Hard Facts about Brazil

I realized that while I talk about my experiences and observations here in Brazil, most of my readers have no background of the numbers and facts of Brazil. This blog is a little different from most. I searched online for some basic, interesting facts and below, I want to talk about some of the facts I found most interesting.

Estimated Population: 206,751,477

Official Language: Portuguese

Literacy (definition: age 15 and over can read and write)total population: 86.4%

Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spriritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)

Life Expectancy: total population: 71.69 years
male: 67.74 years
female: 75.85 years (2005 est.)

Industry: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

Agriculture: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

Natural Resources: bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

Telephones (main lines in use): 38.81 million

Telephones (mobile cellular): 46,373,300

Internet users: 14.3 million

Yes, I live in a city of 20 million people. It can be overwhelming. It's fairly modern. And it seems there is anything and everyting I could want. However, while I live with any needs and many wants fulfilled, many in Sao Paulo (especially on the outskirts) and those outside of Sao Paulo do not have the same luxuries.

I want to point out the population is nearly 207 million. However, only 46 million people have cell phones. That's one out of every 4.5 people in Brazil. Even less have access to internet. Only one out of every 14.5 people has access to the internet! That number blew my mind. To me, it seems that the internet is such a daily part of life that I can't even imagine not being able to access all of the information online.

Therefore, while it seems to me that I have all of the same major luxuries I had in the U.S., I am one of the more privileged people here and have access to many things (such as a cell phone and internet) that many do not have.

8 months out of the U.S. and cleaning out the bucket list

It's official. In two days I will have been living in Brazil for 8 months. I haven't touched American soil. I haven't eaten Chicago-style pizza or endulged in brownies. I haven't run to the gas station at 2 in the morning with Sara for a slushi. I haven't given my mom or dad a hug. It's incredible how many little things in the U.S. I've missed... and how much more I've experienced in that time outside of the U.S. Eight months is certainly a long time.

However, there are so many things on my bucketlist left to do before I head back to the U.S. While 8 months seems long, there are so many things in this city of 20 million that I haven't done. This weekend was time to knock a few of those things off my list.



Catherine, one of my friends who had to leave the program early last semester, came to visit for the weekend. We decided to conquer a bit more of Sao Paulo that weekend. She, Lowell and I made the hour-long trek to Ibirapuera Park, one of the most beautiful parks in Sao Paulo. After spending some time there, we got tickets to the city's only planetarium for 5 pm that night (the planetarium is so popular and only open on weekends that you have to get tickets hours in advance) before heading over to a free cultural center. There, we listened to a great live concert and watched samba dancing (which I have yet to master...).





Then, we headed back to the park and, as we had an hour to wait before the planetarium show began, we headed to the Afro-Brasil Museum. A huge museum filled with artwork and history of the Afro-Brazilians throughout mainly northern Brazil, the museum reminded me a bit of my first month in Bahia on the northerneastern coast of Brazil. With a rich history built upon many African traditions, it was a completly different experience and mindset than where I am living now, in a whiter, southern Brazil.



Finally, we made it to the planetarium, which had, in fact, sold out its tickets. The show was mediocre but I'm still glad I went.

While my bucketlist seems neverending, the weekend was a good reminder of how much I have left to see of this huge city. There are so many things left to do that I can't get lazy; I need to keep moving and searching for more experiences.

Am I still a Gringa?

How many gringos are in this photo?
Answer: 3



This photo?
Answer: 1



How about this photo? How many gringos can you spot?
Answer: 3



Or this one?
Answer: 1


But how can you tell? For the most part, everyone blends in! Click on each image to enlarge it to see if you can tell who is gringo and who is not. If you look closely at each picture, you can obviously pick me out of the crowd since you know me. But, surprisingly enough, the people you might pick out as gringos are actually Brazilians and the other gringos look like Brazilians!

