The Last day of the Women's world Conference

 The fifth and the last day of the Women's World Congress in Brazil ended for me  with a paper presentation in the morning session from 8.30 to 12.30  and the roundtable Conference on the Women's World Congress from 2 to 4.30. It was nice to see some old friends, earlier Chairs of the Congress and the new team of Mozambique that will hold this Congress in 2020.Good Bye, Florina Polis, good bye, Brazil. A lovely Conference and a lovely stay and very nice to make many new friends. The students here like any where else in the world are wonderful and those that did the translations for me did an excellent  job and made me feel connected. I do not remember the names of all  of them but a big thank you to all. Last but not least a big thank you to Mauricio Pereira Gomes, Cristina Scheibe Wolff and Shirley Kaye Randell for making this stay so memorable.

Ragging in Brazil

 It is very interesting to watch students being ragged in Brazil. This is the beginning  of the new batch for freshers in the Federal  University of Santa Catrina where the 13th Women's World Congress is being held. When we  entered  the University I could see a lot of boys and girls standing with small boxes  on the roads and people in cars were putting money into it. When I asked a student from the University why were such posh youngsters begging on the roads he laughed and said it is a tradition and much fun and every one knows it and people do not mind giving money. I was informed that these students had to collect money for the whole day and in the night they all have a beer party with the seniors. Unfortunately there was so much traffic in the morning that I could not take a photograph and by the time we returned to our hotel at night the students were no longer on the streets. Today, as I was walking out of the Conference I could see a lot of fresh students who are referred to as Calouros, in Portuguese going around in a big line and the seniors having much fun. There was a big crowd of onlookers too and every one was having much fun. I recorded a small video and did not realise that my voice was also getting recorded. I could not stay for long as my car had come and I had to leave but the student who was accompanying me told me  she also had to collect money for the drinks and it is a lot of fun and  there is a lot of bonding which happens as a result of all this. I wish ragging in India would have just been a part of fun and frolic and bonding with the seniors and not become ugly so that  we did not have to ban it. Here I could see that not only the senior students but even juniors having much fun.

The 14th Women's World Congress

 The 14th Women's World Congress is going to be held in Mozambique in Maputo. Here is a first look at their poster.

View from the Mountain Top

 

Lovely view of  the city of Florina Polis from the mountain top. Mirante do Morro da Cruz is at an altitude of 285 meters. From the place, the tourist has one of the best panoramic views of the city: it is possible to see the entire center of Floripa, the south and north bays, much of the south of the island and the entire continental region. Although the access is quiet, all paved, it is quite a climb. Therefore, it is best to go up by car (or taxi). There is also the possibility of public transport: the bus departs from platform A at the City Central Terminal, and takes about 15 minutes to reach the viewpoint. 

The Beverly Hill of Florina Polis

 Visited one of  the posh areas of Brazil. This is the Beverly Hills of Brazil the tour guide informed me. The creme de la crem of the city stays here. I was struck by the vast expanse of beautiful houses. It was real contrast to the other areas of noise, people, smell and life which is all too familiar to any Indian. Here there were open spaces, quiet and calm and  not a single soul on the roads, not even a dog  ( pet ones) that I could see. The tour guide told me that most of these houses are locked through out the years as the owners live in other places. They only visit here during the three months of summers between December, January and February. The beach is near and they spend most of the time in the sea beach. Brazil also has a lot of contrasts between different areas.

The Women's World Congress, Women's march

On 2nd of August, 2017,  thousands of women marched in the central Market place of Florina Polis as part of the Women's World Congress. There was so much of music, dance and singing. One could feel the vibrancy of the moment. The slogans and songs were all in Portuguese. They raised slogans for right of land to the indegenous Indian women, their right to work, against domestic violence,against harassment, LGBT rights and many more. It was indeed a very exhalerating moment to be part of a women's movement of the world where the issues are all the same what ever be the location.

Prof. Shirin Randall from Australia

 Took a tour guide and a tour of the city of Florina Polis along with Prof. Shirin Randall from Australia. There were beaches, more beaches and beaches that we saw.