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Part 1 | Ft. Rafael: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835261/episodes/16926932
What happens when a single decision to help others completely redirects your life's path? In this captivating continuation of my conversation with Rafael, we explore the remarkable chain of events that began with his humanitarian project in Malawi and culminated in a new life in Canada.
Rafael reveals how a YouTube video of his work in Africa caught the attention of a Colombian woman who donated to his cause. Through a series of serendipitous events, this connection blossomed into romance, marriage, and eventually immigration to Canada. The story beautifully illustrates how putting good into the world can return to you in unexpected ways.
The transition to Canadian life wasn't without challenges. Rafael candidly shares their first-day mishaps—discovering their Airbnb reservation had been canceled months earlier (the notification buried in spam), rushing to find last-minute accommodation, and navigating uncomfortable situations in an unfamiliar country. With humor and insight, he describes feeling like "a seller" who had promised his wife a safe new home, only to face immediate tests of that promise.
What stands out in Rafael's journey is his philosophy about possibilities. Despite initial hardships, he and his wife found their footing, with her securing employment at a Canadian bank willing to sponsor her work permit just ten months after arrival—an exceptionally rare opportunity. Now establishing his creative agency in Montreal, Rafael embraces Canada as a land of reinvention and growth.
Throughout our conversation, Rafael shares profound insights about how the stories we tell ourselves shape our reality, and his personal mantra: "I will change the life of everyone who crosses my path in any way." His perspective on time, chance, and making the most of life's single opportunity resonates deeply.
Listen to discover how stepping outside your comfort zone can open doors you never imagined possible, and why Rafael believes that revisiting the narratives that guide us is essential for personal growth. This conversation might just inspire you to take that leap you've been contemplating.
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Hope you enjoy this one.
Rafael (00:10):
When I left Brazil to go
to Malawi.
If you want someone said to me,you end up telling this story
in two TED Talks, end up marriedand living in Canada.
This is not the outcome that Iwas predicting.
I was just going there to livein the poorest country in the
world For the last two years.
I was selling you this idea.
No, it's very safe.
(00:31):
Never lived in Canada before,but I lived in the United States
and I think it's similar.
It's very safe.
And she came back totally likescared and she said one guy
tried to sexual harass me and Isaid oh my God, I can't believe
it and I had to do something,you know because like as a
seller, the second day of youselling Canada.
(00:52):
Exactly as a seller and I said,okay, let me fix this.
Gurasis (01:01):
Before we get into the
next segments, I wanted to
briefly tell us that, how thishumanitarian work also led you
to your love story as well, andthen also tell us briefly about
you know decision to coming toCanada.
Rafael (01:13):
Yeah, so, and funny is,
my life changed completely about
after I took this decision togo to Malawi.
Because one girl saw my videoon YouTube from Colombia.
She said oh, that's a very niceaction, I will donate.
And she donated.
And I remember when we finishedthe project that's a funny
(01:36):
story because our ticket was togo back to the United States for
the organization.
And when we got back there, theorganization said okay, because
you didn't do anything inAfrica, we are kicking you out.
And I said what do you mean?
We're not doing anything?
No, have you put our logo?
(01:57):
Did you give us credit?
Did you work with us?
No, so you don't need anything.
Like it's totally crazy.
So we end up kicking, beingkicking out of the organization.
And my friend said, okay, let'sgo to colombia.
At least I uh, we can give one,uh, presentation in my
university.
And I said but I have no moneyand no place, nowhere you can
(02:21):
stay at my home, let's just gothere.
And we went to Colombia and Iend up meeting that girl who
donated to the project.
That is my wife today.
It is Laura.
Oh, wow.
So he said I came here to meetyou in the presentation because
I donate for the project and Isaid I remember sending you the
postcard and this and that, okay, so we start to get to know
(02:44):
each other and we end up in arelationship that later I moved
to colombia and I lived therefor five years and now we are.
We are here together in canada.
Gurasis (02:55):
So this project in
malawi was the completely
shifting in my life that end upbeing here talking to you yeah,
I know it said that the lovecomes when you're least expected
.
It exactly came for you exactlyexactly, exactly I.
Rafael (03:11):
It was the when I left
brazil to go to malawi, if you
want.
Someone said to me, you end uptelling this story in two TED
talks, end up married and livingin canada.
This is not the outcome that Iwas predicting.
I was just going there to livein the poorest country in the
world.
Gurasis (03:29):
But life is life is
funny wow, I love that so in
2023, you moved to canada withyour wife right yeah tell us
about your first day, like whatwas your initial impressions or
thoughts, you know, and also thestory you were sharing, like
the email scam and like thepunch a guy story.