So, if it's not a term based on looks, what defines a "gringo"? Well, most of you have heard of the term "gringo" (gringa for females) before. And, at least from what I saw in Mexico, it seems to be used as a term to separate white U.S. Americans from the native population in the area. Well, let's see. I'm tanner than I've ever been in my life, can pass as a Brazilian in the street, and can certainly speak enough Portuguese to survive. Am I still a "gringa"?

The funny thing is, to Brazilians, those things don't matter. Brazil's term for "gringo" differs from any other definition I've ever heard before in any other country. To Brazilians, any foreigner in Brazil is a gringo. It doesn't matter where you come from or your ability (or inability) to speak Portuguese. To Brazilians, if you are a foreigner in Brazil, you are a gringo. Period. I've known Colombians, Japanese, Canadians and South Africans to all be called gringos. At first, hearing an African or an Asian called gringo seemed funny to me, but now it's just an accepted part of the Brazilian culture.

And it can't be taken personally. Here, it's not considered derogatory as it often is elsewhere. In fact, when I'm joking around with my Brazilian friends, they sometimes call me "gringa" or "gringinha" (little gringa) as an endearing term. So are you a Portuguese-speaking, Brazilian-looking person coming to visit me from North America? You're out of luck... you're still a gringo!

O fim do Carnaval (The end of Carnival)

Carnival is coming to end. It came and went so quickly. With tomorrow at noon being the last day, I have less than 24 hours left to enjoy of it! And let me tell you, it's been grand.



Sunday I went to another Carnival celebration at "The Week" (pronounced "Da Wiki" by Brazilians hahaha). It was a blast! Starting at midnight and going until 6 or 7 in the morning, it was a whole lot of dancing and socializing, that's for sure!



Keeping in the spirit of enjoying a CRAZY Carnival, I decided to jump in the club's pool after I got too hot. The club was so hot that the pool felt amazing. I spent the rest of the night dancing and drying off.



On Monday, my friend Lowell and I went to enjoy a traditional Carnival bloco and concert. It was like nothing I've ever been to before. It was almost like a parade but the entire crowd joined in to march and sing and dance.



It began with a fun band playing traditional Brazilian music. Many of the locals knew the words and danced and sang along.



Once we reached our destination, the band continued to play and everyone danced, threw confetti and long strands of paper, and had fun. It was so different. I think in the U.S. people would be embarrassed to just start dancing in public like that so it was a delight to see people just let loose and have fun, not caring about people judging them. Lowell and I certainly had fun.



Afterward, Lowell and I headed into a free community center and enjoyed the artwork and a competitive game of chess. Unfortunately, neither of us had played in so long that we couldn't remember all of the rules. I think we played it wrong!



Later that night, Lowell came over and my host mother, sister, he and I ate spaghetti and talked for hours. For dessert, Lowell and I made cookies. For Valentine's Day, my parents sent a package of Betty Crocker's Chocolate Chip cookie mix and I couldn't wait to share them with my host family. They were the first cookies I had eaten since June 2009 and I couldn't wait to devour them. I don't think I've ever tasted anything so delicious in my entire life.

Carnival: It's that time of year

It's Carnival. My first Carnival ever. The Brazilian people, contrary to popular belief, are a hard-working people who often work 60 hours a week for minimal pay they can barely survive on. Carnival is the five day break from the hard work; it's a wonderful time to spend with family and really begin to appreciate life.



According to Wikipedia, Carnival is "an annual festival in Brazil held forty days before Easter. Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to bad things in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ's death and resurrection. Carnival is the most famous holiday in Brazil and become a event with huge proportions. The country stops completely for almost a week and festivities are intense, day and night, mainly in coastal cities."



Unlike the majority of Brazilians, I am staying in Sao Paulo for Carnival. Everyone (and when I say everyone, I mean everyone!) travels for Carnival. They go to the beach. They go to the farm. They go to the cities in the north. But they don't stay in the city. Gas stations are closed. Stores are closed. It is a solid five days of rest.



