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The Unexpected Power of Doing Good: A Beautiful Twist of Fate | Ft. Rafael Rodrigues Ep. 068 [Part 2]

• Gurasis Singh

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Part 1 | Ft. Rafael: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835261/episodes/16926932

What happens when a single decision to help others completely redirects your life's path? In this captivating continuation of my conversation with Rafael, we explore the remarkable chain of events that began with his humanitarian project in Malawi and culminated in a new life in Canada.

Rafael reveals how a YouTube video of his work in Africa caught the attention of a Colombian woman who donated to his cause. Through a series of serendipitous events, this connection blossomed into romance, marriage, and eventually immigration to Canada. The story beautifully illustrates how putting good into the world can return to you in unexpected ways.

The transition to Canadian life wasn't without challenges. Rafael candidly shares their first-day mishaps—discovering their Airbnb reservation had been canceled months earlier (the notification buried in spam), rushing to find last-minute accommodation, and navigating uncomfortable situations in an unfamiliar country. With humor and insight, he describes feeling like "a seller" who had promised his wife a safe new home, only to face immediate tests of that promise.

What stands out in Rafael's journey is his philosophy about possibilities. Despite initial hardships, he and his wife found their footing, with her securing employment at a Canadian bank willing to sponsor her work permit just ten months after arrival—an exceptionally rare opportunity. Now establishing his creative agency in Montreal, Rafael embraces Canada as a land of reinvention and growth.

Throughout our conversation, Rafael shares profound insights about how the stories we tell ourselves shape our reality, and his personal mantra: "I will change the life of everyone who crosses my path in any way." His perspective on time, chance, and making the most of life's single opportunity resonates deeply.

Listen to discover how stepping outside your comfort zone can open doors you never imagined possible, and why Rafael believes that revisiting the narratives that guide us is essential for personal growth. This conversation might just inspire you to take that leap you've been contemplating.

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Gurasis:

Hey guys, thank you so much for tuning in. So this is the part two of my conversation with Rafael. If you haven't checked the part one yet, do check it out. I'll put the link in the description. Hope you enjoy this one.

Rafael:

When I left Brazil to go to Malawi. If you want someone said to me, you end up telling this story in two TED Talks, end up married and living in Canada. This is not the outcome that I was predicting. I was just going there to live in the poorest country in the world For the last two years. I was selling you this idea. No, it's very safe. Never lived in Canada before, but I lived in the United States and I think it's similar.

Rafael:

It's very safe. And she came back totally like scared and she said one guy tried to sexual harass me and I said oh my God, I can't believe it and I had to do something, you know because like as a seller, the second day of you selling Canada. Exactly as a seller and I said, okay, let me fix this.

Gurasis:

Before we get into the next segments, I wanted to briefly tell us that, how this humanitarian work also led you to your love story as well, and then also tell us briefly about you know decision to coming to Canada.

Rafael:

Yeah, so, and funny is, my life changed completely about after I took this decision to go to Malawi. Because one girl saw my video on YouTube from Colombia. She said oh, that's a very nice action, I will donate. And she donated. And I remember when we finished the project that's a funny story because our ticket was to go back to the United States for the organization. And when we got back there, the organization said okay, because you didn't do anything in Africa, we are kicking you out. And I said what do you mean? We're not doing anything? No, have you put our logo? Did you give us credit? Did you work with us? No, so you don't need anything. Like it's totally crazy.

Rafael:

So we end up kicking, being kicking out of the organization. And my friend said, okay, let's go to colombia. At least I uh, we can give one, uh, presentation in my university. And I said but I have no money and no place, nowhere you can stay at my home, let's just go there. And we went to Colombia and I end up meeting that girl who donated to the project. That is my wife today. It is Laura. Oh, wow. So he said I came here to meet you in the presentation because I donate for the project and I said I remember sending you the postcard and this and that, okay, so we start to get to know each other and we end up in a relationship that later I moved to colombia and I lived there for five years and now we are. We are here together in canada.

