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international

Excuse me if I am intruding too much into your
personal space, but do you allow yourself to
professionally advise your husband on how your
family, including your children, should interact
with the diplomatic community over the years?
My husband and I are good friends and between
us always freely communicate our ideas and the
same with our kids. Our interaction with the
diplomatic community over the years has been
very enriching for us and occurs in the most
natural way through the different encounters and
situations and fortunately our children, (today
adults with specific interest) always interacted
easily with our friends of the diplomatic for me, a time for adaptation and for feeling at ease and inspired. As
community. Therefore, our interaction with the I always said, nobody can complain of living in Geneva which offers
diplomatic community has never been a theme such a very good quality of life, a very interesting international activity,
for advice and had never been imposed on our beautiful natural surroundings, an excellent geographical localization
children, who, in general, enjoyed better the in Europe and one of the most beautiful countries to discover and
company of their own group of friends from enjoy.
different backgrounds.
The most important changes that this time Geneva brought for me was
Could you identify key words that define the possibility of starting considering myself more as an artist. Before
communication in a diplomatic environment? arriving in Geneva, I had participated in some collective exhibitions
Respect, trust and discretion, in New Delhi and Moscow, but it was in Geneva that I had my first
solo exhibition. During the exhibition some pieces were acquired by
Tell us how you feel in Geneva and what changes people for whom my works had some meaning or produced a particular
your husband’s assignment at the UN in Geneva emotion. In my opinion this is the most important thing for an artist.
has brought for you.
This is the second time we have been assigned What goals do you set for yourself here in Geneva as an ambassador’s
to Geneva. The first time we came, 37 seven wife, related to cultural diplomacy or philanthropy?
years ago, we were recently married, this was At the moment the most important goal is to fulfill the expectations
my husband’s first diplomatic position, and for deposited in the Brazilian Mission and in my husband who is this
me that was the first time I was not working, year the Chairperson of the UNWG Bazaar which we consider a very
after serving as a Diplomat in Paris (at the important activity for the cause it represents. In the last years Brazil has
Honduran Mission to UNESCO first and then in participated in the Bazaar, with two stands presenting the rich Brazilian
our Embassy to France). Having time enough I gastronomy and the variety of their national product coming from
decided to continue studying and I went to the different states of Brazil and also presenting some cultural activity. This
University of Geneva to Study Sociology, while year we will keep both stands, the cultural presentations and we are
my husband was very busy at the Brazilian working on concretizing different ideas to have a very successful
Mission. Geneva was a very pleasant post from Bazar. For that all we are counting of course on the enthusiasm of
where we moved to Ecuador with our little son all the voluntary members working on its organization and on the
born in Geneva, so our links with Geneva are enthusiasm of the international community in Geneva supporting
very special. In this second assignment, after our UNWG philanthropic cause.
living experiences in many different countries,
arriving in Geneva was full of mixing feelings Which encounters with people and places in Switzerland will leave
and expectations. the most lasting impression on your memory of your time here?
The encounters that became a formidable friendship will always be in
My husband is coming in a different position, my memories from Geneva.
today he is a Senior Brazilian Ambassador to
the UN and I am always interested in having
a professional activity but with an awakened
artistic interest, Geneva represented a new Due to technical reasons, the section in which this interview
challenge to be faced. Even having been living was meant to appear was not correctly indicated in the
in GE 37 years ago, it was necessary, especially printed version of the magazine.

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