Playing homage is...

...  not to forget important people and stuff.

When I played with Simone Leitao, a couple of weeks ago, it stuck me hard that I was neglecting Music in my life. However, in the midst of an intense preparation I thought that it would be better not to feel guilty and to go ahead (yeah, it's important to play games with your mind, sometimes). 

And today, as everybody who googled something today knows, it's Rossini's birthday. With the late events in mind, plus having for the 100th time, the confirmation that the gift of making Music will be useful in my new life (although I gave up to be a professional musician) I couldn't let to have something by Rossini here. 

For me Rossini is a synonym of the great Cecilia Bartoli. Hope you enjoy and that your evening (and day) gets happier. For me, it's a landmark in the territory of priorities. Music has to be a priority in my life - even if it is a hobby. It is a part of who I am - so I should know better than take some days off from it. =)  

The Angels fall first

A friend passed away. In his memory, the beautiful "Tanzende Engel", by Carl W. Röhrig (the Dancing Angel):

I like this powerful image of an angel: a being who is good, but also has a very bombastic energy. 

Dudu was such a person: although he had some controversial opinions and behavior, he has been always caring and encouraging. And together with his wife, my dearest singing teacher, Liz, he has taught me that the ultimate goal of a musician was to be an artist to express the music with all her being. That Music had nothing to do with a series notes, but with expressing truths - whether joyful or sorrowful - and touching people. 

Hope he is composing and joking somewhere in eternal life. 

Learning

Found some time to blog from the Orientation Week, which has been great so far. I've made lots of friends and  people here are so supportive! =)

One of the lecturers gave me some advice which I can't but think about. He said I should remind two things when abroad:

1. Find and enjoy aspects of your new culture and places you like in your new country; 
2. Don't go to serve people you're going to work with - love them instead. 

Nice insights, don't you think? 

No photos yet, 'cause there are lots of professional cameras here, so I've got a bit lazy. ;-)

Liberty's Square/ Freiheitsplatz

One may think this blog is getting either too melancholic or too sentimental. But one of the things you're advised to do in order to have a cultural shock that doesn't kill but just get you stronger, is to really bid farewell to your homeplace.

That's why, before I part to a week of intense study, I'll blog about one of the most pitoresques places, we have here: the Liberty's Square. It is a meeting place in Belo Horizonte with no equal - not because it is the most beautiful place or because it's big or has any Faustian characteristic. Unlike many places marked by social distinction, genre or whatever, it is a meeting place for all inhabitants: teenagers who love heavy metal, runners, kids riding bicycles (it's more and more difficult to have an open safe place for them to play), elderly people reading their newspapers. Besides, Belo Horizonte is a city with too few squares and to have one which is quite democratic, at a certain extent, with nice museums around it, the State Library, a nice Cinema nearby, modern and old architecture in its surrounds...

The Square/ Der Platz: 

View of the bandstand with the 2014 World Cup Countdown

View of a building by Oscar Niemeyer. Loved the Spring, the bees buzzing around 

and smell of the flowers...

A path with old Christmas' decoration hanging on trees.

The Surroundings/ Die Umgebungen

The State Library

Detail of a building called "Junkie Mary", prior the Museum of Mineralogy 

Left: Museum of Mines and Metals / Right: Planetarium 

And to think that I lived nearby for more than a year!!! [sighs] 

You can check more photos of the Liberty's Square HERE. 

Happy Valentine's Day

Celebrating with an awesome song performed by great singers.

Hope you enjoy(ed) your day. ;-)

Tattooing on our hearts

Friends come and go. The last months have been very representative GO, GO, GO. Elisa, Nathali, Tael, sweet Bianca, Ella, and Taiana, who went away forever since she married (okay, I'm being over dramatic here. No offence, Rober! ).  Still I can't get used to it.

But I was surprised when I got to know that Ella wanted to tattoo "ir embora" (go away). Does it sound like a person without roots? But she explained that only when you go away you can come back. Which I thought to be a very intelligent way of how to deal with the question of temporary, although real, loss, something I can't cope very well. 

Last Saturday some friends told me goodbye. Little Letícia didn't come but she made her appearance with her signature: her tiny hand stamped in a letter written by her parents. And these friends, who are among the best ones, made a video from this song: 

Thank you very very much guys for everything. You are among the best - we'll stick together to the end!!! =)

Back to work after some rest!

Sunset in "Cabo Frio" City (which means Cold Cape)

What should you do if you want to move abroad and start everything from scratch? Of course you should start from the basics. I imagine it like baking a cake. The most important thing is the sponge itself: 

1. Get a position where you want to live in; 
2. Get a visa; 
3. Buy plane tickets; 
4. Buy a health insurance; 
5. Be sure you can afford the experience. 

A fresh baked sponge can taste really good if you use high quality ingredients. But when a 19th centrury cook had the great idea of cutting a sponge in halves and adding home-made strawberry jam, s/he invented the Victoria's Sandwich! 

Here is my filling: I've got a pass grade in the Cambridge's Proficiency Exam and now I hold a certificate by the University of Cambridge telling the world I do speak English. Not everybody can be the Duchess of Cambrigde... but I'm very happy with my recently acquired "noble rank"! =P 

And I haven't finished yet. There is the icing of the cake as well. I've got a licence from my current position, which means that, in case something goes wrong, I can come back and start working again as a teacher of one of the state schools. 

To sum up: TERRIFIC, isn't it?