Spotlight:

Rosa Freitag

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Rosa Freitag, born in São Paulo in 1969. I lived in London between 1990-98, in Dublin in 1998, then Los Angeles for a couple of years, and have been living in São Paulo again since 2002.

I have a degree in Media Studies – Radio and TV, and worked at a radio station in SP doing news and interviews with both national and international artists. I play guitar as a hobby and currently I have a surf music – instrumental band and a folk-rock project.

I also enjoy the outdoor life. Riding motorcycles off-road and travelling to places of outstanding nature and beauty. Also enjoy the city life: going to gigs, cinema, and cultural events. At present I work as a freelance translator and run a rural glamping site in Campos do Jordão.

You have lived in many places around the world. How would you say your experience in Ireland differs from anywhere else? What changes have you seen in Ireland since 1998?

When I first went to Ireland I had been living in London for 8 years and I was expecting a similar environment, considering it is the island across the sea. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover a very unique and welcoming land. I loved the food, especially seafood chowder and soda bread. I am not a Guinness drinker, but I love Jameson. People were warm and welcoming, every pub had folk music and everyone seems to know how to play an instrument. The nature around the Dublin area is stunning, both the beaches and the country walks in Wicklow.  The “tube” (Dart) is open air with stunning views on the ride. Every day that I drove to work I had an amazing experience on a scenic road (Killiney Hill) and I would walk on the beach every morning. It was a really amazing experience.

When I returned last month, I found exactly the same setting. The city centre is a bit busier and I noticed many more foreigners, both working and tourists. Johnnie Fox’s, the highest pub in Ireland, is still the same. So it was pleasing to see that nothing has changed much.

Beyond work, what is it that drew you to Ireland, and do you see any cultural similarities to Brazil?

On my first visit, I was excited with the job opportunity but equally pleased to know I could follow my hobby of windsurfing and nature walks. And getting to know people with a cultural background that is very different from the British.

I returned for a holiday in 2007. Rented a car and did a camping trip, getting to see many interesting places, from Blarney Castle to the Ring of Kerry (nice to see that the Atlantic is actually warm in that region), cliffs of Moher and then to Derry to visit a Brazilian journalist friend who was studying conflicts… and up to Giant´s Causeway.

Then last July I returned for a motorhome trip. Rented a campervan with my daughter and it was amazing to see how friendly Ireland is in this sense. We parked by natural reserves, beachfront and riverside locations and felt very safe sleeping “wild”. We could get water for free at petrol stations and met many happy campervans along the way. The highlights were the Kerry Cliffs and Skellig Islands. Amazing scenery! We also visited many archaeological sites, such as Clonmacnoise and Drombeg stone circle and learned interesting stories involving Celtic, Pagan and Catholic disputes.

How has your time in Ireland influenced how you live your life now?

The nature walks, drinking Irish whiskey, listening to folk music and enjoying a motorhome holiday.

What was it like working for one of the world’s biggest tech companies at a time when Ireland itself was transforming?

The government had incentives for foreign companies, so it was very exciting to work at a business park on brand new premises together with people from all over the world doing pioneering work. I think it was a smart choice from Microsoft to set up the worldwide business division in Dublin. All project managers were Irish, but we did a lot of communication with the headquarters in Seattle. One interesting and fun aspect is that if you went to work dressed up smart, people would think you were up for a job interview elsewhere.

As for the political moment in Ireland in 1998, my parents came to visit and we drove up to the border in my UK plates car. At the checkpoint, heavily armed men asked where I was going, and when I said we were Brazilian, they looked puzzled and asked no further questions.

You worked in Portuguese in your role with Microsoft. Did that connection to Brazil ease the transition to life in Ireland?

There were a few other Brazilians working in similar roles, but the nicest thing was the “babel tower” environment, with people from 26 countries doing the same task of localising the products into their native languages. I think my previous experience in England had eased the transition – especially the right hand driving.

If you could take one good thing from Ireland and implement it in Brazil, what would it be?

It’s not that people in Brazil aren´t warm and welcoming, but these days I notice the younger generation here acting a bit more like the “bored English”. That, and not giving up on going out if it´s raining.

And the opposite; one good thing to bring to Ireland?

The warm and sunny weather. But once you get used to the fact that it rains over 50% of the time in Ireland, it becomes part of the enjoyment.

Finally, having lived all over the world, what advice would you give to someone from Ireland considering making the move to Brazil?

It is busier, chaotic, no one speaks English and those who can speak a little won´t understand a thing you say. But Brazilians love meeting foreigners, and after a few pints everything will be fine. São Paulo has a rich cultural scene, as well as nice beaches and nature nearby. Public transport is not as charming.

About the Author

Rosa Freitag, Brazilian Portuguese Linguist, Zynga

Games and software localization specialist with interactive media/creative background. Focused on improving usability and producing quality localised content for the Brazilian Portuguese audience.