TO LIVE IS NOW – VIVER É AGORA
(Or a Brazilian expat in Croatia)
I keep saying that people who surround me are among things I treasure most and that has always proven itself right. To know people means to be immersed into so many different worlds at once. Different worlds and different stories that every now and then cross their paths. This week I’ve had a pleasure of talking with my Brazilian friend, Rafael, who’s been living in Zagreb, Croatia, for over two years now. We sat in a café on Dolac, which is the most famous farmer’s market in Zagreb.
From the plateau where we sat you can enjoy a really picturesque view of the open air market in its colorful richness.
C: How did your trip to Europe begin and why?
R: In 2012 I decided I wanted to visit Europe and find there a place where I want to stay until the rest of my life. A place that I would like so much that it would be the last thing I see before I die. I visited 10 European countries in 3 months. You know those charts that UN makes for each country about their living conditions (education, food, etc.)? Well I made myself exactly the same table in Excel for those 10 countries but I put in the things that are important to me. It was a purely mathematical approach.
C: Which were then your most important criteria?
R: For me it was 1) wine (I love wine), 2) food (I love good food) and 3) opportunity to work in such a country-but opportunity for me to work there on basis of my skills. I’m a graduated engineer, but I’m also a photographer and musician. Photography was not difficult to learn as I made a lot of videos as engineer. I was working as sound engineer on many projects in Latin America, especially Venezuela. And while in Brazil, I attended a music school and that’s where my music skills come from.
C: You chose Croatia, but you told me you had top 3 European countries from those 10 that you had to choose from. Which were those?
R: Netherlands, Luxembourg and Croatia. I decided against Luxembourg as it doesn’t have the sea. You see, that was another important criterion in my selection. Then I also crossed the Netherlands off. There were several reasons. There are already a lot of Brazilians making a living as musicians and such in the Netherlands. So, basically, that wouldn’t exactly make it easy for me to stay there as I wouldn’t be able to offer something “new”. And also, just for comparison, I spent in Zagreb 3 weeks on my first visit and I had already made 10 friends. Do you know how many I made in the Netherlands? None!
C: You mentioned musicians, but why didn’t you look for a job as engineer, which is your profession?
R: I needed a change from my job. I worked hard as engineer back in Latin America and it’s a great job, but also a very stressful one. Thus I decided I want to do something else and it was natural to choose other things that I love and know how to do – photography and music. Plus, when you come to Europe, for a foreigner to get a job, they must prove that you can do something that none of the locals can or want to do.
C: Going back to you first experience with Croatia. You said you made friends an instant you arrived.
R: Yes, and I found Croatian people to be very open, friendly and warm. Being Brazilian, that matters a lot to me. My opinion hasn’t changed to the day. People here are willing to help and I have certainly made a lot more friends in the past three years since I arrived here. Just like Brazilians, Croatian people like football, going out, dancing, spending time with friends, etc.
C: So how do you make a living here? What do you do?
R: I did a lot of voluntary work and I’m still doing it. My visa here is also based on the voluntary work I do. This is the link to their page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/S-O-D-O-Sustav-Orkestara-Djece-i-Omladine-El-Sistema-Croatia/370554952955140?fref=ts
On many occasions I much rather did something for free and gave 120% from myself than look only for something where I’d be paid. In that way I made a lot of contacts. And all that has helped, and is still helping me, to find different jobs. I work as photographer for magazines and I play music.
C: And you manage to survive on that?
R: You see, I’m not of those people who need more and more money. I was earning well in Latin America, but I wanted to live and enjoy my life. Not when I’m old and have a lot of money, but can’t do much. I want to live and enjoy now. For that reason I opt for less money, but more pleasure. I live a life that I enjoy. That is what I do in Croatia.
C: So how does your typical day in Zagreb look like?
R: I do everything in a relaxed way. I play guitar, practice new songs, I go out for a coffee, I take photos…In the evening I go out to concerts in bars, I spend time with my friends…
C: That sounds very relaxed. Especially as nowadays people are much stressed and that’s been a problem in Croatia, too.
R: Yes, but as I said, I want to enjoy my life, not just live it. What I noticed about you people here is that you are too stressed and scared to take your life and live it. Fight all that’s bothering you and find a way out. You showed so much braveness in your history and why don’t you use that inner strength to figure out how to not be in crisis.
C: There are similarities between Brazilian and Croatian culture. Why did you leave Latin America, don’t you miss it?
R: As I said earlier, I wanted a change. Do you know how Latin America was created, how the countries were organized in the form as they are today? When European colonizers came, they didn’t want to improve the culture of Indians or make their lives better. They were only interested in robbing everything there. And that’s how you got countries whose very foundations are rooted in robbery. That fact has reflected itself on life there to the present day. It is hard to change that mentality of stealing and cheating. Then there is another thing – how do you control such a vast country as Brazil? There are some places that are still completely off the radar, i.e. no one dares going there. Let me tell you a story. I was living for 15 days in Amazonas where we were filming a documentary. There were three of us and two Indians who were our interpreters. Once they told us: “Do you see that place – it’s called La Esmeralda – it’s basically the point of no return.” Once you get past that place there are tribes who have never seen other human beings. They are still communicating using only inarticulate sounds. What I wanted to say is, how does a government control those areas? It’s impossible, it can’t be done. And the same goes for many other aspects of life in such a huge country as mine. Safety is a big issue in Latin America. I’m so happy I can walk here at any time of day or night without being afraid of being attacked or mugged.
C: Are you saying that it is hard to expect any change in people (both here and in Brazil)?
R: For anything to change for the better, it has to come from people. You cannot blame governments for not doing their job well, when it’s also people who don’t behave properly and do “the right thing”. If you do “the right thing”, good things will surely happen.
C: What do you miss about Brazil?
R: I miss my family. I’m in daily contact with them, of course. I also miss some typical food that I can’t find here – such as “rabada”. It’s made of boiled “mandioca” (cultivated as an annual crop and eaten for carbohydrates, as a side dish, like rice or maize) and “rabo de boi” (ox’s back).
C: You speak Croatian quite well.
R: Yes, I’ve learnt a lot talking to my Croatian friends, but I’ve also completed a beginner’s course. It’s improving now through daily communication. But I speak a lot of English around here, too. I’m also happy to give private classes in Portuguese.
C: Thank you, Rafael. Here is the link to Rafael’s photography web site:
www.wix.com/sousarafael/jazz2011
