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Relationship between states resembles a marriage - interview with
Brazil's Ambassador
NEWS.AM
February 03, 2013 | 00:01
By Anna Ghazaryan
YEREVAN.- Armenian News - NEWS.am continues a series of interviews
with diplomats working in Armenia. This time Brazil's Ambassador to
Armenia Mrs. Marcela Maria Nicodemos told about difficulties of a
diplomatic job, her life in Armenia and favorite Brazilian dish.
Does you working day differ in various countries?
Yes, of course you have different relationship with the local
government. The relationship can be equally good in different
countries but the projects that you conduct and the way that local
people react to the proposals is different. For instance, we had a lot
of cultural activities here that helped Armenian people to know better
Brazilian culture. It is a new embassy; it opened in 2006, so there
are many things to be done. So, we have to establish priorities,
unlike in the countries which have a long history of relations with
Brazil. Relationship between the states is like a marriage: when you
get married at the beginning everything is easy, but with time things
start becoming complicated. You know the person better, and he knows
you, but you must act more careful not to get into trouble.
What do you think is the strongest diplomatic tool?
It is the capacity to relate well with other people and to accept the
differences that any diplomat and any person can find between his own
country and other state. He must appreciate these differences. It is a
way of enriching himself, working together with people and government
of the country he or she is living. This can be enrichment for both
countries. If you do not accept, if you have no tolerance to the
foreign culture, you will not be able to be a diplomat at all.
Which are advantages and disadvantages of your job?
The advantage is an opportunity to travel, to meet new people, to live
on a daily basis with people of different cultures. It is not the same
like traveling as a tourist. As a tourist you are going to see the
good things, but not the difficulties any country experiences in
everyday life. A disadvantage is sometimes you have a language
barrier. There is always a way to communicate but sometimes it is more
difficult. Coming to the other side of the world and speaking a Latin
language, totally different with Armenian alphabet, creates certain
difficulties. But it is not something you cannot overcome. I regret
the fact that I did not make the decision to take serious studying the
language. I know only `mi kich' (a little bit) `shnorakalautyun'
(thanks), `barev zez' (hello), `inchpesek' (how are you),
`kamac-kamac'(step by step). Armenian alphabet is very difficult.
There are still more men in politics and diplomatic corpses. Do you
think this job is more difficult for a woman? Is it easy to
communicate with officials who are mostly men?
In global meaning we have accepted that a woman has the same capacity
as a man. But it is still one of the main difficulties for a woman to
join the diplomatic career and climb the highest post, combining
professional and personal life. If you want to get married to have
children, you must have an understanding husband, who I am lucky to
have, and to be able to divide your time between work and family,
without hurting any of them. I am very lucky person in this sense, my
husband and my sons always accompanied me. Women are becoming
professionals in all spheres. We were one of the first, at least Latin
American states, to have a woman president, but there is still a long
way to go.
When we say Brazil we imagine beaches, Rio de Janeiro, carnival,
coffee and football. How did you imagine Armenia before coming here?
Where there any stereotypes?
To tell you quite frankly, I did not have any stereotypes. The first
thing that came to my mind was my diplomatic colleagues of the
Armenian origin. But I did not have much idea of the country. I
started studying the history. We have to be confirmed by the Brazilian
parliament before going to a new country, so I studied a lot. I was
really surprised at your long history and culture, and all that you
achieved through years.
What would you advise your successor? Would you warn him/her against
something in Armenia, may be about weather?
No, I have worked in Canada before coming here. It was - 25, it was
terrible. I would tell my successor that it is a country where it is
very easy to relate to other people. You are very generous. I always
find it impressive: you can visit an Armenian just to say `hello, how
are you' and he will make you sit down and offer you coffee, lots of
food. It is something you do not see in most countries. In Brazil
people can ask you `would you like a cup of coffee' but not much
beyond that.
I would tell him we have no problems in diplomatic relations with
Armenia and you have to see many things in Armenia and it is a safe
place to be.
Is there anything you miss being out of Brazil?
My husband once told me one thing that I came to realize is true - the
last thing you let go from your native country is food. Sometimes I
want to eat for example pćo de queijo, Brazilian cheese bread. The
first thing I do when I come to Brazil, I go to one of coffee shops at
the airport to eat cheese bread. Sometimes I miss the language, too. I
spend 90 percent of my time speaking English, French or Spanish. I
sometimes miss speaking Portuguese.
