To apologize for being such a rotten virtual boyfriend, I figured I could make it up to you by posting some pictures of hot women.
No. That didn't work? Well....it made me happy anyway.
So back to Brazil....
I am happy report that I have successfully reintegrated myself into my old neighborhood. Vila Brandão is swiftly becoming "that thing that happened way back when", where I lost a bit of
money dancing with some scumbags. Despite the fact that I have returned to a small hole in the wall apartment, with hardly enough space to store my things, I am much much happier.I'm not going to say that moving to Vila B was a mistake. I learned a lot about the world in a short amount of time. But in the end, it was better to leave the rat nest to the rats. Let them feed of their dark energy and tumble into oblivion. I prefer my sunshine and a carefree Brazil.
So to feed my hungry public and make up for lost time, let me barrage you with a string of quick posts. My cannons are getting rusty, and its nigh time we lit the fuse.
Post #1
My new home! Small, noisy, over a bar. But kinda of cute in a O Pai O kind of sense. My place sits right off of Vila M, just a stones throw away from my hairdresser, my pharmacy, my restaurant, my bakery. I have returned to a world of convenience, and to a street that never sleeps. The only difficulty with living here is battling the noise at night. I fall asleep by putting ear plugs in, playing some music, and drugging myself if necessary. Even then, the occasional fight will break out downstairs, and I will crawl out of bed to watch the melee of cachaçeiros beating the shit out of each other. Good times
Along with the move, I have inherited a family of 8 children. My neighbor is crude animal of a man named Z, who doesn't know how to talk without yelling, and occasionally gets pissy and beats his wife. The place is a den of dysfunctionality, but I love the kids and have taken them in as my own. Not sure how it's genetically possible, but Z and his wife (who look worse for wear if you know what I mean) have created the cutest of children. Plus they have a puppy, and argh, god, breaks your little heart.
Post #2
I have become a sales man. I have turned in my non-profit tie for something a bit more flashy.
My work at Discover.Travel is become all consuming. I am working full, full, farkin full time,
and my world is becoming increasingly more routine and small. This month, I closed a huge trip and pulled in R$ 40,000. Sales are tough right now. The world is freaking out and no one wants to travel. I have to tip my hat to the few rich people who still have the money to do so. Without them, I'd be selling picole. So yeah.
Post # 3
You know you are in Brazil, when a fully accredited Catholic Priest comes to your work to bless the company. He arrived in his church attire. He had employees read passages from the bible. He sprinkled holy water on everyone, and I got some in my eye. It was pretty much the weirdest experience ever, and I'll have to devote a full post to it soon.
Post #4
I am training. I am busy busy busy busy. I am giving English classes after working all day. I am going to the gym and making my pecs bigger. I am hitting people with swords on the weekend. I feel like getting more tattoos. I wonder if my life is always going to be this busy, this strange. I wonder if I am a marginal, like a dirty sailor who is going to die with a lot of scars. Sometimes I feel like asking the world, do you think I'm weird? I already know the answer.
Post #5
I can't help but have a theme song. Every period of my life is defined by a style of music I was listening to at the time. In high school, I was an escapist, interested in parallel universes and avoiding reality. That was a Dead Can Dance era. I moved onto a full embrace of the human condition and started listening to Reggae. Now, I am a rocker, and feel like battling the world. I can't get this song out of my head:
It stays with me when I am fighting my way through traffic. What music defines you?
Post #6
Holy shit it's the end of the year. I have spent a year of my life in Brazil. This deserves to be marked, this requires a separate post. I shall gather my thoughts and get back to you.
Post #7
Ahhhhhh hahahahahahahahah! Don't make me throw another shoe at you.
Post #8
The Lions Den is back. Peace.
8 comments:
Droga pouco irmao! (Damn little bruh!) It is good to hear that you are in such good spirits (vibes)! A new crib (apartamento), new neighbors. And having little kids around always gladens the heart! And the J. O. B. is going too, plus getting your hustle on, teaching english. Nice. You must have good karma.