To kick of Carnival, I went to a Carnival celebration on Friday. We dressed up and were handed masks, leis, and anything else that resembled costumes when we entered the place. Music started playing, especially samba (which I can't dance to save my life) and people began to let go and relax. After months of hard work during the hot Brazilian summer, it is obvious that this is a time the people look forward to every year... a time to truly live up to the Brazilian name of being a fun, relaxing country.



Saturday, exhausted from Friday, I rested most of the day. Today, though, my friend Lowell and I headed to the park to enjoy the day. On the way there, we came upon a band and Carnival celebration for the community and stopped in for a bit. The following pictures are from this celebration. There was a band, decorations and entertainment. But, most importantly, there were happy people just enjoying the music and being together.



Finally, we made it to the park and relaxed a bit. After reading, we walked around and came across stands selling refreshments to the park's visitors and a band. I posted a movie below of the band we saw you can see what a Brazilian street band is like. People watching join in and dance and sing. It's such a lively time.



It seems to be the idea of many Americans that Brazilians live a life of fun without work and responsibility. However, this is the Brazil shown in movies and on t.v., not the real Brazil. Brazilians work hard and suffer a lot from poverty and overburdening responsibility. Carnival is the time of year Brazilians can let go and enjoy the celebration. Because Carnival is one of the few things Brazil is known for (another is the beach!), news channels all over the world show clips from the Carnival celebrations. Do not be fooled though. While it certainly is five days of fun, it is only break in the lives of the hard-working people.

You know you're in Brazil when...

You know you're in Brazil when... you go to "Clube das Mulheres." (Warning... this blog entry has butts in it. If you are offended by butts, do not read any further.)

I have noticed quite a change since I have come to Brazil. When I came, I told myself I would do things I have never done before. I told myself that this would be a year for challenging myself, making myself better and reaching my limits. And, at this point in my journey, I feel I am making fine progress. When I first arrived to Bahia, I made a list of 100 things to do while I am in Brazil. While I haven't completed all of them, I have certainly completed over half, which I am proud of. I have bebcome more confident and daring in so many ways. I wear sleeveless tops and dresses now, something I never would have thought of doing before Brazil, tan in a bikini instead of a one-piece, go out with friends on the weekends, and make spontaneous trips to see new things.

For this reason, when my host mom surprised me and said, "My friend and I are going to the 'Women's Club' this week. Will you go with me?" surprised, I said, "um... ok." Never before would I have gone to a club like this, but I figured, what the heck, I'm in Brazil! So, Wednesday night came and my host mom, her friend Rose (pronounced Hoe-see in Portuguese) and I headed off.



When we arrived at the place, I was, I admit, a bit embarrassed and nervous. But as time went on while we waited outside to be able to enter, my nerves calmed down. There were women of all ages and types there, but most were between 20 and 30, right in my age range. After entering the club, we took our place at one of the many tables and wanted for the show to begin.



At 9:30, all the men came out in suits and danced. Then came out the cowboy, Austin Powers, the soldier, the police officer, the Indian, the carpenter, the sailor and finally the Spartan. Each came out and performed for probably 20 minutes. No worries... no nudity!



2 1/2 hours later, the show concluded. Keeping in the spirit of trying new things, I managed to dance on stage with both the carpenter and the police officer and thoroughly enjoy myself.



Although I probably won't be doing anything too crazy, I really have tried to adopt a new "Go with the flow" and "Just say Yes" policy. I've found that being more confident and doing more things has allowed me to experience new experiences and be a little bolder over all. I'm not sure if I'll be able to continue this new theory when I move back to Decorah, the town of 8,000, but I'm trying to take advantage of the new experiences as they come here in Sao Paulo.

Cultural Comparisons through Cakes and Bus Routes

Interestingly enough, I have found that two seemingly ordinary things (cakes and bus routes) really help show the major differences in thought between U.S. Americans (I'll call them Americans for short even though some Brazilians hate that...) and Brazilians. It seems that sometimes the smallest details of our lives can show huge things.

