“Brazilian Flow”

Last Saturday, on our first day in Uberlandia, all CSC participants were told to just “go with the Brazilian flow”.  At the time, none of us truly knew what this meant.  Some of us ventured a guess, but until we had 3 – 4 project days under our belts, it wasn’t easy to put it into perspective.  

       

Now that I have been here a week and I have been working at the Ipe Institute for 4 days, the term means something to me.   I get it.  Uberlandia, as well as Brazil, has a rhythm, a cadence, and a flow all of its own.   Every Brazilian I’ve met has a wonderful zest for life.  Going with the “Brazilian flow” means that one should accept things as they come.  If a meeting is scheduled to start at 9, but it doesn’t start until 9:20, just accept it and do something equally as meaningful with the time.  Start a conversation with a Brazilian on your team and get to know him or her better.  Share cultures.  Practice your Portuguese.  Take time to more closely observe the city and feel its pulse.   

   

Today (Thursday, 9/12) was another productive and exceptional day at the Ipe.  The day began the same way as the prior 2 days.  School children came to the Ipe to be educated about recycling and how to better protect  & take care of the planet.  Toni believes that if you teach our young people, they hold the future in their hands and the planet will be a better place.  

  

Hajira and I interviewed Itamar, Ruthe’, Guilherme’, Ana, and Toni, Ipe’s president.  Throughout these interviews, we learned significantly more about how Ipe deeply touches the lives of its staff, local school children, and the city of Uberlandia.  Not only did we extract insightful information about each person’s role at Ipe, but we also got to know each individual on a personal level.  Our post-interview discussions revolved around family, music, and aspirations.  The interviewee gained information about me and Hajira as well.  One sentiment was expressed by everyone: They have a deep seated passion for and belief in Ipe.  They are all there because they believe in Ipe’s mission and its 5 pillars.  Toni has done an exceptional job of instilling his vision in everyone on Ipe’s staff.   

At the end of the day, a local newsman and his camera man came by to do a story on Ipe.  The CSC team was interviewed making this the 2^nd time in less than a week that IBM’s CSC program made the local TV news. 

   

   

#ibmcsc brazil