Checking in - Returning to Brazil..

Most of you may or may not know that I left Brazil with the intention of never returning again for the length of my natural life. [12/27] The truth is I do miss a lot of things about Brazil. I mainly miss my friends and "Boi Bumba." However, living in Brazil was hazardous to my health. Most people have this misconception that Brazil is paradise, with beaches, babes, warm temperatures, clean cities, etc. While I would like to think this is all true it is far from the truth. 

That said, ironically my new company is sending me back to Brazil on my first day of work. Go figure. I won't be in Manaus, instead I will be visiting Sao Paulo. On my return for Miami I will make a 5 day stop in Manaus and check up on my spouse and continue with the permanent visa process for the USA.

And truthfully, as much as I write about my complete and utter dislike for the government in Brazil I am actually excited to be with my friends again. If there is one thing about Brazil I like the most it is my friends. I have more loyal friends in Brazil than I do in my own home country. 

Até breve....

You Know You're In Brazil....

A very big thanks to my buddy James for this. It made my day yesterday!

You know you're in Brazil when the postcard you sent to your folks, won't arrive until 3 weeks after you've already gotten home.

You know your in Brazil when the factories and residential housing looks more like prisons than the prisons do.

You know you're in Brazl when the population of the city bus you've just gotten on is greater than your hometown.

You know you're in Brazil when there is a fifteen minute wait in the line-up just for the ATM.

You know you're in Brazil when the cracks on the side panel in the bus you're riding in are covered up with postage stamps with the figure of Dom Pedro II.

You know you're in Brazil when everybody drives at night without headlights. 

You know you're in Brazil when you put your arm out the window to signal a turn and somebody takes your watch.

You know you're in Brazil when you ask 10 different people for directions and get 10 different answers - all wrong!!! (Worse still one of those people actually lives on the street you were asking about.)

You know you're in Brazil when a bottle of beer is cheaper than a bottle of water and a pack of cigarettes is cheaper than that too. (go figure!)

You know you're in Brazil when you go into any bathroom and there's a wastebasket next to every toilet and usually a big warning sign that you CAN'T FLUSH TOILET PAPER!!! 

You know you're in Brazil when the only thing hotter than the weather is the Acarajé you've just bitten into!!! (OMG they're sooooooooooooo damned hot, but ohhhhhhhhh so good!)

You know you are in Brazil when you have to visit six different grocery stores in order to find a common household item.

You know you are in Brazil when you wait in line at the ATM machine for 30 minutes only to find out it has no money.

You know you are in Brazil when you receive a utility bill in the mail and payment is due three days later.

You know you are in Brazil when your life become centered around an establishment called a "Cartorio."

You know you are in Brazil when the police are dressed like the military and act like soldiers.

You know you are in Brazil when you hear rain and run to charge every handheld device in your house.

You know you are in Brazil when you have to leave every electrical device in your home unplugged for fear of a power surge and/or brown out.

You know you are in Brazil (Manaus) when you lose power daily and your neighbors tell you it is not normal - it is "MUITO NORMAL." 

You know you are NOT in Brazil when your electricity remains on for longer than 24 hours without losing it.