In Brazil, cakes are round. In the U.S., they are square/rectangle. When I first got to Brazil, it was almost a shock for me. Every single cake was round. It was served by cutting a circle in the middle of the larger circle and cutting pieces out from around the outside. The pieces were lopsided trapezoids and, after the outside circle was eaten, there was an inside circle still left that was cut in whatever random shape people wanted to eat. When one looked at the cut-up cake, it looked so unorganized; each piece was a different shape and size. After months here, this is a normal sight, but my first views of this were a surprise. The American cake, on the other hand, is normally much more organized. Each cake is symmetrical and people work hard to cut each piece as square as possible so that each slice of cake is the same size.

When I think about the two cultures, these cakes really show how people from each place think. In the U.S., everyone wants the most, the biggest slice. Therefore, a cake must be evenly cut so that no one "wins" but instead everyone is even. Also, we have the mentality that everything should be thought out and planned, organized and even. In Brazil, things are different. Sometimes I think for better, sometimes for worse. The cake slices aren't evenly distributed, but that's okay. Things in Brazil certainly aren't organized; they are instead usually left to chance or last minute planning. Going with the flow and taking whatever comes your way is seen as normal.

While it might seem like a bit of a stretch for this comparison, it's been something I've been thinking about for a while. It's hard for me to put on paper so I probably didn't describe it well, but it was something I wanted to share. Looking at an American cake vs a Brazilian cake after they are both cut, they are remarkably different.

Another comparison is the difference between styles of bus routes. In the United States, bus routes take a major road or route. They might follow Main street or 8th Ave. They might head from the Mall to the Eastern park. There is a particular reason each bus goes a particular route or direction. In Brazil (as in Argentina), bus routes are all but linear. Yes, you might find a rare bus or two that follows a main road, but the majority weave in and out of the small neighborhood streets without rhyme or reason. If you aren't familiar with a bus route, you might get on heading north and find that later the bus turns to go mainly south east, in a different direction than you wanted to go.

Bus routes in the U.S. follow the mindset of the people... every action has a particular reason. In Brazil, the mindset runs much more in circles, non-linear. In Brazil, business meetings start with coffee and personal chit chat. There is usually no agenda but instead, what is done, is done. What is not completed is left for another day. Power points and classes seem to be without a particular purpose for the first half because the thesis is always at the end. In the U.S., the thesis is always at the beginning, the point always clear.

Such a difference in thinking was certainly a hard adjustment to make at first. It influences every single part of life. But, after some time, I've taken a more "Go with the flow" view of life and things seem to click a bit more. Yes, things aren't as organized and seem to go in a direction of their own sometimes, without a rhyme or reason, but I suppose that's a bit of the Brazilian life.

Brazilian Culture Influenced by Brazilian Soccer

Update: I am now current with ALL pictures and videos! I added 3 or 4 new videos today to the previous few blogs, so check them out!

Soccer, known as football in Brazil, is VERY important in Brazilian society. For this reason, I want to focus a blog on it's cultural importance.

First, the Brazilian style of soccer is different from any other style in the world. Here are a few words from Wikipedia about how Brazilian soccer is played: "Brazilian football is known for its trickery, fast flowing, attacking style of play and considered a reflection of the country's multiracial society. Brazil's unique style is characterized by much creativity, swing and is infused with various rhythms and choreographies. The combination of those elements is called ginga.

The great foot ability could be traced to the physical coordination and rhythm associated with the capoeira and samba which are characterized by footsteps to dance or to play under the rhythm of African drums. It is believed that this unique style was developed in the low income areas largely populated by people of African descent."



In a developing country, Brazilians often find themselves without the luxuries held by people in wealthier countries. In fact, until recent year, Brazil had the largest economic gap in the world, meaning that millions live in poverty. As Wikipedia says, "Football quickly became a passion for Brazilians, who often refer to their country as "o país do futebol" ("the country of football"). Over 10,000 Brazilians play professionally all over the world."

Soccer has a major effect on Brazilian culture in various ways. It is the favorite pastime of youngsters playing football on streets. For children without video games, computers or books, a homemade soccer ball and a plot of dirt makes for a good game and great entertainment. It also inspires dreams... even the poorest child can make it to the top in soccer.



