing!

Paper # 1 – Introduction – Nice to meet you

I am Claudio Lima and it is a long story.

I was borned in Curitiba – Paraná State - South Brazil. However, I have never lived there due to in 1979 there was not good hospitalsin Florianopólis so then my parents decided to go to Curitiba where my mother could receive a good medical care. In that was Governmental Employee – working on Ibama  at Brazilian Enviromental Department in Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina State.  With 1 year old I moved to Franca – São Paulo Coutryside –  where my father should handle my grandfather business. When I was 2 years old my parents decided to came back to São Paulo City and I was introducted to this big and cosmopolitan city. It is still a mistery why we moved to São Paulo. The story does not end here. After living in São Paulo for 2 years, my father was hired to work in Itapetininga, located in countryside of São Paulo, city in which I lived to 17 years old. There I had really good experience and, consequently, it is there where most of my friends are.  With 17 years old I moved again, but this time I went abroad to an exchange student program sponsored by Rotary Club. Southeast Asia, Jacarta, Indonesia. Very exotic and full of local culture. There I spent 1 year.

After that, I went to Campinas in which I did my graduation in law school. After living by myself there for 5 years , I finished my graduation and I came back to São Paulo. Coincidenly, my parents were ” waiting”  for me. They had came back to São Paulo for business purpose. Here, São Paulo, I inniated my career working at KPMG, as a corporate lawyer.  I have been living here for almost 5 year. I like São Paulo beacuse this is the place where my family lives and  where I have met Fernanda, my girlfriend and future wife.