Brazillian Football... Soccer!

 I know we all have our favorite football teams.  Take for example the Cornhuskers; it’s hard job to find a Nebraskan who wouldn’t say that the Cornhuskers are their favorite team.  But, the Cornhuskers are the glue that holds Nebraskans together.  So, here in Sao Paulo everyone gets to choose a Soccer team.  They choose at a young age and follow their team their whole life.  Brazilians are very passionate people; in Love and the game of Soccer.

While I was picking my team here in Brasil, I asked the students; 1^st who is your favorite team and then who is the best team?  The answers were the same around the room each time.  I found this fascinating.  Now needless to say all Brazilian teams are GREAT and the scores are always low… so probably all teams all have a chance of winning each year.  This year my team was in the Finals, but we lost.  Truth be told, not only are the Corinthians my husband’s team but they also became my favorite team due to the fact that they were in the finals.  I like to win!

Brazilians take football very serious; I was teasing some student about losing to my team the game before the finals.  He was seriously hurt.  Let me say, I have always been a fair weather fan.  I have had a lot of favorite teams in my life and it is true that we do have a lot of different sports and teams to choose from.  But Fair Weather Fan is a in the vocab of a lot of Americans.  Not here.  So next time I see my student I am going to tell him that I have changed my team to “Santos” (The Winners), I can’t wait to see his face.  This will throw him for a loop as Brazilians don’t change their teams often in life…  I hope he gets it. J

BTW…… I just found out that they don’t teach Girls Soccer here in Brazil.  I am told that there is not a girls’ team… Seriously???  I hate to even scratch the surface on Women’s rights here in Brasil… I am going to take this moment of stillness and do nothing; no major thoughts, no stresses other than the norm because I am not ready to find out anything else that I can’t control this month. 

Trying on Businesses

I am trying on businesses.  We are in need of money as probably many people and we need to think big and fast.   I am doing well with my English school and English Club… but I need more income.  I am thinking of starting to do a 4 part English Seminar Series on American Culture and we are working on the development of our brand here in Brasil.  I have so many ideas and just hope that I can stay focused to see a turn out.  We are down to the wire and just went into overtime.  It is a hail Mary… Can we make the big catch?  Good Football reference huh? 

Hows my Portuguese?

6 months here in this country and I speak better, at least what I already knew.  I hear better but not in a crowd or with any background noise.  The kids in the class tell me that I am pretty good for 6 months, but I am thinking that it is time for me to get busy studying again.  Oh, and I am much better after a glass of wine.

Corinthians vs. Santos

The Sao Paulo Soccer finals were today and Santos won. 
I have spent the last couple of months choosing my Soccer team.  I chose the Corinthians, who have always been Rodrigo's team.  Ben on the other hand seems to lean towards his grandpa's team the Palmeiras... little stinker.  Ben also has a team from Rio to watch, the Flamingos.  He has learned so much... Gabi too, they are both almost fluent in Portugese at a kid level. 

Jill In Brazil: Mommy Steve's Dead

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