Alexandre Borges' Diary
2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I’m very proud to have been selected to participate in the Earthwatch fellowship program, especially as it is a program fully supported by Alcoa.
My name is Alexandre de Almeida Borges (just Alexandre please!). I’m 27 years old and work for Alcoa’s Alumar Consortium in São Luís, Brazil, as a mechanical engineer for the industrial vehicles department.
I joined Alcoa in 2006 in that very department. I work with 180 other department employees on maintenance, operations, and projects involving approximately 250 industrial vehicles. In my position, I’m responsible for keeping up both equipment availability and crew morale for connecting the metal production and all related services in Alumar.
I’m married to Rosana and have a four-year-old son named João. Both are also part of this adventure I’m about to begin on Costa Rica’s sustainable coffee.
Last year, I was really on alert for the announcement that Earthwatch applications were being accepted, because I was so frustrated to have missed the 2006 deadline. When the chance arose, I filled in all the forms and described my job and part of my routine dedicated to environment, health, and safety at Alumar. At that time, I thought I could have been more incisive, although I was relaxed because I have never been good at earning prizes of any type.
Time passed, and soon it was Brazilian carnival. I had not checked my email for a couple of days during that holiday when I decided to take a look at my mailbox just before leaving for a carnival party. I was curious about an email entitled 2008 Alcoa Earthwatch Fellowship Program and then amazed when I first read “Congratulations!” Carnival was transformed into a celebration with my wife at home and later on together at a São Luís nightspot.
I have to say that I was really happy and incredulous that I was one of the 15 selected from the other 240 people who also applied to Alcoa’s Earthwatch program.
I hope you enjoy my diary!
Monday, March 31, 2008
I’m the kind of person who pays attention to the little details when it comes to traveling. Since day one after the Earthwatch announcement, I started to read about Costa Rica and the sustainable coffee project.
I also proceeded with the required health checkup by committing to Alumar’s yearly physical exam. With that in hand, I could have Alumar’s physician fill out the Earthwatch health form.
I next had to renew my passport. I scanned that plus the Earthwatch profile form and liability release and digitally submitted them to Earthwatch. I believe I’ll have the travel details form soon once I send an international travel authorization request to my leadership in accord with our international travel policy. I hope I’ll have the paperwork finished soon.
Changing the subject, I’ll have to exercise to get in good shape, because back home we had a nice Easter with plenty of chocolate.
By the way, most of this year’s Earthwatch fellows participated in conference call with Alcoa’s environmental affairs staff and the Earthwatch staff to learn more about the program and how important it is for Alcoa. Some Alcoa employees who participated in prior years gave us interesting advice on behavior and rules so the experience goes smoothly. They said not to miss the physical condition points stated in our briefings and also to bring plenty of snacks while on the expedition because of the simple living conditions some of us will experience.
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Earthwatch Institute
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Costa Rica's Sustainable Coffee
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