Tell us briefly about that aswell.
Rafael (03:49):
Yeah, the thing is I
always had, as we talked in the
beginning, like the need to livein another country.
And I kind of sell this idea tomy wife when we moved, when I
moved to Colombia, and I said,okay, I'm here with you, it's
nice, but it's not really theplace that I want to live.
It's as dangerous as Brazil.
(04:10):
So I'm done with that.
So we should go to Canada.
And she said, okay, let's see.
So it was like a dream that Isell to her little by little and
we are like getting ready tomove and I try to apply first as
a express entry.
There's a way to get in canada,like you have points.
(04:32):
So I said, okay, I have thisprofession.
I studied french, I studiedenglish, I got certifications, I
got some points and I appliedbut was never enough for me to
to be called to have PR.
So I waited for a year and Isaid, okay, it's not working.
So what should we try?
And she said I found an MBA.
It's a very nice MBA, threeyears, and I will get the study
(04:59):
permit.
But you can go with me and youhave the open work permit.
So it's a way for us to atleast be there for three years
and we see what's going tohappen.
And I said, okay, then we startthe process of selling
everything and checking thedocuments.
And our first idea was okay,let's stay in an Airbnb for at
(05:19):
least 20 days and after that wecan search for apartment.
Then we move.
And that was the idea.
But when our plane landed herein Canada, she was crying, and I
thought she was crying becauseof happiness.
She was terrified because whereis my family?
(05:41):
And this and that calm down.
I felt like a, like a sellertrying to sell a product.
You know like no, for the lasttwo years I was selling you this
idea and we saw videos onYouTube people oh, no, the
Montreal, very fancy this, andthat it's no way.
(06:03):
Okay, no, it's very safe.
I never lived in Canada before,but I lived in the United
States and I think it's similar.
It's very safe, nothing isgoing to happen with you.
So when we arrived, I said okay,please check the address of the
Airbnb.
And when she went to I'm notfunny, I'm not funny when we
(06:26):
checked the spam mail, the hosthad cancelled our stay like two
months before, and we didn'tcheck because there was so much
documentation, this and this andthat, and we had no place to go
.
So what I did like okay, let mebook the first hotel that comes
(06:47):
here in the list and let's gothere and see what happens.
And there's another side story,because one friend pick us up
in the airport and when I wentto pay the reservation the hotel
the staff asked for my card,the credit card, but it's a
(07:10):
credit card from a bank in theUnited States that I had, and I
don't have the physical card.
And she said no, I need thephysical card in order to
complete your booking.
I said I don't have, so youcannot pay.
And the guy who really had metme 10 minutes before he said no,
I pay for you and then lateryou can pay.
So I said, okay, so this is oneof the person in our life that,
(07:30):
okay, you completely saved me.
Gurasis (07:33):
That's the result of
the kindness you have shown to
the world exactly, yeah, Ireally believe in that.
Rafael (07:38):
I really believe in that
.
And like, okay, he paid for ourstay and then we were able to
sleep.
And in the second day I said toher okay, I had to work and I
had a presentation to do, apresentation for a client.
And I said to her okay, go tothe reception to see if there's
breakfast available.
I don't know, it's a very cheaphotel.
(08:01):
And she went there and I waswaiting for her to come back and
she came back totally scaredand I said what happened?
And she said one guy tried tosexually harass me and I said,
oh my God, I can't believe itand I had to do something.
Gurasis (08:24):
And it was the second
something you know because, like
as a seller and it was thesecond day of you selling Canada
Exactly- as a seller.
Rafael (08:31):
I said, no, it's a very
safe place.
So, like is the customer saying, okay, I bought this product,
but my first experience was thatit's a bad review.
And I and I said, okay, let mefix this.
And I went there, really like,I was like very angry and I was
(08:52):
ready to punch the first guythat appears in front of me,
even though I don't know how tofight.
I said no, like it's a matterof protection, because I need to
show her that, even though thecountry is not that safe, I can
protect her.
So I went there withoutthinking and I saw three guys in
the reception and I didn't knowwhich one was the responsible
(09:15):
One big guy, one medium, onesmall Okay, it should be the
small, because I want to pickthe fight with the bigger one.
So like I came down, say okay,first talk to to the
receptionist because this, ifyou start a fight here, they
will call the police and in yoursecond day in canada you have
(09:35):
like a police problem.
You want a fist.
