Wednesday, May 13, 2009

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

4 comments:

Just SO said...

Sounds absolutely wonderful.

gigi said...

I know that there are lots of wonderful things you will miss about Brazil. You have some great memories.

Tamra Watson said...

Wow...that list makes ME trunky.

Unknown said...

Hi, my name is Renata!! I'm brazilian, and I live in Florida. I'm also a cake designer, and today I brought a " Maracuja Cake" over my job. Some people didn't know what it was, so I was "googleing" a picture of the fruit to show them and I found it in your blog!! And kept navigating...just loved it!!
Parabens!!!!
Beijos! :-)