One Peculiar Year/Um Ano Peculiar

Posted on 07/10/2016 by Tariana Pestana

One Peculiar Year / Um Ano Peculiar

EN/ It’s been a year since I decided to create It is peculiar blog. I started with the support of the people closest, in order to share my experiences living abroad and some thoughts, to feel closer to those who are far away. I began also to follow blogs with the same essence and identify with these people, which made me learn a lot.

In this year of blog happened several things in my life, and here was a way to register everything. So I would like to look back to celebrate.

PT/ Já faz um ano desde que decidi criar o blog It is peculiar. Comecei com o apoio das pessoas mais próximas, com o intuito de compartilhar minhas experiências morando fora e alguns pensamentos, para me sentir mais próxima de quem está longe. Comecei também a acompanhar blogs com a mesma essência e a me identificar com essas pessoas, o que fez com que eu aprendesse bastante.

Nesse um ano de blog aconteceram várias coisas na minha vida, e aqui foi uma forma de registar tudo. Por isso gostaria de fazer uma retrospectiva para celebrar.

EN/ A Peculiar Year Peculiar that I … Continue reading →

Rio 2016

Posted on 25/08/2016 by Tariana Pestana

Group shot at Mirante Dona Marta, our 9 students with me and Joao Paulo (from Sao Paulo), Josh and Shawdon (from Arsenal course), Evandro from Fazendo Arte and producer David Westhead./ Foto em grupo no Mirante Dona Marta, nossos 9 estudantes comigo e com Joao Paulo (de Sao Paulo), Josh and Shawdon (do curso de Arsenal), Evandro do Fazendo Arte e o produtor David.

EN/ Once again I was invited by Wembley to Soweto, a project that in this edition had the Olympics as a background but started before the games with me mentoring photography and as translator helping the photographer John Cole to teach 9 young people the basics of photography. As well as technical introduction they were given practical tasks to engage with their community at Turano Favela in Rio, as well as taking pictures at locations in other sites of Rio to capture the response to the international event.

Similar to the project in Sao Paulo in 2014 (see photos on Flickr), we had a local institution in the favela called Fazendo Arte, which gave us support while teaching. It seems that I boost my passion for Photography when I am around young people who are interested and enthusiastic about the subject. Their questions, curiosity and hope gave me an extra will to follow my own dreams. See video of me teaching at Fazendo Arte here.

PT/ Mais uma vez fui convidada pelo Wembley to Soweto, um projeto que nesta edição teve os Jogos Olímpicos como base, mas começou antes dos jogos comigo de orientadora de fotografia e como tradutora ajudando o fotógrafo John Cole a ensinar 9 jovens as noções básicas de fotografia. Bem como a introdução técnica foram dadas tarefas práticas para eles se envolverem com sua comunidade na comunidade Morro do Turano no Rio, assim como fotografando em outros locais do Rio para capturar a resposta ao evento internacional.

Similar ao projeto em São Paulo em 2014 (veja fotos no Flickr), tivemos uma instituição local na comunidade chamada Fazendo Arte, que nos deu suporte nas aulas. Parece que eu aumenta a minha paixão pela fotografia quando estou ao redor de jovens que estão interessados e entusiasmados com o assunto. Suas perguntas, curiosidade e esperança me dão uma vontade extra para seguir os meus próprios sonhos. Veja o vídeo de mim ensinando na Fazendo Arte aqui.

EN/ During the one week I worked with them, I saw the potential these young people from the favela have, and the difficulties they face to have a good future. We felt the impact of a city that was under construction few days before the Olympic Games start, and the lack of celebration and promotion for such an event that had huge expenses and made most of the population angry about it not being invested in education and public health.

Above all we felt very well welcomed there and the exchange of knowledge was incredible, specially overcoming the language barrier. Joao Paulo from the course in Sao Paulo joined us to help mentoring and translating just before 2 other students from Arsenal Josh and Shawdon arrived from London.

PT/ Durante a semana que trabalhei com eles, eu vi o potencial desses jovens da comunidade tem, e as dificuldades que enfrentam para ter um bom futuro. Nós sentimos o impacto de uma cidade que estava em construção alguns dias antes dos Jogos Olímpicos começar, e a falta de celebração e divulgação para um evento como esse, que teve enormes gastos e deixou a maioria da população indignada com isso não estar sendo investido em educação e saúde pública.

Acima de tudo, nos sentimos muito bem-vindos lá e o intercâmbio de conhecimentos foi incrível, especialmente superando a barreira da língua. João Paulo do curso em São Paulo se juntou a nós para orientar e traduzir pouco antes de 2 outros estudantes do curso em Arsenal Josh e Shawdon chegarem de Londres.

