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Anderson Henrique Tenorio Vila Nova Vice: Tell us something about the place where you grew up. Anderson: I’m from Recife in the northeast of Brazil. I was living there with my parents until I was 25. It’s kind of a big city, with a population of about 3 million. It was the first stop for the Dutch when they colonized Brazil in the 1600s. They actually burned down one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. I think the Portuguese eventually chased them away. Is that why you came to Holland? To get revenge? No. [laughs] I first came to Holland for business. I worked at the Brazil office of a Dutch company and had to visit some factories in Amsterdam. The city somehow appealed to me, so I decided to go back and spend my summer in Europe. I never got beyond Amsterdam. How come? Well, I remember walking down the street from Central Station to Dam Square, and I fell in love immediately. I instantly felt connected with Amsterdam. What? You liked that ugly tourist trap? It’s one of the shittiest places in the city! I know, but I just liked the vibe of the street. It made me feel welcome. But that wasn’t the only reason I stayed. I also met someone special during that week. I stayed with him the rest of my holiday, and we fell in love. Legally speaking, it was easier for me to come to Holland, because he would never have gotten a visa in Brazil seeing as he was in a relationship with a man. Is that why you left Brazil? Homophobia? No. I come from a loving family and being gay was never an issue, even though I wasn’t open about it. My dad always referred to my boyfriend as my “special friend,” but that’s just the way it works in Brazil. They accept but don’t mention it. I think that Brazil is a pretty good place to be gay, especially compared with other Latin American countries. I was happy in Brazil and had a lot of friends and a good job. It was a hard decision for me to leave, especially because in Brazil it’s common for people to take care of their parents when they get old. Do you regret moving here? Definitely not. I’ve lived in Amsterdam for eight years now, and it has become my home. There were difficulties, though. Learning the language was awful. It’s still frustrating. But I do love Holland, especially the way everything is organized here in terms of infrastructure and society. Brazil isn’t nearly as orderly. How are things going now? Well, I have a different boyfriend now… It’s already been five years. But I’m still very good friends with my ex—he is like family. I work at a bank four days a week, and I spend almost all my spare time on music. I organize parties, but I’m a DJ too, and I have produced some tracks. Holland is definitely a good place for electronic music. INTERVIEW BY GIJS VAN DER SANDEN PHOTO BY ERIK ARASH FATEHI
Jessica Lais Dultra Quartucci Vice: Jessica, tell us about the storied path that led you here. Jessica: I was born in Paranavaí, a town in the south of Brazil. I lived there until I was eight years old. My father died when I was two, and my mother later married a Dutch man. We went to Bergeijk in the Netherlands to live with my step-grandparents for a few months, and then, when our house was finished in Retie, Belgium, we moved. How long has it been now, and what do you do with your time? We’ve been living here for about 12 years now. I study tourism in Hasselt and live in Antwerp. What do you remember most about your youth in Brazil? I remember a lot, actually. I grew up in the guesthouse in my grandparents’ garden. My grandfather’s brother lived next door with his wife, daughter, and her kids. If I had a fight with my mother, I always snuck out the window and went to my grandmother’s. She always calmed me down and gave me advice. Every night, I did my homework with my grandfather, sitting on his lap in his easy chair. He still has that chair to this day. How often do you return to visit your family? In grade school, we went back once or twice a year, for at least a month at a time. But since high school, it has only been possible to go every other year because it’s kind of a big trip back to Paranavaí. Apart from the 12-hour flight, you have to sit on the bus for another ten hours. But it’s worth it. Once you’re there, you see all your friends and family. There’s good weather, good food, and no crap with your parents—it’s all about freedom! Brazilians have a reputation for knowing how to have a good time. What’s the secret? It depends on where you are and what you like. In big cities like Rio or São Paulo, there is a bit of everything for everyone. You have that in towns like mine, but on a smaller, simpler scale. People really come together on the weekends. Gas stations are a common Saturday-night meeting place, crowded with cars, people, loud music, and drinking. When I’m there I usually drive around with my cousins and end up at a party or a club. What are the main differences between Brazilians and Belgians? In Brazil, people are much more open and a lot less hypocritical. I missed that mentality when I started going out here. In Belgium, you go out with your own little gang and stay with them the whole night. It’s not that it can’t be fun, but in Brazil you go out with three people and you end up with a group of 20. It’s easier to make new friends there. Do you prefer Brazilian or Belgian boys? Japanese, actually! But if I had to choose, it would be Belgian. There are more guys walking around here that are my type: alternative, long hair, and tattoos. You don’t find that as easily with Brazilian guys. INTERVIEW BY KENNETH VANHOUTTE PHOTO BY DENNIS PIETERS
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