The pre-departure briefing was good and I know I'm not the only one who enjoyed meeting a lot of people, and I am now more than ever enthusiastically waiting to depart. The morning spent at Cadbury House for the Kraft Foods meeting went very well and week 5 and 6 with them should be really good. They talked to us about CSR, Corporate SocialResponsibility, and how they plan to merge Kraft with Cadbury. This is an exciting time for the company, and I am looking forward to learning a lot more. It was also very interesting to learn that in Ghana, the cocoa beans are controlled and regulated by the Government.

I've spent a little bit of time trying to learn more Brazilian Portuguese, and I've enjoyed using my little phrasebook and dictionary to reply to my host family who I will be staying with in Sao Paulo for 2 weeks. By then I will be able to be less reliant on the phrasebook and dictionary, and maybe even use an online translator less...that's the plan anyway!

I am about to depart on the next stage of the Global Fellowship, an experience which is fantastic for me personally, but more importantly, when I get back I am looking forward to spreading the word about what I have experienced to as many people as possible. It is not simply about me being part of 30 fellows who go to Brazil, nor is it about me being part of the 100 fellows involved in the programme, the Global Fellowship is about communicating the message across to as wide an audience as possible.

Ian

Why globalisation is affecting us all, especially Fabio Capello and the England team.

As we look forward to Friday for the start of the World Cup with South Africa playing host to Mexico in the first game, ever thought of the impact that the World Cup has on the rest of the world? Despite the obvious benefits to the economy of people spending money on merchandise, people spending money on food and drink whilst watching the games, and all the rest of it, there's a lot more to England and the World Cup than just Stevie G's men! Some of the contracts for developing the infrastructure in South Africa were thankfully won by British companies, especially the transport infrastructure. Other countries have also benefited from other contracts to help South Africa prepare for the World Cup.

So, as the excitement for the first World Cup to be held in the continent of Africa builds, bear in mind that we are all benefiting from this example of globalisation. And that it is not just football that will be benefiting, but the economies of the world.  London 2012 Olympics will also be a showcase for globalisation in its positive forms.

As media reports have suggested however, not all of South Africa will benefit from the World Cup being held in the country. Hopefully though, there will be more positives than negatives. Globalisation isn't 100% positive, but there is definitely a lot of positive aspects to the greater interconnected world. And this is displayed perfectly through the showcase of the World Cup and "the beautiful game".

I look forward to following Brazil, starting with their first game against North Korea on the 15th June, and seeing Brazil and England in the final on 11th July??!!

The Brazilian Portuguese is slowly coming along, amongst the revision!

Enjoy the World Cup and all that comes with it!...and come on England!!!

Ian