Saturday, May 19, 2012

O que as pessoas pensam da minha vida aqui...

Pela primeira vez, eu decidi escrever este post em portugues, para que os meus amigos brasileiros possam entender melhor, e para que entendam que a minha vida aqui não é o que a maioria pensa.

Antes de qualquer coisa, peco desculpas pela ausencia dos acentos nas palavras, porque eu uso computador com teclado sem configuracao em portugues. Mas acredito que voces consigam entender.

Nao eh novidade nenhuma que muitos dos meus amigos me mandem mensagens do tipo "Aeee Eliao!!! Passeando muito aih?? Conheceu muitos lugares legais?? Bares? Baladas? Praias? Como eh a vida bohemia por ai??? Deve ser maravilhoso passear aih nao eh??"

Pois bem... Para todas as perguntas acima citadas a minha resposta eh:

"NAO FACO A MENOR IDEIA DE COMO SEJA A VIDA DE TURISTA AQUI, POIS EU VIM PARA A AUSTRALIA ESTUDAR A MINHA POS GRADUACAO E ME AUTO-SUSTENTAR, UMA VEZ QUE NAO TENHO SUPORTE FINANCEIRO ALGUM."

Simples nao acham? Pode ate parecer que estou exagerando, mas a realidade aqui eh beeem mais diferente do que se possa imaginar. Falando mais profundamente, eu nunca passei tanta dificuldade em toda a minha vida. Juro para voces!

Afinal, uma vida sem muitas dificuldades eh simplesmente uma vida mediocre. Pessoas que nao encaram a dura realidade de consquistar as coisas por si soh nao tem a menor ideia do quao dificil eh. Empinar o nariz e falar que veio para estudar no exterior com o papai e a mamae pagando tudo, ficar matando aula pra ir para a praia e torrar toda a grana em viagens a passeio, eh facil. Mas cada um eh cada um, e isso deve ser respeitado.

Mas vamos la... Vou contar um pouco da minha vida aqui, desde o dia que pisei em solo australiano. Mas antes disso, preciso contar resumidamente o que me motivou a vir para ca.
Muitos sabem que eu tinha uma carreira profissional interessante, por passagens em diversas empresas multi-nacionais. Ate que um dia nao tive um bom relacionamento com meus superiores e isso resultou no desligamento da empresa. Muitas duvidas e muitas indecisoes... Se eu deveria procurar outro emprego ou tentar fazer algo diferente que me proporcionasse um diferencial para ir alem na minha vida profissional.

Me lembro como se fosse ontem. No mesmo dia que me desliguei da empresa, fui ao Kiaora (um pub de SP) para desestressar e bater papo com 2 amigos. E foi entao que eles me perguntaram "Por que voce nao vai para o exterior estudar?" Isso caiu como uma luva, pois nao tinha mais compromissos profissionais, tinha uma economia que estava juntando ha muito tempo e o principal.... "EU NAO TINHA NADA A PERDER".

Pesquisas, agencias de viagens, planejamento financeiro, bagagens, consultas, despedidas e enfim aviao. Tudo lindo e maravilhoso, rumo ao desconhecido... Sem ao menos saber falar o ingles, eu apertei o "f***-se" e vim pra ca. Mas os objetivos eram claros: "FLUENCIA NO INGLES, POS-GRADUACAO NO EXTERIOR E SEJA LA O QUE VIESSE, QUE EU FOSSE O MELHOR EM TUDO".

Destino: Melbourne.
Tudo era lindo e maravilhoso! Uma cidade realmente muito bonita, bem organizada e segura. Pais de primeiro mundo!
Entrei na primeira loja aqui e quase caih de costas devido aos precos de tudo aqui. Tudo muito caro, principalmente para um estudantes internacionais.
Com esse susto entendi que nao seria possivel continuar por aqui sem ter uma renda mensal para pelo menos pagar meus custos obrigatorios. Mas o que me salvou foi morar o primeiro ano junto com um amigao que gentilmente abriu as portas de sua casa para eu morar. Se nao fosse ele, com certeza teria sido mais complicado.

Proximo passo: Arrumar um emprego de noite, uma vez que a pos-graduacao era integral e meu ingles bem capenga.
Nao teve jeito. Arrumei emprego em um restaurante japones, uma vez que sei falar o idioma japones. Com um salario bem baixo, mas estava valendo, pois alguma renda eu estava tendo, mesmo nao sendo suficiente.

