Two months in Fortaleza with an AIESEC project

About AIESEC:

For almost 70 years, since it was founded after the World War II, AIESEC has been giving students the chance of developing their skills and shaping their personalities in order to become the leaders the world needs. This has been possible by keeping a permanent connection with AIESEC members worldwide, creating a network of communication and mutual help which goes beyond the cultural borders.

AIESEC is a global, non-political and not-for-profit youth organization which was founded in 1948 by a group of young European people (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden). Its fundamentals were shaped by the social, political and economic climate of that time. The aim was setting a worldwide network, aspiring to Peace and Fulfillment of Humankind’s Potential, so that young people all over the world can have the opportunity to develop their personalities in a peaceful climate, delivering the best version of themselves.

Our organization is present on each continent and counts 126 national committees and over 70,000 members.

Ten 10 days of holidays

Holidays in Brazil from 28th of October to 6th of November

” The view from my window at the Suite Praia “

Little introduction regarding my period in Fortaleza:

I went there with an AIESEC volunteering project of 6 weeks, I volunteering there doing a social marketing project for the Prossica NGO, I was working there 4 days a week from 9 am to 3 pm,  and living in a host Brazilian family in the Sapiranga area of Fortaleza.

DAY 1 – Sunday  28.10.2018

” Milan Linate to Frankfurt Main by Lufthansa”

I woke up in middle of the night to go to the airport with my mum because my flight to Brazil was at 6:35 Milan Linate to Frankfurt and then at 10:30 am more less I depart to Fortaleza where the airplane landed at 5:30 the taxi from the Hotel come to pick me up.

Then my flight supposed to leave at 9:20 but was in late so it departs around 11 o’clock, almost two hours in late.

The longest period on an airplane in my life, but i can say that wasn’t sooo bad, I mean the time went really fast even if I’m the airplane there wasn’t a WiFi and a charge for the laptop, I worked on my phone writing editing pic and whathching moves.

I landed in Fortaleza at 5:30, I didn’t all the controls o picked up the luggage and out of the airport there was the taxi of the hotel waiting me, the way to the hotel takes around one hours, with a big surprise was already dark, I didn’t expect that, so I went immediately in my bedroom for sleeping so exausted from the long day.

DAY 2 – Monday 29.10.2018

” The sunset next to the Hotel at the sea “

The morning after was amazing I waked up, opened the window and an amazing view surprise me it was only 7 am but I put my clothes on and I went downstairs for the breakfast I took my laptop I worked a bit and then I went next to the pool to get some tan 2 hours then work a while, eating and then took few pic next to the beach then swimming pool drink dinner and sleep kind of early for the different time zone.

DAY 3 – Tuesday 30.10.2018

” Next to the swimming pool “

My thirs day in Brazil I decided to woke up early at 4:45 am for the sunrise and take few picture aound the hotel, then breakfast beach for enjoy the sea also then a second breakfast I took a bit of sun till 12 am more, lvely lunch and work a bit, in the evening pic next to the pool as ritual caipiroska with some friuts eat something and then sleep.

DAY 4 – Wednesday 31.10.2018

” At the beach next to the Hotel “

I put the alarm at 7 breakfast, beach as usual every morning then breakfast again few picture till 12 am work on the laptop and luch then at 4 pm  next to the swimming pool enjoying the sunset as usual a caipiroska dinner and then sleep kind of early.

DAY 5 – Thursday 01.11.2018

” Last caipiroska strawberry at the Hotel “

This id the last day at the Hotel la Suite Praia, but basically I did the same things as the others day, relax enjoy the beach in the morning and then stay in the Hotel for write a bit or talk with same friends and relaxing, not taking sun anymore because I get burn after two day.

Also this day I order my ritual caipiroska and I watched the sun goes down because the sunset in Fortaleza is around 5:30 pm very very ealy I didn’t expect that. So and then I did the check -out in the Hotel, I called an uber to go in Fortaleza where I booked the airbnb with my friends Agnes and Caio that unfortunally in the he couldn’t come.

