What I miss about Brazil

My Man was transferred to Brazil in October 2004, and it was love at first sight. We left a part of us there when we moved to Arizona in June 2009.

I ache for ...

• JeaneGeorgiaGildaRenataGiseldaGenyFernanda...
• The young women
• Maracuja (passion fruit to you)
• Freakin' GOOD mangoes
• Freakin' GOOD pineapple
• Freakin' GOOD watermelon
• Fresh juice everywhere you go
• Green, green, green
• Gorgeous flowers and trees
• Padarias (bakeries) on every corner- hmmmm
• Pao de Frances (special 'French bread')
• The weather
• The macaws squawking outside my window
• Cutting in line when you're pregnant or if you have kids under two years old
• CAKE
• Salgadinhos - 'specially cheese balls with hot sauce
• Beaches
• Monsoons
• The hugs
• The touchie-feely-ness
• Smell of the streets at lunch hour
• Fresh tubs of garlic
• Cheap manicures - and the fact that everyone gets them (R$15 for both hands and feet - half that in dollars!)
• Cheap help - maids will "white glove" clean your house every day for $150 a month
• Feeling needed - being able to help lots of people
• Their humility
• Their economy - buying only what they need
• Their general optimism and happiness that they exude at every step
• Negotiating any and every price
• Shoe shops that fix your favorite shoes like new - for pennies
• Spa-like hairdressers for dirt cheap
• Construction workers who actually work - and fast
• Feeling special/different
• The BEEF - particularly picanha (and the price!)
• Being able to stop by a friend's house "just because" - everyone has an open door policy
• Everyone has cake at all times
• The cleanliness - every time I invited a Brazilian over (or even if I didn't) they left my house sparkly clean
• Their unconditional love
• How they keep up with everything - they know everything there is to know about the States. What do you know about Brazil?
• Rice and beans
• Farofa
• Pao de Queijo
• Awesome flip-flops
• Great hair treatments
• Best nail polish ever
• Service - Brazilians are always ready to serve, no matter what you need. Always.
• Femininity - Brazilian women revel in being women. Very girly-girl women (hair, makeup, jewelery, the whole gig - all the time)
• Kids are kings
• Everyone always exclaimed over my kids (blue-eyed blondes are a rarity)
• They think pregnant bellies are beautiful
• Honesty - they never "white-lie"
• They always make twice as much food as they need - in case someone drops by
• Deliveries - everything delivers, from McDonald's to the bookstore
• "Pizziola" pizza - oooo, and maragueirta too
• Service at the stores - there's always someone at your beck and call
• Churrascarias
• Sazon and Sabor Ami seasonings (essencial for rice and beans)
• They don't care if you don't shave your legs
• "Lembrancinhas" - Brazilians love to give gifts. Any reason will do
• Their proactivity and industry
• Trufas and brigadeiros
• Church activity - something's going on at the chapel almost every night; and everyone goes
• Everyone is naturally "green"
• Walking
• ..... and so much more