Entao a primeira fase da minha vida aqui foi assim: Segunda a sexta aula das 9am as 5pm e trabalho de garcom das 6pm as 11pm. Sabados e domingos trabalhando o dia todo, das 11am as 11pm. E eu ainda tinha que escutar comentarios do tipo "Tah curtindo aih? E a mulherada? E as baladas? E as praias?"

Depois de um tempo, tive que me mudar de casa, pois o meu amigo decidiu mudar de emprego e se mudou para os EUA. Aih a casa caiu... Arrumar uma outra casa, mas sem luxo nenhum e com 100% dos custos sobre minha responsabilidade. Decidi entao morar em uma share house, dividindo a casa com mais 6 pessoas, mas com meu proprio quarto.

Os custos aumentaram e a renda era a mesma. A solucao foi arrumar mais um emprego. Desta vez estudando e trabalhando no restaurante durante a semana e nos finais de semana trabalhando das 9am as 5pm em um car wash, ou melhor, em um lava-rapido. Eu lavava centenas de carros em um dia manualmente, junto com mais um outro amigo brasileiro e um moooonte de indianos. Um trabalho exaustivo! Tempo de lazer? Balada? Barzinho? O que eh isso??


Mas o lava-rapido, realmente eh cruel... Trabalhei la por 2 meses e nao aguentei mais. Por outro lado, ganhei uma promocao no restaurante japones e comecei a trabalhar la nos finais de semana tambem. Mas agora o negocio era diferente. Fui nomeado head waiter, ou garcom chefe do negocio! Acreditem se puderem...


E ate hoje continua a minha vida assim... Estudando na escola das 09am as 05pm e trabalhando das 6pm as 11pm de segunda a sexta. Nos finais de semana trabalhando das 11am as 11pm. Porem agora estou quase terminando a minha pos-graduacao. Epoca de trabalhos e provas a rodo! "Elio, quando voce tem tempo para estudar e fazer os trabalhos??" EU ESTUDO PARA AS PROVAS E FACO OS TRABALHOS ENTRE 12AM E 06AM. TAH FAAACIL!!!


Mas voces aih devem estar se perguntando... Tudo isso valeu a pena?? Soh vejo sofrimento e reclamacao!! 
Eu digo com honra... VALEU E CONTINUA VALENDO A PENA... E MUITO!! Aprendizados que nao se compra com dinheiro. O objetivo principal sao os estudos. Mas, mais do que isso... Aprende-se a ser humilde e a dar o devido valor as coisas que nos rodeiam. Passamos a compreender mais as injusticas da vida e que cada um deve sempre respeitar o proximo, indiferente de classe social ou raca.


Uma vida sem emocao, nao tem graca... E eu acredito que Deus escolhe as pessoas certas para tomarem porrada e evoluirem, pois no fim tudo se resume em apenas uma coisa: "TODOS TEMOS O QUE MERECEMOS!"


MINHA VIDA AQUI NAO EH NADA FACIL! MAS EH UMA VIDA EXCELENTE! REPLETA DE APRENDIZADOS QUE SOH QUEM PASSOU POR ISSO SABE COMO EH.


Um grande abraco a todos!! A partir do proximo post, voltarei a postar em ingreis!! hehehe







 

Sunday, April 1, 2012

When our heart beats faster...

There is nothing new to understand that when our hearts beat fast, something is going on.

There is a physical reaction when we make an extra effort with our body and also the emotional reaction when something unexpected or when something great desire already happened or when it will be close to happening.
And the answer is very simple: This person does not exist!

As a physical reaction, there is not much complexity. Just the body requires more energy than usual and accelerates heart to pump more blood around the body. But when it comes to an emotional reaction there is a lot of complexity, a result of several different situations, whether good or bad.

But let's cut to the chase. And the subject I want to talk today is love relationship. Everyone should know that I have lots of friends. Friends of all types and from different places. Some are more outgoing, adventurous. And other more shy and reserved. Each with their strengths and weaknesses.

Despite these differences, an issue increasingly common is: How to find the perfect person for a relationship?

Indeed, what is the grace of finding a perfect person? A life without challenges doesn't make the heart beat faster. There is no need to share the gains or losses and, as a perfect person does not need to be inspired and not need support to overcome difficulties. Indeed, what difficulties?

The coolest part of a relationship is that exchange of glances, that feeling of doubt whether she was interested in you or not. The time that the heart fires before the first hug, the desire to freeze that time to make the moment eternal, even having no idea of the consequences.