Gurasis:

So this project in malawi was the completely shifting in my life that end up being here talking to you yeah, I know it said that the love comes when you're least expected. It exactly came for you exactly exactly, exactly I.

Rafael:

It was the when I left brazil to go to malawi, if you want. Someone said to me, you end up telling this story in two TED talks, end up married and living in canada. This is not the outcome that I was predicting. I was just going there to live in the poorest country in the world.

Gurasis:

But life is life is funny wow, I love that so in 2023, you moved to canada with your wife right yeah tell us about your first day, like what was your initial impressions or thoughts, you know, and also the story you were sharing, like the email scam and like the punch a guy story. Tell us briefly about that as well.

Rafael:

Yeah, the thing is I always had, as we talked in the beginning, like the need to live in another country. And I kind of sell this idea to my wife when we moved, when I moved to Colombia, and I said, okay, I'm here with you, it's nice, but it's not really the place that I want to live. It's as dangerous as Brazil. So I'm done with that. So we should go to Canada. And she said, okay, let's see. So it was like a dream that I sell to her little by little and we are like getting ready to move and I try to apply first as a express entry. There's a way to get in canada, like you have points. So I said, okay, I have this profession. I studied french, I studied english, I got certifications, I got some points and I applied but was never enough for me to to be called to have PR. So I waited for a year and I said, okay, it's not working. So what should we try? And she said I found an MBA. It's a very nice MBA, three years, and I will get the study permit. But you can go with me and you have the open work permit. So it's a way for us to at least be there for three years and we see what's going to happen. And I said, okay, then we start the process of selling everything and checking the documents. And our first idea was okay, let's stay in an Airbnb for at least 20 days and after that we can search for apartment. Then we move. And that was the idea.

Rafael:

But when our plane landed here in Canada, she was crying, and I thought she was crying because of happiness. She was terrified because where is my family? And this and that calm down. I felt like a, like a seller trying to sell a product. You know like no, for the last two years I was selling you this idea and we saw videos on YouTube people oh, no, the Montreal, very fancy this, and that it's no way. Okay, no, it's very safe. I never lived in Canada before, but I lived in the United States and I think it's similar. It's very safe, nothing is going to happen with you.

Rafael:

So when we arrived, I said okay, please check the address of the Airbnb.

Rafael:

And when she went to I'm not funny, I'm not funny when we checked the spam mail, the host had cancelled our stay like two months before, and we didn't check because there was so much documentation, this and this and that, and we had no place to go. So what I did like okay, let me book the first hotel that comes here in the list and let's go there and see what happens. And there's another side story, because one friend pick us up in the airport and when I went to pay the reservation the hotel the staff asked for my card, the credit card, but it's a credit card from a bank in the United States that I had, and I don't have the physical card. And she said no, I need the physical card in order to complete your booking. I said I don't have, so you cannot pay. And the guy who really had met me 10 minutes before he said no, I pay for you and then later you can pay. So I said, okay, so this is one of the person in our life that, okay, you completely saved me.

Gurasis:

That's the result of the kindness you have shown to the world exactly, yeah, I really believe in that.

Rafael:

I really believe in that. And like, okay, he paid for our stay and then we were able to sleep. And in the second day I said to her okay, I had to work and I had a presentation to do, a presentation for a client. And I said to her okay, go to the reception to see if there's breakfast available. I don't know, it's a very cheap hotel. And she went there and I was waiting for her to come back and she came back totally scared and I said what happened? And she said one guy tried to sexually harass me and I said, oh my God, I can't believe it and I had to do something.

Gurasis:

And it was the second something you know because, like as a seller and it was the second day of you selling Canada Exactly- as a seller.

Rafael:

I said, no, it's a very safe place. So, like is the customer saying, okay, I bought this product, but my first experience was that it's a bad review. And I and I said, okay, let me fix this. And I went there, really like, I was like very angry and I was ready to punch the first guy that appears in front of me, even though I don't know how to fight. I said no, like it's a matter of protection, because I need to show her that, even though the country is not that safe, I can protect her. So I went there without thinking and I saw three guys in the reception and I didn't know which one was the responsible One big guy, one medium, one small Okay, it should be the small, because I want to pick the fight with the bigger one.