So I arrived in the aprtment I took the key at 7:30 pm and Agnes suppose to arrive aroun 1 am so I went to grab something to eat just in the restaurant downstairs, so I had the dinner while I was all the time on skype with my girlfriend till Agnes arrived.

Super amaizing see her again we spoke for two hours or more about ours life all the goosip an then we went to sleep.

DAY 6 – Friday 02.11.2018

” Praia de Iracema, Fortaleza “

We woke up pretty early around 8 am we went for a breakfast at the holiday inn hotel just next to our apartment, then she told me that two of her colleague were coming in Fortaleza ( Larissa and Matheus) plus one of their friend (Giovanni) so we wait them and we go all five together to the Iracema beach to exploring Fortaleza.

Then we realize that was pretty empty and boring so we took an uber to Praia do futuro at Crocobeach for lunch and relax a bit.

Then we come back to the city we went at 50 sabores one of the best place where you can eat an ice-cream, later on we walked a bit next to the beach till the Japanese garden and then we enjoied the sunset on the beach before come back at home.

They went out for a dinner I stayed at home on skype with my girlfried because at midnight was her birthday, then I wait Agnes come back home and we went to sleep.

DAY 7 – Saturday 03.11.2018

” All five together at Lagoa azul Jijoca “

We woke up at 5 am, the frends of Agnes went to rent a car and then thay pick up us for going to Jericoacoara a little village up to 280 km from Fortaleza, we arrievd there aroun 10 am, we paied a man able to drive our car in the desert and bring us in all the places that we wanna visit like:

• Lagoa do paradiso
• Lagoa azul

Ten we stopped at Rangai restaurant for the lunch next to the ocean. And then we continued to visit around Jericoacoara.

• Tree sloth
• Pedra furada

And at the end of the day we passed trought the village till the dunas for watch the sunset and enjoy the last time in Jericoacoara and then we come back in Fortaleza around 11 pm, straight to sleep super tired from the long day.

DAY 8 – Sunday 04.11.2018

” Morro Branco “

We rented the car two days ( Saturday and Sunday ) so we woke up at 8:30/ 9 am we went to have a brakfast all together in a small bar in Fortaleza then we move to Morro branco direction, bit south of Fortaleza this time, we arrived there aroun 1 pm, we rent the buggy so thanks to the driver we explore everythings around there till we arrived in the beach and we enjoy the time there till was almost dark that we come back to car by walk.

Once we back in Fortaleza we took a shower and prepare ourself to go out for a dinner at Pizzeria Vignoli that as I’m Italian I totally not reccomand, but we had a great time there since it was the last night all together.

DAY 9 – Monday 05.11.2018

” Me and Agnes at Praia de Iracema “

Me and Agnes we woke up around 8:30 we went for breakfast in the same place as Friday at the Holday Inn Hotel near to our apartment, then we come back home she worked a bit I checked all my stuff and the around 1pm we went to Crocobeach where we went Friday, but this time we stayed next to the swimming pool enjoing the day and having lunch, later on we drink a caipiroska as it was my ritual at the begging of my experience in Brazil.

After Crocobeach we come back home get ready for the dinner that we tryed to go at Coco Bambu a really nice Company of reastaurant all around Fortaleza, then we went to sleep at 4am I woke up to say good bye to her, and hopfully see each other soon somewhere around the world.

DAY 10 – Tuesday 06.11.2018

I woke up at 8 am alone in the apartment I did the check-out and I took an uber to go to meet my host family that they were waiting me.

My host is Mark a lovely guy, just one year older then me that he’s living with the mother (Lourdes) and his aut ( Socorro), and when I arrived at the house was living there also Irene a Venezuelan girls of 27 years old friend of Mark, and Luiz the best friend of Mark that was sleeping in the couch since his parent’s are out of the coutry.

At 10:30 am arrived at home Ananda a member of AIESEC that she show me the way and the autobus that I have to took to go at work, and we went at the ONG where they explain me what I have to do, I didn’t understod everythings because they speak only Portuguese and the Brazilian accent is very difficult for me.

