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, useful information pages, classified adverts, services, forum and other pages. So read on and we hope you enjoy the newsletter. As always if you have any comments, such as what you'd like to see more or less of on the site or newsletter, 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 for the whole of Brazil. We are particularly interested in hearing from people outside of São Paulo city, specifically Rio de Janeiro and the Northeast, so if you would like to write about your experiences or any topic related to Brazil see our request for "Article Writers" below.
If you're interested to know the origin behind the site name, then read the "Dear Gringo" article here by Dr. G.


Newsletter Archive

We have created an archive of of our email newsletters back to the start of 2005. We hope the archive is useful for those who've missed an issue, or would simply like to read some of the previous newsletters.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Heitor Villa-Lobos: The Brazilian Bach Part 2

By Joe Lopes
Here is part 2 of Joe's article about the Brazilian composter Heitor Villa-Lobos. To read the previous part click the relevant link at the end of the article.
Paris Sojourn & the New Nationalism
Of all the classical works written by Brazilian musicians from the time of Carlos Gomes, up to and including the early twentieth century, none could be accused of having taken full advantage of the incredible wealth and variety of native indigenous music, along with West African, Caribbean, folkloric, caipira (country), and urban-style street influences, as had the numerous hybrid creations of Heitor Villa-Lobos.
The remarkable collection of local airs, ditties, songs, sounds, themes and tunes he had amassed during this and other subsequent periods of his life were put to fruitful, and often ingenious, use in much of his voluminous output. In this, Villa-Lobos can be construed as the most nationalistic of Brazilian artists, and his country‘s first truly authentic, resident musical representative:
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Understanding Brazil: The Workmen

By Ricky Skelton
Much as you can tell a British workman by his hands (they‘re always in his pockets), so you can always spot Brazilian workmen: they‘re always watching somebody else work. Whether it has been working on home improvements, roadworks, building houses or huge construction sites, I have only ever seen one man working at any one time. He saws the wood while anywhere between one and ten other men stand by staring intently. They don‘t seem to help or advise in any way which makes me wonder if that is what they are paid to do. Watch. I have a rubbish theory that two gringoes arrived at a Brazilian house long long ago to do a job. The owner asked why the second man had come:
"He‘s my assistant. We always work with an assistant in England." - came the reply.
"What does he do?" - asked the Brazilian.
"He assists." - was the logical response.
The owner thought "He assists" and translated literally into the falso amigo "Ele assiste". This then grew to become part of the working culture in Brazil.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Understanding Brazil: Sense of Humour

By Mark Taylor
I've often heard it said that when you understand the sense of humour of a nation, then you understand it completely, as if it were the final piece in a puzzle. So with that thought in mind, is it possible to understand the Brazilian sense of humour? What forms of comedy do Brazilians enjoy? What programmes do Brazilians like? Is the Brazilian sense of humour any different from elsewhere?
It was as an English teacher several years ago that I first had these thoughts in mind. I was attending a pre-semester meeting at the school I worked at. All the teachers were gathered around the table, and I was the only non-Brazilian and native English speaker there. One of the teachers was criticising a book used to teach advanced English: "The content isn't particularly great", she said, "even the jokes are rubbish, listen...", and she thumbed to a page of the book and read. "What do you call an elephant with a machine gun?... Sir." It was at this point that I burst out laughing. It wasn't just the joke though, it was the rather surreal setting and the surprise. The co-ordinator beamed and said "well, it made Mark laugh, so I think the book's OK."
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Weight Loss Surgery in Brazil

While Brazilians are renown for their beautiful figures, recent studies have shown that the number of overweight people in this country is increasing. In this interview we speak to Dr. Roberto Rizzi, a specialist in Obesity weight loss surgery.
1) Can you describe in lay man's terms what is involved with this type of weight loss surgery?
Answer:
There are several procedures. I prefer the Gastric Bypass procedure because it‘s safer and has fewer complications than other available weight-loss surgeries. Gastric bypass, which changes the anatomy of the digestive system to limit the amount of food a person can eat and digest. It is also the favored bariatric surgery in the United States.
2) How common is this kind of surgery in Brazil?
Answer:
Brazil is the second country in the world that most performs Gastric Bypass Obesity Surgeries (USA is in the first place).
…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, specifically Rio de Janeiro and the Northeast, although other areas as well. 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

Thanks to those who responded to our request for interviews. We've almost run out 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!


