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.


The American Society of São Paulo

Are you an expat - American, British, German, French, or other - living in São Paulo? Join the American Society and enjoy our expat get-togethers (pub nights, hiking trips, eggnog parties, etc.) as well as our monthly 16-page Forum magazine, while helping contribute to the Society‘s community assistance programs in the city. AmSoc is great way to meet new people: families and singles. We are a civil, non-profit association with no political or religious affiliations. To join, visit www.amsoc.com.br.


Brazil's Newest Stage Hosts Brazil's Freshest English Workshop

Brazil has a beautiful new theatre with the beginnings of an important new acting company on the just-opened TEATRO SOLAR stage in Rio‘s bairro Botafogo. And the company is preparing to become Brazil‘s first bi-lingual theatre company with the help of an American playwright/English teacher.
The Solar‘s inaugural production, CAMPO DE PROVAS, a new play by São Paulo Playwright, Aimar Labaki, is playing until late May. Theatre fans with a good grasp of Portuguese should make it part of any Rio visit.
The indefatigable SOLAR impresarios, Leonardo Franco and Claudia Lira, built the theatre without government subsidies, are starring in its first production and had their first baby, Valentina, last October, the week the theatre opened!
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Around Brazil: Natal's Autos and Motos

By Hal
I have previously described the bare bones of Natal. In the next series I will offer up sketches of specific activities that have caught my attention. For example:
Not surprisingly Natal is blessed with two major status symbols of our 21st century: cars and rush hour traffic. In addition, motorcycles (motos) are everywhere.
A favorite sport among some owners of snappy new cars is the Red Light Challenge; racing top speed to the next red light. Satisfaction in these block long spurts is measured by how many slowpoke cars one is able to pass/cut off before the next red light stops you.
GREEN LIGHT! They roar down the block, engines straining, and screech to a halt at the red. There they re-rev their engines, inch up on the light, lunge on the green, scream to a stop at the next red. In English this is referred to as: "Hurry up, hurry up - - - w a i t."
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Around Brazil: Jericoacoara to Barreirinhas

By Ricky Skelton
This was possibly the most amazing ‘road‘ journey that I‘ve ever had, mostly because it was so normal for the locals. We left Jeri at stupid o‘clock in the morning with me thinking that we‘d head along the beach, but no, we went inland. We didn‘t miss any scenery though, because as well as it being dark, it was pouring down, and the surprisingly cold rain down my back kept me from sleep. It only looked like 200km on the map, but a whole day of travelling and waiting got us through Camocim, Parnaiba and Tutóia, where we had to break the journey with only 30km or so to go. There were no late evening buses for some reason. No problem, we could set off early morning, get to Barreirinhas and get a trip out to Lençois Maranhenses before celebrating my impending birthday. Little did we know.
We caught another 4WD bus-truck combo down the sand roads, waving at the kids, reading the signs prohibiting motorcyclists to wear helmets (due to robberies in the area!) and dangling our legs over the back, enjoying the ride. Elevenish, we stopped in Paulino Neves and watched the big Rio Novo drifting slowly by as a woman washed her clothes in the river. It was such a tranquil scene, and she looked so relaxed as she scrubbed, sitting half-in half-out of the water while singing softly. We ate freshly picked starfruit as we waited for our next ride. That was when the fun really started.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Understanding Brazil: Convenção de Condomínio (Declaration of Condominium)

By Boris Goldshmit
So, you‘ve finally decided to go ahead and buy that nice flat in Brazil. As the proud owner of the apartment you will also become an owner/member of the condominium association and the owner of a proportional fraction of the common areas and the land on which the building(s) is located.
You will acquire rights as well as responsibilities. In order to fully enjoy your property and to be able to "stand your ground" in case of virtually inevitable misunderstandings and conflicts with your neighbors and the condo administration, it is important to understand the basics of Brazilian Condominium Law and the logistics behind thecondominium inner-workings.
The Condominium is usually established by the act of incorporation by the initial unit owners and involves, amongst standard registration procedures, establishment of the Convenção de Condomínnio (Declaration of Condominium).
…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 swimming and beach attire. Are you daring enough to wear a speedo (sunga) or bikini to the beach, or do you opt for shorts or a swimsuit? At the moment it's almost neck and neck between the daring and not so daring, with 47% of the vote to those in swimsuits/shorts, and 46% to those in sungas/bikins. 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.

