A toast to our brand new way to connect 
With this blog you’ll see me with better lenses than any camera could ever capture of myself 
Despite all… I am in love with life
Come on in!
I am Gislaine Teixeira Borges, proudly carrying ‘three’ blessed citizenships. Two of them are official and undeniable: first, a Brazilian citizenship as ordained from above, second, a selected and acquired Canadian one, and the last one is only in my heart and in my day-to-day life, as I build my family with a Mexican man.
Canada was the place that I picked to start a family and call home sweet home or maybe it would be more appropriated to call it home ‘frozen’ home (for obvious reasons). Despite the fact that my desire to share my experiences living abroad is not something new; I have only done so during my first year living here. At the beginning of this year, while I was dragged into isolation due to Coronavirus and its whirlwind of uncertainty and vulnerability, I made a meaningful decision: I would occupy myself with reading-and-writing about any topic except Covid-19.
Evidently, it all happens in my free time remaining after housekeeping duties and taking turns (literally) to look after my remarkable two-and-a-half-year-old boy. Turns out I am enjoying this new world of reading-and-writing in a way that I never did before. It has actually become one of my passions. Let’s say it is not something we usually expect from someone with a background in teaching math and a self-identified ‘wish to be an avid reader’ type of person. Life is funny. I couldn’t imagine that either. An ex-math teacher, an ex-professor, an ex-boutique sales assistant and currently a content hotel receptionist (believe or not) finding a new hobby and perhaps an unknown path to be pursued.
I have been living in Ottawa/Gatineau for over 9 years and certainly Canada is a wonderful country. In spite of this, I believe I will always have some hesitations from time to time while living in a multicultural environment. If we can have some discontentment within our own family and our home country, imagine then living in a foreign land, immersed somehow in a blend of several cultures. Don’t get me wrong. It is such a valuable life learning experience. I enjoy many aspects of it. However, it doesn’t mean it’s always easy to understand or respect the differences among cultures.
Therefore, my purpose here is to share different types of subjects. For instance, anything from behaviour, health system, neighbourhood, my continuous process of learning a second and third language, reviews about books or movies; to personal topics such as, the matters of being a mom, my journey to knowing myself and finding new passions in life. It may even be something you eventually become curious about and ask that I write on the subject. Essentially, I am aiming to exchange ideas, trigger some reflections and discussions, creating in this way a connection between us, or somehow to keep alive what once existed and is naturally on the course to be extinct by now (thinking of all my dear and distant friends in Brazil).
I am dreaming to write in the three languages spoken at home. Literally, we hardly ever have a conversation using only one language. Most of the time, it is a messy but beautiful mix – if this makes any sense – of English, Portuguese and Spanish. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I can’t leave any of you behind because of a language barrier. Considering, of course, you are all welcome: families, relatives, co-workers, friends, acquaintances and anybody interested in my life for any reason. Also, because all of you are part of my life in one way or another, and what I am now, or I will eventually become.
Definitely, it is a challenge I am setting up for myself here, posting pieces of writing in three different languages (or at least I will try to); by opening up a bit about my life with my ups and downs, difficulties and achievements, and psychological and behavioural nuances. My idea is to engage my thoughts and opinions about a particular subject often in a tone of lightness and entertainment; many other times in a tone reflecting the depth of living and learning experiences.
Who knows? Perhaps upon reading my essays you will get watery eyes or a smile on your face, jealousy, indifference or even disappointed. In other words you could feel lighter, more joyful or maybe sad and incredulous about people in general. I say that considering what people from a third world, including myself of course, may expect from people of the first world (full of folks from all walks of life). But, hey! Having all these different types of feelings, judging and being judged, improving or changing your opinion upon determined subject is what life is all about… and a little more, of course!
So, come and embark on this adventure connecting with me and eventually you will catch a glimpse of the opportunity to connect more within and with others just like I did and continue to be fond of doing – as ultimately, my aspiration is using my life as an experiment to convince you that by working on our Intrinsic Connections we will consequently have more worthwhile Extrinsic Connections.
Without further ado, I conclude by sharing that although I have chosen a life full of demands, sometimes too busy and exhausting, plenty of times it is lively and thrilling. So, here I am, ready to start this new and exciting voyage with you. Just come with me!