Why become a BraCCA member
February 23rd 2009 03:45
A few friends asked me: Why should I become a BraCCA member? What are the benefits?
Funny that when I say “it’s the right thing to do” they look at me like I’m a bit nuts. Well I am a bit crazy but in this case I’m absolutely in my right mind.
This is one of the reasons I came to Australia, I like doing the right thing, my ethic standards were always on the high side and I find that here people think a bit more like me. By cultural standards we Brazilians sometimes tend to walk on the borderlines, I like to be well within limits, that is all.
So I feel good to be part of BraCCA because it is a way to keep in touch with this part of me that makes my soul sing, or better: dance.
It is said that God makes all right decisions. Had I been born here in Sydney, near the ocean, I would never have been able to appreciate it as much as I do, and I wouldn’t have been this person, this Brazilian that can see the world through a magnific culture’s eyes. Seeing the World through my Brazilian ways give all colours and perspectives I wouldn’t have otherwise. Being Brazilian is being unique in this land.
It is good to feel the embrace of this advantage and there is where BraCCA comes in. To be part of the Brazilian Community Council of Australia you pay only $25 per year (for one person). You will receive the BraCCA News, the printed newsletter where I am publishing my texts from this Blog. In this newsletter there are a lot of interesting information, the regular things like the events coming up and things you don’t imagine are there, ways to help people, specifically Brazilians living here. Issues like immigration, taxes, work related information and how to be a business owner in Australia are always present. So you get your Australian life in touch with your Brazilian roots. Now, the newsletter is being written in both languages, making it suitable for everyone that has interest to our ways as well as to us.
I only found out how good BraCCA was recently, after being here for 5 years, only now I understood how they have been helping people. I love the way they offer to help the Brazilians that are just arriving in Australia, they offer reference letters in exchange of voluntary work, things like that can change lives. I remember when I just got here and how I found out it is priceless to simply meet people.
More than one of my friends told me they completely changed their lives simply by finding the right group of friends. People that thought to go back home decided to stay when they got in touch with a group of friends that were like them.
Being in another country, having difficulties with the language, feeling alone can bring desperation, hopelessness. BraCCA can help a lot. For me, knowing that there is someone doing just that makes me sleep better.
Coming to another country changes a person a lot. While in Brazil I was in a daily struggle just to survive, too embedded in it to have time for others. After moving here I went on a mission and conquered, in time, everything I was looking for: happiness, good quality of life, having fun everyday, so I like to help people that are arriving to achieve that. I give back what my friends and family did for me, (the friends I got here, that barely knew me and still helped me so much, and my cousin that was living here) by helping others that arrive in any occasion that presents itself to me.
I pay back the Universe, God (you can give any name you prefer) and the good things I have by doing what I can when the opportunities arise, BraCCA is on top of all else exactly that: a great way to help and be helped.
www.bracca.org
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