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Gypsy girl
Ever dreamt of throwing your cares to the wind and setting off into the sunset? We tracked down one gypsy who has done just that for more than 20 years.
Alessandra de Souza is a gypsy, writer, photographer, illustrator, costume maker and film producer. She says she has a "master's degree in daydreaming" and her best skill is "wandering around the world searching for colourful inspiration and great excuses to be silly and have fun". Here is her story in her words, as told to Elise Pitt.
I'm curious by nature and I love to travel and experience new cultures. I'm drawn to vibrant colours, the ocean, the charm of simple life and the inspiration found in the most ordinary moments. Originally from Brazil, I've travelled extensively over the past 20 years through nearly 30 countries. Since 1995, I've lived in the US, where I created for myself a career as a visual effects producer for Hollywood films, and a lifestyle, that includes one to three months of international adventures every year. Nowadays, I work as a freelance photographer, producer, filmmaker and writer. When I'm not working on an exciting assignment or having an adventure around the globe, I can often be found sipping masala chai, napping in the sunshine or walking the streets of San Francisco with my camera.
I've always managed to incorporate travel into my life, whether I was taking breaks between jobs or doing work that involved some kind of travel. I strive to "travel light", meaning that I don't accumulate a lot of belongings, in order to always be as ready as possible for my next adventure. I stay open to new discoveries. I never leave the house without at least one camera. I am constantly looking for new ways of seeing and embracing the world around me.
I went to Australia on two different occasions, both fantastic trips. The first time was to watch the Total Eclipse of the Sun in 2002. My journey started in Sydney and from there I went to Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Lyndhurst (where a Solar Eclipse Festival took place), then I drove through the desert all the way up to Ayers Rock and Alice Springs. From there, back to the coast near Brisbane (Byron Bay area) and all the way down to Sydney. The second time, I went to Australia was for work, to shoot the movie Charlotte's Web on a farm outside Melbourne. I lived in Melbourne for about four months while working on that project, and loved every inch of that city.
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The benefits of a gypsy lifestyle are infinite. But what draws me in is the continuous growth and learning that comes from experiencing other cultures. I'm always blown away by how much my mind, heart and soul expand, as I step away from my everyday concerns to welcome new ways of thinking and living.
You can absolutely live a life like this without quitting your job. I've lived a gypsy lifestyle while having jobs for the past 20 years. I would say that besides going on long journeys around the planet, there are several ways to gypsify in your local community. You can engage with other cultures by taking a language course, by supporting or volunteering for an international organisation, by hosting an exchange student at your home, by watching foreign films, by going to international arts and crafts exhibits, by connecting with immigrants in your neighbourhood. The key is to stay curious and creative.
Visit Alessandra at-
blog: http://www.gypsygirlsguide.com
shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5098720
Photo courtesy of Alessandra de Souza and Andrea Scher.
Alessandra de Souza is a gypsy, writer, photographer, illustrator, costume maker and film producer. She says she has a "master's degree in daydreaming" and her best skill is "wandering around the world searching for colourful inspiration and great excuses to be silly and have fun". Here is her story in her words, as told to Elise Pitt.
I'm curious by nature and I love to travel and experience new cultures. I'm drawn to vibrant colours, the ocean, the charm of simple life and the inspiration found in the most ordinary moments. Originally from Brazil, I've travelled extensively over the past 20 years through nearly 30 countries. Since 1995, I've lived in the US, where I created for myself a career as a visual effects producer for Hollywood films, and a lifestyle, that includes one to three months of international adventures every year. Nowadays, I work as a freelance photographer, producer, filmmaker and writer. When I'm not working on an exciting assignment or having an adventure around the globe, I can often be found sipping masala chai, napping in the sunshine or walking the streets of San Francisco with my camera.
I've always managed to incorporate travel into my life, whether I was taking breaks between jobs or doing work that involved some kind of travel. I strive to "travel light", meaning that I don't accumulate a lot of belongings, in order to always be as ready as possible for my next adventure. I stay open to new discoveries. I never leave the house without at least one camera. I am constantly looking for new ways of seeing and embracing the world around me.
I went to Australia on two different occasions, both fantastic trips. The first time was to watch the Total Eclipse of the Sun in 2002. My journey started in Sydney and from there I went to Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Lyndhurst (where a Solar Eclipse Festival took place), then I drove through the desert all the way up to Ayers Rock and Alice Springs. From there, back to the coast near Brisbane (Byron Bay area) and all the way down to Sydney. The second time, I went to Australia was for work, to shoot the movie Charlotte's Web on a farm outside Melbourne. I lived in Melbourne for about four months while working on that project, and loved every inch of that city.
read on below advertisement
The benefits of a gypsy lifestyle are infinite. But what draws me in is the continuous growth and learning that comes from experiencing other cultures. I'm always blown away by how much my mind, heart and soul expand, as I step away from my everyday concerns to welcome new ways of thinking and living.
You can absolutely live a life like this without quitting your job. I've lived a gypsy lifestyle while having jobs for the past 20 years. I would say that besides going on long journeys around the planet, there are several ways to gypsify in your local community. You can engage with other cultures by taking a language course, by supporting or volunteering for an international organisation, by hosting an exchange student at your home, by watching foreign films, by going to international arts and crafts exhibits, by connecting with immigrants in your neighbourhood. The key is to stay curious and creative.
Visit Alessandra at-
blog: http://www.gypsygirlsguide.com
shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5098720
Photo courtesy of Alessandra de Souza and Andrea Scher.
Story: Elise Pitt