Also, soccer draws Brazilians together. Regional teams create a bond throughout the nation- rich or poor, black or white, everyone can debate soccer. As for the national team, it unites an entire country, with people skipping work to view the national team play, or employers setting up televisions at work for employees to watch. The general elections are usually held in the same year as the World Cup, and critics argue that political parties try to take advantage of the nationalistic surge created by football and bring it into politics. Former footballers are often elected to legislative positions.

Supporting a favorite soccer team runs through Brazilian blood. Every Brazilian has an opinion about soccer, whether it is a five-year old in a favela who loves the national team, the young Italian immigrant who supports Palmeiras or my 65-year old host mother who loves Corinthians.



This past Saturday I went to my third soccer game here in Brazil. As the excitement rose throughout the game, it was impossible to not feel a surge of pride for the winning home team, Corinthians. With a final score of 4 to 0, it was a great game and a great way to experience Brazilian culture.

Home again... thank goodness

First, I have a couple of quick thoughts on Buenos Aires. 1) It is true that people think Buenos Aires is European-looking. The buildings are absolutely beautiful and have such a wonderful history behind each of them. 2) The food in Argentina is NOT good. While I know I don't eat meat so I couldn't try the "normal" Argentinean foods, my carnivorous friends complained as well, so I knew it wasn't just me. 3) It is absolutely horrific that it is acceptable for your dog to poop on the sidewalk and you don't clean it up. In the U.S., this is seen as disgusting. In Buenos Aires, it's almost encouraged. Dog poop littered every sidewalk and I stepped in it countless times, especially at night when I couldn't see. Gross! 4) For me, the month was a good vacation. Having little responsibility, I could do what I wanted when I wanted. However, a month was certainly enough. For me it was the perfect amount of time.

Second, there were several changes that occurred from the time I left for Argentina on January 2 to the time I came back February 1. It amazed me how much life had changed in such a little time. 1) Public transportation prices rose. Agh. I gave the woman my money and she sadly told me the prices had gone up. Bummer. 2) My apartment has an new bedroom. Yeah... that's quite a change! I came back to find that a bathroom and storage closet had been turned into a bedroom... what a surprise! 3) I no longer have a twin bed. I have a large bed and a large dresser for all of my things. I was not at all expecting that.

Well, for the most part it feels so good to settle back into a routine. Seven weeks of vacationing around the world was grand, but it's time I crack down and get back to the real world



Monday: I arrived in Brazil. It was great to see everyone I live with again. After catching up on the latest news, we had a goodbye dinner for JJ, the guy who was staying in my room, and a welcome back dinner for me.



Tuesday: Got up first thing in the morning to go to work. Now that I'm back, I can't just spend, spend spend but am back on track with spending what I earn. Unfortunately, that's not much for a little while as most of my students are waiting until after Carnival to start again. Oh well. In the afternoon, I took a walk around the cemetery. I posted a video of it so you can see what a Brazilian cemetery looks like. They are beautiful. I also started back at the gym. Wow... after 7 weeks of not working out I was certainly out of shape. After running, taking an abs class and doing a trampoline class, I knew I would be in pain.



Wednesday: I signed up for PUC classes. I will be taking the night classes from 7:30-11:30 at night. On Mondays I will take a Politics and Cinema class, Tuesdays a Genocide and Contemporary Society class, Wednesdays a Social Service class and during the afternoons of Tuesdays and Thursdays a Portuguese class. In the afternoon, I had my interview for the Peace Prize Scholarship. I thought it went HORRIBLY. The skype connection was terrible and I couldn't get out the answers I wanted to get out. Oh well, I suppose not all interviews can go well.

Thursday: Got up bright and early for work again. Afterward, I worked out by running and taking a glutes, abs and legs class. I could certainly feel the Tuesday abs workout... AGH. Afterward I headed to the park to catch some sun and eat lunch and then to the Soccer Museum so I could meet some of the new American students at PUC this semester. It was a good museum and it was a free day so it didn't cost anything. I finished off at the gym with a step aerobics and abs class.