Gringoes Poll

Last week's poll was on what you'd like to see more of on Gringoes.com, whether you want more articles on places around Brazil, practical tips on visas and other aspects of living or moving to Brazil, real estate, politics, current affairs etc. The favourite was "Practical Tips" with 31% of the vote, followed by "Around Brazil" with 27%, and "Real Estate" with 16%. If any readers feel they can contribute articles to one of more of these topic areas then please see the "Article Writers" entry above.
This week's poll is on spending, and what your single biggest monthly expense is e.g. property (rent/mortgage), insurance, or are you lucky enough to spend most on entertainment? If you haven't yet voted go to our homepage and look for the poll in the left-hand column.
If you can't stand our poll ideas and have better ones, or are curious about some aspect of the Gringoes.com readers, then send your ideas to us at mark@gringoes.com with "Poll Idea" in the subject. If we choose your poll you will get a credit in the newsletter, as well as the satisfaction of seeing what the answers are!

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.

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Weekly Quiz

This week's quiz question is from Amy Lima (thanks Amy!) and is: who was the first woman elected to a seat in the Academia Brasileira de Letras, in what year, and what other famous author is she related to? Don't forget to answer all parts!
Do you think you can stump the Gringoes.com readers? If so then please send your quiz questions to mark@gringoes.com with ‘Weekly Quiz Ideas’ in the subject line. Don't forget to send the answer to the question also! Remember it needs to be relatively difficult, and not something that can be found from a simple Internet search.


Photo of the Week

The photo of the week is Giants, taken by Peter Caplan, a travelling puppet theatre in the northeast. Click here to see the photo.
Thanks to all those who've sent in photos based on our request, but we can always do with more. So if you have a funny or unusual photo depicting life in Brazil please send it to gringoes@gringoes.com with ‘Photo of the Week’ in the subject line. Ideally we are after photos that are of something a little different, not traditional shots of beaches and sunsets. Please send relatively high resolution images (0.5 Megapixel / 640 x 480 or bigger), and let us know where you took the photo and if you have a title for it.


Tip of the Week

We've run out of tips, so a special request to Gringoes.com readers for more! Is there something you wish you had known while travelling, or something that makes life easier while living here in Brazil? Then share it, and let our readers know. Don't worry about the subject, it can be either a big or small piece of useful information. Send your tips to mark@gringoes.com with ‘Tip of the Week’ in the subject line.


Brazil Through Foreign Eyes

Meet Bryan Thomas Schmidt, from the USA, who regularly travels to and from Brazil with work. Read the following interview where he tells us about some of 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.?
I grew up in Salina, KS, but now am in St. Louis, MO where I am a consultant for Fortune 500 companies in records management and Founder/Executive Director of Anchored Music Ministries, which provides masters level leadership development training for churches in worship arts.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
I came to do a workshop with seminary friends (native Brazilians) in January 2003 in Goiania, Goias and another in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais as well as a series of concerts.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Weekly News Roundup

