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.


Brazil: Stable Union vs. Civil Marriage

By Elza Maria Bastos da Cunha Costa
The so called "união estável" (Stable Union) designates a relationship where people are living as if married, and in the majority of situations with the objective of having a family. This type of relationship theoretically conveys the same rights to the couple as if they had a civil wedding, but in practice it doesn't quite work this way.
Let's look at the example of a foreigner that wants to have a Permanent Visa in Brazil, based on a Stable Union, but without having a civil wedding.
The basic difference is that when the visa application is made on this basis it's necessary to contract a lawyer that will start the judicial process to prove the validity of the relationship, and after this ask for the visa. This process can take a lot of time and money, and doesn't have guaranteed success.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Heitor Villa-Lobos: The Brazilian Bach Part 5

By Joe Lopes
Here is the fifth and final part of Joe‘s article about the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. To read the previous parts click the relevant links at the end of the article.
Yerma & the Flirtation with Hollywood
Villa-Lobos' only other stabs at the theatrical genre were the opera Yerma (1955-56), written to a Spanish text and based on the 1934 play by dramatist-poet Federico García Lorca; and his final subject for the stage, the children's fairy-tale A Menina das Nuvens ("The Girl from the Clouds," 1957-58), given a fair number of presentations in Rio and São Paulo's Municipal Theaters.
As his most ambitious and innovative vocal work yet, Yerma was an atypical oeuvre in the canon of the confirmed Brazilian nationalist. But if the operatic idiom was still an unfamiliar dialect to him, certainly the play's tightly-knit structure (three acts with two scenes each) and dramatic plot devices (the clash of earthly frustrations with magical and supernatural elements) stirred Villa-Lobos to new heights of lyricism.
The story bore striking similarities to German composer Richard Strauss' Die Frau ohne Schatten ("The Woman Without a Shadow," 1919) in its psychological depiction of the eternal feminine and the archetypal yearning for motherhood, albeit transplanted to rural Spain.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


The Closing Process in Brazil

By Jose Santiago
Here is a description of the closing process that takes place in Brazil, when buying property.
1. It all starts when the seller signs a purchase and sale contract, known in Brazil as the "Intrumento/Compromisso Particular de Venda e Compra". Although, the agreement is the first step, the purchase and sale agreement is very important, as its contents will serve as the guidelines for the entire transaction. Therefore, it is fundamental that you know and understand all of your rights and obligations under it. Upon execution of it the buyer usually pays a deposit in order to show good faith and to finalize the execution of the binding purchase and sale contract. In Brazil, the buyer usually pays the seller directly, as there are no escrow accounts, nonetheless, it has become very frequent to use international escrow accounts, which brings more security to all parties, but in this case the seller must consent in writing.
2. A Real Estate Company, Realtor, Seller or Attorney begins the acquisition of the title documents. Each property has a series of documents recorded at the local courthouses and registries that reflect prior owners, lenders and other parties who have or had an interest in the property you‘re buying. Such documents also show any pending lawsuits and liens against the property and/or seller. The examination of such documentation is very important and should be done by a third party who has no interest in the conclusion of the transaction.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Stupid People in Brazil

By Mr. Trend
As surprising as it may seem, the USA does not hold a monopoly on morons. Events a few days ago in Brazil offered two good examples of this.
First, in Brasília, students gathered and protested outside of Congress, as new members were sworn in, splashing police with water from the reflecting pool in front of the building and leading to 6 arrests. What were they protesting, one could wonder? Perhaps they were angry over last year‘s Congressional vote to raise their own incomes to R$24,000 a month (even though many of those congresspeople no longer are employed there)? Or perhaps there was some university funding being cut by Congress?
Nope. They were simply protesting because Congress was there. This is so patently absurd on so many levels. First, as one who studies student movements, I have a fair amount of disdain for the "Protest without a purpose." There are so many injustices out there - you could at least try to pick one to be the reason for your gathering. Secondly, perhaps these students need a little history lesson. In part, they should be THANKFUL that POPULAR ELECTED congresspeople were sworn in yesterday. After all, from 1964 to 1985, there was this little thing in Brazil called "military dictatorship," led by a government that stuffed the Congress with its supporters and even reserved (and exercised) the right to close Congress between 1968 and 1979. If the existence of Congress is so upsetting to these students (and since they had no other motivation, it‘s unclear what other reason they were there), then perhaps they‘d like a return to those halcyon days.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Understanding Brazil: Sworn Translations Part 2

