Interview with my Brazilian friend, Simone! #1 [Mother Studies Abroad]

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Simone

Hello everyone! It’s Akiko, a Japanese writer currently living in Brazil with her Brazilian husband. Today I’ll be sharing an interview with Simone, the beautiful Brazilian lady in the picture above.
 
 
Although she’s a working woman and mother of two, which means a very busy schedule, during our talk, Simone showed me such a sense of gratitude and positivity that I was inspired. She taught me some new viewpoints, as well as many tips to improve on my own wellbeing. It was a precious talk, so I hope you can enjoy it as much as I did.
 
 

Interview with my Brazilian friend, Simone!

 
[Index]  
#1　Mother Studies Abroad
#2　Making Things Easier
#3　No Pressure on Your Choice
#4　I’m With the Society

Mother Studies Abroad

-Thank you for cooperating today.
 
 
Simone: You can ask anything you want! There’re no secret between us. I can understand and imagine how hard it is to move to a different country. Everybody needs the other person in their life.
 
 
-Thank you! I appreciate it. Talking in English is so helpful for me now because my Portuguese is not good yet. How did you learn English?
 
 
Simone: I studied in London for three weeks, three years ago, when I was 38 years old. At that time, I couldn’t speak a single phrase. Even though I studied English for a long time, I didn’t have the opportunity to talk with anyone in English.

In the second week, I was already communicating enough to get by. By the third week, I was confident. When I came back from London, I could speak English and it was like magic!
 
 
-Really? It is interesting for me that a lady in her late thirties could study abroad. I know you have two kids, a daughter in her twenties and a ten-year-old son. Who took care of your kids while you were in London?
 
 
Simone: My daughter and my son were taken care of by their grandmother while I was in London.
 
 
-That’s so interesting because it is more common for the kids to study abroad than the mother in Japan. It’s not common in Brazil, neither though.
 
 
Simone: I studied English for the Cambridge certificate, and then, I studied Chinese and German. And I do have my routine, my activities as well. Like roller skating, pilates, jogging and hanging out with friends!
 
 
– And you work for a company, and are also a mother and wife. Even though your daily life must be so busy, it looks like you enjoy your life. How do you manage your schedule?
 
 
Simone: How I manage all my appointments? I have some different segments in my life. First of all, I am Simone. And I am a very good friend. I try to be an individual besides my marriage, having kids, and having my work. I try to be myself and to have my spare time.
 
 

 
 

How to Manage the Busy Days?

Simone: During the whole week, I try to take care my family. For example, from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. I take care of my son. Everything he needs and his activities like homework, preparing his lunch box, and so on. And while I help him to study, I try to study as same time as he does. I do this because it’s important for me to study 2 hours per day.

While he goes to school, I take my shower and get ready to be a professional so that I go to my work place. And I work for 6 hours and come back home. And it’s time to be family. My husband and I go to supermarket together. Prepare lunch box for my son for tomorrow. Even if he has the choice to have lunch at the school restaurant, I prefer to prepare his lunch box by myself and so does he.
 
 
-What do you prepare for his lunch?
 
 
Simone: The menu of the lunch box is like fruits, juice (e.g. acerola), chocolate, bread with ham and cheese, cookies, popcorn. He likes popcorn so much.
 
 
-Is it common for Brazilian moms to prepare lunchbox for kids?
 
 
Simone: Yes, mama makes everything. Brazilian moms like to cook for their kids and to invite their friends over. We really like to prepare food. I love cooking for my friends and family.
 
 
-I respect you because I’m not good at cooking.
 
 
Simone: When I got married, I couldn’t cook! This situation will change in the future. Because for Brazilians, FOOD IS LOVE! It’s normal. Cooking nicely, sharing a good meal. This is the secret, okay? Cooking is the secret.

If you cook for someone, they will fall in love with you. Food is a very large topic here. If you do that every day, people would say “I respect her.” Because food is always about love. If you feed someone everyday like I do for my family, serving fresh food is an act of respect.

I’ve been married now for 23 years. When I think about it, I realize how time flies! Looking at my daughter, sometimes I can’t believe she is my daughter because I feel too young to be her mother!
 
 

 
 
-I respect your daughter as well. She faces many big challenges, like studying abroad, working in very demanding job at a young age.
 
 
Simone: I try to say to my daughter that, if you find a way, just go there and follow it. Don’t wait too long. Just go! Because opportunities go much easier than they come. So you need to enjoy each moment you have.

Experience as much as you can and then, in the future, you can reevaluate and decide. You will never have a perfect chance. So take them all, and if you make a mistake, next time you will know better. This is the way that life goes on.
 
 
To be continued…
 
 
NEXT＞＞＞Making Things Easier