So I talked to her like my wifewas here and one guy tried to
sex her and she said, okay, I'msorry, there's an old guy here,
he has Alzheimer's and sometimeshe came here lost and I'm so
sorry.
Sometimes that happens and Isaid, okay, but please do
(09:58):
something about it, this andthat.
And I came back to the room andsaid nothing personal from you,
it's a guy who has Alzheimer's.
And because she started saying,because I'm Latina, he saw in
my face that I'm Latina, then Iassumed that I was a prostitute
and now everyone here will seeme as a prostitute, like the
(10:20):
whole shit.
Gurasis (10:21):
By the time you came
back to the room, were the bags
packed too?
Rafael (10:28):
Booking another flight.
But we like, okay, calm down,and for the next three, two
weeks we like just ate.
Like a mac and cheese fromwalmart was terrible until we
find.
And also there's one culturalchange Of course In South
(10:50):
America, if you need to rent aplace, the owner treats you like
a king because he needs you.
So the moment you call no, no,come here right now I will visit
you, and this, and that theytreat you very well because they
need here.
They're more offered thandemand.
So they're like okay, let's seenext week and if you don't want
(11:15):
, there's 10 more in the waitinglist.
So we are in a hurry, like,okay, we need to rent a place
and they are very slow.
And I remember like end up thetwo weeks, the period, and we
still haven't find the apartment.
And I went to the receptionist,said, okay, I would like to
(11:35):
renew for more two weeks, andthe girl said no, there's no
room available.
Gurasis (11:43):
Oh.
Rafael (11:44):
I said no, no, we are
fully booked.
You need to leave.
Awesome.
I went back to the room and Isaid we need to move.
I said why?
I said we cannot stay here andI checked the other hotel prices
.
It was like I was spending likemy budget for three months in
just two weeks.
Gurasis (12:04):
And my God, what am I
going?
Rafael (12:05):
to do and I said to her
okay, let me first check online
if I find another hotel and forsome reason, when I tried to
find them, the booking, there'sone room available in that same
hotel.
Okay, so I went to thereceptionist and said, here is
saying that you still have oneroom left.
And she said, ah, okay, maybesomeone canceled, but you need
(12:28):
to change your room, you need togo upstairs, no problem, I can
go there.
So I booked and we took ourluggage, our cat, and went there
and we lived there for more, Ithink 15 days, and then we find
this place and we finally couldmove here.
It was a very hard firstimpression and it took me some
(12:49):
weeks for me to like clean hermind that no, no, it's safe, it
was just a minor incident.
Gurasis (12:57):
Wow, a lot went down in
the very first month.
Rafael (13:03):
Yeah.
Gurasis (13:04):
When did you actually
find your ground?
Then you found a nice house andyou were finally getting into
the Canadian life.
When did that happen?
Rafael (13:13):
I would say you know,
there's something very nice that
happened with her, with my wife, two years before we came the
moment I like sell the productto her, like, okay, are you
going to buy the Canadian Life?
She said yeah, very excited.
She said I will start to applyfor jobs there because she has a
(13:33):
background in working in banks.
And she said I will start toapply for banks in Montreal
Imagine that I'm already therebecause you don't know and she
started to apply and she gotdenied like the very second,
because in Colombia, applying towork to a place in Canada, it
would not work.
And she kept applying, she keptapplying and the result was 10
(13:57):
months later that we were here.
She was only studying, not onlybecause studying here is very
hard.
She got a call from that bankand said, okay, we saw that you
apply much times here, very muchtimes, multiple times, and now
we have a position here.
I said, okay, great, but Idon't have a work permit, it's
(14:21):
just a study permit, so I'mafraid that I cannot take the
the position.
And I got said, okay, let'skeep the doors open and we see
next time.
And like 10 minutes later, hecalled us back and said, no, no,
the bank really wants you.
Your profile is the perfectmatch and they are able to
sponsor your visa.
(14:42):
So they would change your statusto open work permit.
I said perfect.
So, we have to do a flagpole inthe United States, just get out
and come back.
And for me it ended up beingmuch better than I expected
because in my life, in my plans,in my budget, I said, okay, I
(15:05):
will have to work alone forthree years because she will not
be able to work, just study andI have to put my savings on
this and keep her up, because itwas hard time for her to to not
work and like I'm only studying.
I came back from.
I came from a country that Iwas working, I was independent
(15:26):
and I was waiting for this tohappen after three years.
But it happened 10 months laterand now we both have open work
permit and later, I think in twoyears, we can try to apply to
PR permanent residency.