Until that moment happens, the best thing to do is live life intensely, with joy and pleasure. But also always be aware of the opportunities that arise because some opportunities in this life, are unique. We have to be brave and take risks. If not worked, life goes on! And we have to keep enjoying life and being alert when the heart starts to beats faster again.

Say no to discouragement. When we least expect, the heart begins to beat faster. Be positive! Be ambitious!



Wednesday, January 11, 2012

My plans for 2012!!

Hi everyone!! How are you going?? Thank's for coming to my blog!!
Today I wanna write something more relaxed compared to last time!! Now is time to reflect and be optimistic for this new year!

Let's put it in topics:

1. Be kind, considerate and compassionate when others are in trouble, even if I have problems of my own.

2. Receive with dignity my diploma of the course in management.

3. Say thank you for everyone individually who contributed directly or indirectly with my learning in those two years of Australia.

4. Back to my home in Brazil safe.

5. Celebrate a lot with family and friends my achievements in Australia.

6. Continue my career in any large company.

7. Taking care of my health, playing sports.

8. More fun times.

9. Show humility. Stand my ground but pause to reflect on what the other side are saying, and back off when I know I'm wrong.

10. To continue and boost my band. Cause the show must go on! Yeah!!!

11. Have a serious relationship (Unfortunately not only depend on me... lol)


12. And finally... Be a better son, brother, brother in law and uncle.


Yeah, I know... It's a big challenge for me. But to live our life with more emotions is cool, isn't it? lol

As Obi-Wan-Kenobi said in Star Wars: "May the force be with you, always!"

I'm thinking about the next post. Probably I'll write something more funny!!
Thank's for your visit in my blog and see you again soon! Cheers!



Saturday, January 7, 2012

What I learned and still learning...

Hi guys! How's going? (This is absolutely australian way to make a greeting!!)
I think that today I'm inspired enough to right something in my blog. Anyway, appreciate your visit here.

Time goes by so fast... Unbelieveble, but I have only half year here in AUS. And I have lot's of thinks to write here, but if I decide to write everything, it will takes too many time. And how much more I learn, I feel that I don't know nothing... It's a strange sensation...

Recently I was thinking a lot about enjoy my life as much as possible. Every day I see my friends messages on Facebook and I always see messages like "Today was a wonderful day with my friends!" or "The trip was amazing" or "Today was the shopping day and I bought lots of desired thinks". Everyone have their own happiness and it has to be respected.

Every week lots of friends call me to invite to go somewhere to drink, or to go to a club or to a trip or kind of this. And my answer usually is "NO". And lots of people can't understand why. Sometimes they make complaints about that. And obviously I agree and I can understand. Sorry my friends... But I have priorities, plans and I don't have my parents sponsor to pay my costs here.

But the true is... What is the reason to students leave their countries to study in overseas? Take a deep breath and think...

Talikng about the title of this post, in this 1 and half year of journey in AUS I learned more than 10 years of my life before. I learned that time goes by so fast and every single moment of our life should be used in the best way as possible in a property way.
-When we are working we should do our best.
-When we are studying we have to learn as much as possible because it will be a part of your knowledge to help you in your career (if you don't have a career planed, it's time to think about that, or it will be too late).
-When you decide to make fun with friends, forget all of your problems and enjoy the moment.

Every single task has the property way, time and place to be done.

Another interesting subject is about dream. 1 week ago, I was having a casual talking with a friend and I told her a bit about my dreams. Such as fincancial success, successful career, to make a happy family, and to inspire people around me with my behaviour. And that time I was surprised, because she told me "Good for you, because you have dreams".

Based on this my question is... How can a person doesn't has dreams???????? And after a while, I learned that some people have dreams, but they forgot it because the problems are too many. And the result of this, is an average life... Without big emotions and great achievements.

I'm still learning that everything what comes easily, goes easily.
Everything what comes hard, with lots of hard work, will stay forever with us. That's why I'm always doing my best in every task. In the school, in the job, in the life... I strongly believe that all of my dreams will come true. Doesn't matter how long I have to fight, how long I have to live this hard life without time to make fun, thinking only in studies and work.

But in a near future (I hope so) I'll tell you another history. I'll tell you  "...because of that hard life I learned a lot and now I realized most of my dreams, now I can make fun with friends and I'm enjoying my life as much as possible".

Only half year more... Now I'm a bit sad. Everyday my feeling is to go back to Brazil to meet my family and friends. And of course to have my previous lifestyle back, such as a business executive without financial problems. But in the same time something tell me that half of my heart belongs to Melbourne. And I feel that in a near future I'll be back. Tomorrow never knows...

