**Travel Stories - Day 18.08.2024**

Travel Stories

With each passing day, my hope diminished. I wrote to Dyandreia Valverde, a dear friend and president of the Rede Sem Fronteiras (RSF):

— I tried to get sponsorships, and even with my savings, I regret to say that it would only be possible to attend the RSF International Convention through a miracle!

She replied that she would be rooting for me and that miracles do exist!

I sent this message 15 days before the event — a week-long cultural meeting in Mossoró and Fortaleza, from August 19 to 25, full of cultural activities: the burial of the time capsule at the Sertão Museum in Mossoró, visits to cultural and academic institutions, libraries, public schools, cultural and tourist city tours, entrepreneurship fairs, and many more activities.

A week full of enriching experiences in literature, culture, and art. There would also be the launch, with a signing session, of the collection of which I am a co-author — “Sem Fronteiras pelo Mundo”, by RSF itself.

But the most anticipated moment would be the gala ball with the award ceremony, and that was what made my heart ache the most at the thought of not being able to attend…

I had been at the 94th Lisbon Book Fair, at the RSF pavilion, and it was there that I personally received the invitation from dear Dyandreia to join the Network, no longer as a member, but as cultural president of the RSF Switzerland Chapter.

This invitation deeply honored and delighted me, because for me — a relatively new writer, a member for just one year of this internationally renowned cultural entity — it would be a huge responsibility.

The fact that she had “eyes to see” that I was capable, and showed admiration and trust in my work, crowned the path I had begun about a year and a half ago after the release of my first book “Beirando a Loucura” and my work as a life coach and speaker.

The days passed, and with each “no” I received, the dream seemed further away. But I never stopped believing that if it was meant to be, God would provide — and He did!

Nothing in my life fell from the sky. I was born into a simple family and have always fought and worked hard to achieve my goals.

I have always been restless, never complacent — and at the same time, somewhat bold. I have won a lot, but I have also lost a lot financially. Still, I always stayed focused on growing and prospering, believing that if I grew, I could help my family and others.

I tested various financial knowledge I learned throughout life — some worked, some didn’t. Some cost me dearly, but in the end, I gained something no one could take from me: knowledge.

I learned to be resilient and to believe that with every experience — good or bad — I was one step closer to success.

I had made many investments since the launch of my book to become known and promote my work. I participated in book and entrepreneurship fairs, traveled, invested in social media… So a trip to Brazil simply didn’t fit in my budget.

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But I need to say this: nothing I did in life “fit” — and I did it anyway!

What’s the secret? Believing.

Yes, faith that if it was meant to be, He would provide the means, the people, the paths for me to succeed — and it always has.

Many times, through stress, emotional and physical exhaustion, and in the last minute of the game… the “goal” happened. This time was no different.

I spoke with my boyfriend, discouraged, and said:

— I’m sad and discouraged. We’re a week away from the RSF Convention, and I don’t see a way to go. I feel tired; the sponsorships I tried didn’t work, and I can’t cover the expenses on my own!

After some reflection, this time he was the coach, asking the right questions and making me think. He concluded that he wouldn’t let me give up because he recognized how important this trip would be for me and that I was going through a “trial.”

He used my own words: money comes and goes, but moments do not!

And that’s me — I regret what I didn’t do.

“We broke the piggy bank,” and counting the coins, we bought the ticket!

The song I’ve been listening to the most lately is a praise called “God Will Provide”. 😅🙌

I sent a message to the RSF president:

— Hi, Dy! I’ll be with you at the Convention!

She replied with great joy and gave me all the necessary information.

Two days before the trip, I finally had the ticket purchased, hotel booked, registration done, and the schedule read. But that wasn’t all — now the race against time to organize everything began: work, home, suitcases, gala dress, a friend’s birthday, sending books… My trip was supposed to start on Sunday at 9:30 a.m., heading to Zurich Airport, where I would catch the 1:00 p.m. flight to Lisbon/Fortaleza.

I had a full Friday: worked in the morning, accompanied my boyfriend to a vision treatment appointment, did my hair and nails, and in the evening we went to a Brazilian restaurant to celebrate a good friend’s birthday.

I thought I could enjoy this moment of leisure with him and pack my suitcases on Saturday.

On that long, exhausting day, I got home running, needing to get ready for dinner. My boyfriend, already ready, was urging me, but I had to stop to take a phone call that would change everything!

It was Dyandreia, saying that due to her mother’s health, she could not travel to Brazil and would need my help:

— Dear, I have two suitcases with all the trophies, certificates, and materials needed for the Convention events, and I cannot travel. Could you help me?

I immediately agreed to help in any way I could.

It would be necessary for me to travel on Saturday instead of Sunday to pick up the two suitcases from her in Lisbon and continue the trip to Fortaleza.

And so began a long and exhausting search for flights and connections that could make this plan possible.

Our friend and RSF vice president Fábio, Dyandreia’s husband, worked tirelessly to find solutions.

