A Day at the Movies

There has been a lot of rain in Belo Horizonte recently so I decided to go see a movie this afternoon. I have been to quite a few movies in Brazil and I was fairly confident I could handle the process of getting my ticket and of course a “mini kit” which consists of a 300ml (a little smaller than a can of soda) soda with a small popcorn. I didn't see any butter for the popcorn and I got a Kuat (guaraná soft drink). The package was out of proportion because the popcorn was big but the soda was too small. Now that I think about it, there is probably about the same amount of soda in 300ml fountain drink in Brazil as in the U.S. ,MEGA-SMALL, because they don't usually fill the cup to the top with ice down here before adding the soda. I have noticed that a lot of bars and restaurants will serve your Coke with a couple cubes of ice and a lime wedge.

The thing that threw me was the plastic bag the concession stand girl put my popcorn in after placing it in the usual cardboard popcorn box. I had never seen anything like that in the U.S. or in Brazil. The bag was not covered by advertising and there was nothing special about it. Just a standard grocery store plastic bag. I thought that since the theater was located at the mall that the use of the bag for your concessions was to help out when your hands are loaded with shopping bags. Well, all the movie theaters I have seen in Brazil have been in malls and none of them used this junk food bag. Maybe it was a way to prevent dropped kernels of popcorn from missing your mouth and landing on the floor or seat. I don't know about this one because my shirt, seat, and the floor around me was full of popcorn after I left. If there is an explanation I think it has to rest with the clean-up. A nice, neat place to put your empty cups and containers of popcorn and candy when you're done and the bag gets carried out and placed in the trash can. That is what you do with bags, carry them with you. No one likes to leave a bag behind. It feels like you left something in the theater. And even if you leave it where you sat or on the floor it is going to be easier for the person doing the cleaning to pick up after your slob-ass.

As the movie let out I took my bag with me and dropped in the waiting trash can just like I think it was intended and headed out through the food court. I needed a few minutes to realize I was still in Brazil and get my mind going in Portuguese again. Like most movies in Brazil, this one was in English with Portuguese subtitles and I think that got me out of my rhythm. The food court had live music and the song the guy was playing at the time was a Seal song and he was singing in English burdened with a heavy accent of someone who really doesn't speak the language but learned the lyrics like a parrot learns to say "Polly wants a cracker." I decided to go to the coffee/snack bar to have a beer and read the newspaper I had bought that day for $.15, U.S. This would allow me to get my wits about me and I felt like a beer. Up walked a girl with style of top that is very popular in Brazil. It consists of a piece of material draped over one shoulder, hanging off the other, fastened in the back somehow, and with a sports bra type thing under it. In these tops most of the woman's back is exposed along with the neckline, and at least one shoulder...a lot of skin! I do have to say I like them but I can imagine how long it takes to get that thing on the right way. On the front of this particular shirt this particular girl was wearing where the words in silver, “U.S. Marines” above what appeared to be an Army logo. It made me smile as I finished my last drink of beer and all I could think of as I walked away was, does she have any clue as to what a U.S. Marine is and Semper Fi!