Escadaria Selaron, Parque das Ruinas, Museu Chacara do Ceu and Largo do Guimaraes 29 July 2016

EN/ Together we been to places that me, a Brazilian that lives abroad for almost 9 years would never be able to visit and photograph in Brazil if not in a group doing such amazing project together. We all hear that security in Brazil is an issue, I was robbed when I lived there and it’s sad that some people get “used” with the fact that this happens. Rio certainly holds the worst reputation on this, and for us from abroad sounds weird that people from favela (who are constantly sharing their community with drug dealers and their guns), are scared of walking in SAARA Street Market with cameras. On our last day when visiting favela Santa Marta we heard a shooting as the police was entering, it is a way drug dealers use to warn the top gangster they are coming up. Ironically, in the favela know for Michael Jackson’s videoclip “They Don’t Care About Us” while we here using a bar as a shelter, his song started playing. Nothing serious happened but we had to cancel our brief and I felt terrible for the people who have to live under these conditions.

PT/ Juntos, fomos a lugares que eu, uma brasileira que vive no exterior por quase 9 anos nunca seria capaz de visitar e fotografar no Brasil, se não em um grupo fazendo esse projeto incrível juntos. Todos nós ouvimos que a segurança no Brasil é um problema, eu fui roubada quando eu morava lá e é triste que algumas pessoas ficam “acostumadas” com o fato disso acontecer. O Rio certamente tem a pior reputação nisso, e para nós do exterior parece estranho que as pessoas da favela (que estão constantemente a compartilhando a sua comunidade com traficantes de drogas e as armas), tem medo de andar no SAARA com câmeras. Em nosso último dia quando visitar favela Santa Marta, ouvimos tiros quando a polícia estava entrando, é uma maneira que traficantes usam para avisar o líder, eles estão chegando. Ironicamente, na favela conhecida pelo clip do Michael Jackson”They Don’t Care About Us”, enquanto nós usamos uma bar como um abrigo, sua música começou a tocar. Nada de grave aconteceu, mas tivemos de cancelar a nossa tarefa e me senti terrível pelas pessoas que têm de viver sob estas condições.

: In Turano

: Before entering Dona Marta

: At MJ´s place before the shooting

EN/ Through the days we could recognise the student’s preferences for different photographic fields, some more artistic, others aiming to photograph events and family which is a good business to get an income. They developed their confidence, learned by helping each other and opened up to new opportunities. The images taken by the students (and mine too) are being featured online at The Guardian’s website, you can check our work clicking here. These images will also be in an exhibition in a few months time in Brazil!

The photos I have taken there is on this album on Flickr.

The project´s website is wembleytosoweto.com

I would like to thank everyone for the amazing opportunity and wonderful time we had together!

PT/ Durante os dias pudemos reconhecer as preferências dos alunos em diferentes campos fotográficos, alguns mais artísticos, outros com o objetivo de fotografar eventos e famílias que é um bom negócio para obter uma renda. Eles desenvolveram a sua confiança, aprenderam ajudando uns aos outros e se abriram para novas oportunidades. As fotos tiradas pelos alunos (e minhas também) estão sendo apresentadas online no site do jornal britânico The Guardian, você pode verificar o nosso trabalho clicando aqui. Essas imagens também estarão em uma exposição em poucos meses no Brasil!

As fotos que eu tomei há neste álbum no Flickr.

O site projeto é wembleytosoweto.com

Gostaria de agradecer a todos pela oportunidade incrível e os momentos maravilhosos que tivemos juntos!

Brazilian Embassy in London

Posted on 10/05/2016 by Tariana Pestana

Screen Shot 2016-05-10 at 10.49.46 AM

EN/ Brazilian Embassy in London

“Wembley to Soweto to Brazil” is exhibiting in London again. The project run in 2014 during the FIFA World Cup and has been exhibited at The Hospital Club before.

I am proud to see my photographs at the Brazilian Embassy together with the photographs of our brilliant students from Sao Paulo´s favela, whose I helped mentoring.
The exhibition is open to the public from 6th May to 13th May, from 10am to 6pm.

To see more of my photographs of this project, check my Flickr album here.
Get to know more about Wembley to Soweto charity on their website: wembleytosoweto.com.
Photos of the opening evening bellow.

