Today I was planning to go to a speech of prof. Antonio Negri, famous Italian Marxist philosopher. I never had the chance to attend one of his speech and, despite political differencies, I was very excited to have the chance to hear him live. Moreover, I was aware of a critical description of one of his speech by David Graeber and I was curious to see what would happen.
I saw the advertisement of the event at the beginning of this week and I had to postpone a previously scheduled meeting with prof. Marcelo Lopes de Souza (thank you!). Furthermore I had to register on the website of the holding institution but because i do not have the Brazilian tax code I could not end the procedures… then I sent some emails and it was granted that I had the right to attend the conference (even if without the right to obtain a certificate of attendance).
Today, the big day. I found it hard to get up because yesterday night I attended a public assembly in Cinelandia and then a public DIY event in the same square organized by Rafuko, I was also in. doubt to assist the event streaming online but then I Decided to go: it is much better to hear and speak to people the chance to have a chat afterwards is proceless.
I got on my bicycle, ride it for 15 mintrough the crazy morning traffic of Rio de Janeiro, arrived in Saens Pena square totally wet, Took the metro for 30 min to Cinelandia and other 15 min walking from there.
Finally arrived at the Palace of Justice, the place of the conference.
At the entrance two employees (and a metal detector) are waiting for me: a lady at the counter and a man who played with truncheon. As soon as they see me mocking smile, for a reason that will become obvious in a few seconds: you can not enter the building in shorts (which I carry). Frankly I fall from the clouds, do we really need a dress code to enter to hear a lecture by Toni Negri, one of the gurus of the anti-capitalist movement?! Nothing to do, I cannot enter, at some point they even laugh to me because I am “gringo”, a stranger. Sadly, I go back home, the same die: walking street, subway, bike. (I have the opportunity to watch live online last part of the discussion of the questions before the direct interrupts)

Some of my considerations. I think it is absurd that for a conference of one of the gurus of the anti-capitalist and anti-globalization movement is necessary to have a dress code! (in addition, in none of the calls there was something written about it and today there are in Rio 30 ° C) Moreover, I would like to question the held to conduct this event in a space of the justice tribunal, the same tribunal that few days ago posponed the discussion to the freedom of a politician caught in events of October (Baiano) and it accomplice in the repression of social movements. We are criticizing the system living within the same system, the contradictions are certainly developed. I do not know the terms of the coming of Negri in Rio de Janeiro, however, I think it would be possible to organize something in a space more “neutral” as a university (not to mention a space of the movement, like in Cinelandia, Aldeia, an occupation Sem -Teto, a union …). For the umpteenth time the academy has been isolated from social movements that studies and research and, sometimes, try to boost / denigrate / drive.
To date I am not aware (but I could be wrong) if he participates in some event of the movement (although I do not know how long he will stop in town), in any case, I take this opportunity to invite the prof. Antonio Negri to the event O dia a dia do racismo brasileiro (The everyday life of Brazilian racism), organized by the Assembleia Popular da Grande Tijuca, this Saturday at 5 pm in the Saens Peña square, where he will have a chance to participate in a popular initiative and make a speech.
To me, it remains for the rest of life the opportunity to joke, remembering the time when I was not accepted at a conference of Negri because I was dressed in shorts and T-shirt…

Just a short update on my progress and few thoughts from last week…

 

Wednesday 13^th:

I attended the plenary session of the FIP? at the UERJ? and the most important topic covered was the organisation of the debate that the FIP will organise in December.

Despite the fact the debate was intense, I managed to make a short speech , speaking more clearly about my research and my work-plan with the FIP (interviews, writing a booklet, participatory blog). To help me I prepared a handout that I distributed during the meeting (a copy HERE). Several people turned out to be interested, all-in-all a positive evening!

While I was waiting the meeting starting, I took some cool picture of the sky over the University

In recent weeks, the Movement has changed, there are no more massive street demonstrations as in October. However, the amount of events or meetings has not decreased , while the participation is greatly diminished. Anyway, it seems that it is enough just an “excuse” to explode again protest in the streets.
On my commitments have not diminished , in fact. The interviews are continuing, the work with the FIP becomes more pressing, and I began to collaborate with Assembleia Popular da Grande Tijuca, a popular assembly in my neighborhood (this Sunday I should do a mini presentation on hand gesture for the assembly) .

