Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 28oC, hot, sunny and slightly overcast.
It is Monday again, the start of a new week and the month’s final week. I will travel to England on November 22nd, less than two months away. The countdown has begun!!!
This will be the first time I have been to England in over 22 years, almost a generation. Am I now a foreigner in England, my own country, like I am a foreigner, a gringo, in Brazil?
I have been living in Brazil for more than 34 years, which is more than half my life, and in some ways, I still feel like a gringo. I do not have a blood family in Brazil, such as parents or relatives. I have my daughters, whom I love very much. They are very dear to my heart, but they are different.
Jessica has already grown up and graduated. She is married to Mario and has her whole life ahead of her. Yasmin will soon decide what she wants to do in the future and be off into the world. I wish her luck. I have tried to do my part as a father, whether I have done a good or bad job. You will have to ask them about it. But, like many parents, I did my best within my constraints.
Living in Brazil is often quite solitary, especially for those living far from their original family, abroad and not in their home country. I have always been a bit of a loner, even back in school. I travelled to London alone and eventually to Brazil. I am trying to say that our life circumstances are directly related to us and our decisions.
Why have I lived in Brazil for so long? Why didn’t I stay in England or London? Why did I go to the other side of the world? Was it to make a future or to live or run away? My brother is much more conservative than me. He has been married to the same woman, Debbie, until now. In some ways, he is fortunate. However, he has never visited Brazil and only goes abroad through package holidays. The only thing we have in common is our dedication to doing the right thing for our families, specifically our children.
I am a foreigner in Brazil and would like to know if I will feel like a foreigner when I go to England. I have expat friends who live in other countries, and they say that England has changed from how it used to be. But we can say the same for the entire world. I have been in Brazil for 34 years and love Rio, but it has worsened over time. The same goes for Brazil as a whole. Everything changes, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.
It is also dangerous to cling to memories as if they define our future experiences. If the past was good, that is great, but it is gone. Life teaches us to move on and not hold onto the past too tightly. If we do, our lives stagnate, and we suffer.
Going to England will be a wonderful experience, both good and probably bad in some ways. It will show me what England is and what it offers, dispelling any misconceptions I may have. I also think that detoxing from Brazil, with all its problems, will be particularly good for me.
I have weathered Brazil for these 30-odd years of political and economic confusion, impeachment, corruption, social issues, etc. It has taken a toll on our health, especially our mental health. Living in Brazil is not easy.
It is not just a matter of living; it is a matter of survival. I have been surviving in Brazil all this time, not just me—two hundred million plus people. Brazil is a country that has everything to succeed: the people, the topography, the resources—everything. What makes it go wrong is the politicians, their egos, and greed.
Because of all this, we suffer a lot here. However, I have learned from the Brazilian people that they have the power always to look positively, no matter what. Brazilian people are optimistic; there is always a positive outlook, even when despair haunts us from behind. We always find a way to have a positive outlook!!!
Going to England promises!!!
I feel like something is waiting for me there. If there is, let us see what it is. If not, it is just my imagination. Whatever comes is a gain. It is part of life and the path we choose.
In the morning, I journaled. I then took Perola, my faithful companion, to the park and got some exercise. I felt great after that. For the rest of the day, I taught classes and made progress on developing the websites.
Everything is good.
In bed by 9.30 pm.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