So I would say 10 months laterlater, when she finally got a
(15:47):
job, I said, okay, now we arefeeling more at home.
It's not that hurry to findsomething not having a job, but
I'm totally aware that this issomething exceptional.
It's not happened to anyone.
It's not their room.
Some people say it comes from alot of engineers who have to
(16:09):
come to work first as a waiterand then really climb back again
.
His professional with us wastotally different, so we are
very lucky.
Gurasis (16:19):
You know, phil, when
you were sharing about this
story during the presentationalso, you know, in that, in that
moment I'm I did think about it.
Oh, they guys got lucky.
I thought about it for a moment, to be honest with you, but
then again, after learning aboutyour journey, and now today
listening to you, it reminds meof this quote, which people say
(16:41):
that to me all the time thatwhatever the good you put in the
world, it comes back to you,maybe not directly to the same
source, but somehow universe hasits way of gifting it to you,
you know, or giving you thefruits of your labor.
And I feel like, whatever,however, your journey has turned
out along with your wife, youknow, since she was a part of
(17:03):
you.
Now, your whole family, yourguys, was together.
I think that's how universe hasgifted you this is fruits of
your labor.
So hats off, you know Iabsolutely love the work I've
been doing and how things haveturned out for you, and I have
no doubts you're gonna get yourresidency or not.
Rafael (17:19):
You're gonna get it yeah
, no, I have no turning back.
And also because yesterday Istarted the process to register
my company here and we got ourour first contract with a client
here, uh, so it's always a leapof faith, like you first do,
then you see what's going tohappen.
(17:41):
For for now, I just finishedoff, uh, hiring hire two people
in brazil, two new employers inbrazil, and and let's see what's
going to happen.
So, yeah, I I I also think,like you, like the universe is
is giving me something back, andthat makes me feel very easy
(18:04):
and comfortable with my life,because, not that I'm expecting
something back, but because I'mlike, really I have a personal
mantra, like my personal mantra,that one of that says I will
change a life of everyone whocrosses my path In any way.
(18:27):
I will change, I will try tohelp, to give something better
or to give some direction, Idon't know and I think that ends
up helping me as well in myprojects.
There's a little bit of luckthat I cannot.
Gurasis (18:43):
There's luck, there's
timing, I think you have to give
chances to divorce.
To get lucky also, you have todo a certain thing multiple
times for the luck to actuallystrike at one of those efforts
that you are putting.
Rafael (18:55):
That's how I see it.
Yes, yes.
So the period that I started tohave more money, more clients,
that I told you was because Imet one guy in the project the
social project in Africa thatlater, years later, he ended up
recommending me to have somecustomers in banks and this
(19:18):
ended up me having very goodclients.
So the thing is it's a littlebit of lucky that I cross my
path with this guy, but at thesame time, I had to get out of
my country to be there, to livethere, to be.
So it's a mix you be, you needto be out of your comfort zone,
out of your environment to getlucky.
(19:39):
So, like it's a combination.
Gurasis (19:41):
Yeah, yeah, and just
for the listeners, I want to
mention that rafael also has acreative agency.
I'll put the links to that alsojust for people to see your any
work.
They might have to reach out tohim.
And I think you're also tellingthat you do provide some
coaching as well, you know, tocurrent immigrants, aspiring
immigrants, anybody kind ofexcelling in their fields as
well.
I'll once again put yourlinkedin as well for people to
(20:04):
reach out to you in case theywant to chat okay, thank you
very much.
Rafael (20:07):
I'm uh, my wife once
said to me you, I think your
dream, or or your like theprofession you didn't take would
be coach.
And I said why?
You said you have on a podcastthat the okonkwo podcast that
only giving advice to people.
(20:27):
People didn't ask for youropinion and you have the perfect
match, the rules.
Now you should do this and thisand that, set your goals this
way and that way.
And I said, yes, and this islike I should correct this,
because sometimes I'm givingadvices or opinion for people
that didn't ask for my opinion.
(20:48):
But it reflects that I alwayspicture myself on that position
in Brazil when I was a kid,desperately trying to figure out
in life what I should do.
To figure out in life what Ishould do, what like and could
(21:09):
you just need someone to take meand said, okay, do this, this
and that, and you would end upin a good position.
So, like today, I tried to bethat mentor that I didn't have
on the past.
But the thing is, mentors youneed to seek and to ask, not
just giving free information.
Because I had some discussionswith some friends that I'm
(21:30):
really passionate about changingyour life.
Go for it run marathons and dothis and that.
Then I end up being annoying.