Speaking about solidarity, along with other comrades, I translated into Italian a leaflet written by the group OATL on the recent mobilizations in Brazil (translation which was published HERE). Moreover, yesterday I helped a buddy of Bologna that is processing different material on Rio de Janeiro for an information-point to raise funds. Finally, this week an article on Umanità Nova (an Italian anarchist magazine) has been posted of the group Solidarity and Action Mobilization with Brazil Activists – Leeds (SAMBA) on Brazil and also they are organizing events to raise awareness and funds for the Movement. They are all small things, but consume a lot of time and are fundamental for building real international solidarity.
As usual, I deeply reflect on the relationship between being a researcher and, at the same time, an activist, of course, there is a potential tension between the two. In the literature, this relationship is widely analysed, often starting from the role of the researcher, being an activist is a method at the service of research. I think that it would be interesting to reverse this point of view and ask what impact has to be a researcher on militancy…

PS: photo dedicated to all those who complain about the cold temperatures in Europe are envious of Rio de Janeiro (I think, however, that is is “bit” too much…)

 

Temperature in the Rio’s streets few days ago…

As every PhD research, also my project has changed consistently over the time. The first time I came to the University of Leeds in 2010 I was an exchange student and after six months I remained thanks an as tutor teaching Italian: I discovered the campus (nothing comparable with Italy!) and the city and I loved both of them. I also really enjoyed the School of Geography and the teacher there: I found two teachers potentially available to supervise me and then I applied for a PhD program. And I was accepted! However, unfortunately, I was not good enough to seize an English scholarship, but, finished my second master in Italy, I got a small funding from the University of Udine (S.H.A.R.M. project) and I decided to return to Leeds, with Sara Gonzalez e Paul Chatterton as supervisors. My initial plan was to expand my Master Thesis research (available HERE) in which studied some institutional and grassroots groups from Leeds, comparing their approaches and impacts on the development of the city. The next step was to deepening the research, using Social Ecology as framework. After a while I understood that Leeds was not able to offer a good case study and then I searched for other possibilities: in Italy, Canada, Kurdistan, Rio de Janeiro … (looking back to these possibilities I have no idea how I could manage financially to do that…).

At the end the choice fall on Rio de Janeiro: my department is indeed part of an international research scheme that is funding the mobility towards some Latin American department and in Rio de Janeiro is based one of the few geographer working with Social Ecology, Marcelo Lopez De Souza who was very keen to accept my request. At the end of March 2013 I moved to Rio de Janeiro. I soon faced many different problems: a new “environment” (from my hometown Udine or Leeds to the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro), a new culture, the lack of contacts, finding a house. Moreover, one of the key problems was the language: despite my mother tongue is a Latin language and I previously did a Portuguese course at University of Leeds (thank you!), my language level was not sufficient. Till the end of May I focused on improving my language skill (I did a very intense course) and discovered the culture and the city. The initial plan was to work with two Sem-Teto occupations but, for various problems, I could not do that. I was quite demoralized when at the beginning of June everything happened… The increased of a ticket price in public transport ignited the movement and, in few weeks, it growth from few hundreds people to one million on the 20th of June. The account of the full story is long and complicated and this is not the place, for a good summary and interpretation see CrimethInc. Collective Part 1 and Part 2.

I acted as I know, as an activist and I started participating in the marches and all the public events. I joined the movement as independent, not hiding my role as a researcher and I joined the Forum de Luta Contra Aumenta da Passagem. In August I got back to Europe and I decided to change the focus of my research on the Forum. When I got back in Rio de Janeiro, end of September, the Forum has slowly died and I joined the Frente Indepentente Popular – FIP whose I had the chance to participate in its first meeting back in August. The final decision for my research is focusing on the Forum and the FIP, looking at them as part of the same wide movement and in continuity, understanding their differences and similarities, learning why the Forum stopped and the FIP rise. Time is running out for my research (PhD in UK is 3 years, usually the first is used for outlining the project, the second for fieldwork and the third to write up the thesis) and now I believe that I finally and happily found my case studies.

