A gregarious and strong woman looking for the best for her family and her career, wherever she may be.
Age: 29
Profession/Degree: Urban Planning/Civil Engineering
City/Country: Lisbon, Portugal (Born in Lisbon, grew up in small town called Torres Vedras)
Recently moved from: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Partner: Married to Philip Martini
Children (significance of name): Alexander, 6 months, they needed to find a name that worked in both Portuguese and German.
Favorite Songs/Artists: Eryka Badu Featuring Stephen Marley "In Love with You" and Nina Simone "Feeling Good"
Yann & Nicki: What did you leave behind in your home country that you miss the most? What was your typical day like?
MPM: Lisbon, I miss it the most. I lived in a small town where my parents still live and moved to Lisbon when I was 18 for college and was there until I moved to the States 3 1/2 years ago. When I am away, I do not miss it much. But when I go back, I realize how much I miss it: the weather, the river, my friends! My dream would be to go back one day and live there.
Typical day in Detroit: I was working until I had Alexander. I would get up at 630am, which was really hard for me, since I am not a morning person. I would start work at 8am. In Portugal I would start at 9 or 930am, so this was really early. I would drive 30 mins to the office, work all day, have lunch with my colleagues and come home around 6pm. There was always something going on. Philip would come home around the same time and we would have diner or go to the movies or out with our friends.
Y&N: Where in Portugal would you recommend we visit?
MPM: Lisbon! There is a little tour that I like to do. First, the older part of town with the monuments and then the newer part where the Expo is. The center is really nice with little corner shops. It is very pedestrian, so you can walk all around. It is a little like Lausanne because it is hilly. At night, there is this area in town where every door is a bar and the people are really happy and enjoying themselves. Chiado and Bairro Alto are the places to go out.
Magui and Philip in the background, her parents on the right
Y&N: What was your reaction when Philip got accepted and you found out you were relocating to Switzerland?
MPM: It was very hard. The automotive industry was not doing so well and we had an option to relocate to Germany, but the opportunities were not that great there, either. Philip always wanted to get his MBA and it was always our Plan B. Until it became our Plan A. It happened so quickly and we had to decide in two weeks and I was pregnant. I tried talking to other partners about what life was going to be like and kept hearing that I would never see Philip. It was hard, I was going to a new place, wasn't going to know anyone and Philip was going to be busy. Our other option was going to Germany and that would have been nice because we have friends there and I speak German but Philip really wanted to do this and I wanted to support him. So here we are.
Y&N: What place have you visited that you liked the most?
MPM: I really liked Brazil. The people there are so nice, so friendly, and so happy. They dance and sing. The landscape is gorgeous and the weather is really nice. Us Portuguese feel like the Brazilians are our brothers or cousins. It is a really nice country and the people always make you feel welcome.
Y&N: A place you really like in Lausanne?
MPM: I really like the Cafe de Grancy. It is something you do not see very much in the US, the little street cafes. I am a coffee freak, so I can go in, have a cappuccino and read a book.
Her homemade cappuccino!
Y&N: What is something you like/dislike about Switzerland? MPM: I like the mountains. I didn't know if I would because I am from a beach country but you can feel the presence of the mountains, it is hard to explain. Sometimes, I walk to the center of the town and sometimes you see the huge mountains surrounding the city. At times it is a little overwhelming. I am sure it influences the people here, the way that people are influenced by geography like they mentioned in our class. I dislike all of the rules. I have not had any bad experiences yet but every tiny little thing you have to pay like the radio and internet. Not being able to walk in the house with shoes because you are afraid that your neighbor will hear you, these little things are annoying.
Y&N: Is there something you would do differently in your life if you had the chance? Any regrets?
MPM: I guess if I could go back I would change what I studied. When I went in, I didn't know what was going to happen. But Urban Planning is such a local degree and my life is not local anymore. Now I have a German husband and it doesn't seem like we are going to be in the same place a lot. So every time we move, I have to find a new job. My degree involves local government, the local city council, using your network and knowing the local laws. If I knew I was going to have this life, I would have studied something a little more global, like business.
Her travel book collection.
Y&N: If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be? MPM: It is a bit of a cliche, but this is the only one that comes to mind, Michelle Obama. I think she is amazing. I am very much a "power to the woman" kind of person. I like strong women in whatever they do, not just careers. I learned this from my mom. She was always working, raising two kids and when we were teenagers she got her Masters. She has always told us "If you want to be good, you have to be twice as good when you are compared to men." I am always fascinated by women who are extraordinary and I think Michelle Obama is. She is intelligent, pretty, has a family. It seems like she was able to do everything and that is what I want for myself. I would love to talk to her and learn from her.
Y&N: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Next year?
MPM: That is very hard. I don't know if I can answer that. It is something we have been talking about. It always seems like it will be Germany. The economy is better there for work and Philip is German. I think it could really be anywhere, but we want to stay in Europe. Now we have our son so we want to be close to our families. I think it might be Germany.
Y&N: What is your favorite word or phrase in French?
MPM: "Je t'aime!" I love French. To me, French is "Je t'aime, mon amour, Paris." It is lovely!
Y&N: What is something about you that most people are surprised by?
MPM: That no one knows? Everyone knows everything about me! Ok, I guess people are surprised that I play the piano and like classical music. I took lessons for 8 years but haven't played for years but it is something I like.
Y&N: Can you tell us something in your native language?
MPM: "Aqui estamos nós na Suíça que é o quarto país onde vivemos juntos. Uma nova aventura. Eu gosto de aventuras. Espero que seja uma aventura também para o nosso filho e que quando crescer possa dizer que esteve aqui com os seus pais e que foi aqui a sua segunda casa. Foi aqui que fomos uma família. Estou com grandes esperanças para este ano."
Yann and I had another great interview. No surprise here! Magui has an outgoing personality that has no doubt served her well in her travels. She claims there is very little people do not know about her because she opens up and shares early on. One thing you may not know about Magui is that she can sing (she will deny this!) While trying to remember the name of the song by Nina Simone, Yann and I got a front row seat to her sing the first line. Wowsers! Is there a karaoke bar in Lausanne? If so, this is our girl.
While we interviewed Magui, Alexander was "dancing" around on the ground. Magui told us he loves to boogey and told us her theory why. Magui was out til 4am the day she gave birth and she likes to say that Alexander couldn't wait to get out and join the party!
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