Rafael:

So like I came down, say okay, first talk to to the receptionist because this, if you start a fight here, they will call the police and in your second day in canada you have like a police problem. You want a fist. So I talked to her like my wife was here and one guy tried to sex her and she said, okay, I'm sorry, there's an old guy here, he has Alzheimer's and sometimes he came here lost and I'm so sorry. Sometimes that happens and I said, okay, but please do something about it, this and that. And I came back to the room and said nothing personal from you, it's a guy who has Alzheimer's. And because she started saying, because I'm Latina, he saw in my face that I'm Latina, then I assumed that I was a prostitute and now everyone here will see me as a prostitute, like the whole shit.

Gurasis:

By the time you came back to the room, were the bags packed too?

Rafael:

Booking another flight. But we like, okay, calm down, and for the next three, two weeks we like just ate. Like a mac and cheese from walmart was terrible until we find. And also there's one cultural change Of course In South America, if you need to rent a place, the owner treats you like a king because he needs you. So the moment you call no, no, come here right now I will visit you, and this, and that they treat you very well because they need here. They're more offered than demand. So they're like okay, let's see next week and if you don't want, there's 10 more in the waiting list. So we are in a hurry, like, okay, we need to rent a place and they are very slow. And I remember like end up the two weeks, the period, and we still haven't find the apartment. And I went to the receptionist, said, okay, I would like to renew for more two weeks, and the girl said no, there's no room available.

Gurasis:

Oh.

Rafael:

I said no, no, we are fully booked. You need to leave. Awesome. I went back to the room and I said we need to move. I said why? I said we cannot stay here and I checked the other hotel prices. It was like I was spending like my budget for three months in just two weeks.

Gurasis:

And my God, what am I going?

Rafael:

to do and I said to her okay, let me first check online if I find another hotel and for some reason, when I tried to find them, the booking, there's one room available in that same hotel. Okay, so I went to the receptionist and said, here is saying that you still have one room left. And she said, ah, okay, maybe someone canceled, but you need to change your room, you need to go upstairs, no problem, I can go there. So I booked and we took our luggage, our cat, and went there and we lived there for more, I think 15 days, and then we find this place and we finally could move here. It was a very hard first impression and it took me some weeks for me to like clean her mind that no, no, it's safe, it was just a minor incident.

Gurasis:

Wow, a lot went down in the very first month.

Rafael:

Yeah.

Gurasis:

When did you actually find your ground? Then you found a nice house and you were finally getting into the Canadian life. When did that happen?

Rafael:

I would say you know, there's something very nice that happened with her, with my wife, two years before we came the moment I like sell the product to her, like, okay, are you going to buy the Canadian Life? She said yeah, very excited. She said I will start to apply for jobs there because she has a background in working in banks. And she said I will start to apply for banks in Montreal Imagine that I'm already there because you don't know and she started to apply and she got denied like the very second, because in Colombia, applying to work to a place in Canada, it would not work. And she kept applying, she kept applying and the result was 10 months later that we were here.

Rafael:

She was only studying, not only because studying here is very hard. She got a call from that bank and said, okay, we saw that you apply much times here, very much times, multiple times, and now we have a position here. I said, okay, great, but I don't have a work permit, it's just a study permit, so I'm afraid that I cannot take the the position. And I got said, okay, let's keep the doors open and we see next time. And like 10 minutes later, he called us back and said, no, no, the bank really wants you. Your profile is the perfect match and they are able to sponsor your visa.

Rafael:

So they would change your status to open work permit. I said perfect.