After confirming that, despite the time constraints, I would travel, I sent the necessary documents and gave them full authority to book me on any flight that would achieve the goal.

I hung up and ran to get ready, already very late for dinner.

It was after 2 a.m. when Fábio informed me that he was waiting for confirmation of a 6:00 p.m. Saturday flight and that I would get more information in the morning.

Finally, I went to bed, hoping to get a little rest — and “a little” is really an understatement!

If Sunday was already tight, imagine Saturday!

Ironing clothes, packing suitcases, dealing with issues at the Airbnb apartment and guests who required extra attention — including one who left without returning the key, making cleaning impossible!

Eating? Forget it. No time.

The flight was supposed to depart from Geneva Airport, which I personally dislike because, besides not speaking the language, the airport is confusing, and French-speaking Swiss think the entire world should speak French! 🙄

I had originally planned to go by train, as it is safer and more punctual, but my boyfriend offered to drive me to help.

In a rush, we loaded everything into the car and left. The drive, which normally takes 12 minutes to the Bern central station, took 30 minutes due to an accident — and the inevitable happened: I missed the train, which would have allowed me enough time to reach the airport and drop off my luggage (check-in had already been done).

On the way to the airport, I was talking to my boyfriend, who tried to calm me down, because I was worried I wouldn’t make it to check in my luggage on time.

He started looking for solutions, calling TAP and the airport, discovering how deficient the airline’s call center was.

Meanwhile, Fábio was at the TAP counter in Lisbon, trying to secure another flight for me.

Since I had already checked in, I opened the TAP app and saw that the luggage counter would close at 5:50 p.m. — and I would arrive at 5:27 p.m.

Finally, I could breathe! I sent the screenshot to my boyfriend, who was also relieved.

Meanwhile, Fábio had more success in Lisbon — he was treated kindly and secured the ticket for the Lisbon–Fortaleza flight at 11:00 p.m. that same day.

It was 5:35 p.m. when I reached the check-in counter, and to my misfortune, the TAP counter was shared with six other airlines, and the line was enormous.

I ran to one attendant, who refused to understand any language other than French. I mixed my little French with English to explain that the TAP luggage counter was about to close, but he simply told me to go to the back of the line.

Already frustrated, I saw another attendant, asked him to hold my place, and ran to him. He was a bit more helpful, took my passport, checked the system (even though he wasn’t from TAP), and confirmed that no one from TAP was left at the counter — it would be impossible to check in my luggage.

The stress level had officially reached a new high.

The information in the app didn’t match reality.

I called my boyfriend and Fábio to brainstorm a solution together. I already didn’t like Geneva Airport — now I hated it!

I ran all over the airport searching for a TAP counter, without success. I finally decided to find a left-luggage service, leave my big suitcase there, and travel with only my carry-on, since the event suitcases were the most important.

Finally, I found the left luggage sign, opened the big suitcase, my backpack, and the small bag on the floor, and separated what was less important from what I needed to take with me. The gala dress could not be left out — summer clothes can be bought anywhere!

I left the suitcase at the left-luggage service. Twenty-five minutes until the flight. Believing in miracles — I ran!

Document control, then baggage control. I was quick and focused. I put my backpack and belongings on the conveyor belt. The attendant said I didn’t need to remove anything, not even liquids. I thought: “What luck!”

But on the other side, my backpack was diverted to a second belt, behind ten other bags.

Desperate, I asked the attendant to prioritize my bag, explaining that I would miss the flight. She, with irritating calm, told me to wait. A security guard approached and repeated the order.

Heart in my throat, I waited — which felt like an eternity.

The lady searched my backpack for ten long minutes, removed everything, and found nothing. Finally, satisfied, she showed me the reason: a pen!

Cleared, I calmly gathered my belongings. There was no need to rush anymore. I organized everything at my pace and went to the gate — only to find the flight had already departed.

I sat down, sad and desolate. I knew the nightmare wasn’t over — I had to deliver the news and think of a solution. Voice trembling, tears threatening to fall, extreme exhaustion… I could barely speak on the phone. 🥺

I briefly explained to Fábio what had happened and asked for a moment to compose myself. I called my boyfriend, who comforted me.

The best solution was to retrieve the suitcase from the left-luggage service and check the train back home while Fábio tried to resolve something at the TAP counter.

I got on the train from Geneva to Bern, and as soon as it departed, I heard over the loudspeaker that there was an unexpected interruption on the line and it wouldn’t be possible to continue to the destination.

At that moment, I had a laughing fit… 🤪

Fábio explained that the only solution would be the 6:00 a.m. flight from Zurich to Lisbon. I still had to decide how to get to the airport — take the last train at 12:05 a.m. and spend the night there, or ask my boyfriend to drive me.

We chose the car: departure at 3:00 a.m.

The train took me to Lausanne, where I had to wait 46 minutes for the next train to Bern. I called my boyfriend, who preferred that I return home to rest from the long day — and that’s what I did.

I arrived home, ate the dinner he had prepared... "All you can do is take action; all you cannot do is pray."