 

7 october – Camara’s assault!

 

10 october – repression

 

12 october – party at Quilombo das Guerreiras

 

13 october – LGBT parade

 

15 october – resistence and repression

 

18 october – demonstration for freedom of political prisoners

 

20 october – Bangù

 

21 october – act contra o leilao

 

22 october – flyering in Manghinho

 

24 ottobre – march in Providencia

 

24-25 SEPE closed the strike

 

two different worlds

A few days ago, on October 31, there was a demonstration for the freedom of expression and in solidarity with all the people taken during the events of October (the poster and adhesions HERE). Name of the march was Grito da Liberdade – Scream of Freedom.

Placard and banners at the front of the march

Some photos of the demonstrations HERE1 HERE2

We started from Cinelandia, where we made various enormous banners in solidarity with the political prisoners. From there we move toward the ALERJ, and slightly before we joined the big of the demonstration. Around 1000 people while everyone was hoping more (during the march will increase to 1500-200). From the beginning the demo looks different, there is something distinct compared to other marches. Everyone know that todays the objective is to be communicative as much as possible to the society for obtaining the scope to raise awarness and push for the realising of the political prisoners: this is the goal and was made the decision to make it differently. Many banners, many placards, different sound system on bikes or shopping card, two different bands (one more classical, another composed by instrument recycled or DIY modified). Moreover, many black strips of cloth were gifted to be used as fake handcuffs or to muzzle the mouth. There are some clowns, people are dressed up and doing small sketches during the march. During the march in key point of the city were made specific intervention: in Candelaria 20 people just laid down in silent in the center on the square. The most striking event was performed while marching in Avenida Rio Branco: all the demonstrators were in silent, only the the sound of the drum scan the steps. This was very impressive: usually this main street with several shops and offices is use as a main stage of protest and people are accustomed to it. Marching in silent is creating an effect that all the people are stopping and watching what is going on, incredulous and unsure of what they are seeing. At the end of the Rio Branco, everyone started to run to the step of the Camara, screaming, a Grito da Libertade. Massive police presence, despite the obviously peaceful procession (how could it be otherwise in a day like this?), they are made numerous searches, riot police is following the march on motorcycles and handling the guns. The last piece of the parade is to Lapa, where, under the arches, there is a number of speeches, musical performances, there is also a photographic exhibition against repression. Here, the unexpected happens: some are rising on the arches of Lapa overlooking the square (where once ran a tram) and unroll the banners of the procession, the crowd screaming in support. There is also time for another little encore: Batman (a protester who for months protesting against the recent law banning the wearing of masks) salt on the arches, a location incredibly photogenic. All photographers flock, even the police helicopter illuminates it, making the absurd scene, almost film. Shortly after Batman is joined by his namesake DIY (wearing only black panties and DIY mask and cloak black bag of garbage), creating a hilarious effect (video HERE).

A great day

 

The day before yesterday was a very important day: I managed to do my first interview and the Frente Popular Garage – RJ (FIP for simplicity) has agreed to participate/help me with my research.

The interview lasted about an hour. I had an interesting and fruitful discussion with a lawyer who closely follows the movement. Prior to the interview I had prepared my nice list of questions and I also managed to do them all but the debate moved in a direction not foreseen that I did not expect. Obviously it is not the first time and not the last of the things that goin an unforeseen direction.

That night I attended the meeting, the weekly plenary, of the FIP. It was not my first meeting, I had already attended some interventions, and participants already knew me. At the beginning of the meeting I made ​​a speech talking about the banner/statement that the Solidarity and Action Mobilization with Brazil Activists – Leeds (UK) (SAMBA_Leeds SAMBA_Leeds (UK)) group did at the University of Leeds in solidarity with the political arrests in Brazil of these last few weeks. I also introduced my research, asking to interview some people and proposing to build, collectively, a small book that explains the history, internal organization and the thought of FIP on key themes. In the end, after a brief defence of my ideas, the project was approved unanimously, to my great delight. The idea of ​​having a public blog with my material proved to be spot on (especially the page about my research), so all interested persons can freely consult my documents.