Rafael:

So, we have to do a flagpole in the United States, just get out and come back. And for me it ended up being much better than I expected because in my life, in my plans, in my budget, I said, okay, I will have to work alone for three years because she will not be able to work, just study and I have to put my savings on this and keep her up, because it was hard time for her to to not work and like I'm only studying. I came back from. I came from a country that I was working, I was independent and I was waiting for this to happen after three years. But it happened 10 months later and now we both have open work permit and later, I think in two years, we can try to apply to PR permanent residency.

Rafael:

So I would say 10 months later later, when she finally got a job, I said, okay, now we are feeling more at home. It's not that hurry to find something not having a job, but I'm totally aware that this is something exceptional. It's not happened to anyone. It's not their room. Some people say it comes from a lot of engineers who have to come to work first as a waiter and then really climb back again. His professional with us was totally different, so we are very lucky.

Gurasis:

You know, phil, when you were sharing about this story during the presentation also, you know, in that, in that moment I'm I did think about it. Oh, they guys got lucky. I thought about it for a moment, to be honest with you, but then again, after learning about your journey, and now today listening to you, it reminds me of this quote, which people say that to me all the time that whatever the good you put in the world, it comes back to you, maybe not directly to the same source, but somehow universe has its way of gifting it to you, you know, or giving you the fruits of your labor. And I feel like, whatever, however, your journey has turned out along with your wife, you know, since she was a part of you. Now, your whole family, your guys, was together. I think that's how universe has gifted you this is fruits of your labor.

Gurasis:

So hats off, you know I absolutely love the work I've been doing and how things have turned out for you, and I have no doubts you're gonna get your residency or not.

Rafael:

You're gonna get it yeah, no, I have no turning back.

Rafael:

And also because yesterday I started the process to register my company here and we got our our first contract with a client here, uh, so it's always a leap of faith, like you first do, then you see what's going to happen. For for now, I just finished off, uh, hiring hire two people in brazil, two new employers in brazil, and and let's see what's going to happen. So, yeah, I I I also think, like you, like the universe is is giving me something back, and that makes me feel very easy and comfortable with my life, because, not that I'm expecting something back, but because I'm like, really I have a personal mantra, like my personal mantra, that one of that says I will change a life of everyone who crosses my path In any way. I will change, I will try to help, to give something better or to give some direction, I don't know and I think that ends up helping me as well in my projects. There's a little bit of luck that I cannot.

Gurasis:

There's luck, there's timing, I think you have to give chances to divorce. To get lucky also, you have to do a certain thing multiple times for the luck to actually strike at one of those efforts that you are putting.

Rafael:

That's how I see it. Yes, yes. So the period that I started to have more money, more clients, that I told you was because I met one guy in the project the social project in Africa that later, years later, he ended up recommending me to have some customers in banks and this ended up me having very good clients. So the thing is it's a little bit of lucky that I cross my path with this guy, but at the same time, I had to get out of my country to be there, to live there, to be. So it's a mix you be, you need to be out of your comfort zone, out of your environment to get lucky. So, like it's a combination.

Gurasis:

Yeah, yeah, and just for the listeners, I want to mention that rafael also has a creative agency. I'll put the links to that also just for people to see your any work. They might have to reach out to him. And I think you're also telling that you do provide some coaching as well, you know, to current immigrants, aspiring immigrants, anybody kind of excelling in their fields as well. I'll once again put your linkedin as well for people to reach out to you in case they want to chat okay, thank you very much.

Rafael:

I'm uh, my wife once said to me you, I think your dream, or or your like the profession you didn't take would be coach. And I said why? You said you have on a podcast that the okonkwo podcast that only giving advice to people. People didn't ask for your opinion and you have the perfect match, the rules. Now you should do this and this and that, set your goals this way and that way. And I said, yes, and this is like I should correct this, because sometimes I'm giving advices or opinion for people that didn't ask for my opinion.

Rafael:

But it reflects that I always picture myself on that position in Brazil when I was a kid, desperately trying to figure out in life what I should do. To figure out in life what I should do, what like and could you just need someone to take me and said, okay, do this, this and that, and you would end up in a good position. So, like today, I tried to be that mentor that I didn't have on the past. But the thing is, mentors you need to seek and to ask, not just giving free information. Because I had some discussions with some friends that I'm really passionate about changing your life. Go for it run marathons and do this and that.

