Things I Like About Brazil

• When you enter or leave a room, you greet everyone with a hug and a one sided cheek hug/air kiss (with a nice loud smack), and everyone does it to you also (mostly ladies but some gentlemen also). It's really fun, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and like you're part of things even when you aren't really.
• People leave their doors (without screens) open all day and shut them only in the evening when the bugs come out. There aren't many flies so even when you eat there's not really a bug problem. There's always lots of fresh air and it circulates throughout the house.
• The people are genuinely friendly and love to laugh. There's no arrogance if a gringa tries to say something in Portuguese and it doesn't work, just general good humor about the whole thing.
• The Brazilians love bathrooms (as do I) and there are many of them, with cool tile floors. In fact the tile usually goes all the way to the ceiling.
• The food is amazing: crispy water bread (kind of like French bread) with flaky outsides and soft insides, yummy guava (goiabada) jam and white Minas cheese that when eaten together is called Romeo (Ho-may-ooh) e Julieta (what a romantic culture), delicious desserts, fruits, vegetables, meats and oh my, the cheese! There is great danger that I will be huge the next time you see me!
• I LIKE hanging out the wash! It smells good, you get to go outside, feel the sun and fresh air, and the clothing feels good when you put it on.
• People work hard but they also know how to relax and have fun. Having fun doesn't depend on having something special to do, they just enjoy each other and the conversation (and ususally, eating)!

So if your thinking about coming to Brazil to see us or on a short-term trip, be prepared for all the wonderful things you'll see and hear. Brazil is a great country!