Friday: I woke up determined to explore a bit more of Sao Paulo. I made a list of things I wanted to do and decided that it was the perfect day to visit the Sao Paulo stock market. Nerdy, I know, but I'm a political science major so I feel like you can't really blame me. I hopped on a bus and the metro and landed at the right station. However, try as I might, I could not find the street. It seemed every person pointed me in a different direction. Instead, I ended up seeing Largo de Sao Bento. It's a beautiful church and school. I posted a picture of the inside of the church since the area was too dangerous to take a picture of the outside. While it may not have been my initial plan, it was a good alternative. Then I headed to work. I worked with a new student, a lawyer, that afternoon and things went well. Finally, I hurried off to the gym to take some more classes.

The final B.A. weekend :)

After Thursday night was so incredible, Clarissa and I wanted to go out dancing again Friday night. So we got prepared and and headed out. However, the first club we went to was STRANGE. It was free for us to enter before 2am because we were on the VIP list so we entered without having to pay... making it somewhat worth the visit. Inside it seemed to be a club for older people (a lot of people in their 40s), misfits and people that I just normally wouldn't spend time with. There were live "theaters" above where actors were slowly acting out dramatic scenes while people danced below. I put up a pictures of a "theater" above the club. The music was a good selection, but the DJs made terrible remixes of it. At around 3am, some Argentinean friends we had made met up with us and we ended up just going to an Argentinean bar for the rest of the night and chitchatting before we headed back to their house to listen to some music and talk. It was great Spanish practice.

After the bar, I went home and packed up everything. I had two hours before I had to move and, while most things were packed, there were lose ends I cleaned up. I had to leave by 10am because there was another American student moving into my room at noon that day. I had about 2 hours before the taxi would arrive to I headed to a book store and began to read my new book. I have grown very found of the John Grisham books again since I arrived in Buenos Aires. I've already whipped through 2 1/2 of them in my spare time and can't wait to finish my third. Unfortunately, they are very expensive here in South America, nearly 20 USD for a small paperback labeled 6.99 USD. Agh. Oh well.



I arrived at the hotel I was to stay at for the next two nights and was quite surprised. For one thing, it was part hotel and part tango dinner theater. Since I had not slept the entire night before, I crashed on the bed to sleep only to hear loud tango shows with live music and dancing right outside my door. It was so strange it was funny. The hotel also had a lot of character. With three floors of winding staircases and old wood floors, the building was impressive. However, the stench of rotten trash wavered in the hallways. While I certainly didn't mind the hotel, it had its quirks.



That night, Clarissa came to spend the night with me. We got ready and headed out to Liquid, the club we had enjoyed before. However, the music wasn't quite as good so we left around 4am and returned to the hotel. However, since it was an unfamiliar area and we refused to use a taxi to save money, it took us until nearly 7:30 o figure out the bus system and get home. Wow! Once we arrived there, we rang the doorbell to enter the hotel. And rang it. And rang it some more. But no one ever answered! At 7:30 in the morning, no one was there to let us in. 40 minutes later, after standing in the rain, a woman came after she heard our banging on the door and rudely said "I didn't hear you knocking" and rudely walked away and didn't say another word. What a strange employee!



After sleeping for about 6 hours, Clarissa and I headed out to find some food. It was quite a task since it was a poorer area of town. We mostly just came upon furniture store after furniture store after furniture store. As it was Sunday, the small food stores were closed. However, a couple of hours later we had eaten and we headed back to the hotel. There, we met up with an Argentinean friend and went to the mall and ate some ice cream before heading back to the hotel. Since I was leaving the country bright and early the next morning, I opted to go to sleep early while Clarissa and our friend headed out for the night. I said my final goodbyes, packed up and prepared to leave Argentina. It was a good month but I was ready to return to the routine again.