Rafael:

Then I end up being annoying. Some of my friends said stop to be annoying, I'm not asking you for this and that, let me be free. And I said, okay, it's totally my fault.

Gurasis:

Okay, so before we get into the final segment, I've added this new segment in this season. I call it Know your Host, where I give my guests an opportunity to ask me any question you might have.

Rafael:

So go ahead so I can. It should be quick questions or can be more philosophical questions, whatever you feel like you know, okay, and how many?

Gurasis:

one or two, or well, okay, I'll let you choose.

Rafael:

Let's just say two, okay, okay I would be one very easy, another more deep. When was the last time you cried?

Gurasis:

oh wow, it is a deep question, um, so I'll tell you honestly, my last year, 2024, was such a roller coaster of emotions. I think the the first first quarter, the first four months of 2024, were like it was testing everything I have learned in the previous years of my life you know my patience, my skills or my abilities, everything I have questioned and I think that have led to a lot of self-doubt and crying. And then, I think in the middle of the year 2024, I got a little better. But my year ended on a very weird and sad note as well, because I was sick. I was not able to excel in my job. I lost my job as well, so it really made me question a lot of things and I was getting sick also back to back.

Gurasis:

So that was my last year a full rollercoaster of emotions, and I have cried multiple times throughout that year. But this year I actually made a promise to myself for more of like, a again, like a reminder to myself that thing's gonna be fine, and I have avoided or sort of like try to somehow not cry at each and every moment, like that's what I have done that this year, but I think I did have this moment where it was the saturation you know there was, there was like a back to back multiple things are happening and it was. I reached a saturation point and I didn't cry cry, but I did sit and I took a deep breath and I just like felt that I'm on the verge of it and it was I believe it was a week and a half ago. That's where it happened, but it wasn't to the extent how it was last year. I'm so glad it's not to that extent, but it was just like a pent-up emotions of multiple things back to back and that's where it happened.

Rafael:

So okay, okay, perfect, okay. And the second one it will be very easy, but it's very curious, okay, if you could go back on time to witness, to watch any event of the world, of the history of the universe. Okay, and you could choose three. I'll give you three so you can go be there just to watch and see, and you cannot interfere in the timeline, just go see and come back, which will be the three happenings or three situations that you could go back and see, that you would like to witness that's a very thought-provoking question.

Gurasis:

You know, it's uh, I don't know about historical moment, but I think I would love to go back and see my, my parents, when they were younger okay because I feel like my father has a certain stance which is very like affirmative and keeping his emotions to himself and not expressing.

Gurasis:

I just want to see my father. How was he when he was younger? And it might not be the historic even, but that's something I've always thought about, like I now I think I have come to that uh, uh, sort of like a report with my father, where I questioned him about everything you know, maybe I've come at a certain age but and he tells me about the stories and the times of his upbringing and his formative years and everything, and and I feel very fascinated by it. So I would love to see that, how he was able to handle all that and how he was able to do that okay, that's one yeah, that's the one I'm able to think you have two more

Gurasis:

give me a moment, I'll think about it. Okay, this is actually a religious one, okay, so so many of the first gurus, guru nanak devji he was basically established and formed this religion of mine, which is, you know, sikhi, and I have heard a lot of stories of his time where he has got again gotten against the system. He has questioned a lot of things and he was born in a certain family and his parents weren't approving of his ideologies and what he was trying to achieve. So I'd love to see that, like, how did that actually was shaped and it turned into this today, where all of us seeks follow, which is, you know, the Sikhi. So I would love to see that you know how that was sort of transitioned and became into this religion sort of, or the way of life we follow.

Rafael:

Okay so.

Gurasis:

I'd love to see that. Yeah, that would be a very fascinating time. I never thought about it, but thanks for that.