Then we come back home, so I get a bit more colse with my host family the show me my bedroom that’s the bedroom of Mark actually but he moved in his mother bedroom, and later in the afternoon he bring me and Irene that she was arrived in Fortaleza just the day before, to the beach at the fancy bar Orbita blue and then we come back home, that after dinner I tried to sleep in my new home.

Starting my AIESEC project

Wednesday 7 of November was my first day at work, I learn how to go there with the bus the day before, I can’t take with me anything just my phone hidden in my bra and few coins for the bus, that’s it! Because take the bus could be dangerous.
Once I get there I spoke with my supervisor Talicia and she told me more less what I have to do, and in the afternoon I make the plan of what I will do in those weeks. Then I meet my colleague that she’s here with my same project, she’s from Marocco and her name is Zineb. Then I come back at home again by bus. In the evening I went out with my host Mark and Irene then rich us at the bar Luiz, Mark’s best friend and few other friends of them so we spent the night out going in bar by bar till 3am more less an then sleep.
The second day of work and the last of the week because I work only four days a week, in the morning I was so in hangover almost unable to speak and understand feeling too bad. I took few pic to the kids and in the afternoon to the retail house, that we went to visit the old people in this house very sensitive experience.

Friday I spent all day at home just after the lunch come Ananda to bring me at the AIESEC meeting where I met the other girls there with my same project. My collegue from Marocco Zineb that I already know her, than a Spanish girl called Marga and two Italian girls from Naples, Alessia and Raffaella. And in the end of the meeting we went to eat somethings all together at Habib’s burger and then home to sleep.
The morning after around 11 am, Mark his mum Lourdes and Irene we went in the nord west area of Fortaleza to the house of one aunt for her birthday, so I meet all the family at the lunch time, then we went to praia de Combuco at KiteCabana me Mark and Irene, super lovely place. And then we come back in the house of the Mark´s aut for celebrate her birthday and get drunk, dancing salsa and eating all night.
The morning after me and Irende we decide to come back in Praia Combuco at Kitecabana bar next to the beach for having lunch there and enjoy the day there, as usual a Caipiroska during the sunset and then come back at home.

Monday we didn´t have to go at work so I stayed at home all day, just chilling and study Portuguese and then I went to the super market with Mark that´s it for all the day.

The next day I went at work pretty good and normal work day, I socialized a bit more with my collegue Zineb that day by day we are getting closer. After work we went at the NGO of our friend from Spain Marga, we visited the her NGO and we went to the beach for enjoi the end of the day and chilling a bit, the all three we went to drink something at Boteco bar, one of the most tourist bar in praia de Iracema, we drink few Caipiroska while we were chatting and gossip, was a good evening, then home and sleep.

The day after I went at work kind of in hangover, and also Zineb she wasn´t feeling too good and than just back home chilling and sleep.

15.11 is a national day of holiday in Brazil because this day was founded the Brazilian costitution. So all five girls we went to Orbita blu a bar in Praia do Futoro to drink and eat something we sent there all day and later arrived also Mark his brother (Mateo )and Irene, so we drink something there and then we come back at home with Zineb and Marga that we get ready for the night out and later we went in a bar to drink something so wasn´t really a party as what I expected but anyway was good.

Friday I spent all day at home, studying and writing and was the last day that my host mum was at home and for this reason the day after Saturday morning we did the bereakfast good-bye / birthday party with all the family beacuse she went in US for holiday till Christmas. After the breakfast I took the Uber to the the bus station where I reach the others girl, and as we planned to go in Canoa Quebrada we took the bus, it was like 4 hours by bus more less, we arrived there at 2:30 pm we did the check-in in the Hostel that we booked  the name was Ibiza hostel in the main street of Canoa and then we wentt straight to the beach for have the lunch the we walking a bit around there and when gets dark we come back in the Hostel for a shower and then we had a dinner in the restaurant of the Hostel, not the cheapest reastaurant for sure but was good and we had a good time. Then we went in a few bars to drink and in a club, but at 2:30am I went to sleep.

