Hunter's Own

A tribute to that mythical flaming word thrower, (Dr.) gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson...
More photos here

All true human

Master and slave

Finally I got a taste of the academic life for real! My first assignment was due today and I delivered. What's done is done. 1,500 words and still roughly 30,000 to go: 8 essays and one dissertation until next September.

For more than apparent reasons, this blog will not contain any photos since I spent the last week at home, umbilically attached to my computer and fed by gallons and gallons of coffee and packs and packs of cigarettes.

Thank you IDPM for the challenge!

The World As I Know It: 28 Years And One Day

My birthday couldn't have gone better. Some studying, a lecture, a private moment with a Chilean wine and then some hours with my classmates (on the road to become life long friends? who knows?!). Too bad I got a headache and a sick stomach (et tu Chilean wine?!), which made me crawl home and into bed for a twelve-hour long recovery! Thanks to those who called/text/emailed from as far as Mozambique!

Now this part is dedicated to all of you!

Thanks for being my friends, wherever you are, who managed to call, send sms and comment my web pages. Those who did it in person (those lucky few) are also not forgotten.

Those who haven't said anything... well, don't worry. If you're reading this, I'll congratulate YOU on your birthday!

Tchüss!

João

Happy Birthday World!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday! Today I congratulate the world for appearing in my life 28 years ago. It is still a good place to be, even though it as gone through some tough times.

Come and celebrate this day with me and do a good deed. If you've already done one, why not do another one? The world certainly deserves it. Happy Birthday World.

JC @ Manchester

Hello Lisbon. And Goodbye...

From Mozambique to Europe, the change is always enormous!

Still getting used to the cold, I wander through the former familiar streets, inspecting every stone and plant to see if they are still there. Some are, others have changed into buildings!

It's good to see Portugal once again. But now it's with a different set of eyes and ears. Critically and conceptually I place Portugal on the global map, not ethnocentrically but merely geographically. It is still home, but not my anchor.

After working in Mozambique, the plan was to apply for a Master Degree in Development in Europe: either in Pavia, Italy or in Manchester, UK. As a last resort, or plan C, was to apply for a similar master degree in Portugal but the goal was the UK!

Then the time came to go through the applications, and surprisingly I got accepted in all of them! UK was the goal so I turned down the other ones.

Before leaving for Manchester, I joined the Amnesty International for their Face-to-Face project to occupy my time. It was fun and rewarding to talk to people about human rights. It's a shame that most don't know much about them or the International Charter for that matter. And the amazing thing is that people thought that they knew the human rights. "It must be common sense or something..."

Anyway, The University of Manchester accepted me for the Masters. Until September a lot had to be done. Finishing a trainer's course, meeting everyone I know saying hello and goodbye again, playing some gigs with my tuna, and of course, visit the places I missed the most.

My next post will be on the arrival at Manchester, but for now, here's some pictures from Portugal...

Portalegre, No Place For Sweet Tooths

Just for this weekend, Portalegre will host the yearly convent sweets fair. The dentists will also have an increase in revenue...

Loads and loads of sweets, and liquors made out of anything you can imagine. Even spices! Now imagine also drinking them in a chocolate cup. Divine...

This weekend I'll be in Marvão at my parents house for a good old fashioned alentejo cuisine: roasted meat and wine. A pleasure for the senses, and with a view to an Alentejo plain...

See you next time. Tchüss!

JC

All Roads Lead To Lisbon

The bridge you see is the one that connects Portugal to Spain in its most southern point. Why going there? Cheap gasoline my friends..

Well, with the algarve in my back and the sun in my right, I'm heading back home. This time through the countryside.

See you on my next stop.

JC

real-time posting

Hi everybody.

Long time no read right? I'm posting this while I'm living it.

I'm in the sunny Algarve, at Monte Gordo. Originally, I came down toFaro for a small job and ended up visiting a friend from the college days.

Monte Gordo sure beats Faro in a million ways, but one of them is the view. Ok ok, crappy picture. It's not that I'm carrying around a camera. Just my cellphone..

Anyway, if you're reading this as it was posted, I'm probably still sitting in the same spot from where I wrote and posted this.

Tchüss

JC

Farewell Mozambique

This post is long overdue. In March 14th, 2008, I left Mozambique towards a new adventure: reunite with Europe. Firstly Portugal, then the Uk. But for now, a farewell to Mozambique...

After three years (what initially would only be nine months!), a lot as happened. A new culture and languages, different surroundings, new friends, work experience...

They say that you can take the African from Africa but you can't take Africa from the African. I may not be African but Africa has surely stayed with me. The spirit of relentlessness and resourcefulness, the eagerness to survive and the respect for the fellow man will never leave.

The overall experience was definitely rewarding. Those that I have met will not be forgotten. Neither will the places, faces and moods. They all will be missed.

See you next time Mozambique. I'll be longing for the reunion