Rafael:

Yeah, and the last one.

Gurasis:

And the third one. Let me think about it again. I think this one time I remember my cousins and my sisters and everybody tells me that the time when this 21st century started, you know the transition that happened from that when 2000 came, that was like a big event and a that happened from that when 2000 came, that was like a big event and a lot happened at that time. It was like a certain excitement of it. I would love to witness that. Maybe, if I can, you know when that transition happened towards, when it was 12 and the new year started, the new century started. There was certain sort of excitement and the hope that was there in people. That's what I have heard. You know, I would love to witness that, that. How did that?

Rafael:

yeah, pan out.

Gurasis:

You know, live that moment getting into the future like that hopeless exactly like you know, so I'd love to experience that, if I can yeah, okay, that's very nice.

Rafael:

That's my question, was my questions to you.

Gurasis:

Oh my God, I love that. No, I would have never thought about this and I love how these questions provoke me and encourage me to kind of like reflect and see you know what I can say. So I love that. Very, very unique questions, absolutely love that.

Rafael:

Yeah, I love your answers also, thank you.

Gurasis:

Okay, so it's my time. Now we are in the final segment of the podcast. I call it beneath the accent. I'm going to ask a couple of questions. You can answer them in one word or a sentence, or how several you feel like. The idea is just to know more about you. Just a quick, rapid fire, okay. The classic question what advice would you give to your younger self, and at what age?

Rafael:

By the age 16,. I would say get out of your country as soon as possible.

Gurasis:

Okay, describe a moment when you experienced a significant cultural difference that surprised you.

Rafael:

There's a lot, but what comes to my mind is the first time I went to, I was in Malawi and I had to eat without a fork and knife. I eat with my hands and we see like there is a process of people washing their hands and this and that and how good they are eating. With hands they don't mess like a baby. When they saw me eating, they said you eat like a baby. It was very hard.

Gurasis:

I never in my life said ok, I had to eat with my hands.

Rafael:

They don't mess like a baby. So when they saw me eating, they said you eat like a baby. Yeah, it was very hard. I never in my life. It's okay, I had to eat with my hands.

Gurasis:

So, yeah, that's for cultural shock. Okay, I love that. What's this one dish from your home country that always brings you comfort and nostalgia?

Rafael:

It's very cliche, but I would say feijoada. Very cliche, but I would say feijoada. That's the main dish in Brazil. That's beans with pork and cooking the specific way, and this dish is served every Wednesday and Saturday. There's days for it. It's very heavy, but brings me the flavor or the memories than when I eat this with my friends. So I would say feijoada and, by the way, this is like 90 of the answers of all brazilians, so it says there's nothing new on that okay when you say it's solved.

Gurasis:

Every wednesday, thursday, where it is solved in restaurants.

Rafael:

So it's the dish like. It's like the main the, the main dish of the day. So you go there. There's some options, but the main dish is feijoada. Edna's day and Saturday.

Gurasis:

Okay, is there any funny story that you remember regarding the misunderstanding around the accent or English?

Rafael:

Not due to my accent, but I remember, when I was in Malawi, the kids there. They tried to communicate with you in English.

Rafael:

Any way possible. And they had some like a follow, like a script in how to talk to you and like, how are you doing, I'm fine? And you. And sometimes they forget the sequence, and I countless time one kid approached me and said, I'm fine, like they skip, like how are you doing, I'm good, how about you, I'm fine? So they skipped, so they start the conversation like I'm fine. And I said, okay, that's good, I'm fine too. So it's not because of the accent, but it was a good way, like how they structured the dialogue in their heads and when they change the positions, it ended up being a totally different conversation.

Gurasis:

That's cute. Yeah, okay. Do you have a favorite cultural festival or celebration in Canada, and how do you usually celebrate it?

Rafael:

not really, because this is actually one thing that I was thinking about today that I came here.