My post today was a bit serious, I know... But I hope there's some value added to each of you to always do your best! Because it's worth.

Thank you for your reading and see you next time!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Music and feelings...

Hi everybody!! What's up?? Everything fine?? I'm still alive... Don't worry, ok? hahahaha...
My last posts here was a bit sad. I was always talking about my difficulties here, but today I'll write something more interesting.

As most of you knows, I am a music lover! Yeah! Music is in my blood since when I was a child! My friends always ask me what kind of song i can sing... Well, when I'm drunk, i can sing everything! hahahaha...
But basically i can sing english songs, japanese songs em brazilian songs. Of course I have some preferences about music styles! And let's take a look what kind of song we can find here in Australia.

Australia is a multi-cultural country. you can see people from everywhere!! Lot's of Chinese and Indian people here. Sometimes you can see Japanese, Korean, African and people from South America as well. Influences from different country came to Australia and the musics here is exactly in the same situation.

When you are walking in the Melbourne city, you can see people busking at the streets. The Victorian Governement encourage people to the artistic world! it's really incredible. Things that I never saw in Brazil. Few time ago, I was walking in Melbourne city and looking for some good talents performing at the streets. Most of guys were there just for make fun. But a couple of singers really attracted my attention. They were a couple of asian background (not sure if they were Chinese or kind of this, but anyway). The gentleman was playing accoustic guitar and singing backing vocal. the lady was the main vocal. Lots of people there listening their song. they were performing Jason Mraz's music "I'm yours". It was really nice and technically very well singed.

But, teenagers usually prefer to go to some club to dance electronic songs. In my opinion it's not bad, but after start my band and learn a lot of quality of music, this kind of electronic dance song is not my kind of song anymore. Except when I'm drunk... hahaha

Here we can find lots of excelent pubs and bars with live band performance. Now we are talking about my type of song! Lots of excelent musicians specially here in Melbourne. Bands performing rock, jazz, blues, pop, soul, classic and lots of another style of songs. This kind of song we can feel the real quality of good compositions and lyrics.

Let's talk about feelings, related to music. You can understand people emotions looking what kind of song they are listening. With friends in a happy environment people usually are listening happy and fast songs. But when something wrong happen they are usually listening some sad song or something more romantic, isn't it? Sometimes when we don't have the right answer to determinated situation, we can find confortable words in music. It is true.

Most of my friends in Brazil has the wrong image of my life here in Melbourne. Everybody, everytime ask me things like "Are you enjoying the beaches? What about the aussies girls?" And both questions I don't know the answer, because I'd never enjoyed that. Because of this, most of the songs that I have listening here is a bit sad or with inspirational lyrics. In a hard life environment inspirational songs are always welcome to give us energy to still fighting!

But for you... What is a good music? Is it a music with good rhythm only? Or do you appreciate songs with good composition, good lyrics and of course a good vocal technic?
Few time ago I had this discussion with a friend. He told me that doesn't matter if the singer is technically good or not. the most important is if the singer is singing with passion or not. In the beginning i had my doubts about that. But thinking better, it is true. the secret of a good singer is about sing the song with emotion, with full power, feeling word by word of composed song.

Everyday I'm posting "Today's song" at my Facebook. I hope all of you enjoy that. And it's directly related to my daily emotions, what I'm feeling or what I want to feel...

Well, that's all for today!!
In Brazil we have a popular sentence: "Who sings drives away the bad things". I'm still singing, under the shower, in my bedroom and in karaokes with friends. But i hope soon back to the stages with my band, cause... THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!

Cheers and take care!!!

Today's song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=AqUT3shBHXc

Friday, August 12, 2011

Inside the train

Hello my friends!! How are you going?? Yeah, I know that it's a long time without writing something here... As I told you before, my life still crazy here in Australia, without time to take a time to write... But, anyway, I'm here and have lots of news to share!

You may be thinking... "What is this title?? Inside the train?? What it mean??". Actually, it means a lot and I'll explain you.

I chose this title because is inside the train that I have time to think in everything what is happen in my life now. Is inside the train where I can take a good nap in this crazy busy life and is inside the train that I can listen my prefered songs and remember the good times when I had a better life in Brazil.

It was yesterday when I was inside the train backing to my house from my part time job that I was thinking how my life changed here. 2 weeks before, my friend and ex-housemate returned to Brazil and I had to move to another house. Now I'm living in a share house with 6 housemates.

