Paulistas

Once upon a time when I was stationed in Sao Paulo, Brazil…A huge project that I was engaged as leader had been bogged up with troubles after troubles. Flood of E-mails and phone calls from Tokyo HQ were grilling me harshly every day. I was living alone in Brazil, leaving my family behind in Tokyo.( which is still not atypical for Japanese expats ). Days of tough distress.

But what relieved my hard times were beautiful climate, delicious food (especially beef, yummy!) and frank, and kind local people. There was one more thing that encouraged me a lot. The way Paulisitas appeared in office and on streets. Young and old, men and women, almost everybody on the streets is walking in “upright” posture, with face smiling nicely. This posts vivid contrast with scene in early morning commuter train in Tokyo. You will see many of Japanese businesspersons, so-called “Salary-men”, were round-shouldered, arched back , and with gloomy face.

Are all Brazilians easy-going people, as a stereotype view Latin-American tells? Never ever. They are struggling with their problems, personal and social, more serious than ours. But do hunchback and gloomy face improve the situation? What I learned from Paulista was “absolutely no”. In times of hardship, stand upright, draw back your shoulders….and don’t lose your confidence”.

Finally, the project finally ended up with fair amount of profit, greatly attributing to endeavor of my Brazilian colleagues.

ＡSnapshot of Avenida Paulisita