Now my research proper begins in: I am no longer at the stage of only observing, searching and making contacts but I am working on production of material. However, every day there is an activity in which I (must) participate and the time that remains for me to think about the research, process documents and relax is very little: it will be a very busy and intense time.

PS: a couple of weeks of intended activities remain to be covered to be recounted on the blog, I hope to be able to do so soon.

In the last week I realised that I am not able to keep up with writing on the blog: every day there is an action, a march, a static demo, a meeting, a flyer …

I am late with the narration of various events and I have yet to update previous posts with corrections and photos.

It is a period full of initiatives and it is really difficult to find time to write a post here on the blog, especially when the days are full and I have to write my research diary and organize the research.

I have much material and different ideas, I hope to soon have a break so I could put my information on a par with the posts.

Long time has passed since my last (and first) post in this blog and many things have happened. Shall we start with order: because it was an intense period, I decided to present in chronological order the summary of the most important days.

27th September – the flight and my arrival

I start my long trip that will let me in Brazil at my house in Leeds, at 6.30. A fast goodbye to my partner and my life here and here we are: the journey has started!

Leeds Bradford International Airport: here we are!

Taxi to the airport and three things are on my mind: first, when I will be back?; second, how will this period in Brazil be?; third (and maybe the more important), what did I forget this time? Did I take everything? Did I miss to do or to take something fundamental? From Leeds airport to London Heathrow: here I wait for two hours, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi and dealing with the traditional 30 daily emails on my various e-mail account. I strongly believe that more that 20 % (more?) of our commitment as a researcher or employees in the academia is dealing with e-mails. I change terminal (this airport is huge) and I get in the second (and last) flight for Rio de Janeiro. Long hours in the airplane, unfortunately I am in the central seat of the central row: I cannot take photos from the windows (I was planning to take photos to show the different settlements between Leeds/London/Rio), if I want to move I have to inconvenience all my neighbours and I cannot stretch much my legs. I read a free English tabloid, for the sake to read something (flashing my kindle and reading something for the research seems a bit too much) and then I try to sleep, thinking of all the carbon emission of my journey. I am one of that person that is using the bike every day, paying attention to the division of the garbage, if I have move around the house I try to use the light as less as possible (sometimes with hilarious and disastrous consequences…), in short I can be define a “good green boy” then, this year, I abundantly used flights for various conference and fieldwork around the world (USA, Greece, UK, Brazil, Italy). How can a green-lifestyle deal with the necessity of so many movements by flight? Are they so necessary?

Back to the flight: I discovered that the woman next to me is Brazilian, fluent in English, French and Italian. I had the chance to use my Portuguese: it is not so bad! This is one of my nightmares: that with these two months in Europe I forget all my Portuguese. Indeed, when I was back in UK at the beginning of September I discovered that after six months relatively speaking no-English, my communication skills have decreased considerably. So much efforts and energy to learn a language and then everything disappear: maintaining language skills at a decent level is a continuous fight as it is to learn it!

Then, after many hours (and not enough food): Rio de Janeiro. Quick check of passport: I am here with a research visa and the policeman asks me if I am a doctor (why? it is clearly written than I am linked with a geography department!). Never mind, now I have to face the scariest part of the entire journey: will my luggage appear from the small hole on the long mobile track? Have it flight with me or it is lost somewhere? After few minutes of anxiety I can see it: I collect it and then quickly to a taxi for the city centre. It is night, 9 pm local time and everything is dark; I can see only the lights of the big metropolis and, with my pleasure, I can still recognize and remember the name of different streets and neighbourhoods. It seems that nothing has changed (was I expecting that the city has changed in less than two months from my departure?), maybe the biggest change is that the anti-riot protection on banks and State’s building are less visible; the silent taxi driver explains me that the protests have cooled down a bit. I arrived easily to the house where some my good friend will host my in the first period and my first request after the greetings is a shower: after the long journey I really need it!

the door of my new house in Rio de Janeiro

The person who is hosting me is travelling now to San Paolo for the weekend and I decided to go with her to the coach station. Doing so, I immerse immediately myself in the local life: the dramatic bus ride and the “rough” coach station that scared me months ago (I will return on these aspects in the future). I (safely) return back home and I collapse at 1.30, local time, 5.30 UK time. Now, I am really back in Rio de Janeiro.

