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 Set to Declare Linguistic Independence and Ditch Portuguese

By Fulton Phillipson
April 1, 2008
When Brazil´s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva´s marks Independence Day on September 7 he will announce that the country intends replacing Portuguese as its official language with its own language to be known as Brazilian.
The move, highlighted in a recent cover story by the magazine Carta Capital which is known to be close to the Lula administration, will shortly be announced by the Planalto and reflects a widespread view that the language spoken in Brazil is so far removed from that spoken in Portugal that it is best to accept the obvious and declare linguistic independence. It also brings to the surface a deep resentment by many Brazilians against the Portuguese whom they believe exploited Brazil´s natural resources and gave nothing in return.
The events marking the 200th anniversary this year, of the arrival of the Portuguese royal family in Rio de Janeiro to escape Napoleon´s army, highlights for many Brazilians how their country eventually overshadowed Portugal in terms of its importance.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Hidden Pousadas - Lagoa do Cassange, Bahia

By Alison McGowan
April 1, 2008
I was beginning to regret the decision to stay one night only in Barra Grande and then move on to Lagoa da Cassange. Not only because we really wanted to stay at the Pousada Ponta do Muta for a night, but also because what looked like a very short easy 20 km trip down south and back was clearly not as simple as that. Firstly you can‘t get there without hiring 4x4 transport to negotiate the hour long bumpy and unsignposted dirt and sand track which takes you there. Then, to get back to Camamu on the mainland without going back into Barra Grande, you have to charter a speedboat from the Porto do Jobel, which will set you back another couple of hundred reais.
The moment we arrived, though, all regrets were instantly forgotten. Pousada Lagoa do Cassange is the most beautiful collection of eco-bungalows, with grounds full of palm trees and flowers, running down to a seemingly never ending and totally deserted beach. Both service and homemade food is superb. The bungalows in turn, are all beautifully appointed with excellent showers, CD player, ecological air cooling system and airy mosquito nets round the beds.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Catching Flu'

By Ricky Skelton
March 31, 2008
I watched a staggering television interview with President Lula the other night which left me worrying, in layman's terms, about Brazil's strong economy. With the credit crunch in the USA still squeezing the housing market and much more, Brazil's Finance Minister smugly announced to a press conference the other week that Brazil wasn't likely to catch a cold from the pneumonia-laden sneezes of other countries far away. He doesn't seem to realise how fast sneezes come out. With Brazilians being made redundant from manufacturing companies due to lack of exports, including one home-security company that sold alarms to US households, I think Brazil already has the sniffles but hasn't yet noticed. With the Dollar dropping so drastically against the Real in the last year or so, Brazil's exports have become more expensive, with China picking up the slack as it has been doing with other countries for the last decade. Even traditional Brazilian industries such as the shoe manufacturers are losing out in this globalisation. If the strongest economy in the world is struggling and they import only the cheapest goods, Brazil loses its exports to the country that will soon be the strongest economy, and has less money coming in from abroad. Very simple layman's economics, no?
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil Through Foreign Eyes

March 28, 2008
Meet Brent Gregory from the USA who has lived in Brazil for 4 years. Read the following interview in which 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 a Hoosier by birth (Indiana) and spent most of my life in the midwest US. I live in Castanhal, Pará with my wife Connie and our sons Micah and David. We are a missionary family working with Project AmaZon or PAZ. Prior to coming to Brazil I worked almost 20 years in public water. Currently I assist our mission with church planting, construction projects, support of visiting teams, communications, and general administrative support.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
We moved to Brazil in September of 2004. We had made a couple of visits before, had fallen in love with the Brazilians and become very impressed with the work that PAZ was doing. For many years my wife and I had had a great interest in missions and in Brazil. Through some amazing turns of events we began to sense an open door to a career in missions, we pursued it, and here we are.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Article Writers - Gringoes.com Wants You!

Are you a "Gringo" or Brazilian interested in writing for our site? Have you...

Photo of the Week

The photo of the week is titled Moon Over Brasilia taken by Sean Graham. 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.


Ask a Brazilian: Interruptions

March 27, 2008
This is our regular column called "Ask a Brazilian", the idea being that you can quite literally ask a question of a Brazilian - for those issues you aren't sure about but perhaps dare not ask someone else. It is meant as a bit of fun and answers should not be construed as expert opinion or the definitive reply on the matter. For that reason we ask you to please send comments and experiences in order to add to our replies.
As an American, one thing that drives me crazy about my Brazilian wife is her habit of interrupting me when I am talking! I have noticed in my many trips to Rio and with her friends here in the US, that is seems to be a habit of Brazilians in general. You get two, three, or even more of them talking at the same time. And when her adult daughter is home, it proves my point - as they both carry on long conversations at the same time. I was taught that ‘you take turns‘ so you can listen to the other person talking.
Is this a Brazilian thing or Latin thing in general??
David
Oi, David
I guess it‘s Brazilian. There is a very interesting article, for Latin America, about negotiation in Brazil that says you need at least 51 minutes (versus 24 with the Americans and 33 with the Japanese) to end a negotiation with Brazilians. Why the extra time? Because Brazilians talk at the same time, it says, like we are fighting for some space, struggling to be heard.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Around Brazil: Garopaba

