In Rio Now

I am in Rio de Janeiro enjoying the good things in life.  More later...

The Corner

Today while I was driving I came to a corner and slowed down because there was a guy on a bike carrying a case of Soda.  It was a good thing because as I rounded the long corner just in front of me was a man lying at the side of the road.  He had a sack full of recyclable bottles on his back.  He was laying cattycorner to the sidewalk with his head towards the middle of the street.  I looked at his face and he was thoroughly enjoying his decision.  This corner was a windy one where if you are going too fast and not paying attention the chances of hitting this man are good even with him not laying in half of the lane.  Why?  Why lay in the middle of the road.  Did he want to get hit?  Now usually people don’t have insurance to collect a big sum of money and most people wouldn’t pay him due to his pure act of stupidity, but was this a money stunt?  I can’t imagine he really wanted to rest, maybe that is the best place to lay where the ants wont crawl all over him.  I don’t know.  Dogs lay in the road all of the time too or right on the road side of the curb.  It scares me to think about it.   

So, today we are heading to Rio de Janeiro by bus.  It will be an awesome experience with my husband.  Our cousin Tiago is going to pick us up and take us to LAPA.  LAPA is a center where people get wild and party.  It is said that you will see all walks of life enjoying the same things and a time where you will feel safe in probably the most unsafe/crazy environment.  I have seen pictures of Rio that my friend took and I can say one thing…if a picture is captivating, seeing it in person will be unbelievable.  We will visit LAPA, Impanema, & Copa Cabana on this trip as it will be short but full of interesting experiences.  Kids are safe with Va & Vo and other than a chest cold all is well in Brasil today. 

With lots of luck and a little hard work

Lots of changings are coming my right now.  Today was an interesting and prosperous day for me.  I believe in the secret...yes I do.  The Law of Attraction...

About last night....

Well after two months of Festa Junina & Festa Julina, I decided to take a couple of weeks off.  Last night the kids were with Rodrigo’s parents and we went out with a few friends for a beer or two.  Whilst out, a friend of ours wanted us to go to the City Hall to see if the Mayor was going to get impeached.  He was involved in the Business as usual politics in Brasil and let’s face it … this type of politics is all over the world.    For instance, the mayor gave like 22 members of his family on the payroll, stole the money that was supposed to be for medicine for sick children who as a result died, overpriced everything and pocketed the difference.  If a box of chocolates were R$10 he would pay R$100 of the tax payer’s money.  He was arrested for a few days and so the dog and pony show began.  He spent a few nights in jail and now resides in another town as he continues to govern our city.   So, last night they had a trial it lasted for more than 14 hours and the outcome was an obvious one to the town.  He will NOT get impeached because those who would impeach him were as dirty as he was.  So, the cycle continues and guess what?  He will probably get elected again. 

Now the big story here is how.  How would it be possible for a man who steals from taxpayers and I don’t mean taking a little, I mean taking Millions.  How is it humanly possible for him to be re-elected?  Well this is a comparison that I would like to draw. 

So, we show up last night and there are two sides.  The reporters and people hoping for change by doing the right thing which is voting and supporting their cause.  They are quiet but they are there.  The sad part is Brazilians know that there is nothing that they can do to stop the corruption.  The Corruption is so deep that there are movies about it and the only thing that happens from that point is a decision; depression or forget about it.   With little repercussions of corruption and crime, people are left to have a talk over a beer and accept the life that they have been given.   As free as it feels to be here in Brasil, the truth is you still get limited freedom of speech against the government. 

Then there were the supporters of the mayor sitting in the grandstand where carnival is held.  They are sitting there with signs all drawn up in the exact same hand writing.  They were wearing T-shirts that had a huge red Heart on the front with the mayor’s name showing their support.  Who were they and what was their cause, why do they support him?  It didn’t take long, but I studied them carefully and first noticed the anger in their drunken eyes… what?  Yes, I said it.  I then looked down and noticed the beer can in their hands.  Then I looked up again and saw the drunken rage as they were touting the crowd that was chanting “Get the Mayor Out”.  Wait a minute…. What is going on?  Well noting but a little money being exchanged into the hands of people who did not know what they were fighting for and they didn’t care.  These were the people whose medicine was stolen.  These were the people who do not get government assistance, except for that day.  They were picked up and given all the beer they could drink, carted to the grand stand outside the city hall and told what they needed to do for it.   Now ask me… how you reason with those people?  It was their children who were denied medicine but they were bought for a day, a party and R$30 each.  They fight against their interests and miss the big picture.  However they are also a part of a very uneducated public but they vote; seems to be a good formula for politicians.

Later in the night when the vote was announced some people were outraged and chanting as they voted not to impeach the Mayor.  My friend was hit in the legs by the police for chanting against the mayor and then they put their shields up and stood in line.  Just then some of the city council walked outside and looked at the crowd and laughed in their faces.  All I can imagine is that maybe they were laughing because they saw a city of 300,000 represented by less than 100 or maybe they were laughing because they got away with it and were relieved of being held accountable once again.  As the police shields were up, my friend said…”I’m doing this for you, for your children, for your family, for your pay” and the police man stood their looked into his eyes and nodded his head as he agreed with my friend but he was paid for too.

This is similar to what is happening in America today?  As people become desperate the big picture fades.    Here it is so deep that going against it is deadly or just a waste of time.  A police man told me, if you don’t take the Money, the next in line will.  Nothing happens to the criminal and he loses the R$20,000 to the next guy.

Saturday Night Club

My first night club in Brasil and we had a great time.  A school that I work for had their 1^st Anniversary party and we were their guests.  The charge at the front door on a regular night is between R$25-$60 and then drinks.  We had an open bar until 2am.  The night clubs here really get going at about 12:30am and the people go home around 6am.  Brazilians party late and for a long time.  Rodrigo and I had such a good time we stayed out until 2:30am and then went home and watched Parks and Recreation.  We danced a little, and it had been so long since we had moved our bodies it seems.  I noticed that no one was really dancing; they just stood on the dance floor, texted, talked, laughed and moved ever so slightly.  The people that I met were really nice and everyone was having a great time. 

I watched the people enjoying themselves, it was just like being at home and the music was great.  Music here in Brasil is just like the 90’s in America.  The cover songs played were from the 90’s and the sound of Brazilian music mimics the era as well.  Not too hard not too soft and lots of good old American Rock n Roll.  Once they played the Spin-doctors and my friend Addisun who is 21 said “my parents used to play this all of the time when I was 3 or 4” Scratch… Um…I used to listen to this music and I started to count backwards about 15-17 years.  What a delight it was to hear all of those songs again as I remembered school dances.  It was like going to Alaska in 98’ because the music there was about 10years behind from the lower 48 as well.  It took me back replaying those memories and even better, I knew almost every song.  So, anyway it was a perfect night with a perfect ending which was Rodrigo and I sitting on the couch watching TV and laughing.  Now we are headed to pick up the kids and have a Churrasco with the family… as today is Dia dos Pais  (father’s day in Brasil).