PT/ Embaixada Brasileira em Londres

“Wembley to Soweto to Brazil” está em exposição novamente em Londres. O projeto ocorreu em 2014 durante a Copa do Mundo FIFA e já esteve em exposição no The Hospital Club em Londres.

Estou orgulhosa de ver minhas fotografias na Embaixada Brasileira junto com as fotografias dos nossos jovens estudantes e talentosos da comunidade Jardim Colombo em São Paulo, os quais eu ajudei a orientar.
A exposição estará aberta ao público entre os dias 6 e 13 de Maio, das 10am as 6pm.

Para ver mais de minhas fotos desse projeto, veja meu album no Flickr aqui.
Saiba mais sobre o projeto Wembley to Soweto no site deles: wembleytosoweto.com.
Fotos da noite de abertura a baixo.

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Six Cities with Polaroid/ Seis Cidades com Polaroid

Posted on 25/03/2016 by Tariana Pestana

My temperamental Polaroid/Minha Polaroid temperamental

EN/ Six Cities with Polaroid.

In 2013 I went for holidays back home in Brazil, during the months of July and August which is “winter” over there. I planned a couple of trips between my hometown Santos in the state of Sao Paulo, and 2 other States. In total I stayed in 6 different cities, and in each I took a Polaroid photo. I will show them all here!

PT/ Seis Cidades com Polaroid.

PT/ Em 2013 eu fui passar as férias no Brasil, durante os meses de Julho e Agosto, que é “inverno” por lá. Eu planejei algumas viagens entre a minha cidade natal Santos, no estado de São Paulo, e 2 outros estados. No total, eu fiquei em 6 cidades diferentes, e em cada uma eu tirei uma foto com a minha Polaroid. Vou mostrar elas todas aqui!
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Feminine Behaviours/Comportamentos Femininos

Posted on 21/10/2015 by Tariana Pestana

EN/ Feminine Behaviours

In this post I intend to put together some behaviours that over the years I’ve been observing in women who live in London and compare them to the Brazilian women, questioning the way that Brazilians in general think about them.

1- Makeup

London – It is quite common to find women on the underground in the morning on their way to work doing their make up, or on the way back to go somewhere else. The ability is such that the movement of the train does not stop them, neither feel embarrassment when handling brushes and pencils among strangers.

Nice painting of girl doing make up/ Pintura legal de menina fazendo maquiagem.(Pinterest, ma-zaika.ru)

Brazil – I do not remember to see the last time I have been there, no women apply makeup from foundation to the eyelashes mascara on any public transport. The max I saw discreetly put lipstick, or maybe they do this in the comfort of their cars?

2- Nail polish

London – Here you do not have the habit of removing the cuticles, or to get a manicure every week, unless you get very well paid. It is quite expensive, and usually women here adhere to the “do it yourself” (DIY), painting nails at home, or on the subway (yes, indeed). When doing manicure, they get fake nails, decorated and coloured polish or gelly. Here the gel practice is a bit more affordable, costing around 20 pounds only for hands, which guarantees to last around 15 days. The funny thing is that because it is not easily removable, unless you go to the beauty salon, nails grow leaving a strip of natural nail color. Sometimes not only a stripe, more than that.

Brazil – There is in Brazil a search for impeccability of nails, no matter the income of women, many manage to do their nails with a certain frequency as with a 15 reais (depending on the area and salon), can you do your feet and hands. Many do it at home same, but different from Londoners, Brazilians care about the durability of the nail polish, and when they chip and reaches the fifth day, they get removed. It seems that there is a fear of seeing the unkempt fingernails, or to show that it’s time to revisit the salon. In London I see many chipped and poorly made nails, that sometimes only lasts the special event’s day.

Me this week, nail polish remover finished and I could only remove nail polish from one hand. Had to go out like this to buy more/ Eu essa semana, a acetona acabou e só deu pra tirar esmalte de uma mão. Tive que sair assim pra comprar mais.

3 – High Heels

London – Many women walk on heels on the very well levelled pathways of London, for going out, work, nightlife. If you take the subway in the morning peak hours, often see women with smart clothes matching her beautiful, TRAINERS! Yes, they go out with trainers, tights, skirt and social shirts, to extend comfort time.
They carry their heels in a plastic bag inside their hand bag, a pair of heels to change at work or on the underground, why not? Another moment shoes’ change is on return from pubs and clubs. They go out with flats and carry the heels in the bag or hands, exchanging it in the middle of the street, putting the flats in the bag and wearing high heels. It is easier to spot it on the way back, because they are already tired of suffering on heels, and at the first opportunity, jump down from their high heels and wear flats.