Rafael:

I live here one year and a half, but it's all about working and try to solve life here and I did have more time to really experience the life here, like to travel. I just went to quebec one day, like some weekends, but I would say I would say, uh, halloween, because in brazil the halloween culture is not that much. This is starting, but was the first time that I came that I really see halloween, like kids on the streets asking for candies and people like I went to the metro, that the supermarket here and I entered and I see, I see I saw harry potter, like oh my god, but it was like a employer, the place, and then I realized, okay, the cashiers, everyone is disguised and that for me was was like, even though it's not very canadian, I think starts in united states or england, I don't know yeah but halloween was for me, was the first like cultural celebration that took me like, okay, that's very, and it was the first time that I disguised myself, first time, oh, okay, yeah, so it was very meaningful.

Gurasis:

Okay, what's that one Brazilian habit that you refuse to let go of, no matter where you live?

Rafael:

Shower two times a day, really, yeah. Shower in the morning, shower at night, night, and I try to sleep without showering. It's not possible. I have to take two showers every day yeah, okay, sometimes you don't need it because you stay at home the whole day. You already showered, but there's something in my mind that before I go to sleep, go to bed, I need to shower again. So two showers, okay, two showers a day to sleep, go to bed.

Gurasis:

I need to shower again. So two showers, okay, two showers a day, interesting. If your life were a movie, what title would it be? Wow, how about life beyond borders?

Rafael:

life beyond borders. But I was about to think about one, like I would say the only chance, because I see life as one chance. We have one chance to do things here. That was driving me because, like, life can end any second and as far as we know, it's just one chance. If we had more lives we'd be great, but if I live, life is just one chance. So you get into the stage, you have one chance. It's just one opportunity. After that it's over. So I would say one chance.

Gurasis:

Okay, it could also be the word that you taught us.

Rafael:

I would say in Portuguese segue o jogo. It's literally keep playing, keep playing, exactly like it's related with that, because it's just your chances now. Life will end up If you don't take advantage of this chance. It's the only one.

Gurasis:

Tell us about the first friend that you made in Canada.

Rafael:

It's Roshan. It's Roshan, he is Canadian but his parents are from India and, uh, it's a very nice guy. We end up like a root, like the organizer of that event introduces in a cooking event, and he's a very nice guy Like that. That I even told him, I think. Here he came to my, to my home, saturday and he left me one note oh nice, like, uh, like, thank you. And he wrote some words for me like oh, it was the first time I said okay, it was a long time ago before I made a new friend. So I would say, relle, it's a good friend, it's a first friend here in.

Rafael:

Canada, yeah, I love that.

Gurasis:

And what's the one thing Canada does better than Brazil and one thing that Brazil will always do better? Okay.

Rafael:

I would say Canada in general I will not say people, but the government, I don't say. They take good care of the public spaces. So when you go to parks the grass is always clean, there's by the river and so there's a lot of green spaces, so you don't feel of course in downtown you can feel a little bit of overwhelm, but there's always a park nearby, some trees, so I think they some way they organize the city that you can always have some nature around you. So for me it's better what Brazil do. Better, I would say. Strangely enough, at least in Sao Paulo, where I was born, the metro and the train are much, much better than here.

Gurasis:

Really Much better.

Rafael:

This is something that even for us from Brazil, from Sao Paulo, we cannot understand how everything around is a mess, but the metro it's very safe, it's very clean and there's a lot of options for you to go anywhere on city. So totally a different experience. So Brazil do I would say Sao Paulo do better than Canada on metro and public transportation.

Gurasis:

Oh, wow, yeah, it's good testing to know. Is this something you ate for the first time in Canada? Do you like it?

Rafael:

Yeah, what is the name of that dish?

Gurasis:

indian dish with silver oh, that one, that's the butfi butfi okay, this was the first time even though it's not from canada.

Rafael:

It was the first time here and it's delicious amazing oh, okay, perfect.

Gurasis:

And if you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Rafael:

Travel back in time. Travel back in time for me, you are really obsessed with traveling back in time.

Gurasis:

You asked me also to go back in time.