 

First week-end back in Rio de Janeiro

First week-end and I manage to do some basic stuff for the first days back: re-gaining confidence with the language, discovering the neighbourhood and the markets, buying some food. Moreover I am invited to two parties and I have the chance to see many old friends (all involved in different social movements), all very happy to see my back and I start to speak about my research and to ask everyone if they have a room available for me: searching a house will be my main occupation for the next week. Unfortunately the weather is not great and I cannot get to the famous beach and enjoy the sun before my days become too busy.

 

30th September – Back to the old routine…

One of the firs things that I try to do is to get back to the old routine that I had in Rio previously: I discovered that a routine, a schedule, help me to give structure to the day, pushing me to do the research and not leaving enough time for sadness or bad feelings. Today is Monday and it is perfect to start a new week back to my routine. In the early morning I get used to do physical activity and, because I really like martial arts, I jump on the opportunity to do Brazilian ju-jitsu in one of the best school of the world (it is in Copacabana, far, this is the only problem). Many times I wondered if this activity is losing time for my research but I arrived to the conclusion that it does not help me to be fit but it is something more. Being continuously in the fieldwork is high creates a constant pressure on me: I must do my research, I must have enough data for when I am back, every day I have a long list of things to do, alone, in a country that is not mine and with a different language from my mother tongue. A physical activity helps me to take a break, cleaning my mind and then concentrating again on the research (and, as a precious exercise, I also have to speak/understand a Portuguese from the street). At the gym all the people are very happy to see me again, it is like a big family.

Then, in the evening, I am back in the routine in an unexpected way: since the beginning of August the public teachers are on strike and there is a static demonstration in from of the city council, pushing demanding the blocks of a school reform that has not been discussed with the category. It is only Monday and I have already the opportunity to be back in the streets, place of many demonstrations in the past months.

Also the bankers are on strike

I arrive in Cinelandia square in front on the Câmara Municipal do Rio de Janeiro (Municipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro) where there is the static demonstration, around 2000-3000 people, mainly professors and young, some can be associated with the black bloc. On the steps of the Camera the camps of “Occupy Camera” continues, in the style of Occupy Wallstreet, with many banners around and more or less 20 tends (from what I understand it is a legal camp). the Ocupa Camara in Cinelandia square

I see many friends, all very happy to meet me, and also some Brazilian fellow of the project Contested Cities. The situation seems peaceful and joyful, many people with placards, like all Brazilian events, with thousands of messages but all focus for a better school system, against local politicians, against police violence. However, the police are quite nervous and attempt to do several arrests for futile reasons (e.g. launching a bit ‘of water against a police car). In protest , it was decided to occupy the intersection of Rio Branco, one of the main arteries of the city centre and after a while ‘ part of a procession composed of more than 500 people more militant towards the city centre , as always followed closely by the police. After 200 meters, in front of an office building which is often what happens: An unidentified person throws stones at the large windows and runs. Everyone in the procession is wondering why the action: it is clearly a provocateur and this fact to the police the excuse to begin clamping down. They leave the office with his nightstick , sonic bombs , gas … The procession breaks up into a thousand, I find myself running through the streets of downtown, known for a near video – magazine photographer A Nova Democracia, author of a number of great video on the protests. There is great confusion: people running in different directions, in different ways, police chases, you do not understand what to do. I’m going back to Cinelandia and there that most of the people regroup.

some barricades on fire

The police began to indiscriminately throw bombs to clear the square: it is not clear what is the motivating factor, it would seem that they do not appreciate a large number of people in the square, the number of people and the situation calms down; many people are worried to maintain the encampment of Occupy Camera but the police do not evict them. A group decides to bring solidarity to persons detained in the police station in Lapa and part in the parade. I continue with them and the resounding chorus is “What a coincidence, there is no police, there is no violence”. I remain an hour, the police check the road armed with submachine guns, the situation is paradoxically relaxed. I returned home around midnight: as a first day of the week it was challenging.

