|
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.
Child Actors Sought
Child actors are required for the movie "Blindness" by Fernando Meireles, based on the novel "Ensaio sobre a Cegueira" by José Saramago. Children must be between 8 and 15 years old for background roles in a scene playing blind children. Contact Fernanda Gomes Tel: +55 11 3641 6686. www.o2filmes.com.br
Ten Top Brazilian Songs to Download on Your iPod
By John Fitzpatrick
Years ago I used to listen to a BBC radio programme called "Desert Island Discs" presented by a plummy-voiced Englishman, aptly called Roy Plomley, in which he asked guests to play eight records they would take with them if they were stranded on a desert island. The program was phenomenally successful and ran for more than 40 years although the success was not due to Plomley who showed absolutely no interest in his guests and asked the exact same questions every week. Like every listener I made my own mental list although I used to break the rules and imagine my eight favourite pop songs, Scottish songs, classical pieces etc. The killer question was the final one - if you could only take one piece of music which would it be? Imagine having to face that choice? Apparently, the most popular piece over the decades was Ralph Vaughan Williams´ "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis". This does not surprise me since it is simply one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed. At the same time, as most of the guests were English, its unmistakably English sound would have taken them away from their palm-fringed tropical island to the peaceful countryside of England's green and pleasant land.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>
Around Brazil: Barreirinhas
By Ricky Skelton
It was definitely memorable. Places you visit are always much better if you have a story to tell about them. Barreirinhas is a small town which is the gateway to Parque Nacional Lençois Maranhenses. It sits on the wide Rio Preguiça with weeping trees dipping their branches into the drifting water. It has a nice riverfront, which was being refurbished as we arrived, and a river beach in the form of a huge dune. We saw all this as we hung around by the river, four ‘gringoes‘ (one Brasileira who was always getting confused for a gringo), all survivors of the adventure from Tutóia. First up we were approached by a pretty Brazilian woman with a bright smile who told us about her jewellery in the main square. She was one of those people who you instantly warm to, sweet, friendly and the thought of her makes me smile. Of course we would see her later on. She should give classes in sales techniques to every single seller in Salvador.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>
Lula Lets Brazilians Down by Failing to Exercise His Authority
By John Fitzpatrick
Under article 42 of Brazil's constitution, the armed forces "based on hierarchy and discipline" come under the "supreme authority of the President of the Republic" and servicemen are banned from joining a labor union or going on strike. On Friday March 30 a group of around 120 air traffic controllers in Brasilia, most of whom were air force sergeants, announced that they were going on a hunger strike and starting a sit-in as part of a campaign for better working conditions. The men's superior officer warned them that they could be arrested for mutiny. Within hours controllers all over the country stopped work. They allowed planes which were in the air to land but prevented any other planes from taking off. The action affected over 60 airports and over 1,000 flights. Passengers were treated with contempt by the controllers and the authorities and once again Brazil's image in the world was tarnished. Any move to arrest the sergeants was vetoed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who was on route to the United States at the time. He ordered a negotiated settlement and, after the government agreed to hold talks with the controllers on April 3, the flights started again. By acting more like the trade union organizer he used to be than the commander-in-chief he now is Lula took the easy way out. We should not be surprised since this lackadaisical approach was the hallmark of his first mandate and will continue in this one. In fact, Lula could easily have used his trade union credentials to crack down in this case since they give him a credibility that no other president would have.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>
Brazil´s Eskimos - an Endangered Species
By Fulton Phillipson
The United Nations human rights commission says Brazil´s Eskimo community faces extinction as a result of government policies which have neglected its culture, religion and traditions. There are an estimated 5,000 Brazilians of Eskimo descent, whose ancestors came from Canada and Greenland in the mid 19th century. They were generally seamen and hunters from whaling ships who settled in southern Brazil and Uruguay. Two of Brazil´s best-known southerners, President Getulio Vargas, and footballer, Ronaldo Gaucho, have Eskimo blood. Vargas, kept a collection of harpoons in his office, and Ronaldo Gaucho runs an NGO which looks after Eskimo street children in Porto Alegre - the Tropical Igloo Project.
The UN report says the Eskimo (or Inuit) community has integrated well although there were many problems particularly at the beginning. Eskimo men were used to sharing their women in their own countries and Brazilians were often taken by surprise when, on being presented to a woman, an Eskimo would assume that he could lead her off to the bedroom. This led to a number of violent incidents and revenge counterattacks in which Eskimos and Brazilians lost their lives. The little-known novel The Stranger from the North by Jose Alencar, which was turned into a film in the 40s starring Carmen Miranda and Humphry Bogart, was based on one such incident.
