«Amor só de Mãe»

Has the move to Portugal been a positive one for you?

It has been wonderful, in so many ways. I experienced so much in Brazil – working with violence, death, illness - that I have really come to value what we have in life. Life is a marvellous experience; one you should throw yourself into - and the quality of life and safety here is very good. When I first moved to Portugal I used to wake up in a panic sometimes, having dreamt of things I’d been through in Brazil. I used to walk about outside thinking I would be attacked at any moment. Slowly, I have relaxed.

Do you feel accepted, as a Brazilian living here?

Most of the time. I think there are two kinds of feelings that run at the same time when the Portuguese look at Brazil and the Brazilian people: enchantment and distrust. There’s a kind of love-hate relationship between the Portuguese and Brazilians – like there is in any “brotherhood relationship” – and particularly now that Brazil has a rapidly developing future. I think people here also resent the way our dialect has changed their spelling. There are definite prejudices, and of course, differences.

The differences being?

Well, particularly when it comes to creativity. Creativity is so important. In Brazil people are creative all the time; very informal. They’ll sing and dance in the street.

They don’t need any excuse. But here people are much more formal, more restrained. There’s less creativity in day-to-day life – which is a great pity, as people develop through creativity, and courage.

How has motherhood changed you? Did it have any bearing on your book?

Becoming a mother brought me the strongest emotion I have ever experienced. I didn’t know there could be such a strong relationship between two people – and yes, it made me think even more about that phrase “Amor só de Mãe”.

Is it difficult to write with two small children at home?

Yes and no. I had the book in my head for well over a year – and I simply didn’t have the time to write it when my eldest was tiny. Finally, there was more time, and I managed to complete it over a couple of months. Now, I have a second book ready in my head (smiles). But I want to leave it there for the time being. I want to see how this first one goes; it will be published in Brazil next year, and I hope to get it translated into English, too – and then may be the time for writing the second one. In the meantime, I will also be studying for my doctorate in psychology…

But you’re not a practising psychologist?

No, I could practise here, but I prefer to research and write. I’m basically interested in global psychology – the psychology of groups. I did my Masters in anthropology, studying the Jewish identity, and in my doctorate research I will be concentrating on two figures connected to this identity in Portuguese history: Branca Dias, from the 16th century, and Aristides Sousa Mendes who saved 30.000 Jews from Nazi persecution during the Second World War.

Do you ever see yourself returning to live in Brazil?

It’s a possibility, but so much has to be considered, and we’d have to be very careful in our choice of town. I certainly wouldn’t think of going back to Recife - although there is not so much street violence now that the huge differences in wealth have become more balanced.