 

1th October – Riot

Today is a big day: it is scheduled a march of professors in the morning then a static demonstration in Cinelandia for all the afternoon, hoping that the proposed law is blocked; my plan is to go in the morning, then come back home for a rest and then return back in the afternoon; for this reason I do not have much things with me in my bag. In the morning I go to Largo do Machado, where the march starts. In the streets around 1000 professors and few young/students. I am in photographers’ mode: with the good camera owned by my University I try to take as many pictures as possible.

the opening banner

the march

Many placards, many banners, and many slogans: the sun is shining (and for me it is getting quite warm…) and the situation seems very positive. The people in the streets are supportive and there is very few police who is mainly controlling the traffic; some are doing graffiti in support of the teachers strike.

Stencil + Sticker

The march ends in Cinelandia: looking at the square from the steps of the Camera it seems that we are more than 2000! In the kitchen of the occupation people are serving some free food and, while speaking with some friends, I start eating some of the food that I brought from home. Immediately confusion in the square starts: some policeman are trying to arrest a professors with a mask (recently it has been introduced a new low that forbid to wear masks in streets, except, of course, during the Carnival), some people run to grab the professor, the police hit some, pushing everyone, all the people grabbing the professor fall on the ground, destroying some tents of the camp. The police realize that the situation is potentially explosive: they are totally encircled by demonstrators, the people in the ground are in a very danger situation and so the police decide to retreat, not making any arrests. This episode is a sign that the day will be tense, I expected that at least the beginning of the day would have been quiet but, as we shall see, I am wrong. Since then, the police take any excuse to attack the demonstrators. In answer to that several protesters start making a barricade with tables and wooden planks; fireworks are launched into the air in response to rubber bullets and gas. Their goal is to try to protect the teachers from the police’s attacks and delay its advancement. Anyway, the protesters dispersed from the square in various ways, however, they go back the square in small groups. We arrive at a checkmate, where the police are deployed to the sides of the square and at the centre are concentrated protesters. By mid-afternoon a roar part: word spread that the challenged law has passed and the gas begins again… In a cyclic manner, when protesters reach a critical number, the police began to launch an impressive amount of gas, as if they were afraid of a group of people, strangely the majority of them being professors.

collection of various types of gas containers

These episodes continue until late at night, the police also try to evict the occupation on the steps but they are greeted by unarmed people with hands up, severely weakened by the gas and then desist. About nine o’clock in the evening the situation seems calm, the police continues, the number of protesters descend slowly, I am also very tired and I go back home. Here some photos from the Globo website.

 

2nd October – the day after

Today there is an “act” against the police violence in Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro – UERJ (Rio de Janeiro State University): it is not clear if it a march or a static demonstration or a public meeting. I come because I received the item by word of mouth, as well as many other initiatives that I witnessed here in Rio. At the University there are no signs of the event and try to ask for information, only after numerous phone calls and questions, I can find out after both: classic Brazilian organization. I check the auditorium and I understand that it is an event that will have mixed modes: go down in the atrium on the first floor, we join up with a band of wind instruments and placards in hand, we begin to make a parade for the university, going up to the eleventh floor and down. We are about 200 persons (as you can count on a mass march through corridors?) and we arrive at the auditorium which is packed, all the people singing, shouting slogans, I have to sit on the floor on the steps. Now I estimate that we are more than 400 people, fully packed room! The audience is mainly composed of adults, teachers on strike and various social movements; there are also some university students.

A general overview of the auditorium

The atmosphere is electric: are interspersed with speeches of 3-4 minutes with slogans and music. All interventions are far-reaching, demanding an end to police or even the state, the slogans are shouted from the entire audience, a particular energy envelops the whole room. I’ve never seen something like that and the thing that touches me the most is that I’m not seeing a conclave crypto-extremist but an assembly of adult workers! The event goes ahead 3 hours and combative atmosphere does not change, in the end you decide to go in procession to the Aldeia Maracana occupied (oldest museum Indians under threat of demolition near the stadium Maracana). We are about fifty people and the Indians are a traditional rite around the fire for us: among old walls covered with graffiti, peeling wooden beams, all of us in a circle around a small fire particular smell (incense?), Witness to an Indian who performs a rite of hundreds of years old, accompanied by the sound of traditional instruments and all of us who are fighting on foot to the beat. The songs fall and we divide into small groups, I am knackered and return to the house: they are past 11; I 45 min by metro and I have yet to make me dinner. I console myself with the idea that I had the privilege and good fortune to attend a meeting incredible and then to a ritual that I do not know how many Europeans have had the good fortune to see. Throughout the evening I felt the energy of people genuinely believe they can change the world, where the concept of solidarity has managed to tie workers, students, Indians, all joined together. Although not the first popular assembly that I frequent, tonight , for the umpteenth time , I feel that something is really going on , people are really convinced and do not see the end of this wonderful energy .