Competition! Submit a Photo

Thanks to those who sent articles in for the past fortnight's competition. We'll select a winner shortly.
There's another chance to win our regular fortnightly competition, with a prize of a R$150 voucher for the Tabu Restaurant located in the Sonesta Hotel, in São Paulo.
To win the prize you need to submit a photo for our "Photo of the Week" by 11th April, from which we'll select a prize winner. Next fortnight we'll change the competition topic to something else.
Send your photos to mark@gringoes.com with "Competition" in the subject.


Weekly Quiz

Last week's quiz question was from Laize de Lima and was: in 1871 a big association of enormous importance for the time was formed in São Paulo. What was its name, and what purpose did it serve? Unfortunately no-one had the correct answer, so here's Laize's reponse: It was the Associao Auxiliiadora de Colonizacao e Imigracao, with the objective of recruiting Europeans to work on farms.
This week's quiz question is again from Laize de Lima (thanks Laize!) and is: when and where was the first demonstration of electric light in Brazil? Don't forget to answer both 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 Black Gold and was taken by Landon Wright in Ouro Preto. 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

Our tip of the week comes from Eric Karukin (thanks Eric!) and is: if you are exchanging cash, make sure the notes are in mint condition and of the latest version. I was in Rio De Janeiro trying to change a 50 dollar bill and went to 5 different cambios and was still unable to cash this fifty because of the age of the bill.
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 Peter Kefalas, from the USA, who has travelled around Brazil and married a Brazilian. 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 from New York city and I work for a marketing company there.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
I first came to Brazil in January of 2004 around carnival time to visit my many friends in Rio. I returned to Rio, visited Fortaleza and other parts of Ceara in January 2005. I also got engaged to my wife who is from Ceara during my second trip to Brazil. I returned again in December of 2005 and visited Rio, Fortaleza and many other places throughout Ceara and stayed until the end of March, as well as returning to New York city with my wife.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Weekly News Roundup

Catholic Farmers Berate Lula
The Catholic Farmers Pastoral (CFP) have criticised President Lula Inacio da Silva over comments he made two weeks about farmers whose sugar cane is being used for ethanol. In the comments Lula described them as "national and world heroes". The CFP have said that these are rich landowners, and Lula has not identified the exploitation of the poor who work on the farms.
Lula Cites Economic Improvements
On Friday, President Lula Inacio da Silva stated that the economy has improved under his term. He cited data from IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) and DIEESE (Departamento Intersindical de Estatística e Estudos Socioeconômicos) that showed salary increases above PIB (Produto Interno Bruto) in the last 10 years.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Around Brazil: João Pessoa Part 3

By Tamashin
Here is part 3 of Tamashin's article about João Pessoa. To read the previous parts click the relevant links at the end of the article.
We visited as many beaches as possible because we could. No better reason, I suppose, though I was looking for somewhere which would be perfect for the children. Several beaches fitted the bill, particularly Intermares and Poço to the North of JP (litoral Norte). A few little restaurants, a beach bar here and there, there is beach front housing and in some areas a few six storey buildings but it doesn‘t feel oppressive (yet).
However, if you really want isolation the beaches to the litoral South are much better. We took a drive to one such beach called Barra do Garau e Bela, taking care not to drive onto the beach but park just off the track. With the exception of one fisherman about 500m away we were the only ones there. It was, so far, a wonderful way to spend Christmas day.
…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 "Solar Electricity" started by the user jtNY in our "Living in Brazil" forum. The post is discussing about the plausability of generating electricity from solar power.
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 is up slightly over the week, currently at R$2.07, compared with R$2.06 a week ago. The Euro is unchanged over the week at R$2.76. The British Pound has risen slightly to R$4.06, against R$4.05 last week.