Brazil – Maximum I’ve witnessed were women walking wonky because he could not walk anymore (what I see in London too), or walking barefoot on the way back. I think it worth adhering the flats on the way back from a dancing night out or taking your trainers on the way to work. Comfort should come first, after all.

Well these are the first observations. Correct me if I’m out of date!

Could you apply makeup on the underground or bus?
How often do you do your nails?
Would you face going out with trainers wearing smart clothes?
How about the idea of taking flats in a bag to be able to take heels off?

PT/ Comportamentos Femininos

Nesse post pretendo juntar alguns comportamentos que ao longo dos anos eu venho observado nas mulheres que moram em Londres e compará-los aos das mulheres brasileiras, questionando a forma que brasileiros em geral pensam sobre os dois.

1- Maquiagem

Londres – É bem comum encontrar mulheres no metrô se maquiando no caminho pro trabalho de manhã, ou na volta dele pra ir em algum lugar. A habilidade é tanta que o balanço do trem não impede, muito menos têm vergonha de manusear pincéis e lápis entre pessoas desconhecidas.
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UK vs Brazil – Plastic Bags Use/ Uso de Sacolas Plásticas

Posted on 08/10/2015 by Tariana Pestana

EN/ Plastic Bags Use

This past week it was announced a change to the way all large shops and supermarkets in UK provide plastic bags. Now it is a general government rule, and not a matter of preference up to the market chains, like it was before. Prior to this new rule, Lidl would only provide a multi-use plastic bag at a cost, similar Spar in other European countries, what charge for single-use plastic bags. While a few already followed this strict attitude towards their customers, other chains like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, etc, would keep both options of providing free single use and a charge for multi-use plastic bags for the most ecologically conscious.

What I would like to point out is something I will do with a series of posts, to compare these rules, behaviours and manners that have different reactions from populations of UK and Brazil. In Brazil, a couple of years ago there was an attempt to introduce some consciousness about ecology by removing single-use plastic bags from customer’s reach. This caused rebellion, people complained that the cost of plastic bags were included in the tax that is payed combined with the cost of the products in store. From London I observed the news, and for me it seemed more a commodity matter, rather than suspicion of being charged twice. There was such a negative feedback from the population that the rule was cancelled and single-use plastic bags are again being provided for free.

This year the rule is trying to get back in practice in Sao Paulo, providing “green bags” at a cost, made of bioplastic the initiative attempts to stimulate people to rethink the way they consume these bags, inspired by (guess what?), “…international standards and can be applied elsewhere in the country.”, stated by Marina Estarque from Carta Capital.

Here are some opinions taken from the article:

“I think it’s bad to have to pay, I will bring a house,” says Josmy.
“When people have easy access, they end up accumulating or playing outside”, said Camila Oliveira, 21.

Well, this is what is called “change” and this takes time to get adapted to people’s everyday life.
Hopefully here in UK and in Sao Paulo, people get their head around it, preparing for a more sustainable future!

Particularly I found this new rule amasing, I am ecologically aware and end up storing all plastic bags at home so I can reuse most of them. Unfortunately I have been a little lazy and could have invested in multi-use/more resistant plastic bags or carrier bags made of other materials to take my shopping home. This laziness to take such attitude has been fed by the commodity of having free bags available at the supermarket, what can be a little more practical as you dont have to think in advance and remember to bring yours from home. I know I will forget at times and complain others, but this rule is a favour really.

Single-use plastic carrier bag charge – video
Published on Jul 24, 2015

A short video for consumers and others explaining the 5p charge for single-use plastic carrier bags. The charge is being introduced in England from 5 October 2015.

For more information see https://www.gov.uk/carrierbags

P.s.: translated by myself.

PT/ Uso de Sacolas Plásticas

Na semana passada, foi anunciada uma alteração na forma como todas as grandes lojas e supermercados no Reino Unido fornecem sacolas plásticas. Agora é uma regra do governo geral, e não uma questão de preferência das cadeias de supermercado, como era antes. Anteriormente à essa nova regra, o mercado Lidl só fornecia um tipo de sacola de plástico multi-uso, por um valor, similarmente o mercado Spar em outros países europeus, cobra pelo uso de sacolas plásticas descartáveis. Enquanto alguns já seguiam essa atitude rigorosa perante aos seus clientes, outras empresas como Tesco, Sainsbury´s, etc, preferiam manter as duas opções fornecendo sacolas plásticas descartáveis de graça e uma taxa por sacolas de plástico de multi-uso para os mais ecologicamente conscientes.
Continue reading →