April 23 - Ursula Neves arrived punctually for our appointed interview, vigorously striding into the coffee shop, charming in an elegant outfit. Miss Neves is an energetic young woman who teaches for the Department of International Tourism and Convention in the GDUFS Faculty of English Language and Culture. She gave us a cheery wink and caught us off guard by asking, "Why did you choose me?" We liked her immediately.
Ursula in Barcelona
Ursula Neves studied English Language and Literature in Brazil, earning a bachelor's degree in 2004 and in 2006 a master's degree in tourism management from the University of Westminster. She has traveled through a variety of countries in Europe and Asia and has a keen understanding of cultures.
Ursula in Amsterdam
Although her family has never visited China, they have come to understand China through Ursula. According to her, "my mum has seen the world through my eyes." She recounts details from her experiences in China. For example, when she first came to China and went to a restaurant, a waiter brought her a glass of hot water. She was shocked. Brazilians never drinks warm water. They only drink water with ice. "This is a perfect example of something you cannot learn from a book. It is something you have to experience."
Foz do Iguacu the most beautiful waterfalls in Brazil
Ursula also helps us to understand Brazil better. Before meeting her, our understanding of Brazilians was of a passionate and straightforward people, with a zeal for football and samba music. Ursula confirmed our suppositions. She told us most of Brazilians are very friendly and talkative. "You can find yourself having a conversation with a stranger and after one or two hours, you will know almost everything about each other." Though Chinese and Brazilians have different national characters, we have found that they share some similarities. For instance, Chinese and Brazilians are fond of family life and maintain strong family ties. "Brazil and China are both developing countries. Like China, Brazil also enjoys fast economic development. In addition, Brazil has an abundance of natural resources and can provide China with more than just coffee and football, I assure you," Ursula added confidently.
Ursula's hometown Rio de Janeiro, a famous tourist attraction
Besides her interest in culture, Ursula is also an enthusiastic student of language. In addition to her mother tongue Portuguese, she can also speak fluent English and Italian. Now she is studying Chinese. She considers language studies a means of cultural enlightenment. "The best way of experiencing the culture of a nation is to study its language. Through the process of learning a language, you can understand every aspect of a nation, not only superficial observation. When I live in a new country, I am eager to study the local language."
Ursula in Wales, UK
Ursula is neither a teacher of cultural studies nor an official in a department of culture. She does, however, contribute to the understanding between the people of Brazil and China by influencing the people around her. She always takes action, experiencing and learning.
The time flew to 9:00 pm. During the two hour interview we seemed to have been guided through the exotic South American country of Brazil. Through Ursula's expressions, explanations and gestures, we were able to visualize people dancing, drinking coffee, and chatting. We enjoyed this vicarious cultural experience in Brazil with Ursula as our guide. She is a fantastic cultural communicator here at GDUFS.
Photos provided by Ursula