Sunday we tryed to woke up early even if we were in hangover, we had the brakfast in the Hostel it was included in the price and then we went to the beach to enjoi the sun and the sea, even if I have to say that in Brazil is impossible swim because the waves are too strong. Then we took some picture around and next to the beach and then we had a lunch at Freedom  bar few more pic and back to the hostel to take our things and going to take the bus to come back in Fortaleza around 9pm arrived at home, sleep.

Then was the beginning of the third week, I went at work I finished few things from the past week and then I went to the mall with Zineb after work and later home feelint not very well and the day after and was sick and Wednesday too, so I stayed at home two day, then one more day at work and after work get some rest at home while I wasn’t feeling well from the past days.

My fourth weekend in Brazil, I stayed in Fortaleza.

Friday I did few things at home and then around 4 pm I went to the Tropical Brazilian hotel for tryng to find a rooftop bar with my friend Zineb for drink something and enjoy the sunset in Fortaleza, I went up in the last floor but unfortunately they don’t have a bar there just swimming pool so we search others hotel but nothing actually so we just went Coco Bambu resturant, the one next to the beach for eat something and have a drink.

Saturday I stayed all day at home writing/ studying/ planning.
But then Sunday I couldn’t stay anymore at home so I took an Uber alone in the morning around 8:30am and I went to Orbita blue one of my favorite bar next to the beach, and where you can lying in a comfortable sun bed, and the best things that I did was ordering a coco verde.

Monday and Tuesday pretty normal at work I did few new things and a new advertising campaign, and then Wednesday there was the second AIESEC meeting in the afternoon, then we went in a bar to drink something all together and Irene and Mark reach us there and we enjoied the night all together.

Thursday we went at work but only in the morning then back home chilling and prepare everithings for the weekend in Jericoacoara.

Weekend in Jericoacoara from the 30.11.2018 to 03.12.2018

( All together at the duna of Jijoca )

Jijoca de Jericoacoara  is the most northern  municipality in the Brazilian state of Cearà, near the city of Cruz. It is known for its eponymous beach and national park. It is served by Jericoacoara airport, which opened in 2017.

We decided to go there for spend a different weekend and not staying all the time in Fortaleza, even if I already been there was good spend an othere time there.

Because when I went there with Agnes and her colleague but we just visited the principals things without enjoying the time in the village and the nightlife.

DAY 1 – Friday 30.11.2018

( Night at:  Hostel Jeri Central )

( Precisamos de … )

I woke up at 5:30 am I also woke up Mark, then Luic his best friend that he almost live with us like most of the nights he comes here to sleep, he drove us to the bus station, where we reach Zineb, Maga and Samuele ( the new volunteer guy in Fortaleza ). We took the bus at 7:30 am and we arrive in Jeijoca around 1 pm then with the 4×4 we went at the village Jericoacoara and we did the check in in the Hostel, we did  a lunch ina random restaurant/ bar just next to out Hostel and then we walked around aperitif at Club ventos and then back to the hostel and we had a dinner there all together and then we went out but ther was just one ” party ” very quiet.

DAY 2 – Satuday 01.12.2018

( Night at:  Hostel Jeri Central )

( Me and Mark at the desert of Jeri )

We woke up early had breakfast in the Hostel, chill a bit in the Hostel and then we went again in Club Ventos to have a lunch and rest a bit there and enjoi the beautiful day and then we come back at the Hostel and we went Cafè Jeri for partying and have fun all night.

DAY 3 – Sunday 02.12.2018

( Night at:  Hostel Jeri Central )

( All together at Cafè Jeri )

We woke up kind of late from the night before and we went to the dune to make the photos in the desert and then we went around the beach and hotel to take few pic and we had a lunch in a bar next to the beach and then we went to Cafè Jeri again to have fun all night again.