By José Henrique Lamensdorf
Here‘s part 2 of José‘s article about sworn translations in Brazil, subtitled "Almost Everything You Wanted to Know About Certified/Sworn Translations in Brazil". To read part 1 click the link at the end of the article.
3. What could be the original document for a sworn translation?
Any document on paper, or anything from which a hard copy may be obtained. It might be any business agreement, the technical description of a patented product, correspondence, school records and certificates, even personal documents. If it‘s a web site or an e-mail message, it will have to be printed out. Actually, it may even be a note scribbled on a napkin or a piece of wrapping paper.
The main issue is whether a sworn translation of the document in a foreign (i.e. not Portuguese) language is actually needed. If it has to be submitted to any Brazilian authority, the sworn translation is a must; if it is to be entered as evidence in a lawsuit, certainly, so it can be taken as valid in court.
…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

This week's poll, continued from last week, is on what section you most enjoy in the newsletter: do you prefer the articles, photo of the week, or something else? The current favourite with 44% of the vote is "articles", followed somewhat closely by "interviews" with 33%, and "photo of the week" with 15%. Of course if you feel something is missing from the newsletter you can always drop us a line. 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

Last week's quiz question was from Amy Lima and was: who painted the famous Brazilian modernist painting Abaporu, what does the title mean, and for whom was it painted? Congratulations again to Michael J McHugh who was first to reply with the correct answers as follows: 1.Tarsil do Amaral. 2. Translates to "the man who eats". 3.Oswald de Andrade for his 38th birthday in 1928 (he was one of the promoters of Modern Art in Sao Paulo, and a writer known for introducing modernism to Brasil).
This week's quiz question is from Jacques Allain (thanks Jacques!) and is: what is the name of one of Brazil's foremost writers, onetime doctor and for many years diplomat, and polyglot, who died three days after taking up his chair at the 'Academia Brasileira das Letras'? And what is his most important book's title? Don't forget to answer all parts of the question!
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 Where's the Beef? and was taken by John Duhig in the Pantanal. 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.


Chilean Patagonia: Going to the Ends of the Earth

By Marilyn Diggs
Glaciers, global warming and penguins are hot movie topics lately with films like Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," prizewinner "March of the Penguins" and dare I say it, "Happy Feet". Bitten by the frosty wanderlust bug, I recently decided to see it all for myself. Since I live in Brazil, Chile is a close destination. Rather than heading for the Argentinean Patagonia, I chose the Chilean side, opting to make several other stops in this fascinating country that stretches from the tropics nearly to the Antarctic.
Lan's convenient flights took me to Punta Arenas at the foot of the Andes, where my unforgettable cruise with Cruceros Australis began. That night I could hardly sleep. My hotel room window faced the Strait of Magellan and I could see the Mare Australis ship in the harbor - my home, refuge and classroom for the next five days and four nights.
The cruise headquarters was a convenient half block away from the hotel so until the 1pm check-in Punta Arenas was mine to explore. In the main plaza, peppered with souvenir vendors and surrounded by tall buildings and Belle Époque mansions, stood a monument to Fernando Magellan's voyage in 1520. As tradition dictates I kissed the bronze foot of the Tehuelche Indian on the second tier, thereby guaranteeing my return to Punta Arenas someday.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil Through Foreign Eyes

Meet Eddie Soto, from the USA, who regularly travels to and from Brazil and other areas in South America 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 am originally from new York City and my parents were from Puerto Rico. I studied here in the United Sates as well as in Central America. I have lived in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil. I am fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. I did graduate work here in the USA and have a master's degree from Princeton. Presently I am an Associate Pastor in a Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, Florida. Previous to this I taught in university level theological institutions in Guatemala, Venezuela and the city of Fortaleza in Brazil as well as in São Paulo City. Among my present duties I take groups from our church to different parts of the world to expose them to other cultures and expressions of the Christian faith. We have been to Costa Rica, Mexico, brazil and this year are planning a trip to Madagascar, Africa.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
I arrived in Brazil in August, 1992 to teach in a Presbyterian theological school in Northeast Brazil. First I studied Portuguese in Campinas, São Paulo.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Weekly News Roundup