Rafael:

Yeah, no, I'm obsessed with this because the possibility for you to witness what happened, what really happens, because there's some part of our history you never know, like it's totally mysterious, we history you never know, like this is totally mysterious, we guess with some samples or this and that. But the opportunity to go back and witness something like the moment, like I always imagine, like that, and even going to the future, for example, this week, last week, I had two possibilities with my company to take this project or not take this project. And I think it would be very nice if I could travel in the future and see what is going to happen if I take this place, or it's going to happen if I take this place. Time travel would solve all the problems, but it's impossible. So I would say time travel.

Gurasis:

If you could describe yourself as any creature, what would it be?

Rafael:

I would say a travel, if you could describe yourself as any creature, what would?

Rafael:

it be, I would say a wolf, okay, a wolf that can work, that can live in small societies. At the same time, it's open to look around. There's a very nice image of a group, a pack of wolf. The leader walks here and the females walk here and there. So there's a structure in wolf. And also there's a very nice book called the Call of the Wild. They made a movie some years ago with Harrison Ford. There's one story about one dog. It's the point of view of a dog. Okay, there's one story about one dog. It's the point of view of a dog and how he gets in contact with his wild nature. It's through a wolf. So it's a very nice book. The Call of the Wild, it's Jack, something I don't remember the author, but there's a movie. So that image of the wolf and how they get connected for the instinct. So that's why I would choose wolf.

Gurasis:

Lastly, would you describe canada in one word or a sentence?

Rafael:

I would say possibilities. Possibilities because, uh, at least I came with this mind that I can reinvent myself. There's a lot of tools and possibilities to grow. Because it's multicultural. You see people from different backgrounds. It's relatively safe for me. It's safe for people who disagree with me? No, it's not safe. But it's safe and gives you a lot of possibilities. So I would say possibilities.

Gurasis:

And Rafael, if you could leave me with one piece of advice, what would it be?

Rafael:

Oh, my God, you are asking for the coach that won't accept the opinion Revise or revisit the stories that you have in your mind regularly, like because at the end, we have a bunch of stories in our mind that drive us through life. And also there's this theory that's very interesting that stories are beings, they are alive and the way they multiply is by getting different heads, different brains, and that brain, that person, pass the story over to others. So you can think of religion, like this social political position. It's a story that is multiplying itself by people. So the thing is, some of the stories we have in our mind we didn't choose. It was planted by the culture, by the country, by our parents. So there's these truths we have in our mind. This is truth, this is how life works and this, and that Maybe it's just a story. So sometimes you have to revisit your mind and check if these stories make sense.

Rafael:

There's a very nice book called uh, mental, uh, mental immunity. They call ideas like parasite ideas. So there's some ideas. That is like parasites. They get into your brain, they block other ideas to come in and they allow some fear, like some similar ideas, to get inside. So you see, people who have this religion, who have this political view, and you accept these kind of people because it's just one idea that is accepting disorder and blocking others. So the ideas are fighting one against the other to see how you get this human being and you get this brain. So we are just tools. The stories are using us to multiply. So revisit the stories and check if they make sense or not.

Gurasis:

It's very long answer, but revisit your stories very, very fascinating that does make sense to me, yeah yeah and lastly, afel, how would you describe your experience being on the podcast today?

Rafael:

very meaningful. Very meaningful because you give some inputs that I only by speaking, that we can have. For example, when you said, okay, that maybe that's why you left your country because you see these dead bodies, I never thought about that. So I would say it's very meaningful. By telling me my story and you giving some inputs can really that thing that I said that sometimes someone can drop you one phrase on the word. They completely change the course of your life. So I would say very meaningful. Thank you for your input in to give me this opportunity to be here no.

Gurasis:

Thank you for being so open and, uh, sharing all everything that you can with me and the audience. So thank you for being on the podcast and adding value to me and to my listeners.

Rafael:

Thank you thank you, thank you very much.

People on this episode

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Gurasis Singh

Host
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Rafael Rodrigues

Guest