(Make sure to check the date of this article before getting too excited!)
…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 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? A not so daring shorts/swimsuit was the winner with 48% of the vote, with the slightly more daring sunga/bikini in a close second with 45%, with 6% who never visit the beach in a distant third.
This week's poll is on flying in Brazil. Have you been affected by the strikes over the recent months, or been trouble free? 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
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: when and where was the first demonstration of electric light in Brazil? All the replies we had were at odds with Laize's answer, that it was in Jardim da Luz, São Paulo, in 1883. The other replies were for the Estação Central da Estrada de Ferro D. Pedro II, Rio de Janeiro, in 1879.
This week's quiz question is again from Laize de Lima (thanks Laize!) and is: when was the first official football game in Brazil, and who were the teams?
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 Holy Zodiac and was taken by Sidney Moraes of the Catholic Church in Paraibuna, SP. 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 Ethan Munson (thanks Ethan!) and is: if you want to be sure to be able to use a credit card whenever possible, carry all three cards (Visa, Master, Ameriacan Express). Many Brazilian businesses try to save a little money by paying for only one credit card merchant account. While this is especially true of small businesses, I have seen it also with expensive restaurants in big cities. Expect your credit card company to charge a foreign exchange fee of about 3% for the transaction.
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 Tom Sluberski, from the USA, who has both worked and travelled in Brazil. 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.?
My name is Tom Sluberski here on a temporary visa to do research and reporting on doping and drugging in athletics for the Associacao Brasileira de Estudos e Combate ao Doping. This is particularly relevant as the Pan American Games are to be held in Rio de Janeiro this July. I am also on the National Faculty of the United States Sports Academy and have been judging Fitness and Bodybuilding contests in the United States, Russia, and now Brazil.
In connection with ULBRA, the huge (over 100,000 students on more than 20 campuses) university, I also made some major presentations to Mercosur and Mercosul conferences, ABRALIC (the Brazilian Comparative Literature Association), went on a month long medical/research/governmental ship in the Amazon region (Rio Solomoes, Negro, and Amazon), and travel widely in Brazil.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>
Brazil: Weekly News Roundup
Internet for Amazon Indians
The federal government is intending to supply the Internet to several communities of Amazon Indians via satellite. Local government will be required to provide the computers for the Indians. It's part of a plan to increase communication between communities, as an attempt to spot illegal logging.
Lula Swears in Ministers
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva swore in five ministers this week. Alfredo Nascimento will head up the Ministry of Transport, Carlos Lupi will be in charge of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, Marinho will take office as Minister of Social Security, Miguel Jorge will be Minister of Development, Industry and Trade, and journalist Franklin Martins will run the recently created Ministry of Social Communication. The first challenge facing Martins is to set up a nationwide public television network.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>
Around Brazil: São Paulo Transport
By Ben White
This article is the third to win our competition to submit an article and win a R$150 voucher for the Tabu Restaurant located in the Sonesta Hotel, in São Paulo. For more details on how to enter our current competition read here.
Every visitor to São Paulo will be forced to use the roads sooner or later. Unlike a city, such as London for example where the Tube network‘s extensive reach makes most locales accessible without recourse to a car, São Paulo‘s sprawl will remain largely unknown should the newcomer refuse to get behind a wheel of some kind. Trusting that most Gringoes readers will possess sufficient initiative to research the practicalities themselves, this writer instead seeks to offer some advice - some observations from experience - that might come in handy (if only with the result that you never leave your hotel).