Labor Ministry Puts Hold on Metrô Construction
The Brazilian Labor Ministry have put a hold on the São Paulo Metrô construction, principally in the area of the future Pinheiros station, which collapsed 3 weeks ago killing 7 people. The Criminal Institute and Institute of Technological Research are reviewing safety measures at the site. Construction is expected to be delayed by 6 months.
Former Miss Brazil Abducted in London
Taiza Thomsen, 24, a former Miss Brazil who represented Brazil in the 2003 Miss Universe, is believed to have been abducted in London. Family members believe she was being threatened, and have even considered the possibility of human trafficking. They have not heard from her since September. Some friends believe she may still be in Belgium after working there for a short period.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Lula Faces Arm-Wrestling Contest with New Congress

By John Fitzpatrick
The bewildering way in which Brazilian politics work was evident during the election for the chairmanship of the House of Representatives on February 1 when the new Congressional session started. The election was narrowly won by the Workers Party (PT) candidate against the wishes of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who founded the PT. At the same time, some members of the main opposition party, the PSDB, voted for the PT candidate while the other main opposition party the PFL, which is supposed to be a center-right party, voted for the Communist candidate. Despite this personal setback, Lula is now in a better position than four years ago when his first mandate got under way. In theory, his alliance of around a dozen parties should give him an absolute majority in the 513-strong House of Representatives. He should have around 321 supporters compared with 240 in 2003 and 45 in the 81-strong Senate compared with 32 in 2003. However, this does not mean that he will have his own way and we can expect plenty of arm-wrestling and eye-balling between the Legislature and the Executive over the coming four years.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Why Not? (Or on Brazilian Indians)

By Teacher Claudia
Dear readers, we should be working with the Infinitive today, but something has come up. As we‘re in summer time, many foreigners come to Brazil, and among those, many wish to visit a native tribe. Lately, most of the emails I‘ve been getting gravitate around the same topic: Brazilian Indians.
Therefore, today‘s tip is an attempt to answer these questions. Firstly, why am I holding an Indian baby on the picture of my interview for Gringoes.com? (also pictured above) Who‘s the baby? Where are we? I was in a Field Trip with my 8th grade students, studying the language of an Indian tribe on the coast of São Paulo state.
As I had previously contacted them, I silently led my group. In the tribe there were many babies asleep in their mom‘s arms. As I approached, one of them simply woke up and stretched its arms towards me. Naturally, and with the mother‘s permission, I picked it up, and asked her the baby‘s name. She told me it in both languages, theirs and in Portuguese. And what‘s it in Portuguese? Cláudia!
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: The Great North Road Part 2

By Tamashin
Here is part 2 of Tamashin's article about his road trip from São Paulo to João Pessoa. To read part 1 please click the relevant link at the end of the article.
We left on a very sunny morning in December 2006. We made excellent headway on the BR116 from São Paulo to Rio. We had to negotiate an awkward junction opposite Vidigal Geral, a notorious favela in Rio, so I planned the route carefully. It was about there that my wife saw a sign which said something like "Tourists in big, dark windowed 4x4 causing huge tailback turn right here" which we obediently did and got lost. With traffic hurtling by on both sides and cars crossing central reservations at every opportunity it seemed like the world had gone crazy. As we trundled along I thought "now what would I do in England?", and of course I would ask a policeman. In the broken battlezone around me I saw a black and white beaten up police Blazer parked up outside some boarded up shops. I hadn‘t noticed that the police had some unfortunate ne´er do well pinned up against one of the shop shutters. Our dark, black windowed tank purred up the grey concrete slope to where the police were parked. My wife‘s window slid down. Immediately, a Shrek-like police officer armed to the teeth (in fact his teeth had braces, but it looked as if they were armed) appeared at the window. He appeared so quickly, I thought he must have been sitting on the roof. Another officer stood behind him, serious and unsmiling. My wife asked the way. Shrek poked his head into the car interrupting Barbie's "Princess and the Pauper" on the DVD. He didn‘t speak, rather he grunted and pointed down the road and gesticulated a tad too fast for me but my wife seemed to understand and eventually we were crossing the Niteroi Bridge to the sounds of "you‘re just like me".
…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 "fruta aki e fruta lá" started by the user Camzao in our "Living in Brazil" forum. The post is discussing differences in fruit between Brazil and other countries.
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 again this week, and is now at R$2.09, down from R$2.12 a week ago. The Euro has also dropped, currently at R$2.72, versus R$2.76 a week ago. The British Pound follows the trend, and is currently at R$4.12, compared with R$4.17 a week ago.