Some of my friends said stop tobe annoying, I'm not asking you
for this and that, let me befree.
And I said, okay, it's totallymy fault.
Gurasis (21:51):
Okay, so before we get
into the final segment, I've
added this new segment in thisseason.
I call it Know your Host, whereI give my guests an opportunity
to ask me any question youmight have.
Rafael (22:00):
So go ahead so I can.
It should be quick questions orcan be more philosophical
questions, whatever you feellike you know, okay, and how
many?
Gurasis (22:11):
one or two, or well,
okay, I'll let you choose.
Rafael (22:15):
Let's just say two, okay
, okay I would be one very easy,
another more deep.
When was the last time youcried?
Gurasis (22:26):
oh wow, it is a deep
question, um, so I'll tell you
honestly, my last year, 2024,was such a roller coaster of
emotions.
I think the the first firstquarter, the first four months
of 2024, were like it wastesting everything I have
(22:46):
learned in the previous years ofmy life you know my patience,
my skills or my abilities,everything I have questioned and
I think that have led to a lotof self-doubt and crying.
And then, I think in the middleof the year 2024, I got a
little better.
But my year ended on a veryweird and sad note as well,
(23:07):
because I was sick.
I was not able to excel in myjob.
I lost my job as well, so itreally made me question a lot of
things and I was getting sickalso back to back.
So that was my last year a fullrollercoaster of emotions, and I
have cried multiple timesthroughout that year.
But this year I actually made apromise to myself for more of
(23:31):
like, a again, like a reminderto myself that thing's gonna be
fine, and I have avoided or sortof like try to somehow not cry
at each and every moment, likethat's what I have done that
this year, but I think I didhave this moment where it was
the saturation you know therewas, there was like a back to
(23:52):
back multiple things arehappening and it was.
I reached a saturation pointand I didn't cry cry, but I did
sit and I took a deep breath andI just like felt that I'm on
the verge of it and it was Ibelieve it was a week and a half
ago.
That's where it happened, butit wasn't to the extent how it
was last year.
(24:12):
I'm so glad it's not to thatextent, but it was just like a
pent-up emotions of multiplethings back to back and that's
where it happened.
Rafael (24:22):
So okay, okay, perfect,
okay.
And the second one it will bevery easy, but it's very curious
, okay, if you could go back ontime to witness, to watch any
event of the world, of thehistory of the universe.
Okay, and you could choosethree.
(24:42):
I'll give you three so you cango be there just to watch and
see, and you cannot interfere inthe timeline, just go see and
come back, which will be thethree happenings or three
situations that you could goback and see, that you would
like to witness that's a verythought-provoking question.
Gurasis (25:04):
You know, it's uh, I
don't know about historical
moment, but I think I would loveto go back and see my, my
parents, when they were youngerokay because I feel like my
father has a certain stancewhich is very like affirmative
and keeping his emotions tohimself and not expressing.
(25:25):
I just want to see my father.
How was he when he was younger?
And it might not be thehistoric even, but that's
something I've always thoughtabout, like I now I think I have
come to that uh, uh, sort oflike a report with my father,
where I questioned him abouteverything you know, maybe I've
come at a certain age but and hetells me about the stories and
(25:48):
the times of his upbringing andhis formative years and
everything, and and I feel veryfascinated by it.
So I would love to see that,how he was able to handle all
that and how he was able to dothat okay, that's one yeah,
that's the one I'm able to thinkyou have two more
give me a moment, I'll thinkabout it.
Okay, this is actually areligious one, okay, so so many
(26:11):
of the first gurus, guru nanakdevji he was basically
established and formed thisreligion of mine, which is, you
know, sikhi, and I have heard alot of stories of his time where
he has got again gotten againstthe system.
He has questioned a lot ofthings and he was born in a
certain family and his parentsweren't approving of his
(26:32):
ideologies and what he wastrying to achieve.
So I'd love to see that, like,how did that actually was shaped
and it turned into this today,where all of us seeks follow,
which is, you know, the Sikhi.
So I would love to see that youknow how that was sort of
transitioned and became intothis religion sort of, or the
(26:54):
way of life we follow.
Rafael (26:56):
Okay so.
Gurasis (26:56):
I'd love to see that.
Yeah, that would be a veryfascinating time.
I never thought about it, butthanks for that.
Rafael (27:01):
Yeah, and the last one.
Gurasis (27:03):
And the third one.
Let me think about it again.
I think this one time Iremember my cousins and my
sisters and everybody tells methat the time when this 21st
century started, you know thetransition that happened from
that when 2000 came, that waslike a big event and a that
happened from that when 2000came, that was like a big event
(27:26):
and a lot happened at that time.
