Went out last night!

12.18.2010

Went out last night!

Well we went out last night with new friends.  It was a lot of fun.  I drank a lot of beer but it didnt seem like it.  When you park your car there is usually a guy on the street who will watch the car for you.  You give him a tip when leave.  I didn't realize it but guys have blocks that they have watched for years.  It is their job and they work for themselves not the businesses.  10 years ago you couldnt leave your car without fear of it being broken into.  Now it is better but people still have fear.  I don't, but that is just because I still dont know what I'm doing.

We are leaving for the beach today, so I will fill you in when I get home.

For Kate

12.17.2010

For Kate

So….. What are the differences between America & Brasil?

·         If we were to go out specifically for a beer, we go to a bakery.  The little bars are a bit scary here. 

·         If you want to go to a movie, you would watch it in Portuguese and the seats are raised perfectly so you don’t have to see someone’s head in front of you. 

·         You take the bus everywhere and it is made by Mercedes Benz.

·         Almost all of the cars are really little here and when you see a standard sized car, you think could I really fit in there?

·         People here don’t believe pedestrians have the right of way.  And no one drives in the actual lines. You always assume someone is going to be parked on the right side of the road.

·         Every day it is Beans and Rice for lunch and Dinner.  I never feel like I am going to miss out on anything if I decide to skip a meal.

·         Breakfast is French bread with the spread of your choice and strong coffee that even I have to put milk and sugar in.  When you get the occasional ham and cheese the ham tastes like mo rtedella.

·         Fans cost minimum $59.00 for the cheapest version.

·         Everything is Ceramic tile and granite, and cement.

·         Portuguese is the 4^th hardest language to learn in the world.

·         People like foreigners here.

·         Fresh Milk comes in a bag or you can buy a case of boxed that expires in a year.

·         If you want a snack you eat little fried potato dough cakes stuffed with chicken called CoxinhasOr cheese bread balls called Pao de quejo.

·         Brasil is getting their first Welfare system.

·         The economy is stimulated.

·         People have to be overqualified to get good jobs here.

·         Women feel comfortable in their own skin.

·         Cell phones cost $91.00 a month for 100 minutes.  Free nights start at 12am.   So, you will never be able to call me.

·         The banks and government will not let you make copies on premisis, but there is a fax, copy and print store on every corner that you can use.

·         You have to take a number to be taken care of at the bank.

·         It is a good surprise when you find a store with air conditioner. 

·         Soccer is called futebol.

·         Here auto insurance is $120/ month and you have a $1600 deductible.

·         If you don’t have a co-signer when you want to rent a house, it will cost a non-refundable $3000.00 for an insurance co. to do it for you. 

·         There is a thick book called Phrasal Verbs.  It is a book of English slang that students learn when studying American English.

·         When you buy juice you buy fresh made juice.  There is Pineapple, mango, passion fruit, orange and many others.

·         Christmas is celebrated here like Thanksgiving is in the United States.  People spend money on Carnival here.

·         The ocean is luke warm.

·         You could sell anything here without much problem.

I dont want to talk about it!

12.16.2010

I dont want to talk about it!

We are trying to find a way to have our independence and to find jobs that will pay for it. 

Got the Princess!

12.15.2010

Got the Princess!

I have joined the Mario Brothers Club. 

Que Fazer?

12.14.2010

Que Fazer?

What to do?  I had school today and learned a lot.  Lots of filling in the blanks.  Then I went with my friend and her two wonderful girls shopping.  I found out today that you can find stores that are reasonably priced.  Thank goodness because I have to buy 4 presents for Christmas this year.  Oh yea, since it is like 85 and 90% humidity I am not really in the Christmas Spirit.  So don’t even expect cards this year as it still hasn’t hit me yet and sending them from Brasil might get to you after Carnival. 
Some people do Christmas here.  They have the ugliest Christmas trees here.  You remember the Gold, Dark green and Red tinsel.  Big bulbs?  There aren't evergreen trees either.  So I think Xmas is pretty ugly here.  Downtown they have a Xmas display that blows soap bubbles and it really looks like snow, but smells like dish soap.  That is nice to smell in the middle of the city once in a while. 
I know I sound like a snob now, but one thing is for sure.... America knows Christmas!