Thought I would take an opportunity to share a few videos documenting the city of São Paulo and its people while we brave the vineyards in Chile. It fascinates me to see how others view this massive, sprawling city. Enjoy.
São Paulo from Marco Aslan on Vimeo via Discovering São Paulo
#SP458 Timelapses from Julio Brunet Rocha on Vimeo via Leah
I have never met this Jim character, but something tells me we would make the best of friends. Alas, he resides in Rio and I live in the concrete jungle that is São Paulo. It is through him and other bloggers that I learn valuable information about living in Brazil. Such as the following tidbit regarding the carnaval celebration that begins tomorrow.
According to Jim, “Each year the television network Globo features a body-painted naked beauty in commercials running up to Carnaval. This 30 second spot runs at all hours of the morning, noon and night. Only-in-Brazil!”
My initial reaction: My Minnesotan self cannot handle such things.
Second thought: I must harness the dancer inside of me. I want to move exactly like that. But with clothes on. And with sparkles on top of the clothes. And perhaps in some nice ballet flats.
Did you see those shoes? No? Well you should probably watch it again and look at the shoes this time.
April: Go stand by that sign so I can take a picture!
Husband: {compliance}
A: You can’t smile next to a danger sign. That is confusing.
H: What?
A: Be spontaneous! Look like you are drowning or something.
H: {noncompliance & frustration} That doesn’t make any sense. I’m on the beach.
A: {sad face}
H: Fine. Why don’t you do it. I’ll take the picture.
A: Okay!!
A: Ahhhhhh! HELP ME!!! I’M GOING DOOOOWN!
{momentary silence…}
H: You have got to be kidding me.
No. I did not set our car on fire. (Although, the thought crossed my mind.)
After my last post I received several comments from fellow expats regarding a simpler method of registration. Despachantes. The term derives from the Portuguese word ‘efficient’ and refers to a middle-man of sorts. These runners are meant to assist in maneuvering through the heaping piles of red tape in Brasil.
Initially, we assumed my husband’s company would partake in this process. He dropped off all of the necessary paperwork before departing to work in Rio for several weeks. Upon his return, HR stated it would cost us several hundred reais to have their despachante complete the process.
Being both stubborn and frugal, the husband we decided that I would tackle the task.
In hindsight, I wouldn’t change a thing (minus the metro incident). A lengthy and complicated process, yes. But also insightful. I presume the majority of Brazilians don’t have the luxury of hiring a despachante, so the tedious governmental tasks remains theirs. I had the opportunity to experience the bureaucracy firsthand, and in the end, it was resolved and I had encountered only accommodating people.
Car registration update:
It was a group effort people.
This past weekend we toasted the successful completion of a Brazilian task during a celebratory dinner.
Little victories. Sad, I know.
This week. Car insurance.
Goal of the Week: Register car. Sound easy? It’s not. The husband’s company refuses to help us (it’s not in our contract!) HR casually provided us two locations, both of which were WRONG. Fail.
*Getting sick on the metro is not funny yet. Unless you are my unsympathetic husband who proceeded to laugh as I laid in bed after THE WORST DAY EVER.
SO… as I prepare to return to DETRAN this afternoon, I am choosing to focus on pleasant memories from our previous weekend at the beach.
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Our good friend Suzanna already did a lovely post on our weekend jaunt to Praia de Camburi so you can just read hers. I figure I earned a lazy post after vomiting on strangers while enclosed in a contained space yesterday. Photo tour, commence.
Jeff, the husband & Alex enjoying lunch on the beach.
Our adopted dog for the weekend, Tuku.
A little mother-daughter beach bum for your Friday.
Myself, Suzanna, Jana & Tara in our conservative swimsuits.
Paddle boarding. Apparently, quite hard if you are tall. Or hail from Minnesota.
Husband, left. Jeff Jones, right.
Our charming pousada was located two blocks from the beach on this dirt road.
Pray for me as I partake on round two of registration today.
Happy thoughts. Puppies. Coconut juice. Rainbows. Hugs. Books. Picnics. High fives.
We are spending our Monday recovering from the most lovely weekend at the beach.
We arrived Friday night just in time for a walk at sunset and dinner on Praia Camburi.
The rest of our weekend was spent enjoying incredible food with great friends and consuming an abundance of coconut water.
It finally dawned on me… THIS is why we live in Brazil. I can safely predict there will be many more road trips in the near future. Who wants in?
At some point in our lives we all experience a transition, a shift in our way of thinking. Parents begin to fulfill the roll of friends. While I cannot pinpoint the moment in my life when this occurred, the relationships I hold with my parents are decidedly one of the most rewarding aspects of adulthood. They are my best friends.
Had I the opportunity to meet my mother in her younger days, I would have surely been captivated. Small town country girl who left the family farm to tackle college and study abroad in Mexico… the girl had some spunk.
And today, she continues to lead by quiet example. She is patient, devoted, and always perseveres. On down days, she is supportive and provides a listening ear. Each time a conversation draws to a close, an email from her is soon to follow. It says that you were heard, you were understood, and that you are loved.
Last year’s surprise celebration was quite the affair, with Tim arriving from Afghanistan and the Wittig’s from Chicago. While this year will undoubtedly be less grandiose, we hope the memories created last for years to come.
“One of the oldest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night.”
– Margaret Mead
In honor of your birthday mother, I promise to avoid alleys and strangers today.
We wish you the loveliest of birthdays. You are admired, appreciated and loved. Endless thanks for things unsaid.
LOVE you always,
April