The traffic is one of the most frequently cited complaints by São Paulo residents, but for the foreign guest, I would like to hazard a guess that the biggest impression is left not so much by the number of drivers but by how they go about their driving. For example, should you be so thoughtless as to be going about your business at a moderately sensible pace, you are sure to be passed by a fellow motorist who, unsatisfied with the horn‘s traditional purpose of indicating imminent danger, has expanded its repertoire to include ‘Get out of my way, you incompetent excuse for a driver‘.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>
Brazil: Follow Up to a Moving Experience
By Pat Moraes
Frequent readers of Gringoes might recall that I wrote a short article last November about shipping some household items from our home in California to our home in Sao Jose dos Campos, in the state of São Paulo. We used a company, Confianca Moving, and shipped twelve boxes including two large leather recliners, two bikes and two wheel chairs to donate to the Saint Vincent De Paul Society in the town where my husband grew up, in addition to the usual assortment of small household items that I felt would make our move to Brazil a little easier. I reported at that time that this company offered the opportunity to ship as little as three cubic meters without having to ship a whole container of goods, and that the price including insurance and fees was less than US$1500. With a shipment this size, the service included pick up at our home in California and delivery to our home in Brazil. Packing was available for an additional fee, so we happily did our own packing. At the time that I wrote that article we were very favorably impressed with the company and their staff. I promised to report back after the items were delivered with the rest of the story.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>
Around Brazil: João Pessoa Part 4
By Tamashin
Here is part 4 of Tamashin's article about João Pessoa. To read the previous parts click the relevant links at the end of the article.
Billboards around the city advertised concerts on the beaches, parks and theatres. I thought this was just for Christmas and New Year but my new found friends confirmed that the events were a regular feature throughout the year. This was confirmed when I was given a leaflet of future events.
One night I heard some opera being performed on the beach stage in Tambau. I thought I would lend support to the other six or seven people there. I was very pleasantly surprised to see the beach as full as the previous nights "Forro" concert. The following evening I watched the excellent "Quinteto da Paraiba" a violin/cello/drum combo which set the stage alight with some electrifying music. Forro will never be the same. I was an instant convert to their music.
…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 "Applying For Brasilian Citizenship??" started by the user Senna in our "Visas and Documentation" forum. The post is discussing about gaining Brazilian citizenship via a Brazilian parent.
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 had a slow decline over the week, currently at R$2.03, compared with R$2.07 a week ago. The Euro has shown a similar decline from R$2.71, from R$2.76 a week ago. The British Pound has dropped similarly to R$4.01, against R$4.06 last week.
|
|
Classified's
Car For Sale
Automatic, 2007 Model, Silver Honda Fit - R$ 48.000,00 cash or 52 monthly payments of R$ 1.340,88 to be paid directly to the bank. Contact: (55-11) 9658-7428 locpenteado@hotmail.com
Apartment for Rent
Nice 2 bedroom apartment for rent in private condominium with 24 hour security guards, across from Villa Lobos Park and walking distance from Villa Lobos Shopping Mall. R$ 1.200,00 per month including rent, condominium and IPTU. No fiador or CPF needed. Contact: (55-11) 9658-7428 locpenteado@hotmail.com
Photographer
Professional Photographer graduated from The Panamerican School of Art and Design available to photograph landscapes, products, portraits, social events, parties and weddings. Portfolio available. Contact: (55-11) 9814-5088 or e-mail. katia_juca@yahoo.com.br
Timeshare Unit For Sale
In Renaissance Aruba resort and casino, ocean suites ( www.renaissancearuba.com). Fully equipped for 4 people. Payment facilitated. jr@marcam.com.br
House For Sale in Salvador
This charming house is located in a closed condominium with guarded gate. It has also its own wall around the plot with electric fence and alarm. Plenty of fruit and coconut trees. Away from all the noise, still only a few minutes away from the best beaches in Salvador and 10 minutes from the international Airport. More info and photos click here. fjubas@yahoo.com.br
Beautiful Home for Sale by Swiss Owners
Strategically located in Alto da Boa Vista, Sto. Amaro, a few minutes from the American Consulate and schools like Waldorf, Swiss School and Chapel Catholic School. The 677m2 constructed area on a lot of 790m2 include: 4 suites, kitchen American style, home theatre, pool, sauna, spa and a Brazilian BBQ. For inquiries please call +55 (11) 8102 9911. Check-out pictures 1, 2, 3. mathias.huber@terra.com.br
Portuguese Classes
Immersion courses for foreigners with licensed Portuguese teachers. Weekend, weeklong, or monthly courses, at your home or office. Online courses also available. Sao Paulo (11) 2626 9875, Rio de Janeiro (21) 3005 2899 or see website www.teacherexpress.com.br. Email info@teacherexpress.com.br
City Tours and Airport Transfers
We will take you on a day tour around Sao Paulo and show you the best of the city! Contact us for further details: Email or call (11) 9658-7428 city.tours@hotmail.com
Please don't forget to mention you saw the advert at Gringoes.com!
|