It was like a certainexcitement of it.
I would love to witness that.
Maybe, if I can, you know whenthat transition happened towards
, when it was 12 and the newyear started, the new century
started.
There was certain sort ofexcitement and the hope that was
there in people.
That's what I have heard.
You know, I would love towitness that, that.
(27:46):
How did that?
Rafael (27:47):
yeah, pan out.
Gurasis (27:48):
You know, live that
moment getting into the future
like that hopeless exactly likeyou know, so I'd love to
experience that, if I can yeah,okay, that's very nice.
Rafael (27:59):
That's my question, was
my questions to you.
Gurasis (28:03):
Oh my God, I love that.
No, I would have never thoughtabout this and I love how these
questions provoke me andencourage me to kind of like
reflect and see you know what Ican say.
So I love that.
Very, very unique questions,absolutely love that.
Rafael (28:16):
Yeah, I love your
answers also, thank you.
Gurasis (28:21):
Okay, so it's my time.
Now we are in the final segmentof the podcast.
I call it beneath the accent.
I'm going to ask a couple ofquestions.
You can answer them in one wordor a sentence, or how several
you feel like.
The idea is just to know moreabout you.
Just a quick, rapid fire, okay.
The classic question whatadvice would you give to your
younger self, and at what age?
Rafael (28:43):
By the age 16,.
I would say get out of yourcountry as soon as possible.
Gurasis (28:49):
Okay, describe a moment
when you experienced a
significant cultural differencethat surprised you.
Rafael (28:56):
There's a lot, but what
comes to my mind is the first
time I went to, I was in Malawiand I had to eat without a fork
and knife.
I eat with my hands and we seelike there is a process of
people washing their hands andthis and that and how good they
(29:16):
are eating.
With hands they don't mess likea baby.
When they saw me eating, theysaid you eat like a baby.
It was very hard.
Gurasis (29:22):
I never in my life said
ok, I had to eat with my hands.
Rafael (29:24):
They don't mess like a
baby.
So when they saw me eating,they said you eat like a baby.
Yeah, it was very hard.
I never in my life.
It's okay, I had to eat with myhands.
Gurasis (29:29):
So, yeah, that's for
cultural shock.
Okay, I love that.
What's this one dish from yourhome country that always brings
you comfort and nostalgia?
Rafael (29:37):
It's very cliche, but I
would say feijoada.
Very cliche, but I would sayfeijoada.
That's the main dish in Brazil.
That's beans with pork andcooking the specific way, and
this dish is served everyWednesday and Saturday.
There's days for it.
It's very heavy, but brings methe flavor or the memories than
(30:02):
when I eat this with my friends.
So I would say feijoada and, bythe way, this is like 90 of the
answers of all brazilians, soit says there's nothing new on
that okay when you say it'ssolved.
Gurasis (30:14):
Every wednesday,
thursday, where it is solved in
restaurants.
Rafael (30:17):
So it's the dish like.
It's like the main the, themain dish of the day.
So you go there.
There's some options, but themain dish is feijoada.
Edna's day and Saturday.
Gurasis (30:28):
Okay, is there any
funny story that you remember
regarding the misunderstandingaround the accent or English?
Rafael (30:36):
Not due to my accent,
but I remember, when I was in
Malawi, the kids there.
They tried to communicate withyou in English.
Any way possible.
And they had some like a follow, like a script in how to talk
to you and like, how are youdoing, I'm fine?
And you.
And sometimes they forget thesequence, and I countless time
(31:03):
one kid approached me and said,I'm fine, like they skip, like
how are you doing, I'm good, howabout you, I'm fine?
So they skipped, so they startthe conversation like I'm fine.
And I said, okay, that's good,I'm fine too.
So it's not because of theaccent, but it was a good way,
(31:23):
like how they structured thedialogue in their heads and when
they change the positions, itended up being a totally
different conversation.
Gurasis (31:33):
That's cute.
Yeah, okay.
Do you have a favorite culturalfestival or celebration in
Canada, and how do you usuallycelebrate it?
Rafael (31:46):
not really, because this
is actually one thing that I
was thinking about today that Icame here.
I live here one year and a half,but it's all about working and
try to solve life here and I didhave more time to really
experience the life here, liketo travel.
I just went to quebec one day,like some weekends, but I would
(32:12):
say I would say, uh, halloween,because in brazil the halloween
culture is not that much.
