Supoprting statement

When I think about this role, I think that is a synthesis of everything that I bring with me and that I`ve been trying to bring to people around me with my professional and volunteering experiences.

I have a lot of dreams and I’ve been achieving some of them so far. Sometimes people ask me: “How come have you done so many things?” And I answer: “I believe in my dreams and I work hard to make them come true. To achieve a dream you have to have will power, but more than this, you have to have knowledge about yourself, the place around you and the world itself”. So, that’s what I’ve been doing.

I always look for jobs that I can know different people, realities, get in touch with different subjects, ways to live and to see the world... Places that I could learn. One of my favourite singers, Raul Seixas, wrote that: “A dream is only dream when you dream alone, but when you dream with others it becomes a reality”. By the same way that I believe in this I also think that to learn and acquire knowledge, we can’t do it by ourselves. We always need something or somebody to inspire us, like a teacher, a friend, an artist, a movie, tv show, a trip or even a foreign language.

When I decided to study marketing and advertising, I saw in this field an opportunity. With the right tools, theories and techniques from these two areas I could produce, encourage and promote art, entertainment and education.

Last year I finished my post-graduation in Executive Production and TV Management, my monography was a about how a TV show can use the tools from marketing to improve their communication with their viewers, but my main goal wasn’t only to study television, but also a way to show that we can apply marketing in media, cultural and educational field to maximize not only the profits, but most of all the power that they have to inspire people to dream and to purchase their dreams.

And why do I trust on this? Because when we dream we have hope, when achieving a goal we are changing the reality around us. I believe that I can change the world and I can do this with other people.

On the way to the airport

By Lorenço Menezes Vieira

Since I arrived here in Canada I went to the airport more than 10 times, I say that now I can go there by car, by TCC, on foot or even with my eyes close. And how many farewell parties did I go? To be honest, I stopped to count when I went to the 20th .

I have seen 15 people, I have taken 15 friends to the customs that leads to the gate and back to their homeland. I even saw one crossing the gate twice, can you believe it?! In certain ways, in all these experiences in the airport, farewell parties and bar hopping, I shared with them my fears, insecurities and also the lessons that I learned with them.

All of us had to start our lives here in Canada from scratch. I remember, when I landed and stepped onto Canadian soil for the first time. I was clueless. I asked myself what will be my future, how I will manage to survive where I did even not know their language well? We managed to push ourselves to make new friends, find a homestay or a share-house. We all achieved of those to find a new home, so called family (with different background, nationality and beliefs) and also we built a new life here. That`s why, I think all of the times that I went to airport or to farewell parties I saw them cry... Some of them cried in front of everybody, others went to the washroom and all of them cried inside the airplane when it took off. 

In one of the farewell parties that I attended, a Japanese lady said to my friend that was sobbing: "Now, you are leaving the people behind that loves you . You will meet again, in your country, people that also love and care for you. So cheer up! Imagine, how many lucky ones have people that care and love them in different parts of the world? So, be proud of yourself, give me a smile and be happy! "

Why some of us are so uncertain about going back? Because we know that most of the things will be the same, but deeply inside us, we know that something changed, we changed... Or maybe, we had the opportunity not only know a different country, culture, but we took the challenge to know more deeply yourselves.

Also, by the same token we had a lot of expectations about here; we have about how we are going start when we arrived in our homeland. The expectations come also with fear that we might not achieved or accomplish these expectations. 

If it's hard to start a new life in a new place that we don't know. It's more difficult to start a new life in a place that we have already been and known well. I listened to them and some of them told me how difficult it would be to go back to their jobs. There might people that they don`t want to meet or who might not even speak. There might be a university that he or she did not like to go back to... Some may not have wanted to go back to the life that they used to have before. 

The last time that I took a friend to the airport, I remembered telling her: " If you think that it is hard to leave, trust me, it's much harder for those who stay!". In my case, it is really difficult when I see them go because everything comes together…. I miss my family. I know that sooner or later I will also be one of them and crossing the gate. I can't imagine how my life is going to be when I go back to my country. Also, I am afraid that I will never see that friend(s) anymore. Also, the friendship that we built won't be the same and that lessons that we shared, learned together, he/she won't apply in his/her life.

However, when I see them coming to say "see you" or give me a hug or kiss, I can't avoid remembering the first time that I met them and I realized how they changed for the best. Also, I noticed that, most of them, gained some extra pounds! Besides, I wonder, if this will happen to me, if I will change and if I will apply the knowledge that I acquired here when I go back. Although, when I see them waving at me from the gate' s door the fear that I won't see or meet them again disappears and a feeling of deep happiness fills my eyes with satisfaction.

