About me

Once upon a time...

in a land called Brasilis, far far away from here …

There was a girl who liked mixing things, drawing, just as all children like to do.

But she was someone who was inventing her own theories to explain how the digestive system works, dreaming about going to Japan, traveling around the world … and she was just six.

Ten years later, when she was sixteen, as her family couldn’t send her at the Beauxbatons Magic Academy, she just went to technical school where she studied chemistry during 4 years. And she enjoyed it so much that she went to university, to the chemical engineering school. And believe me, it was not that easy, but she even found her charming prince ;)

She never could carry through her dream to go to Japan (anyway, it doesn’t matter) but she left Brasilis land to live in France. France! Land of castles! Although she’s not living in one of them, she’s quite happy forever.

 

But, what the girl didn’t know is that she had a very special ALCAN DAY waiting for her in a close future …

Yes, that’s me. Let’s be a bit serious. This is not a fairy tale, just normal life, but for me, it’s almost one! I enjoy my choices, I like surprises and challenges. And in an ordinary way, I could say … (sorry, ordinary way is often a bit boring, so I’ll try to make it short)

Aline, her studies, her experiences

My name is Aline; I was born in Brazil, I lived there for 22 years, with my parents, my sister and my three dogs. I got married two years ago and now I’m living in France with my husband.

In Brazil I did a technical school (COLTEC) in chemistry, and a technical internship in a mining company called CVRD. There, I worked in quality control and x-ray lab and I almost fell in love with raw material processing. At CVRD, I learned a lot about iron ore, gold ore and human relationships at work. It was a nice working atmosphere and my favorite moments were to have a 4x4 ride in the iron mine (an open-cast one) to see the giant 630 tons Caterpillar 797B trucks and diggers.

Then, I decided to study industrial processes in the chemical school of the ‘Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais’ – UFMG, where we are about 30 000 students distributed in all different areas. It’s a great university, where students have the opportunity to start researching so early in their studies so I did it during 3 years. Initially, I’ve been in a material lab, where I researched on ceramics and bones properties; after a while I moved to a food engineering lab, where I worked on new methods to analyze coffee and tea beverages for a Minas Gerais farmer association.

At the UFMG, I also studied English and German, because I had plans to go to Germany to participate to an exchange program. But as life always has some surprises for us, I got the opportunity to come to France, at the ‘Ecole des Mines de Saint Etienne’- EMSE. During the first year, I studied one semester at the EMSE and did an internship in the French navy. I got really lucky! There, using high pressure chromatography I studied the algal populations in the Gascogne gulf. It helped to determinate the submarine routes according to the turbidity of water.

In the EMSE, I’ve been studying broader engineering topics. Since I arrived, I’ve been learning chemical processes but also dynamic systems, nuclear physics, geology, civil engineering, financial management, quality, metallurgy, ceramics, marketing of innovation, and so on.

If you are interested to know more about my studies and professional experiences, you can get a look in my CV: Download cv_aline.doc

Through this school I’ve been learning a lot of new things, meeting French people, learning about the French culture and way of life. When I arrived here, first thing I noticed is that French students are not as receptive as Brazilian students are. But, once you show them what you’re able to do, they open their arms and step by step, you’ll do a lot of friends. And the French friends I have now, I love them all! As my school is a very international I did a lot of foreign friends as well!

And thanks to the EMSE I’m here today, with such a great opportunity to participate to this program, with my newest friends: we all make such a great ALCAN TEAM!

Her hobbies, her passions

Now, let’s turn the ‘serious mode’ off again! ;)

…and talk about the greatest part of being in France! Ah OUI! The charm of Paris, the Eiffel tower (my favorite monument), all the Peugeot cars in the streets, the Brittany coast, the Alps mountains and valleys, the nature, the ‘Raclette’ and ‘Tartiflette’, the hachis Parmentier (with true potatoes please)! I miss the Brazilian specialties I used to eat, but in France we can eat so well too.

It was also in France that I discovered some new passions: the snow and the ski! Oh Gee, I really LOVE it! Fortunately Saint Etienne, the town I’m currently living, is the best place to live for someone who loves the snow. Here, we almost go to school skiing, there was so much snow this year.

My first ski experience was the 31st December 2004. I’ll never forget how many times I fell, but I never gave up. And yet, that first day of skiing, I was able to ski some slopes! Thanks to my ‘honey’ that was there to prevent me from falling and to stand me up each time!

Well, I have to say these are just some of my passions: I also LOVE cars, specially the sport ones! And I’m waiting for a piloting training course for my next birthday! ;)  My favorite car is the Eclipse, from Mitsubishi. Unfortunately I never saw one in France (though I never go out without paying attention, and I’ve been doing so since I arrived!) but… I’m planning to bring one from Canada.

By the way, here on the photo, it is not my one. Actually, it was in Brazil, I saw someone getting parked and I ran towards him to ask to take a picture of me inside. He laughed and said "Sem problema!". I was so happy : it's my favorite model, 1999's red one.

My favorite planes are the ones with skis which can land on snow and it is the Boeing 777 that impresses me most. Yes, I like planes as well, and I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a whole Rio de Janeiro – Paris flight in the cockpit! Traveling in a jump-seat is not that comfortable, but it was unbelievable, especially when we were over Moroccan desert and Atlas Mountains. It was so beautiful! Being married with an air traffic controller makes me almost a pilot! Specially close to his exams when I need to play the pilot role for his training. We do a great team!

As normal passions, I like reading, going to cinema, studying chemistry, learning new languages, listening to music, talking to friends, calling to Brazil, doing some silly jokes …

I come from Brazil, I like speleology science; my favorite ice cream is stracciatella, my favorite place on earth is everywhere; the coldest place I’ve been is St Etienne in the winter; the hottest one is Britany two summers ago.

Any more questions? I’m there to answer whatever you want to know!