The time is now

Hey there,

Today, the Dutch evening news began with the coverage of the political protests in Russia. Thousands of people across the country have come out in the December Russian cold to protest against the government and demand fair - and honest - elections. Young, well earning, iPad holding people - this last bit according to the NY Times report. It's one of those somewhat rare moments actually when I can feel a glimmer of hope for Russia's future, and indeed, a bit of pride. Is change actually coming? Being such an unusually large protest in Russia, it's all over the international news - and to me, it also seems like one of those few times when the news actually gives a rather positive view of the Russian people (if not politics, of course, but that's the point).

It's funny because I haven't visited my own home country for over three years, and sometimes feel as if I am a bit out of the 'loop', if you can call it that. In fact, I have seen much more of the world outside of Russia than within it (ok - Russia is huge though). Sometimes it almost feels like, well, who am I to talk about change and society in Russia. But what the heck, of course I am and I can, haha! And right now, there lies a book on my shelve written about Russia by a UK journalist traveling through the country. It's time to take a look at what he has to say - it's ironic isn't it how you sometimes use the work of outsiders to help you to stay in touch with your home country, when it is no longer your home base. So many books have been written in the world about everything, and many of them very subjective of course, so it can be hard to keep an objective view yourself. However, I can appreciate that someone writing the book has traveled the country through and through - more than I have, in this case! - if I am to spend my time reading and learning from it. What the book brings and if I actually agree, remains to be seen.

I have just finished reading an anthropological study about the life of women living in a favela in Rio de Janeiro. It was published almost ten years ago as Lula was entering into his presidency - and thus much has changed since then, but it is still a valuable insight into the Brazilian social structure, and gender and race relations. The ironic thing here is that it is a book I once (partially) read for my anthropology class back when I was 18 - but it didn't mean so much to me then... if someone had told me back then that in a few years I'd be re-reading the book after having lived in Brazil for five months myself, I'd have thought, what?

Well, that's how it goes. This has been mostly my blog about Brazil - with a few random entries in between. It's crazy, more than a year after coming back I am still writing about it, and there are still a few things I want to add about my trip in a couple more posts - just bear with me. But I have also tried to include references where possible to the current things happening that might be relevant as well... I enjoy writing my blog and about my experiences, even if someone might wave their hand and think or say, why read this if it all took place 'so long' ago already... well, I can only hope that my readers have enjoyed the insights and experiences I have shared. Time has passed, but memories remain seared into my mind. Where a writer such as Gabriel Garcia Marques - whose 'Love in the time of cholera' I am also reading at the moment - is able to describe places and events in uncomparable and colourful fashion, I hope I have been able to provide just a little taste (at least) of the explosion of events and impressions that Brazil has been (and admittedly, has stayed) for me.

But, it's almost time - as the year 2011 is coming to its end, some new ideas and thoughts have been buzzing in my mind lately, so it is soon time for a new start. Yes, new year, new opportunities to seize, new action to take. I'll be putting what I've learned and what I'm learning - not little of it as a result of struggling against the tough economic market at the moment - into new and positive stories and reflections, as I believe there might be just the market out there for it.

Now, on with it! :) I will be writing more about Brazil soon, and also more about... well, many other things, too.

Thanks for reading!