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 Jeito = a way. Jeitinho = way of doing things.
The deadline for my eco jewellery collection is Monday. At least that’s
what the contract says. But the pieces won’t be ready…by far. So I’m
stressed. I try not to, but I am.
I made the contract six weeks ago. At that time I was already
worried. Because I know that people promise but not deliver. Or deliver
but very, very late. I was worried so I discussed it with a friend. He
told me not to put the deadline on the day of my flight but one week
earlier. That would give me space to breathe. And renegotiate if
necessary. I have come to that point now. Because the work is delayed.
Maybe even so delayed that I can’t take it back to Amsterdam next week.
I’m in doubt on what to do. Because I like my partners, they’re like
friends. And I don’t know how to behave now. Angry, pushy, friendly,
understanding. I don’t know. I need jeitinho.
When you come to Brazil, you have to know about jeitinho.
There are rules and laws in this country, but people always find ways
to work around them. The principle is simple: if you do something for
me, I do something for you. This implies that you have to build a
relationship with somebody. You have to drink beers together, chat for
hours and become friends in the end. Amizade is what they call it here
and it’s closely intertwined with jeitinho. Because when you’re
dealing with a friend and not with a business partner, a contract is
simply some words written on paper. You can say you have a personal
problem and can not deliver the work in time. A friend says: ‘I feel so
sorry for you’. A business partner doesn’t pay. That’s jeitinho. It’s complicated.
In these kind of situations I often feel like jumping off a cliff into
the unknown deep. Like the picture I took of my friend when we climbed
one of Rio’s highest peaks last Sunday.
As for the jewellery collection: I just keep my fingers crossed. And
hope all the pieces will be with me when we launch in two weeks time.
Se Deus Quiser.
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