Introduction

Welcome to the Gringoes.com email newsletter!
This newsletter pulls together some of the articles, photos, polls and other information that has been published on the Gringoes.com web site over the last week or so. Don't forget to visit the Gringoes.com site to checkout our article archive, information pages, classified ads, services, forum and other pages. So read on and we hope you enjoy the newsletter. As always if you have any comments don't hesitate to contact us at gringoes@gringoes.com. Please note that although we are based in São Paulo, the site and newsletter are intended to be for all of Brazil. If you live in an area other than São Paulo, and would like to write about your experiences there, then see our request for "Article Writers" below. Also if you're interested to know the origin behind the site name, then read the "Dear Gringo" article here by Dr. G.


In The News...

Gringoes.com founder Kieran Gartlan was featured in an article by the BBC this week. The piece received a strong response from readers with emails flowing in from everywhere as far as way as Tokyo and Russia. Local press also picked up on the story and Kieran was interviewed by Radio Bandeirantes on Tuesday. To read the BBC article click here>>


Brazil: São Paulo Entertainment Guide

This week‘s entertainment guide for São Paulo features an unusual restaurant in Vila Olimpia, a very recently reopened planetarium, this week‘s recommended film release, and a roundup of some other upcoming events.
If you have been to a restaurant, club, park, museum, or anywhere else in São Paulo that you would like to recommend to other readers in future Entertainment Guides then don‘t hesitate to contact us!
Also if you are a bar, restaurant, or night club owner (or hosting any other form of event that might be of interest to foreigners) that would like to be reviewed by Gringoes.com, as well as appearing in our entertainment guide, please contact us to arrange a visit. If you would like to submit an entertainment guide for your city we‘d be interested to hear from you also.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Gringoes.com October Meet Up (São Paulo)

Thanks to all those who replied with their interest in a meet up! We've now set a date for it on October 14th, at 7pm, at the famous pizza restaurant Margherita, in Jardins (www.margherita.com.br for the resaurant's details). Margherita is famous for its great pizza of course, and it also has plenty of space, isn't expensive, is relatively easy to get to, and somewhat central to the city. We'll meet in the restaurant lobby, and I'm sure it will be easy to spot the group of foreigners! As mentioned before, partners and friends, Brazilian or otherwise, are welcome. If anyone has any queries drop us a line at mark@gringoes.com.
If you'd like to organise a Gringoes.com readers meet-up in your town or city then just drop us an email and we can advertise it for you.


Brazil: St. Andrew's Society Caledonian Ball

The St Andrew's Society of São Paulo will be holding their annual Caledonian Ball on Friday September 29th, at Rosa Rosarum in Pinheiros. The Ball is one of São Paulo‘s premier occasions - a wonderful Scottish event with something for everyone. The evening will include pre-ball canapés and drinks, plus a four-course dinner accompanied by first-class wine, whisky and other beverages. There will be Scottish pipe music and Scottish country dancing to Iain MacPhail and his Scottish Dance Band, flown in especially from Scotland. Additional music for dancing will be provided by a DJ throughout the evening.
When: Friday, September 29, 2006 - 8:00 pm
Where: Rosa Rosarum, Rua Francisco Leitão 416, Pinheiros, São Paulo
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Up a Piece of Mountain to See a Batch of Theatre

By Lance Bellville
Guaramiranga, Ceará, 109 kilometers up the mountainside from beach-hugging Fortaleza, may seem a strange place to be seeing approximately 200 actors from 43 different productions strutting their few brief moments upon the stage, but here they were.
This mountain village of little more than 5,000 souls swelled by 10,000 theatre lovers for the Thirteenth Northeastern Theatre Festival of Guraramiranga.
Nine plays from five of the nine-state Brazilian Northeast area competed for the best in the Northeast from 15 to 23 September at Festival Nordestino de Teatro de Guaramiranga. The festival also featured productions flying in from Germany, Portugal and France. The other shows, big and small, were here as "invited productions."
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Doing Business In Brazil: Part 4 - The Despachante

By Robert Eugene DiPaolo
In the previous articles in our series about doing business in Brazil we've discussed Brazil's legal system, the various types of Brazilian business entities, some of the steps required to start a business in Brazil and some of the obstacles you may face doing business. At this point you may feel somewhat bewildered and overwhelmed with all the steps you need to take, the numerous applications you need to file and all the hoops you need to jump through to start a business in Brazil. In fact, the whole process can at times seem unnecessarily complicated and quite byzantine. Nonetheless, with proper planning, helpful guidance, a healthy dose of patience and your interpersonal skills well honed and ready for deployment, doing business in Brazil can be a rewarding experience and an exciting adventure.
While your attorney will coordinate the formation of your Limitada or Sociedade Anônimas and assist you with the various steps required to set up a business, there is another person or facilitator, available to assist you with getting things done in Brazil. This person is known as a despachante. The term despachante is derived from the Portuguese adjective meaning "efficient", which I confess may seem somewhat ironic at this point in our discussion. If you look up the word despachante in a Portuguese/English dictionary, it's generally defined as a "shipping agent", a "document agent" or a "customs agent"; however this term is more broadly used to refer to the middleman or facilitator of business transactions of all sorts.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Article Writers

