Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 24oC, coolish, sunny, and slightly overcast.
It is Thursday and the fifth day of living in Flamengo with my daughter and my ex-wife; everything is good so far; nobody has died!!! The shower is broken, and Junior, the odd job man, promised to come today to begin the work.
As promised, he arrived at midday, broke the wall, changed the elbow joint and was already putting the first layer of cement to fix everything solidly on the wall. What impressed me even more is that he is a clean and tidy worker, not sloppy.
Many times, in Brazil, we see sloppy work from sloppy workers who fix the problem they were contracted for, but on the way, they either cause other issues that need to be addressed or make an infernal mess that is not their problem.
One thing that we learn from modern production techniques is organisation and cleanliness. The production lines of modern-day car factories are so clean that you could eat off the floor if you wished. When I worked with boats and boat manufacturing, I often visited the boatyards or manufacturing facilities, depending on the project.
If the yard was untidy, dirty, or disorganised with things or equipment broken or uncared for, it was a clear sign of mismanagement and low-quality control, with the management and workforce being sloven, relaxed and sloppy.
I had suspected that Junior was from the northeast of Brazil, and when asked, he confirmed he was from São Luiz, Maranhão. There is a legion of people from northeast Brazil who have migrated to the main capitals, such as Sao Paulo and Rio, looking for work and a new life.
I am sure most of Rio and Sao Paulo were and are still being built by tradesmen from the northeast until today.
There is also a parallel society/culture in Rio and Sao Paulo of Northeasterners that occupy semi-skilled jobs such as cooks, drivers, nannies, housekeepers, porters, etc., and their primary role is to support the middle and upper classes of the principal cities of Brazil.
I deeply respect these people for what they represent as extremely hardworking people who understand the meaning of responsibility, discipline, and the importance of their word. They also know how to value and preserve their culture and roots, which I personally think is endearing and admirable.
When I lived in Rocha, I was surrounded and embraced by people from the northeast of Brazil, and they willingly accepted me into their culture even though I was an alien to them.
I, a gringo, carrying a terribly heavy and not very beautiful accent, who wears a Panama hat, how much more eccentric can you get than that, and yet, never once was I ridiculed, threatened or made to feel bad in any way.
I was always welcomed with open arms to participate in their events with laughter, smiling and piss-taking. They, for me, are the untold heroes of Brazil!!!
Junior finished his work and told me he would return to complete the installation tomorrow without fail. So, it would be one more day of cold showers for us. Until now, it hasn’t been so bad; it’s bearable. I have a place to work, I am giving classes, and I am productive.
Later in the day, I paid the internet host service for my domains/sites to begin the next stage of my life. This change is a little overwhelming, but I am dealing with it. Life is pushing me in this direction, and I cannot and should not fight against it.
I must go with the flow and see where it takes me. Things are happening, and some are happening very quickly; I cannot fail. I must go with it and not stop. Stopping or hesitating can kill the momentum.
I am in bed by 10 p.m., which is too late for me, but what can I do? I am still building the best of me!
Thank you.
Thanks for reading my blog. Check out my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments.
Richard