Usually (all the times) I cry when I go to the airport for all the reasons that I said above, but I didn`t weep or sob at the last one. At the moment, that I said that it was harder for those who stay… My family came to my mind. Also, I remembered that I didn't cry when they brought me to the airport to take the flight to come to Canada. Why? Because I knew and I know in my heart that there are some things that will never change! And I know that what I lived and what I felt with my Brazilians, Japanese, Koreans, Latinos, Filipinos, Canadian Family will never change, too!

So, instead of dealing with this situation with such a negative approach, let us listen to the Japanese lady and let us face this new chapter of our lives as an opportunity to restart a new life with people that we love so much!

Let us enjoy this new trip of our lives and same way that we can learn about ourselves in a new culture, new country and embrace them. We can do it in any place, the only thing that we need is trust ourselves, be willing to do it and follow our instinct to take this journey.

To change the life around us, first of all, the revolution, as we can say, must first happen inside us... And it doesn`t happen so fast! So, trust yourself, be determined and take your time. In this way, everything will be new again, even the old things! The only things that remain the same are the people that really love us, the people that we love and the true friends!

Ps.: Thanks Jaime for editing this post… My other editor went back to his country.

And then, the snow came...

By Lorenço Menezes Vieira

There is a snow storm outside, I am in my bedroom and I can´t stop staring at the window and sometimes I think I am hypnotised by the snow!

When I arrived here in Canada, a lot of people told me that the real winter, with snow until our knees and temperatures of minus 5, 10, 30 degrees would be a little depressing. In the beginning of the winter I decided that I wouldn`t read sad novels, because they could let me down.

But, suddenly, while I was looking outside and I saw everything white, this atmosphere reminded me one of my favourite novels, Blindness. For those who don`t know, Blindness is a novel written by José Saramago and the book tells the story of a country that faces a “white blindness” epidemic.

This “white blindness” has a lot of meanings and by the time you are getting deeper in the story and in the lives of each character, you are figuring out each meaning and side effects that this weird blindness has on them.

One of them is that with “everything white” around us, we start to look to ourselves and when this happens everything comes to the surface, good and bad things, love and hate, strengths and weakness, good memories and some nightmares, hopes and frustrations, dreams and disappointments, past and future.

So, how can Canada be such a peaceful country?

With the white, different from the book, comes the cold... And, with a winter that has an average temperate of minus 6 during almost 4 months, a biological process not only happens with the bears; but, in some way, somehow, we, human beings hibernate too.

In a weather like this, we sleep a lot or we wish we could sleep more; we eat more, especially, chocolates; we spend more time indoors; we wear more clothes... Sometimes, we look like a bear wearing our big and fluffy coats.

Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate... That`s why Canada doesn`t become the country that Saramago portrayed in his book. With the snow, we become more introspective; it`s awkward, but we think more, we contemplate more the things around us, we calm down.

Chemistry tells us that “when heat leaves all substances, the molecules vibrate slower. The atoms can get closer which results in the matter contracting”. In other words, in a philosophical approach, we think more about ourselves. Each of us is a puzzle and it looks like that the pieces of the puzzle get closer with the cold.

Maybe, that`s why we become more sensitive and during the winter: we see more people crying, but also we see more “real” smiles; some people they become very serious and “poker face”*, in the other hand, we meet people that they are willing to listen to us; we don`t talk TO a lot of people, however, we talk WITH more people; people don`t get so excited or agitated, although, they take their time; we see more crazy people on the streets and in the TCC (bus/subway), otherwise, we notice more people watching their steps, and it`s not only because the sidewalks are slippery.

So, facing the snow and living in temperatures below zero, is it wonderful? It`s good, but we get fed up too. More than prepare ourselves to the cold by buying and wearing scarf, gloves, sweaters, coats, socks, boots, we have to get ready to deal with ourselves! And it`s difficult and, sometimes, boring facing and thinking about ourselves!

So, we don`t only need to arrange ourselves, but we need to be brave and also enjoy this moment; or otherwise, maybe until the end of the winter, you can be one of those crazy people in the TTC.

Chemists say that “when heat is added to a substance, the molecules and atoms vibrate faster. As atoms vibrate faster, the space between atoms increases (...) The end result of increased molecular motion is that the object expands and takes up more space”. Maybe, that`s why when summer comes people go wild!

Kinetic theory of matter tells that “all matter is made up of atoms and molecules that are constantly moving (...) However, the mass of the object remains the same, it doesn`t change”. Fortunately, we are not only objects; we are much more than that!


* poker face = a face without any interpretable expression

Open your Eyes

By Lorenço Menezes Vieira

We, human beings, we`re always changing... The act to change is part of our history, not only our personal history... The skill to change, to adapt ourselves, it made us, and is still making us evolve!