Brazil's Ambassador
NEWS.AM
February 03, 2013 | 00:01
By Anna Ghazaryan
YEREVAN.- Armenian News - NEWS.am continues a series of interviews
with diplomats working in Armenia. This time Brazil's Ambassador to
Armenia Mrs. Marcela Maria Nicodemos told about difficulties of a
diplomatic job, her life in Armenia and favorite Brazilian dish.
Does you working day differ in various countries?
Yes, of course you have different relationship with the local
government. The relationship can be equally good in different
countries but the projects that you conduct and the way that local
people react to the proposals is different. For instance, we had a lot
of cultural activities here that helped Armenian people to know better
Brazilian culture. It is a new embassy; it opened in 2006, so there
are many things to be done. So, we have to establish priorities,
unlike in the countries which have a long history of relations with
Brazil. Relationship between the states is like a marriage: when you
get married at the beginning everything is easy, but with time things
start becoming complicated. You know the person better, and he knows
you, but you must act more careful not to get into trouble.
What do you think is the strongest diplomatic tool?
It is the capacity to relate well with other people and to accept the
differences that any diplomat and any person can find between his own
country and other state. He must appreciate these differences. It is a
way of enriching himself, working together with people and government
of the country he or she is living. This can be enrichment for both
countries. If you do not accept, if you have no tolerance to the
foreign culture, you will not be able to be a diplomat at all.
Which are advantages and disadvantages of your job?
The advantage is an opportunity to travel, to meet new people, to live
on a daily basis with people of different cultures. It is not the same
like traveling as a tourist. As a tourist you are going to see the
good things, but not the difficulties any country experiences in
everyday life. A disadvantage is sometimes you have a language
barrier. There is always a way to communicate but sometimes it is more
difficult. Coming to the other side of the world and speaking a Latin
language, totally different with Armenian alphabet, creates certain
difficulties. But it is not something you cannot overcome. I regret
the fact that I did not make the decision to take serious studying the
language. I know only `mi kich' (a little bit) `shnorakalautyun'
(thanks), `barev zez' (hello), `inchpesek' (how are you),
`kamac-kamac'(step by step). Armenian alphabet is very difficult.
There are still more men in politics and diplomatic corpses. Do you
think this job is more difficult for a woman? Is it easy to
communicate with officials who are mostly men?
In global meaning we have accepted that a woman has the same capacity
as a man. But it is still one of the main difficulties for a woman to
join the diplomatic career and climb the highest post, combining
professional and personal life. If you want to get married to have
children, you must have an understanding husband, who I am lucky to
have, and to be able to divide your time between work and family,
without hurting any of them. I am very lucky person in this sense, my
husband and my sons always accompanied me. Women are becoming
professionals in all spheres. We were one of the first, at least Latin
American states, to have a woman president, but there is still a long
way to go.
When we say Brazil we imagine beaches, Rio de Janeiro, carnival,
coffee and football. How did you imagine Armenia before coming here?
Where there any stereotypes?
To tell you quite frankly, I did not have any stereotypes. The first
thing that came to my mind was my diplomatic colleagues of the
Armenian origin. But I did not have much idea of the country. I
started studying the history. We have to be confirmed by the Brazilian
parliament before going to a new country, so I studied a lot. I was
really surprised at your long history and culture, and all that you
achieved through years.
What would you advise your successor? Would you warn him/her against
something in Armenia, may be about weather?
No, I have worked in Canada before coming here. It was - 25, it was
terrible. I would tell my successor that it is a country where it is
very easy to relate to other people. You are very generous. I always
find it impressive: you can visit an Armenian just to say `hello, how
are you' and he will make you sit down and offer you coffee, lots of
food. It is something you do not see in most countries. In Brazil
people can ask you `would you like a cup of coffee' but not much
beyond that.
I would tell him we have no problems in diplomatic relations with
Armenia and you have to see many things in Armenia and it is a safe
place to be.
Is there anything you miss being out of Brazil?
My husband once told me one thing that I came to realize is true - the
last thing you let go from your native country is food. Sometimes I
want to eat for example pćo de queijo, Brazilian cheese bread. The
first thing I do when I come to Brazil, I go to one of coffee shops at
the airport to eat cheese bread. Sometimes I miss the language, too. I
spend 90 percent of my time speaking English, French or Spanish. I
sometimes miss speaking Portuguese.