DAY 4 – Monday 03.12.2018

( Lagoa do paraiso, Jijoca de Jericoacoara )

We woke up early and we went all together at Lagoa do Paraido, I’ve been there before with my brazilian friens Agnes but just one hours or less, and this time all together we enjoied the time there chilling and having lunch. Later from there around 5 pm we catched the bus to come back in Fortaleza, and Luick and Irene comes to pick up me and Mark.

Tuesday home all day study portuguese and chilling very quite day.

Wednesday we went at work but we had a really bad surprise because when we arrived we discovered that one teenager of our NGO suicide himself the night before, so there was a very hartraking atmosphere all his family friends there crying and then ariived the death body of the boy … really difficult and emotional morning. We tried to help a bit and then we come back me and Zineb in my house, had a lunch and then we went to the AIESEC reunion and then everybody at my place because my host- aunt left the city for few days.

Then everybody stayed at my place Thursday that we prepare a big dinner all together.

Friday we went to club Level.

Saturday me and Zineb we tried Toppo rooftop.

Sunday dinner in the house of Marga, meeting her host family.

The last monday at work, we didn’t do almost anything all the activity were finished. Tuesday morning Praia do futuro with Marga and Mark the noon dreagao sunset dinner markets and Boteco with Zineb

Wednesday all together at Combuco beach the home shower and we went all together at the deep bar and

My last day in Fortaleza totally destroyed and tired, I woke up at 9, they come with me in the airport

Holidays in RJ 2018

I spent 5 days in Rio de Janeiro alone for vacation during December 2018 after living in Fortaleza during the autumn 2018, I decide to visit Rio de Janeiro one week before come back to Italy.

Day 1 – 14.12.18

( Sunset at Pestana Hotel )

The flight to Rio from Fortaleza was at 2:20 am to Rio GIG.

Landed at 6:40 am local hour, 99 taxi arrived in the hostel around 9 am, breakfast free, and then beach Ipanema, exploring, supermarket lunch and then sleep and relax.

Copacabana for the sunset Pestana hostel party there, to there by taxi and then come back to the hostel to sleep.

Day 2 – 15.12.18

( Christ the redeemer )

Sleep in the morning then city tour at 1:30 pm from the hostel tour of the city, first Christ redeemer, then cathedral and Escadaria Selaron. In the price of the tour ticket there was also the Pan de Azucar but the weather was a bit cloudy so me and a Australian guy we decided to to go the day after.

Day 3 – 16.12.18

( View from Pan de Azucar )

Botanic garden in the morning, than Favela tour at Hocina favelas where is operating the comando vermelho the most dangerous cartel. They make the rules and who support them have money and the others not.

Then in the afternoon I met with Cam in the markets next to my hostel in Ipanema and Sugarloft together for the sunset.

Than dinner at Garota de Ipanema with all the other guys of the city day tour.

Day 4 – 17.12.18

( Arrial do cabo ) 

I decid to do the third tour to Arrial do cabo, I woke up at 7:10 am and then I spent few hours on the bus and the we had a boat tour amaizing where we visted al this amaizing little island. Than I arrived back in Ipanema around 9 pm where in the square I met Cairo my friend from the erasmus in Tomar ( Portugal ), we drinks few beers together and than I come back to the hostel.

Day 5 – 18.12.18

( Sunset at Sofitel Hotel )

Woke up at 9 and then breakfast, Ipanema beach then market to buy same fruits for my mum, lunch at the hostel and the Copacabana walking till back to the hostel, while I walking I bought few souvenirs. And than for the sunset and dinner I went at Sofitel hotel, amaizing view and atmosphere.

Day 6 – 19.12.18

Traveling day, woke up at 3 am, dress up call a 99 and going to the airport.

First flight at 6:55am from Rj Santos dumont landed in SP at 8:10 am.

Going to take the next flight at 9:20 am.

Super long day, unbelievable and I landed in Lisbon at 9:10 pm, where I slept over on the floor of the airport.

Day 7 – 20.12.18

Woke up in Lisbon airport, flight at 7:35 am and I landed i Milan Malpensa around 11 am, my mum come to pick me up and we come back home for the luch.