But, what is change? Maybe, that`s why we are always changing, because we are always looking for the answer, better, for the right answer.

When we change, we put ourselves at a disadvantage, in a uncomfortable situation, because we will never know, for sure, what will be the consequences of our changes, even the simple ones from changing our hair cut to changing our job, girlfriend, boyfriend, country... The same way that a change brings a feeling of excitement, happiness, it also brings a feeling of fear.

As an example the act to change our hair cut. Before we do that, we usually ask our friends what they think, we ask if they can point us towards a good hairstylist... All this preparation is something that we do to feel more secure and to avoid all the responsibility about our decisions. If something doesn`t work as we planned we can blame the friend that indicated that irresponsible professional or our mother that said that we would look better with a short hair cut.

What is funny is that we always have a Plan B. At the time that we are thinking how our new hair cut will look like, we think about what we are going to do and to say if something wrong would happen... So, if my hair cut won`t be the way that I had imagined I will cut everything, that will be my plan B!

It`s good to have a plan B, a plan B makes us feel more comfortable, we think like this: “At least, if it won`t work, I have hope, I have a plan B!”. But, plan Bs, they are not miracles... What we have to do, besides the preparations and the plans B, C, D... We have to take the responsibility of our changes, of our choices! Because, we can blame our family, our friends, the f*cking hairstylist, but, the decision to change comes from us! So, the first person that we have to blame is ourselves!

However, we don`t have to blame ourselves too much, because it`s better to decide than to stay indecisive. At least, in the end, we did something!

We feel afraid to do something, because we can lose things when we change, we can lose friends, money, hair, properties... But, we will only lose those things that we have never had and we thought that we had. The important things, better, the important people they are always with us!

We usually have an idea about change, the first thing that coming to our minds is that change implies to change our country, job, relationship... Change became a synonym for move, transformation. Maybe, it can be!

But, when we are talking about decisions, in some situations, we have to decide to stay in a place, in a job, in a school, to have the opportunity to change! It can be a paradox, but sometimes, when we don`t change, we change!

Why?

Because, when we change we are looking for answers and most of these answers, we are going to find in ourselves. So, if your mind doesn`t change or you don`t prepare yourself to change, maybe you won`t enjoy so much this change and you can find the answer that you are looking for, but you won`t see!

Open your eyes, but don`t wait for somebody to do this for you... And, also, don`t try to look into yourself by looking at others! The best mirror that you have is when you look at yourself without thinking how people will look at you! It`s not easy, but let`s try to change!

Specially to her, to that friend and to all of them

By Lorenço Menezes Vieira

One day somebody told me: “You know what?! Give me a break...I know you better than yourself!”. Who has never said something like this to a friend, to a relative, to a wife or to a husband? But, who in this situation asked: “Yes, you know me better than I, so please, describe me!”.

Why do we only think that we should ask this question after the person leaves? If somebody asks you to describe a person that you think you know better than him/herself, how would you describe him/her?

Probably you would say that he or she is good or bad son/daughter, wife/husband, professional, friend, depending on the intimacy, you can even tell that he or she is a good lover. After that, you`d use some adjectives like: honest, unfaithful, kind, stupid, smart, idiotic, outgoing, short temped, book smart, street smart, popular, nerdy... Wherever!

Tell me, can somebody really describe you with only these words above?

Also, some of us, we don`t ask because we are afraid of the answer. Deep down, we think: “Maybe, that person really knows me better than I, doesn’t he/she?”

Instead of trying to figure out how a person would describe you, try to know what you would answer if somebody asks you: “Who are you? But, please, I don`t want to know if you good or bad son/daughter, boyfriend/girlfriend, professional, friend. Who are you?”.

Answering this question is more difficult than we think, isn’t it? Why?

Because with time, we are acquiring roles in society; sometimes, we want these roles... I accept you as my wife. But, there are some roles that we don`t choose... Everybody is a son or daughter of somebody. And others, we accept as if we didn`t have a choice... I am a good friend, I am always helping them and they are always helping me, we have known each other since we were kids. We are best friends!

And what about when the roles are bigger than us? Or when some roles don`t portray us anymore? Or when everything is perfect, we have a wonderful family, a good job, a car, a very nice boyfriend/girlfriend and we don`t feel happy? What we can do?

We can create a new role for ourselves by dressing in different clothes, taking and posting pictures, making movies, saying what we like and dislike, commenting on everything that is happening around us... We create a character, not only on Facebook and other social networks, but also in our lives.

But, others, instead of creating a new role, they prefer to know themselves... They prefer to go on a trip, the destination is not so important, relevant, they can go to “The Camino de Compostela”, to an NGO (non-governmental organization) or to “Las Vegas”. On a trip like this, what really matter is yourself.