Are you a "Gringo" (foreigner) living in or travelling around Brazil with experiences you would like to write about, or with advice to offer? Are you a Brazilian who would like to explain about Brazil to foreigners, and help give advice on what to do, and where to go? Perhaps you just write a frequent blog about Brazil, and would be interested in publishing some of this on our site. If you are interested in writing an article, or series of articles, or posting your blog content on Gringoes.com we are interested in hearing from you! Don't be shy! All we ask is that the articles are focused on Brazil, will be of interest to foreigners either travelling or living here, and are written in English.
We are particularly interested in hearing from people who want to write about areas other than São Paulo. If you are unsure about a topic then drop us an email or a draft article. Send your articles or any questions to gringoes@gringoes.com with "articles" in the subject.


Interviews

A big thanks to those who responded to our request for interviews, which has restocked the queue for the next few weeks. We are always interested in more though, so if you would like to be in our Brazil Through Foreign Eyes, or Foreigners Through Brazilian Eyes series please send us an email. As you can see it doesn't matter if you're a foreigner to Brazil, or Brazilian, we're still interested to hear from you. The interview series is a fascinating look at how real people are enjoying Brazil, and equally how Brazilians really see foreigners. They also give various tips on what to see in Brazil, and how to survive here.
The interview itself is a set of around 15 easy-to-answer questions, and ideally we like a digital photo of you as well we can place with the interview.
So if you're interested, don't be shy, send a blank email to mark@gringoes.com with "Interview" in the subject. We will then send you the questions, and instructions on how to complete. We'd love to hear from you!

A gentle reminder to those who have been sent questions. Please don't forget to complete and return them!


Book Donations

If you are leaving Brazil and/or have any unwanted books, and are happy to donate them, then Gringoes.com would be glad to receive them! We are considering setting up a book club for Gringoes.com readers if we can get sufficient interest. For details of how to donate your books then please contact gringoes@gringoes.com with "Book Donation" in the subject.
A special request: we've had an offer of around 200 books from a Gringoes.com reader in Belo Horizonte, but we are unable to get the books to our office in São Paulo. If any readers are travelling between São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, and are able to help with transport, then please contact us at gringoes@gringoes.com

Please send this email to anyone you think might find it interesting. If you have not yet registered with gringoes.com and would like to receive future newsletters click here. If you have mistakenly received this message, or would no longer like to receive mail from us, then please reply to this email with the word 'take out' in the subject line. If you are unsubscribing because the newsletter doesn't meet your needs then please let us know how we can improve it.

Brazil: Portuguese Tips - The Present Subjunctive

By Ana Luiza Bergamini
Hello again - this time we‘ll take a quick look at the context in which the Present Subjunctive is used. The Subjunctive Mood includes Present, Imperfect and Future and is, generally speaking, used when the situation concerned is just a possibility at the moment it is being communicated.
The Indicative Mood, on the other hand, expresses real or sure facts, decisions and opinions: Eu fui ao dentista [I went to the dentist - Past Simple]; Ela não gosta de tomate [She doesn‘t like tomatoes - Present Simple]; Quando eu era criança eu jogava tênis [When I was a child I used to play tennis - Imperfect].
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: The Portuguese Language Museum

By Mark Taylor
Recently I visited the Museu da Língua Portuguesa (The Portuguese Language Museum) here in São Paulo. The museum itself is relatively new, having opened in March this year. It‘s also optimally located in the beautiful Estação da Luz (Luz train station) which dates back to colonial times here in the city, and is one of the oldest train stations in São Paulo. Opposite the museum there‘s also the state‘s art museum, Pinacoteca (covered in a previous article).
The museum itself is situated on the three upper floors of the station, and doesn‘t affect the day-to-day workings of what is still a functional train station. The work on the museum cost a not inconsequential R$37 million, and for the most part it shows. Part of the cost involved the restoration of the station, and overall it required 750 workers, and 30 language specialists to design and construct the exhibits.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Understanding Novelas

By Ricky Skelton
One of the first things you learn about Brazil from your Brazilian friends is how much everybody loves their novelas (the soap operas). But they don‘t really explain to you just what a national obsession they are, or why. In houses, kiosks, bars, hotels, and even on a boat up "The Big River" (where one man was employed to move the satellite dish around for better reception), everybody stops to watch their favourite novela in silence. Never having been one to watch soaps at home, it was very difficult for me to understand the attraction, but I tried.
It might be the glamour of watching handsome people in opulent settings making a mess of their lives, with the bad people usually getting their comeuppance somewhere along the line. Fairly predictable.It might be the quality of the storylines, although even with my limited knowledge of Portuguese, I find this a little unlikely.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil Through Foreign Eyes