 

3rd October – national health care system

Today I had the chance to touch with hands the Brazilian national health care system. During the morning I discover that the girl who is hosting me has a strong intestinal pain. After few hours we decide to go together to a first-aid post. My friend is admitted in after an hour, I’m left out. After two hours I am called in, she is hospitalized and monitored. The situation appears to be serious, it is not clear, but she is suspected of appendicitis. The doctor decides to do further tests at a hospital and I am allowed to go with them: let’s go in the ambulance with sirens blaring ! I have an experience of first aid, I am a volunteer of the Red Cross ambulance in Italy, and the trip in the traffic of Rio de Janeiro is incredible: the bottom of the road totally is ruined, we are stucked in traffic ( and the cars do not move ) when there is no traffic we have incredibly high speed.

In the hospital the situation is absurd: my friend bounces in various offices, to make the various examinations, times are getting longer. No doctor at the hospital takes responsibility for signing the diagnosis, it is 6 pm and we decide to return to the first-aid post. During the journey the ambulance receives the call to another emergency and the journey becomes even more hectic. When we get my friend still does not know what the diagnosis is and continues with painkillers. I am tired, a friend gives me a change after 7 am and return to my home, having seen at first hand the Brazilian health system dysfunction. Medical facilities seem old, the local public hospital are dirty, things are very long and the time for answers are biblical, medical staff is insufficient and in emergency cases seem really serious and more diverse. (The next day I learn that the girl spent the night in the place of first aid, it was not appendicitis, food poisoning is suspected).

 

Week end

The week goes quiet, meeting people and trying to rest. Finally I decided to move to a new house: my friend has decided to offer me a small room in her apartment in Vila Isabel, the same area where I lived previously. As I learned from previous (tragic) experiences, the house in fieldwork is fundamental: it has to be a place where you can be quiet, feel (and be!) safe, compulsorily with Internet, as to avoid long trip to internet café. The new house is perfect: clean, with a very kind housemate, with enough space, in a nice neighbourhood that I already know; the only thing is that is slightly far from the city centre, I will have to spend a bit more on the public transports.

Tomorrow is the day. The day that I will take the flight to Rio de Janeiro for my second period of fieldwork. I’ll be there for 4 months. Easy to say, easy to sit in the aeroplane.

However, I know that I will be away from my house in Leeds for many months (not to mention my hometown in Italy), away from my partner, my office, my English routine; it is hard, especially if you know that you could be in the field more if you do not have enough “data” (on the concept of “data” in social science I will return in a future post).

My house in Providence avenue, Leeds

In these few weeks in Leeds I had the chance to be with my partner, feel again how is to be at home, ride my bike in this lovely city, see my colleagues, andenjoy working at my desk in my office. Also, very importantly, I had the chance to speak with my supervisors, to do a “reality check” before going back to fieldwork. Having the chance to discuss the work done and what I will do next is great, especially because you can take a step back and observe what you have done abroad, in the fieldwork.

Geography department at the University of Leeds

Today is the day before, when you say goodbye to everyone (thank you to all the folks who showed up at the office. Cakes!), you take all the things you need, you pack everything, hoping to have enough space in your luggage (even if, in my experience, the problem is the weight for the return…). Computer (with all the relevant files), audio-recorder, cameras, clothes, shoes, everything I will need. Of course I will buy something there but I always try to travel with bulk of things that I will use.

The flight from Leeds-Bradford airport is at 9.30, not too bad. Then I will go to London and from there straight to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Luckily I have some friends that will host me for a few days, while I  am doing the of the most stressful things: searching a (good) house. Everything is done, I cannot do more, now it’s time to go.