In Europe or Korea, the people that you are going to meet, they don`t really care about your job, your major, your family, your money, they only care about the person that is in front of them, his/her personal values. We put ourselves in situations like these because they force us to know ourselves and we have the opportunity to know our own role, to know who we are and who we want to be.

However, it doesn`t mean that we have to put behind our background, our history... Otherwise, if we are who we are now, it is because we have a past, and when we try to forget where we come from, we get lost... We lose the lessons that we learned, we don’t have anything to teach and we don’t have anybody to miss. So, if you don’t have a past, what are you going to offer to the people that you are going to meet in the present? What you are going to dream about?

To know ourselves, we have to be proud of our history, because of this we are here or there, we are in Germany, Mexico, France, Brazil, Salvador, São Paulo... We are in place and, more important than this, we are in somebody`s life.

When we become part of somebody`s life, even if in only one chapter of his/her life, we will never be alone again, because, as our grandmother (do you remember?) used to say: “Tell me who your friends are, the people that you like, the people that you love, and I will tell you who you are!”.

So, to know our own role, to know our personal values, to know ourselves, we just have to remember the people that we like and that we had the pleasure to share moments of our lives with, moments in which we exchange ideas, opinions, thoughts, lessons, loves, challenges, laughs, tears, different ways of seeing things, to interpret and to live the life. If you don’t remember, maybe, it’s time to search, not only abroad, but specially, inside yourself.

For those that have already found it, don’t forget... Keep going, move on!

Can Being Erica, in its third season, become the Canadian Felicity?

By Lorenço Menezes Vieira

The fall season of the United States and also in Canada started. It`s interesting because in Brazil the TV’s season starts in March and here in September. But, there is a reason, in September kids came back to school and it`s the beginning of fall and, then, in a few months, it will become winter, in these two seasons people watch more television because it`s cold and they prefer to stay at home, instead of going out and facing the snow and the wind. In Brazil, it is the same thing. March is the end of Canarval and everybody starts to work and to study, and of course, is the beginning of fall, but, fortunately, we don`t have to deal with low temperatures like people who live in Canada and United States.

I had the opportunity to watch the new season of Glee, I liked it and I could notice that this show is very famous all over the world. In it`s second year, the TV show has two new characters, one of them is a Filipino singer. Other programs that caught my attention was The Event. But something, that I disappointed me, was the fact that there are only few Canadian`s series. I thought that when I arrived in Canada I would see a lot of local productions, because Canada is known as a country that produces a lot of films and series for the United States.

So, the only Canadian show that I have been watching until now is Being Erica, a program that I started to watch in Brazil, I downloaded the first two seasons. I liked the show a lot because I could know Toronto before I had my trip, but I also liked the plot and I think the characters look like some people that I`ve already met here in Canada.

Being Erica tells the story of a thirty year old woman that has a lot of regrets about her life. And things got worse, when she lost her job and also her boyfriend, these events made her think that her life was insignificant and that she would not achieve her dreams. Fortunately, she found a different therapist, he had the power to send her to the past and there, she could try to solve her problems.



The first two seasons, Erica built a new life, she got a good job in a big publishing company and she found what she thought would be her perfect love, she started to date with her best friend. At the end of the second season, the author of the TV show surprised everybody... She destroyed the perfect world that Erica built! Erica lost her job, broke up with her boyfriend, but; at least, in the end, she was secure about her choices and about herself. She is mature compared with the woman that the audience knew in the pilot episode.

I think that the author made the right decision, because Erica`s world was too perfect and also it would be very difficult to continue with the show without this big twist, without drama. But, as we know, big changes, big choices, usually, they also bring a lot of risks.

I remembered that a few years ago, J.J Abrams, the man that created “Lost”, created a TV show called “Felicity” and in the middle of the second season, he had a twist... The main character, Felicity Potter, broke up with her boyfriend and cut her hair. These changes turned into a disaster, the show lost viewers and also, the writers couldn`t keep a good story and started to create situations and new characters that made “Felicity” lose its identity. I think that J.J Abrams learned his lesson and, fortunately, he didn`t commit the same mistakes on “Lost”, he knew how to do the changes and, also, to deal with Lost`s audience.

The first two episodes of the third season of Being Erica presented new characters, new scenarios and also a new dynamic. To be honest, I didn`t like it so much, but usually when we like a soap opera or a TV show, we need some time to get used to new elements. But, some thing that I am sure about is that they have to take care not to commit the same mistakes that J.J. Abrams committed with Felicity.

But, instead of telling all the reasons that I think the author must be careful of, I will not concern about it, as a good audience, I will wait for, time will bring the answers, I will wait the next episodes... I`ll see if Erica will be continuum “Being Erica” or, in this new season, Erica will be the Canadian`s Felicity!