Spotlight: Kev O’Shea

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am an Irish Artist, and professional Sales Trainer and Coach for close to 15 years now. It’s a fun story really. I needed to pay some big bucks to attend the Limerick School of Art and Design, and of course, I asked Mammy, “What job will I get to help pay for college?” Irish Mammy replies, ‘’Sure why not try a job in Sales, sure you’d talk the arse off a teapot’’ And so the fun began. Happily still working at both to this day. It’s gas to think back to when Sales truly started for me. Believe it or not, I was selling flowers from a wooden box in the Limerick Milk Market as soon as I could talk.

What prompted you to make the move here?

As you can imagine, working as a Sales Trainer during the pandemic was an interesting adventure, as nobody could meet clients. So, myself and a colleague banded together to create new courses and content to help upskill our staff until it all blew over. With no end in sight, we got creative and dug deep to keep everyone entertained and keep the knowledge flowing. Thankfully, it worked and we arrived back, post-lockdown with over 95% of our staff to hit the ground running.

During the pandemic, however, I had been speaking with my Brazilian girlfriend at the time, discussing what it would be like to head across the pond and give Brazil a shot. I needed a break from the sales environment and I was very interested to live somewhere where there was a lower percentage of rainfall. With not a word of Portuguese except ’pão de queijo’ and plenty factor 50 sunscreen in the bag, I made the move, and I am glad I did.

So, you have been living a life in Brazil that not many people would experience in their own country. What has been the best and worst parts of your experience?

Every day is a school day in Brazil, as most readers may already know. You need to be open-minded as it’s almost the complete opposite of Ireland, other than the warm welcome you get from the amazing people here.

The worst part of my experience has been not being able to share it with my family just yet. I have been here almost 4 years and would love to share Brazil with more of my family and friends. Don’t get me wrong, WhatsApp is incredible. But being here is true gold and I would love to see their eyes when they witness that beauty.

“The sunrise, sunset, and clear skies are breath-taking. And I am incredibly grateful to be in a position to witness it.”

What differences you have found between living in Brazil and Ireland?

Funny you ask that. I just moved back to Ubatuba, A place Brazilians call Uba-chuva–’chuva’ meaning rain in Portuguese–as it rains quite often here. Brazilians detest the rain. It’s actually pretty funny. It’s like Irish people when there is a sound of thunder. Run and hide!

But one major difference I have found is that, although yes, it rains, it’s warm rain. The rain is often both roasting and refreshing. Nothing like what I’m used to back in the south of Ireland.

Also, the light in the morning. The sun shining, or even just blue skies has done wonders for my health. I feel so lucky to be able to witness it every day.

Fun fact, I was sitting in the garden of my ex-partner’s house, looking up, enjoying the super blue sky. When I began to hear her mother talking to her with a tone of concern. I asked her if everything was alright. She said, my mother was wondering if you are OK, because you sit in the garden every morning with a coffee just staring at the sky. Gas, but true. Being an artist, and someone who makes their own paint, and everything else, I have a big thing for colour. But funny to think her mother thought I wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box.

It’s true though, the sunrise, sunset, and clear skies are breath-taking. And I am incredibly grateful to be in a position to witness it.

You work remotely. How challenging has that been?

It was difficult at first to get a role in a company that was fully remote as I was traveling quite a bit and struggled to get something hybrid. Life in the van is great, but 24/7, teaching sales, courses, cooking, surfing, sleeping all in the VW Kombi can be tough. I am taking a break from daily life on the road, but plan to still head out once a month. Working remotely can be very rewarding, and it helps when I travel out of Brazil to visit family and friends, as I can work from anywhere. The only small hiccup is jumping through time zones, which can get confusing. Like jet lag, but worse.

What has been your favourite place to live in Brazil so far?

If you were to start this journey again, is there anything you would do differently?

I don’t want to say yes, but potentially bringing a remote job here would have been a smart move. I left my role in the company I worked for and closed my art store to write some new chapters in my life. And I don’t regret it. Knowing Portuguese wouldn’t have hurt, but the adventure has honestly been amazing.

What has been the best unexpected thing about living in Brazil?

That I ended up travelling, living, and working from my own VW Kombi. It still amazes me! It’s a circus to drive. It’s like trying to drive the Jeanie Johnston down a side street, but life should be an adventure, so I welcome the challenge.

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