Since 1 month ago I started to work at weekends as well. Yeah my friend... For people who thinks that study and work in another country without our parents support is easy... They are mistaken! Unfortunately I can't find a job in my area because I'm studying full day and I can work only at nights.
My weekly routine is: Monday to Friday school all day and part time job like a waiter in a restaurant at nights. Saturday and Sunday working in a car wash from 10am to 5pm. In another words, it's massive and very produtive life.

I'm still learning a lot here, mainly the value of humility. Before I was an executive in a multi-national company and had a team to manage. Now I am a lowly waiter in a restaurant with five managers above me in one of the most famous Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. And on weekends I wash hundreds of cars at the car wash near my house.
Obviously, I'm working hard because I need money to survive here. But on the other hand, I'm learning to be more understanding, more patient, and also have more respect for people around me. I'm growing in general. And that is my main goal here.

Last month I completed 1 year of Australia. The time passed unbeliveble fast!! I still have another year of learning here in Australia. I miss the people I love most and that is across the world. This is the biggest pain I feel right now. But nonetheless, I believe nothing in life happens by chance. To realize my dreams I have to go through this situation to learn more and more and be a better man every day.

As I always say ... "The show must go on!"

A big hug to all of you and thank you for visiting my blog!




Sunday, May 29, 2011

The true value of a family...

For some people, family is nothing more than people who live in the same house and has the same blood.

But family is much more than this. For me, family is reason to live ...
My family is a family of very humble origins. My father's family, is a family who left Japan after the World War II and which had no financial conditions to live and immigrated to Brazil with a dream to make money and return to the country of origin.

On the other hand, my mother's family also of humble origin, immigrated to Brazil before World War II with all economies to realize the dream of starting their own business success.

And I recognize how hard it was for them to start with zero and reach the comfort that they have today. This is not about financial comfort, but a happy family.


My father, my mother, my sister, my brother in law and my niece complete my family today. Each with their qualities and faults as any human being should be. Every moment I was beside them were special. From the small details of everyday life until the great achievements. In other words, from simple "good morning!" until "we achieve!"

Nowadays I thought of some important facts of my life I will never forget. When starting on the day that my father had financial problems and had to travel as a "dekasegi" to Japan for 6 years. It was one of the most difficult times of my life. Times in which luxury goods were mere dreams.
It was at this time I had my first job at age 13 when I started working as a sales promoter of a country club titles in a gas station, working Monday to Monday and studying at night.

At that time, one day I was walking along the Avenida Paulista (one of the main avenues in Sao Paulo). I was looking for the men in suits with briefcases walking on sidewalks and decided that one day I want to be a successful executive wearing a suit walking down the main streets of the city as well.


Many things happened after this decision. I worked in various professions such as low-level office boy, cleaner, professor of Japanese language, cook. And at all times, no matter how difficult that was, I always had the support of my family, which motivated me to strive to the fullest, always helping people around me to do good things without wanting anything in return, and especially the importance of people who suffered most are the ones that most deserve to be happy because these are people who really know how valuable is all things exist in the world.

A phrase from my mother that I remembered very recently because of the difficulties that I have now is: "My son, life is a school. As much as you know many things, you must continue learning forever”. And I fully agree with her that is an example of effort, dedication and understanding.

In a season of many revolts in my adolescence, my parents left for Japan in search of funds. At that time I was away from my parents who have always been my advisors for hard times. But then, I had my sister, who I consider one of the people who helped me and inspired me to fight for my dreams. I remember like yesterday: "Our trend is just to improve. We are studying and working hard and I'm sure things will improve! We have to believe!" This is a priceless value and I will carry with me forever.
I am living in Australia in exactly 10 months after leave my family and my country. I began to think more about everything that happened in those 31 years of my existence.
I'm always trying to be shining with a smile on my face, but this does not mean that I have always been happy and that everything was always easy to be what I am today. Behind this smile, there are many tears, many losses, many mistakes that nobody ever saw and nobody will ever see.

I grew up and matured. Even with all the difficulties of humble life, every moment I've always had the support of my family. I conquered dreams that seemed impossible, like use a suit and tie and walk on the Avenida Paulista and work in large companies.


Now the challenges are even greater. I came back as a very humble life, across the world, aiming to improve my professional knowledge and studying abroad with the greatest difficulties: Stand back away from the people I love most and that despite the distance, I'm sure that they are rooting for my success ... My family.


And I'm still learning that life is a school and that trend going forward is better in every way, always doing my best and always believing that the family is my reason for living.