(March 8th 2022: Tijola saying ´hello´at my arrival)
Before my departure to our dog shelter in February 2022, there were several setbacks and complications that continued during my stay in Brazil and cost us quite a bit of work and effort.
In December I was fired in my probationary period due to panic caused by the 3G rules in the workplace, along with other colleagues who were either still on probation or on a temporary contract.
Ultimately, Corona caused us the greatest trouble, which is dragging on to this day and will take quite a while, provided that the global economic situation regulates itself positively again at all.
The unusually long rain season in Brazil, between October 2021 and February 2022, also brought its difficulties. Firstly, the planned concrete foundation in the new dog shelter could not be set, and our hard saved car also suffered damage from the country roads, some of which were impassable , which we now have to regulate.
Because we can't do it without a car.
In addition, my bank advisor invited me to a personal appointment in mid-February and asked me to sign the bank's new data protection guidelines. In this context, the bank advisor also asked me about the movements on my bank account regarding donations and cash withdrawals that are only made in Brazil.
The exchange rate from Euro to Br.Real has collapsed!
I
didn't have a permanent job at the time, but I was in talks with a company that wanted to fill several positions at the beginning of May.
So, as always, there was a lot to do and to clarify...
(exchange rate collapse: Euro to Br.Real, July 2021 until June 2022)
The Job Loss
When the 3G rules in the workplace became law on November 23rd, 2021, our team leader addressed all employees at the following day and announced that from next week everyone who was not vaccinated would have to show an up-to-date PCR test, the costs for this need to be covered by ourselves. A corresponding letter (written by the employer himself) was given to all employees.
Since there were unvaccinated employees in the company, the outrage on the executive floor was just as great as the lack of skilled workers. However, there were also no orders, since a "winter slump" is always to be expected in the company's line of business. The situation caused by Corona, the rules and the new legislation was very confusing for everyone, and in many cases the reaction was unnecessarily hasty and exaggerated.
So it happened that the company - in which I worked - decided at short notice to separate from all employees who were employed on a temporary basis and/or still in a probationary period at the earliest possible date.
After my visit to our dog shelter in Brazil in 2021 (from beginning of May to the end of June), I was looking for a job, had initially accepted a part-time job and was then employed in the new company in mid-August. Due to the above-mentioned change in the law, I was then dismissed on December 3rd, 2021 during a probationary period and my nerves were on edge.
(Barriguda)
Before I started my next trip to the kennel in 2022, I really wanted to find a job beforehand and ideally get hired at the beginning of May. Because finding a new job AFTER visiting Brazil always involves a lot of panic and time pressure.
In fact, I found a retraining course to become a "wagon master in rail freight transport" that was supposed to start in May. I applied immediately, that day (early February) at 6am and surprisingly got a call from the HR department just 7 hours later. During the phone call, I immediately pointed out that I would not be in the country from the beginning of March to the end of April and asked what dates the recruitment process was being planned. Luckily, physical and mental fitness tests could be preempted, so nothing stood in the way of my visit to Brazil.
Only the signing of the contract caused problems, since the postal route between Germany and Brazil is not reliable and is even more affected by the Corona situation, I was only able to sign virtually for the time being and had to hand over the original contract on the first working day. So far everything has worked out and I passed the first test on my way to becoming a "wagon master" at the end of June.
Fortunately, the training is fully paid for, so I don't have any financial losses compared to my previous job and the kennel is not in danger.
Nevertheless, worries about global events always travel with us.
(on the airplane)
The Bank Advisor And The Donations
Our dog shelter "100Hunde" ("100Dogs") is a completely private project. That means we are not an association, I put my private money (which I earn through my work in Germany) into the project, and we don't have to maintain any structures that mean additional financial burdens. The second account, to which my money for the dog shelter is transferred (as well as a few donations) is a private checking account from which the necessary amounts can be withdrawn in Brazil to keep the sanctuary going.
My bank advisor spoke to me about this account and had doubts, also said that I needed a business account for the donations. I explained to her all our circumstances and that I hold a private project to protect stray dogs in Brazil and therefore we are not a "business". Nevertheless, shortly before my departure I was so shaken by these doubts that I canceled all donations to be on the safe side in order to find out more about the law situation and, if in doubt, to find other ways.
A friend who came to see me shortly afterwards sensed my concerns and asked me what was going on, so I told him about it and he immediately called his tax accountant and made an appointment for me. At this appointment I explained the situation to the tax advisor and asked him whether I was doing something wrong or illegal.
He explained:
As long as the purpose of the donations is recognizable as such (e.g. "Donate 100 dogs"), the account is kept separately at best (which is the case), I don't issue donation receipts and in the worst case I can prove invoices, everything is fine. Also, no one-time donations of more than €10,000 should be received, as otherwise the bank may suspect you and this may lead to checks by the tax office.
In our case, however, we don't even need to talk about donations of this magnitude. However, my bank obviously had doubts long beforehand and thus caused a certain amount of panic, so that we opened a Paypal donation account in Jade's name. Thus, the donations go directly to Brazil.
I also brought several 100's of bills and receipts from vet to dog food to building materials from Brazil.
I was not able to win back some donors after the cancellation, which unfortunately almost halved the monthly donations received. And that in times of worldwide inflation...
Despite everything, we are very grateful for those who continue to support us!!!
(bills from the vet, dog food, building material)
(March 25th 2022: street dog ´Branco´ is getting a snack from us)
Our car has suffered a lot in the last 8 months and definitely needs an urgent and extensive repair. The estimate cost including the work performed by our mechanic in Brazil, with a discount of almost 1200 Reais (about 220 Euros), shows a sum of 5450 Reais. The exchange rate between the Euro and Br.Real was 1:4.20 2 months ago and we would then have repair costs of around €1300.
As of today (July 2nd, 2022), the rate is 1:5.55 and lowers the price in euros to €982.
Of course counted in Br.Real, the price for the repair remains the same, but depending on how the exchange rate fluctuates, I have to invest more or less Euros to be able to bring in the corresponding sum X in Br.Real.
So it becomes clear how much our survival depends on the exchange rate and a strong Euro. I check the exchange rate at least once a day to be able to tell Dita specific times when she can withdraw money to get a favorable rate, or when we should wait.
(cost estimate for car repair)
I'm happy this time to be able to start a new job directly after my stay in Brazil, even though the employment relationship began with an accident at work that was caused by someone else and an associated traumatic brain injury and that the retraining will only be successful after passing several, not so easy exams.
This path will not be easy and I may have to prioritize studying for the exams over website maintenance. But the path with the dog farm and all the associated circumstances and efforts has never been easy. It would only be more difficult if there were no supporters who donate to us from time to time.
I can only say it again and again on behalf of all of us: Thank you very much from all of us for the support of these lovely people, and also for being seen by you!!!
(June 19th 2022: Tijola, Pitrika, Areio, Nenem and Guerreira playing)
(June 6th 2022: Diesel warming up at the cooking area)
(April 23rd 2022: first goodbye hug with Pirata)
written July 3rd | 2022
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