This is starting, but was thefirst time that I came that I
really see halloween, like kidson the streets asking for
candies and people like I wentto the metro, that the
supermarket here and I enteredand I see, I see I saw harry
(32:37):
potter, like oh my god, but itwas like a employer, the place,
and then I realized, okay, thecashiers, everyone is disguised
and that for me was was like,even though it's not very
canadian, I think starts inunited states or england, I
don't know yeah but halloweenwas for me, was the first like
cultural celebration that tookme like, okay, that's very, and
(33:00):
it was the first time that Idisguised myself, first time, oh
, okay, yeah, so it was verymeaningful.
Gurasis (33:07):
Okay, what's that one
Brazilian habit that you refuse
to let go of, no matter whereyou live?
Rafael (33:17):
Shower two times a day,
really, yeah.
Shower in the morning, showerat night, night, and I try to
sleep without showering.
It's not possible.
I have to take two showersevery day yeah, okay, sometimes
you don't need it because youstay at home the whole day.
You already showered, butthere's something in my mind
that before I go to sleep, go tobed, I need to shower again.
(33:39):
So two showers, okay, twoshowers a day to sleep, go to
bed.
Gurasis (33:44):
I need to shower again.
So two showers, okay, twoshowers a day, interesting.
If your life were a movie, whattitle would it be?
Wow, how about life beyondborders?
Rafael (33:55):
life beyond borders.
But I was about to think aboutone, like I would say the only
chance, because I see life asone chance.
We have one chance to do thingshere.
That was driving me because,like, life can end any second
and as far as we know, it's justone chance.
(34:17):
If we had more lives we'd begreat, but if I live, life is
just one chance.
So you get into the stage, youhave one chance.
It's just one opportunity.
After that it's over.
So I would say one chance.
Gurasis (34:32):
Okay, it could also be
the word that you taught us.
Rafael (34:35):
I would say in
Portuguese segue o jogo.
It's literally keep playing,keep playing, exactly like it's
related with that, because it'sjust your chances now.
Life will end up If you don'ttake advantage of this chance.
It's the only one.
Gurasis (34:54):
Tell us about the first
friend that you made in Canada.
Rafael (34:57):
It's Roshan.
It's Roshan, he is Canadian buthis parents are from India and,
uh, it's a very nice guy.
We end up like a root, like theorganizer of that event
introduces in a cooking event,and he's a very nice guy Like
(35:17):
that.
That I even told him, I think.
Here he came to my, to my home,saturday and he left me one
note oh nice, like, uh, like,thank you.
And he wrote some words for melike oh, it was the first time I
said okay, it was a long timeago before I made a new friend.
So I would say, relle, it's agood friend, it's a first friend
(35:41):
here in.
Canada, yeah, I love that.
Gurasis (35:44):
And what's the one
thing Canada does better than
Brazil and one thing that Brazilwill always do better?
Okay.
Rafael (35:54):
I would say Canada in
general I will not say people,
but the government, I don't say.
They take good care of thepublic spaces.
So when you go to parks thegrass is always clean, there's
by the river and so there's alot of green spaces, so you
(36:14):
don't feel of course in downtownyou can feel a little bit of
overwhelm, but there's always apark nearby, some trees, so I
think they some way theyorganize the city that you can
always have some nature aroundyou.
So for me it's better whatBrazil do.
Better, I would say.
(36:35):
Strangely enough, at least inSao Paulo, where I was born, the
metro and the train are much,much better than here.
Gurasis (36:44):
Really Much better.
Rafael (36:46):
This is something that
even for us from Brazil, from
Sao Paulo, we cannot understandhow everything around is a mess,
but the metro it's very safe,it's very clean and there's a
lot of options for you to goanywhere on city.
So totally a differentexperience.
(37:07):
So Brazil do I would say SaoPaulo do better than Canada on
metro and public transportation.
Gurasis (37:14):
Oh, wow, yeah, it's
good testing to know.
Is this something you ate forthe first time in Canada?
Do you like it?
Rafael (37:22):
Yeah, what is the name
of that dish?
Gurasis (37:25):
indian dish with silver
oh, that one, that's the butfi
butfi okay, this was the firsttime even though it's not from
canada.
Rafael (37:34):
It was the first time
here and it's delicious amazing
oh, okay, perfect.
Gurasis (37:40):
And if you could have
one superpower, what would it be
?
Rafael (37:42):
Travel back in time.
Travel back in time for me, youare really obsessed with
traveling back in time.
Gurasis (37:48):
You asked me also to go
back in time.
