It´s all about relationship

There is a little saying around here that says landing a job isn´t about your IQ but your QI (quem indicou) which translated means ´who you know.´ While who you know is also important in Canada Brasilians have networking down to an art form. They are definitely more relationally oriented than task orientated. Often they work very late hours because through out the work day it is common and accepted to chat with co-workers (which doesn´t make you all that productive). Often lunch hours extend from one hour to one and a half and no one says anything (now this could just be the context I´m in). The great thing though is that when you need a favour you have a whole bunch of people you can rely on because everyone is used to scratching each other´s back AND you have strong relationships from all the time spent together.

This is true not just for jobs but for discounts at stores, restaurants, the mechanic etc. Here is an example that I overheard: `Just tell the guy that Paulo sent you and that I said he would give you a good price.` One of my friends here practically lives and breathes networking and as a result he often gets good deals on things. However, he also does a lot of favours for people so things balance out. While I appreciate the relational aspect of this culture a lot sometimes I find the resulting lack of efficiency in the work place frustrating. Since I am friends with the secretary at Vila Andrade and the mission department´s secretary at Morumbi their productivity always decreases when I come into the room. The opposite is also true since they often want to talk with me when I am trying to do my designated tasks. I am still searching for a way to politely let them know that we should save our chit chat for lunch hour so that we can get our work done.

It strikes me as quite ironic that at work work itself is not always the biggest priority. On Friday when the opening ceremonies of the Olympics were on some of my co-workers were in the reception area watching the spectacle. They called me to come and join them and I did for a few minutes but told them not to distract me because I needed to work. Erika then turned to me and said, `Julianna today is Friday. Everyone knows that next to nothing gets done on Fridays. Friday is the light day at work.` Don´t get me wrong, I love the relational orientation of this culture and the fact that people are often a priority over tasks it just takes some getting used to when you´ve been raised by task oriented people.

p.s. The picture is Pastor Marcelo cleaning up the flood from two Sundays ago. Will post more pics and an update about the weekend shortly.