Further, faster. Stronger...?

Rob's Weekly Run - Round 2

As yesterday was Thursday, i set off again with Guilherme for Parque Ibirapuera (the largest park in São Paulo).

This week's achievements...

• Distance run: 9km
• Time: 50mins
• Pain: !?*>%+>!

Ok, so hardly Olympic pace. And this morning my legs do feel like i've climbed Everest (and my stomach like i've given birth).

BUT it is an improvement on last week!

Guilherme tells me there will be a half-marathon here in April. If i keep increasing 1/2km per week, i should just about be ready... :)

In control

I'm starting to understand that being in control doesn't mean controlling everything. I'm being reminded that, when I feel in control, I don't need to control everything. I can be comfortable accepting that many things cannot or should not be controlled.

In the past week I've achieved all of my priotries at work. I've spoken to my parents and spent 3 wonderful evenings with my boyfriend. I've been running in the park, and eaten healthily. I've updated my blog and read the blogs of some friends. I've enjoyed talking & dancing with members of AIESEC here in Uni SP. I've done laundry and tidied my room.

I could do all of this because I realised that I was in control. I was consciously choosing how to use MY time, and I am happy with my choices. And I know I can't control traffic, or the weather, or mobile phone signals, or internet stability. And I'm cool with all of that :)

To some readers this doubtless seems obvious. To me it matters, because it hasn't always been like this. Only a few months ago, I often felt that my life was controlling me, rather than me controlling my life. Now I realise that, because I didn't feel in control, I sometimes responded by trying to control some things that didn't need to be controlled. Acknowledging this now, I'm relieved that I didnt do any lasting damage along the way... And an important lesson has been learnt.

So Gabiza, you were right. Though by now I'm used to it, of course :)

To all of my friends, I wish you the the peace and satisfaction of feeling in control.

ouch ouch OUCH

I just ran 8 1/2 km around a park.

Beautiful scenery, relaxed atmosphere, and hundreds of people running. It was exactly how i expected Central Park to be (and how it wasn't, actually). Nevertheless it now seems less and less like a good idea... I'm in agony just sitting up in bed to type this (the connection goes if i lie down - don't ask...)

I went with a guy from my work, who runs with a group twice per week. Apparently tonight was an 'easy night'. Sometimes they do 'speed training' (running a series of 1km bursts with 1-minute breaks in between) or 'incline training' (effectively running up the ramp of a 4-storey building) I can't wait for one of those nights...

Right now i'm an extremely smug non-smoker :) And Moni - i respect you even more than before!

You were right, Haraz...

It really DOES get cold in São Paulo.

Ok so not cold like Zermatt in January, but one day this week we worked out it was colder here than in Crewe! Ok so there it's summer and here it's winter, but still...

I think ppl expect me to be able to deal with it, given where i've spent 25yrs of my life so far... But the strange thing is that buildings here do not have any heating. So when it's 10° outside, it's also 10° INSIDE. Yesterday i couldn't even take a shower, because i couldn't bear the thought of taking my clothes off! This morning i was a bit braver, but then i had to stay in the shower for half an hour because i couldn't stand the thought of getting out into the cold bathroom!

Roll on summer!

Photocopies, red apples & roller-skates

(aka: police registration and a trip to the Supermarket)

I’m legal. After 8hrs of filling in forms, copying documents, queuing, filling in more forms, queuing again and finally getting my fingerprints taken, I have registered with the Policia Federal do Brasil.

My prize? A 15x3cm slip of paper with my photo and signature. I can go back and get it replaced with a proper ID card after SIX MONTHS!

My new flatmate has a car, meaning today I could finally go to the supermarket. Not the cramped over-priced city-centre version - I’ve been to a few of those already - but a real out-of-town sprawling cheap supermarket (think ASDA, C1000 or Tesco Lotus, depending where in the world you are…) To my surprise and wonderment, the staff wear roller-skates! At 1st I thought it was a joke, but the more I think about it the better the idea seems – improve efficiency, reduce employee boredom, avoid scuff marks on the floor, scare annoying kids… the possibilities are endless.

As the lady at the checkout was scanning my shopping she asked out of the blue:
“You’re American?”
I informed her that I’m British, to which she replied:
“I knew it – a Brazilian would never buy green apples.”

Reassuring that the blond hair, blue eyes, translucent skin and primary-school Portuguese were not enough of a giveaway…

So, look out for the Brazilians in a supermarket near you! (They’ll be the ones buying all the red apples…)

There must be some stupid ppl in this world...

The paper-shredder in my office has pictures on the front, instructing the user not to insert their tie or their hand.

Thank goodness i noticed them before it was too late...

blah

Where does one start, when there is so much to say?

One thing I know for certain, I really want to start writing again. It frustrates me that there are 6 months missing here. Time when I’ve experienced fun, challenge, disappointment, hope, risk, satisfaction, learning, compassion, surprise, confusion, anxiety, curiosity. Time when I’ve been reminded of the unpredictability of people, the irrationality of emotions, the excitement of chaos, the power of conversation, the beauty of friendship, the comfort of family, the joy of reading, the warmth of recognition, the value of relaxation, the endless possibility of future.

So here I am, already living my 4^th week in Brazil. Working for a very interesting organisation in Sao Paulo, supporting young people to learn more about how economic gain can be combined with social impact. (unofficially) Learning Portuguese. Meeting social entrepreneurs from all over the world. Experiencing ‘winter’ for the 1^st time in September. Slowly understanding why 26 is exactly halfway between 12 and 40. Working out how to stay fit and healthy amongst new climate, new food, new routine and new microbes. Challenging my own stereotypes about ‘conservative’ Brazil.

Another thing that’s certain – there will be PLENTY to write about in the coming 48 weeks. Watch this space to see if I can keep up…