YouTube Denied Then Accessible Again
The story from last week, of the YouTube video of Brazilian actress Daniella Cicarelli having sex on the beach in Ibiza, has been the headliner again this week both nationally and internationally. This was mostly as Cicarelli and her boyfriend, banker Renato Malzoni, managed to get access to YouTube denied in parts of Brazil at the beginning of the week. This was via a ruling against Internet Service Providers to block the IP address of YouTube to users. The ruling did little in practical terms though as it fired even more interest and the video spread to many other providers, including Google Video. Subsequently the ruling to ban YouTube was reversed. Popular annoyance with the ban was further fuelled by Cicarelli's denial that she was involved, and that is was her boyfriend, which was subsequently discovered to be a lie. MTV, where Cicarelli currently presents, have received thousands of emails asking for her to be fired, and there are plans this Saturday for those disgusted with Cicarelli to march on MTV's office in São Paulo. MTV so far have refused to fire her, citing the censorship as hypocrisy.
Rains Kill Around 50
Mudslides and floods have killed around 50 people, primarily in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. The rain finally subsided during the past weekend, and Rio's governor has been seeking federal aid. The rain mostly affected those living in the slums perched on hillsides. Tens of thousands are still left homeless. Rains caused further problems for a dam at a mine in Minas Gerais, which burst requiring the evacuation of a town and thousands of people.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil Blog: Visas and Marriage Part 5

By Gringo Blogger
Here is the fifth and final part of the Gringo Blogger‘s blog about visas and getting married in Brazil. To read the previous parts click the relevant link at the bottom of the article.
By way of introduction I'm a foreigner who's lived in São Paulo city for a few years. I came here for romantic reasons with the hopes of finding a job, like many gringos (only to find out that getting work in Brazil is a near impossible task). So I'm not your typical wealthy gringo. Thankfully I am now working part time in a great job, but am still on the Holy Grail-like quest of finding full time work. I married my girlfriend early last year, so have some idea of the highs and lows of a multicultural relationship.
In my blog I'm just documenting some of the day-to-day events that happen to me, amusing or not, to give an impression of what it's like for a gringo living in the bustling metropolis of São Paulo, and Brazil in general. It's at times also meant as a tongue in cheek look at gringo life, so shouldn't be taken too seriously.
To gain the Permanency Visa I had to first get my criminal record, or technically my lack of criminal record, to demonstrate to the Brazilian authorities that I wouldn‘t ransack their country. We had allowed 5 months in total for the application process, and booked flights accordingly: that is 6 weeks to get the criminal record, a maximum of 3 months for the visa application at the consulate, and 2 weeks spare. We applied for the criminal record at my local police station, and waited the 6 weeks. We nervously waited an extra week, then called the police to find out whether it had been processed. They dutifully informed us the application must have been lost as they had no record of it, but agreed that under the circumstances they would fast track the application in 2 days. The application then turned up at the local police station, although quite where it had been misplaced we were never told.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Portuguese Tip: Infinitives and Gerunds Part 1

By Teacher Claudia
Happy 2007, dear readers! Thank you for your encouraging emails, interesting suggestions and useful critique on my work.
My foreign students sometimes misuse infinitives and gerunds, especially if their mother-tongue is English. As the topic presents several "details", I‘m splitting it in two lessons. Let‘s study the gerund first, shall we?
Activity 1
Read the beginning of the song "Sentidos", by Zélia Duncan:
"Não quero seu sorriso
Quero sua boca
No meu rosto
Sorrindo pra mim.
Não quero seus olhares
Quero seus cílios
Nos meus olhos
Piscando pra mim."
…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.
Each week in the newsletter we will choose a Post of the Week to give you some idea of what's happening in the forum, and a good thread to visit and read. This week we recommend the post "Motels" started by the user Dancod in our "Moving to Brazil" forum. The post is discussing various aspects of visiting motels in Brazil.
If you have a recommendation for Post of the Week then send an email to mark@gringoes.com with "Post of the Week" in the subject.
Note that foul language and abusive posts in the forum will not be tolerated. The forum is intended to be a constructive and lighthearted place for discussion about Brazil.

Forex

The US dollar has dropped slightly this week, and is now at R$2.14, down from R$2.16 a week ago. The Euro has also dropped slightly, currently at R$2.76, versus R$2.80 a week ago. The British Pound has risen over the week, and is currently at R$4.21, compared with R$4.17 a week ago.