Meet Lee Safian, from the USA, who has a Brazilian wife and is living in São Paulo. Read the following interview where he tells us about his most memorable experiences from Brazil and gives some useful advice to newcomers.
1. Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, what do you do etc.?
My name is Lee Safian, I was born and raised in New York City. I am married to a beautiful Brazilian woman, Mariuza. I am a retired teacher who taught elementary school children for 32 years.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
I first visited Brazil in 1992 when my fiancée invited me to meet her family and spend Christmas with all of them. When I returned to the USA, I couldn‘t stay away from her and all the people I became friends with, so I asked her to marry me as soon as possible.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Teaching English In Brazil Part 18

By Joe Lopes
Continuing from last week here's part 18 of Joe's excellent guide to teaching English in Brazil. To read the previous parts click the relevant links at the bottom of the page.
It‘s Getting Late
Glancing furtively at the time - an occupational holdover from my Wall Street days - I see that it‘s now 12:40 p.m., and still no student. I have the receptionist call Sônia again, who, I‘m told, has just gone out to lunch. I instinctively grab the telephone receiver and speak to Marly, another secretary, to try and get to the bottom of this.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Does Lula Deserve to Win?

By John Fitzpatrick
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has managed to keep his distance from the scandals which have marked his administration and is heading for victory in the first round of the presidential election. Whether he deserves this victory is another matter. Even if he does win, the history books will record that his first mandate was marked by constant scandals and corruption and not by any great social or economic breakthrough.
I must have written the words "the latest political scandal" dozens of times since Lula became President in January 2003. There have been so many scandals involving Lula´s Workers Party (PT) that it is difficult to keep count. The main ones involve murder (the unsolved killing of PT mayor Celso Daniel), links to criminal gangs (the "Waldogate" affair involving one of the former PT boss Jose Dirceu´s aides), lying and intimidation (the fall of finance minister, Antonio Palocci), and, of course, the "bribes for vote" affair known as the "mensalão". In the latest scandal ("bloodsuckers") in which local governments were overcharged for ambulances and the difference shared among politicians and businessmen, the PT is alleged to have offered a bribe of R$1.75 million to crooked businessmen for information involving the PSDB.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Further Impressions of Brazil

By Bernard Morris
I have written for this wonderful publication a series of essays on my experiences of walking the streets in São Paulo and places nearby. I have also read interviews and other articles here at Gringoes.com that bring back memories some readers might find interesting and articles that cause me to think generally about my experiences in Brazil. Here, I would like to share a little of both, memories and thoughts, for what they are worth.
My wife is Brazilian, born in São Paulo and raised there and in Jarinú, a small town sixty miles northeast of São Paulo. Although she is Brazilian by birth, her family immigrated to Brazil from Italy in the late 1800s, so her ancestral culture is Italian. She does not, however, speak Italian. I have traveled to Brazil four times and have remained mostly in the São Paulo area, for we go mainly to visit family and friends, and nearly all of them reside in or near São Paulo. We try to see the sights but so far have not had time enough. Iguaçu Falls are a particular attraction. I have yet to visit Rio de Janeiro.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil Offers Fascinating Glimpse into Little Seen Jewish History

By Dr. Richard L. Benkin
If one were to ask most Americans to describe the images and ethnic qualities of Jews, almost all of them would respond with characteristics associated with Ashkenazi Jews. Ashkenazim are Jews of Eastern and Central European descent who make up four out of five Jews in the world today. Ashkenazi Jews have also dominated US and international understandings of the Jewish people - despite the tremendous history and heritage of Jews with cultural roots in the Iberian Peninsula, the Mediterranean Basin, and the Middle East. That is why many looking to tour old Jewish communities would think of places like Poland or Germany, if not some ancient Jewish communities in Israel, as well. Certainly most would think of New York City with its large and historical Jewish community. Few would think of Brazil. Fewer still know that the New York community was founded by Jews from Brazil. While most American Jews know the story of 23 "Dutch" Jews settling in New Amsterdam in 1654 despite the objections of Governor Peter Stuyvesant; very few know that the intrepid group had sailed from their homes in Recife, Brazil.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Discussion Forum

If you've not had a chance yet then pop over to our web forum, register, and start joining in the discussion about Brazil. There are many forum areas such as Living in Brazil, Teaching English, Visas and Documentation, and even a place to Vent Your Frustrations! There's also a forum which allows you to comment on Gringoes.com, either with your views about past articles, areas of the site, or to make suggestions for future articles and content.