Rafael (37:49):
Yeah, no, I'm obsessed
with this because the
possibility for you to witnesswhat happened, what really
happens, because there's somepart of our history you never
know, like it's totallymysterious, we history you never
know, like this is totallymysterious, we guess with some
samples or this and that.
But the opportunity to go backand witness something like the
(38:10):
moment, like I always imagine,like that, and even going to the
future, for example, this week,last week, I had two
possibilities with my company totake this project or not take
this project.
And I think it would be verynice if I could travel in the
future and see what is going tohappen if I take this place, or
(38:30):
it's going to happen if I takethis place.
Time travel would solve all theproblems, but it's impossible.
So I would say time travel.
Gurasis (38:39):
If you could describe
yourself as any creature, what
would it be?
Rafael (38:43):
I would say a travel, if
you could describe yourself as
any creature, what would?
it be, I would say a wolf, okay,a wolf that can work, that can
live in small societies.
At the same time, it's open tolook around.
There's a very nice image of agroup, a pack of wolf.
The leader walks here and thefemales walk here and there.
(39:05):
So there's a structure in wolf.
And also there's a very nicebook called the Call of the Wild
.
They made a movie some yearsago with Harrison Ford.
There's one story about one dog.
It's the point of view of a dog.
Okay, there's one story aboutone dog.
It's the point of view of a dogand how he gets in contact with
his wild nature.
(39:26):
It's through a wolf.
So it's a very nice book.
The Call of the Wild, it's Jack, something I don't remember the
author, but there's a movie.
So that image of the wolf andhow they get connected for the
instinct.
So that's why I would choosewolf.
Gurasis (39:43):
Lastly, would you
describe canada in one word or a
sentence?
Rafael (39:49):
I would say
possibilities.
Possibilities because, uh, atleast I came with this mind that
I can reinvent myself.
There's a lot of tools andpossibilities to grow.
Because it's multicultural.
You see people from differentbackgrounds.
It's relatively safe for me.
It's safe for people whodisagree with me?
(40:11):
No, it's not safe.
But it's safe and gives you alot of possibilities.
So I would say possibilities.
Gurasis (40:17):
And Rafael, if you
could leave me with one piece of
advice, what would it be?
Rafael (40:21):
Oh, my God, you are
asking for the coach that won't
accept the opinion Revise orrevisit the stories that you
have in your mind regularly,like because at the end, we have
a bunch of stories in our mindthat drive us through life.
(40:42):
And also there's this theorythat's very interesting that
stories are beings, they arealive and the way they multiply
is by getting different heads,different brains, and that brain
, that person, pass the storyover to others.
So you can think of religion,like this social political
(41:06):
position.
It's a story that ismultiplying itself by people.
So the thing is, some of thestories we have in our mind we
didn't choose.
It was planted by the culture,by the country, by our parents.
So there's these truths we havein our mind.
This is truth, this is how lifeworks and this, and that Maybe
(41:29):
it's just a story.
So sometimes you have torevisit your mind and check if
these stories make sense.
There's a very nice book calleduh, mental, uh, mental immunity.
They call ideas like parasiteideas.
(41:49):
So there's some ideas.
That is like parasites.
They get into your brain, theyblock other ideas to come in and
they allow some fear, like somesimilar ideas, to get inside.
So you see, people who havethis religion, who have this
political view, and you acceptthese kind of people because
(42:10):
it's just one idea that isaccepting disorder and blocking
others.
So the ideas are fighting oneagainst the other to see how you
get this human being and youget this brain.
So we are just tools.
The stories are using us tomultiply.
So revisit the stories andcheck if they make sense or not.
Gurasis (42:32):
It's very long answer,
but revisit your stories very,
very fascinating that does makesense to me, yeah yeah and
lastly, afel, how would youdescribe your experience being
on the podcast today?
Rafael (42:45):
very meaningful.
Very meaningful because yougive some inputs that I only by
speaking, that we can have.
For example, when you said,okay, that maybe that's why you
left your country because yousee these dead bodies, I never
thought about that.
So I would say it's verymeaningful.
(43:05):
By telling me my story and yougiving some inputs can really
that thing that I said thatsometimes someone can drop you
one phrase on the word.
They completely change thecourse of your life.
So I would say very meaningful.
Thank you for your input in togive me this opportunity to be
here no.
Gurasis (43:25):
Thank you for being so
open and, uh, sharing all
everything that you can with meand the audience.
So thank you for being on thepodcast and adding value to me
and to my listeners.
Rafael (43:36):
Thank you thank you,
thank you very much.