Brasil

As I am counting down the minutes until I leave for the airport to head back the the States I am reflecting on the things that make Brasil special for me. The things large and small, good and bad that make this country my home away from home. It has been raining for two days straight and I think that is where I will start this list:

The climate, rain, heat, and humidity in the summer or the winter, pastel, guaraná soft drinks, x-tudo, café do Brasil, pizza, pasta, Chinese food all done the Brazilian way, the way people dress, eat, talk, personal space, ice cream, coconut water directly out of the coconut, music, dancing, forró, samba, MPB, axé, smiling, what is funny and what is not, poverty, wealth, the way Brazilians pronounce my name, public transportation, the language, the culture, hot dogs & hamburgers with all of the toppings that come on them, the sweets, TV variety shows, soap operas, brigadiero, the beer and the way people drink and eat, beans and rice with everything, lunch is the biggest and most important meal, the women, becoming part of the family, snack bars, drinking beer in the line at the grocery store, drinking beer in the street, churrasco, North American influence, the beach, the bikini, sexuality, beach food, drinking cold beer on a hot beach, organized chaos, dressing up to go to the mall, the mall culture, costume parties in November, political corruption, friendly chats in Portuguese about the differences between the US and Brasil when they find out I am not from here, self-service, the passion for futebol or soccer as we know it, and there is always a way...

By no means is this an exhaustive list. Those of you that have places that resonate within your soul will know what I am talking about. The things that make an experience abroad magical are for me and those that have ventured out of their protective bubble and challenged themselves to discover a larger world. I have been trying to provide a little superficial experience for those of you who are afraid or can't get out. If you want to learn more about my experiences, drop me a line and I would love to chat one on one. Until next time where the post will come from the good ol' US of A!