By Ricky Skelton
March 26, 2008
Easter is traditionally a time of chocolate and crucifixion, a strange mix of pagan fertility festival and religious fervour. For me, Easter in Brazil seems to be the time that I head to the dunes and I‘d like to make it an annual event after the way the previous two have been. Jericoacoara, a crucifixion, a full moon and sunrise last time, Garopaba this.
The area is possibly Brazil‘s surf capital, and Easter weekend is full of surfers, girls who surf, girls looking for surfers, and guys who don‘t surf trying to catch the girls looking for surfers instead of catching waves. I stayed out of all that nonsense, avoiding the busy waves by pretending that I can do it anytime at home. I will though, one day.
The dunes at Garopaba (strictly behind Praia Siriú but who´s counting) are more fun and could well be one of the best bargains in the whole of Brazil. R$5 to hire a board for as long as you want to play in the dunes, or you could even turn up for free entertainment. Even then, the slog up the tallest dune is worth it for the view along the coast to the southern end of Florianopolis, never mind the people crawling up and falling down it all day. Unlike the seriousness of surfing individuals, the comedy of sandboarding can be enjoyed by everyone. Laughter rings around the sand hills, with people of all ages bursting out as their friends set off down the slopes, spray up sand and then roll through it like a salsicha in farofa. Sometimes the body stops but the board slides gently to the bottom for extra comedy value. The laughter makes you turn to look every time to see at least the end of falls like this. Refreshing too to see parents giggling inanely as their children cartwheel down slopes using their little heads as points of balance for brief periods.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Hidden Pousadas - Ponta do Muta, Bahia

By Alison McGowan
March 26, 2008
Pousada Ponta do Muta was a wonderful find. We had already heard good things, but had decided not to stay there as the prices in February were outside the range of this selection of pousadas. What we didn‘t realise was that unlike many places prices here drop by almost half outside high season, making it extremely good value between March and November.
Located just a stones‘ throw from the pier where you arrive by boat, there are 10 nicely appointed en-suite rooms, eight of which have a seaview. There is a great reception area which doubles as breakfast room/bar, and there is also bar service on the beach with special telephone communication which means you hardly have to leave your sunbed to order the caipirinhas. For those who want more action the village with its excellent restaurants is only a 5 minute walk away.
The owner, Simone, wasn‘t there when we visited but the marks of good service were everywhere. Luzimar, the receptionist, made us feel so at home that we really didn‘t want to leave. The mark of an exceptional pousada!
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Car Rental in Brasilen

By Dan Hensley
March 24, 2008
On our most recent trip to Brasil (Brazil or Brasilen or Brasilia depending upon where you fly from) we rented a Fiat Doblo. We drove almost 3,000km in three weeks.
To understand our frame of reference a few things are important. First we are Americans living in Germany. We have driven in most of central Europe and in the past Mexico, Philippines and Thailand.
Originally on this trip we had planned on traveling the distance between the areas via bus but 2 days before we left we changed our minds and decided to just rent a car. We were traveling with 3 adults and a 2 year old child. The females on the trip thought they had to take everything they might need, plus a few spares. Thank goodness the airline we were flying on limited us to one checked bag each.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil Through Foreign Eyes

March 24, 2008
Meet R Dub from the USA who has been fascinated with Brazil for several years and almost moved here. Read the following interview in which 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'm the Program Director of Hot 92.3FM in Los Angeles and I also host and produce a syndicated "love songs and dedications" radio show called Sunday Nite Slow Jams that airs in 50 cities. I've been doing radio since I was 15 years old - it is my passion (along with Brazil). I recently relocated to Los Angeles from Tucson, Arizona to run one of the biggest radio stations in the country. I was supposed to be living in Brazil right now... but that's another story, which I'll explain later...
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
I've always had a special attraction to the Latin culture - since I was a boy. Whether it was the music, the beautiful women, warm hospitality, or great food - part of me always felt connected with Latin America, its people and its customs. I remember exactly how my Brazil fascination started: a sophomore in college, I was taking a Spanish class so I could speak to this girl from Mexico that I was madly in love with - she didn't know any English! Although that relationship didn't work out in the end, I did have the most incredible Spanish teacher, who not only taught me so much when it came to Spanish, but she had the best stories! One day she told the class her story of her incredible travels in Brazil, and it was that day that I promised myself I'd go.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Ask a Brazilian: Travel and Security Concerns

March 20, 2008
This is our regular column called "Ask a Brazilian", the idea being that you can quite literally ask a question of a Brazilian - for those issues you aren't sure about but perhaps dare not ask someone else. It is meant as a bit of fun and answers should not be construed as expert opinion or the definitive reply on the matter. For that reason we ask you to please send comments and experiences in order to add to our replies.
Prezada Sra. Bauer:
My name is Russ and I am about to travel to Salvador to visit my inlaws. (My wife and daughter are Bainas.)
I am very worried about crime and health issues about Salvador. According to the US State Department‘s webpage, Brazil‘s crime rate is about 4 times that of EUA.
The last time I went to Brazil, my sisters-in-law became so afraid that they wouldn‘t walk in the streets with me. It‘s not what I did or didn‘t do, or what I said or didn‘t say. Instead, it‘s who I am: A gringo in the middle of Latin America.
…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! If you've got some burning question about Brazil, or just want to discuss a particular topic, then you're bound to get an answer there.
There's also a forum which allows you to comment and give us feedback on Gringoes.com, either with your views about past articles, areas of the site, or to make suggestions for future articles and content.
Note that foul language, abusive posts and certain types of advertising in the forum will not be tolerated. Make sure to check the Read This First area first before posting. The forum is intended to be a constructive and lighthearted place for discussion about Brazil.


Forex

The US Dollar has risen slightly over the fortnight, from R$1.70 to R$1.73. The Euro has also risen, from R$2.66 to R$2.71. The British Pound continues the trend, from R$3.37 to R$3.44.