If you ever get a chance to 'go on vacation' check out Zezinho in Rio, I met him in Atlanta, GA where I live, at Loca Luna a Brasilian owned club for a fund raiser for i2i, Instituto Dois Irmaos, Two Brothers Foundation that does and has all sorts of educationial oppurtunities for kids and adults in the favela Rocinha. I have been to Rocinha and felt and was more safe there than anywhere else in Rio! Small world. In the ATL, Rio, Salvador and my Moms house, they call me 'Ty'.
Here's my advice to living in Brasil, and enjoying it. A lot of gringos save their money while they are living and working in the US and buy a small apartment in Brasil out right not oweing a dime on the property and I have been told it makes life a little easier in Brasil. Now they did buy when the exchange rate was like 3 or 4 to 1. And knowing someone in Brasil (Vivi) to help you negotiate drops the price substantialy. How old are you? 28, 29? You and Vivi could go back to the states for 2 maybe 3 years, get your hustle and grind on, and before you know it you will be able to pay cash for new digs. And you can always rent it out when you are not there.
Now I know you are an anthropologist and are a traveler, but like everyone else I know who has been to Brasil, 'and got bitten', Brasil is the only place you want to be.
Oh and one more thing. You said that you were disappointed to leave Villa B cause you could have writtenn a book about it. You are writing a book. This just happens to be a differnt chapter. Almost everyday you blogg. You know what writers used to call a blogg before there were bloggs, to give them information for a book? Journals.
Peace bruh, to you and yours.
(Whew!)
Cole meu peixe (Wadup my fish!) rsrs
Hey Jazz, did you notice that Zezinho the founder of the Instituto Dois Irmaos was floating around the blog leaving comments. Seems like he has a really cool thing going, and I dig his t-shirts. Would love to stop by Rocinha if I ever get my ass back to Rio.
Not a bad plan, moving back to the states, but I have a masters degree to start and complete. I'll probably been down here for at least the next three years, living in my iddy biddy place and doing my time. Maybe that will happen in the future.
Thanks for the words man. Stop in anytime. We should meet pra tomar uma whenever you're in Salvador.
I'll probably been down here. Jesus. I'm losing my english.
Hi A.L.R-- I remember you blogging about your master's program before! Did you ever start it, or is it still in the works?
Zezinho did not found Two Brothers - Paul Sneed, an American who is a Portuguese professor at Kansas University. That said, it is a great ONG, but I am biased because my sister-in-law is the president of the Brazilian arm (Dois Irmaos).
Hello Jazztech. I just wanted to let you know that I responded to your reply to my comment on December 5th. Thanks so much for your encouraging advice. That's interesting to know you are from Atlanta. Is there a pretty good Brazilian scene there? Sometimes I consider moving to other U.S. cities with warmer weather and more Brazilians, although I still think it wouldn't even come close to a satisfactory substitute for living in Brazil. There is no real substitute for that. Anyway, I also asked both you and Leo if you know of any online communities for Brazil lovers. I'm looking for a place to seek advice and swap ideas. Finally Jazztech, (and I hope this isn't too weird because I totally don't mean it in a weird way) if you personally have facebook or MSN chat I would love to write you a message and learn your story and seek more advice. Please let me know. Thanks!
Hey Anne, no I don't have a Face Book or MSN chat. I'm more 'old school'. There are at least 12 links on Leo's web page that should get you started on sharing ideas. Also it is good to share your ideas/interests with others to get more of a varied response. For example, you may want to Google what masters programs offer exchange student oppurtunities in Brasil, and at what universities in Brasil. That way you can combine your passion for Brasil with you education. And when school is out for the summer, take a break and go to Brasil.
I have to disagree with you on Brasil's 'bankrupt economy'. They manufacture everything under the sun, and sell it too. There are far more cities in Brasil than Rio also. Think of Floripa, Belo Horizonte and so on.
Post a Comment