Fernando SABOYA – Brazil
University of Gustave Eiffel
« It is not easy for anyone to leave their country, their culture … the difficulties are immense: the official papers, the language, housing, health insurance, school, etc. but this could be much more difficult if we did not have the interest of this society to have us here and the fantastic support from the association Chercheurs Etrangers à Nantes, its cultural activities of integration, language courses, personal contact and document processing along with local authorities, assistance in obtaining social insurance among other things, were crucial for our stay here. »
Fernando SABOYA – Brazil
It is with great honor that I, Fernando Saboya, Civil Engineer, University Professor in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, received this mission to speak on behalf of all of us researchers who chose France to improve our qualification.
Many questions arise at this time, but the main one would be: Why France? Well, it is likely that each one of us has its own particular reason, but before trying to respond to this situation, I would like to mention quite a few names:
Foucault, Pasteur, Descartes, Pascal, Laplace, Gay-Lussac, Lavoisier, Marie-Curie, Eiffel and many others … What really do they have in common? They are scientists without whom the world would be different, much worse, of course. What else? They are French … For those who do not know, France occupies the fourth place in the world in number of Nobel Prizes.
This, undoubtedly, shows the appreciation and the ability that this country has for science and, therefore, whatever has been the reason for our choice, there is no doubt that we are in the right place.
Of course, most of us are very small in front of all these giant names, but still, it was here in this country that I received one of the highest honors in my entire professional life and it is right here in my passport. I have had visas in many countries around the world, but only here, in France, I received a kind of visa that filled me with pride and showed me that I was making the right decision to come here. Here’s stamped – Visa Type: Talent. Isn’t this fantastic?
However, the best was yet to come. Science aside, it was here in Nantes where I found the most friendly and helpful people in all my travels around the world. From the bank manager to the most humble vendor in the wonderful Talensac market, everyone is extremely well mannered, gracious and helpful. And next to us, always helping us with that unforgettable smile in the face, are two people who meet all these qualities: Soline and Morgane from Chercheurs Etrangers à Nantes … Thanks for everything you have done for us!
It is not easy for anyone to leave their country, their culture … the difficulties are immense: the official papers, the language, housing, health insurance, school, etc. but this could be much more difficult if we did not have the interest of this society to have us here and the fantastic support from the association Chercheurs Etrangers à Nantes, its cultural activities of integration, language courses, personal contact and document processing along with local authorities, assistance in obtaining social insurance among other things, were crucial for our stay here. Only a country with a great appreciation for science has an institution like Chercheurs Etrangers à Nantes. Also, I cannot fail to mention the importance of the support and hospitality of many others who crossed our path in this wonderful city.
Today, 6 months after my arrival, unfortunately I still do not have enough skills to speak in French here at this moment, but that does not mean that I do not feel a little bit Nantais. My daughter and I are even part of the yellow wall – The supporters of Nantes Football Club. Allez Nantes gagner!!… We love the Loire and the Erdre, the wines of the Loire, the gateau nantais, the place Royale, the Chateau, the machines of the island, the Talensac, the Maison des Chercheurs Etrangers and, mainly, the people of this city.
If I were an authority in my country, in return for the Visa Talent, I would institute an exclusive visa for all Nantais to stamp in their passport: Kindness.
For all this, I would like to finish with only three small words, but which sum up a lot what we feel when we arrive here: Vive La France !
