I have been living in Rio de Janiero for the past two years now, in my time living here, I have came across some interesting people with really exciting stories. I had the chance to interview Natasha Gierkens Fragas, a local Brazilian living in the city of Rio de Janiero. Natasha is 23 Years old, Manager/Teacher of Focus Idiomas Language School. She is also Married with no Children and a dog.
Two years ago, Natasha realized her dream of becoming a teacher, after almost becoming a pilot. Looking for the perfect opportunity to fulfill her promise, She encountered Paulo Henrique owner of Focus Idiomas in Copacabana. They had their first meeting, when the school was not yet completed but the right moment and the right times presented itself and Natasha was working from home in April 2013 . Three months later, She became a teacher and a coordinator of Focus Idiomas. Organizing the schedules, ordering the materials, hiring the people, and making sure everything was up to date. Then in June 2013,the school officially opened. The first group officially opened in July 2013. After that, In the beginning of January 2015 she was promoted to Manger. She says, in her new position, she says they re were some up sides and down sides. The upside are the increase in pay and the added responsibilities, but the downside is that you have to please all the teachers and all the students. and sometimes it can be difficult. Many times, Natasha added, it can be stressful but she keeps herself calm and relaxed by reading spiritually books and taking massage therapy. She credits many of her success to her parents who has given her the best life possible. They stated, she had gotton great schooling and guidance from her childhood, she hopes her success will be a way of telling them thanks. She uses the opportunities to improve herself and learn and evolve as a person. She now studies at ISERJ University in Rio De Janerio, where she hopes to someday branch out into some bigger.
When I asked Natasha about her opinion hosting the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio, she says, Brazil is has too many problems to host the Olympic Games at this time. She points out the lack of education, schools, and hospitals should be the main focus of Brazil, not the Olympics Games. She shares her disappointment with the lack of interest with the government of the country and the result of lack of investments from last years World Cup Boom in Rio. She added that there hasn't been any returns from world cup and she expects the same for the Olympics. In spite of all the problems,she shares her optimism for the future with hopes of someday affecting change.