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.


Understanding Brazil: Giving Directions

By Ricky Skelton
July 9, 2008
If you've come across this missive by accident after hitting the interweb in search of those directions that your friend emailed, because you can't find the way to his house, his explanations made no sense and the reference points he gave you to look out for never appeared, there's a good chance that you are in Brazil. Maybe this should be in the 'Ask a Brazilian' section: Why are Brazilians so singularly useless at giving directions to another place? Or perhaps a new Gringoes topic - 'Ask a Gringo'. Has anybody ever arrived at a Brazilian house after receiving directions from the dono or dona?
The problem with Brazilians giving directions isn't that they give you the wrong information, it is that they fill your head with so much worthless information that it is impossible to ever find your way to a shop, house, bar, market, club or even hospital. It isn't just my lack of Portuguese that causes the problems, as Blondie tends to ask the way when we're both lost together. She comes back as baffled as I do about where we supposed to go next. She is Brazilian though and proved it well when a Peruvian friend arrived the other week. He came all the way from Lima via Rio without any problems at all, finding the right bus at the station, changing later, getting off at exactly the right stop until he ended up right outside our place. Here he was stuck though. Early Saturday morning, we were in bed, he had to call his brother in Peru from the orelhão (enough of a task in itself in Brazil), who then emailed us to tell us our guest had arrived. Blondie hadn't given him the address. Just a small detail.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Current Vacancies at British Embassy/Consulates

July 4, 2008
Job opportunities in Brasília
Information Technology (IT) Intern
The British Embassy invites applications for the above position.
Job opportunities in Rio de Janeiro
Accounts Assistant / Receptionist
The British Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro invites applications for the above full-time position (part-time as Accounts Assistant and part-time as Receptionist).
ICT & Administrative Support / Receptionist
The British Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro invites applications for the above full-time position, to provide part-time ICT & Administrative Support and undertake part-time front desk Receptionist / Telephonist duties.
Management Support (Estates / Security / Logistics)
The British Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro invites applications for the above full-time position to provide support with estate management, security, transport and logistics duties.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Press Release: Time for Brazil to Grow Up

July 4, 2008
São Paulo, July 3, 2008: Brazil should use the windfall opportunities brought by the growing demand for its commodities to plan for the future and start to play a greater role on the world stage. This is the view of Octavio de Barros, director of macroeconomic research at Bradesco, Brazil´s largest private bank. de Barros is the co-editor of a book which has just been launched called Brasil Globalizado. He discusses the book and other related issues in an interview with Brazil Political and Business Comment. Here is an excerpt: "I worked for the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development at the time when Brazil was invited to join and remember how it turned down the chance and decided to remain an observer. No reason was given but Brazil feared that by joining the top table it would lose its so-called leadership of the Third World. This approach is completely wrong. Brazil needs to have the courage to stand up and assume the responsibility that goes with its size."
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Understanding Brazil: Driving

By Ricky Skelton
July 3, 2008
For visitors considering driving in Brazil, there is one essential piece of advice that you need - Don‘t. But if you‘re going to be staying for some time, you may not be able to avoid it forever. There are a few obvious points of which you should be aware - nobody stops at red lights in the dark of the city night, they just slow; signs help for the first turn-off but then generally leave you to fend for yourself; those five lanes each side highways, with cars crossing like ribbons on a maypole; motorbike and scooter riders all seem to have a deathwish, which is regularly granted; helped by the potholes big enough to bath in after rain; and the fact that almost everybody in Brazil who drives and drinks, drinks and drives. The recent police clampdown on drink driving has made the news but will take a long time to change cultural habits, especially until late-night public transport improves.
Glossing over all these minor quibbles, I‘d prefer to pick up on the not-so-obvious traits. As with job titles, cars in Brazil are a very important status symbol for those who need material goods to boost their own self-worth. Which is everyone. Might is therefore right in Brazil and the big important people drive big important cars, and it is up to those lesser mortals to stay out of their way. This can be seen outside the gates of the underground car parks of every city block in the country. The two lights flash, the siren wails, the gate rises, and out of the darkness bounds a blackened 4x4 which bounces across the pavement, oblivious to the old dears and pregnant women with prams hurriedly moving out of its path. The signs tell you all you need to know - ‘Cuidado Veiculo‘ not ‘Cuidado Pedestres‘. There are no signs on the way out of the garage.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


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 fortnight's poll was on soap operas (novelas). Do you enjoy watching them, or steer clear? The results were close run, with 30% voting "No, not really", 28% "No, not at all", 27% "Yes, I love them!", and 15% "Yes, now and then".
This fortnight's poll is on the cost of living in Brazil compared with your home country. Do you find it a lot more expensive, a lot cheaper, or somewhere inbetween? 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.

Photo of the Week

The photo of the week is titled Light Bridge taken by Manfred Teubner in São Paulo city. 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.


São Paulo: Scottish Link Pipe Band

July 3, 2008
The Scottish Link Pipe Band are the only Full Pipe Band in Brazil. They have also competed 3 times in the Worlds Pipe band Championships held in Glasgow every year. All are WELCOME to attend the practices:
Dates:- July - Sunday 6th.July
Sunday 13th.July
Sunday 20th.July
August - Sunday 3rd.August
Sunday 10th.August
Sunday 17th.August
Place:- Cultura Inglesa Vila Mariana. Rua. Madre Cabrini 413 - Vila marianao - S.Paulo.
Times:- 10.30 till 13.00
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Lula Loses Some of His Moral Luster

By John Fitzpatrick
June 30, 2008
One of the great dangers in following Brazilian politics is that you can become extremely cynical and thick skinned. After a daily diet of corruption, sleaze, greed, lies and incompetence, nothing surprises you any more. The press might print a dozen stories every day involving crooked Congressmen, state governors, mayors, policemen, lawyers, judges, trade unionists, soldiers and businessmen but you know that not a single culprit will be punished. There might be the odd sacking or reprimand but the overwhelming majority know they are safe to continue with their activities. In these circumstances it is not surprising that the "good" guys have to turn a blind eye at best and remain as clean as they can or, as must often happen, give in and succumb to the temptations. This is what has happened to President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva. These thoughts came to me as I watched Lula greet ex-President Fernando Henrique Cardoso at the wake for Cardoso´s wife, Ruth, in São Paulo on June 25. It was touching to see the long abraço the two men gave each other and when Lula looked down at Ruth Cardoso´s face I wondered if he was recalling the days when he and Cardoso were on the same side fighting for the return to democratic rule.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


National Geographic Traveler's New On-Line Guide to Rio de Janeiro

June 30, 2008
National Geographic Traveler magazine has launched an online travel guide called Places of a Lifetime. This guide features 50 cities that "all curious travelers should see in their lifetime." Jason Bermingham researched and wrote the section on Rio de Janeiro:
"Marvelous city, full of a thousand charms," sang Aurora Miranda, in a 1934 Carnival hit that's now Rio de Janeiro's anthem. To put this song to the test, each year as many people visit Rio as live there-riding cable cars up to Pão de Açúcar, and trams through Santa Teresa; going inside belle epoque palaces at Cinelândia, and pleasure palaces at Copacabana; climbing to the Rocinha favela (shanty town) by minivan, and to "Christ the Redeemer" by train; shouting samba lyrics at the Sambódromo parade grounds, and "gol!" at Maracanã soccer stadium. In any other city, this would be exceptional. In Rio, you still have 992 delights to go.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Foreigners Through Brazilian Eyes

June 27, 2008
This week in our continuing Foreigners Through Brazilian Eyes series we have an interview with Ana Vitoria Joly. Read on as Ana Vitoria tells us about her impressions of foreigners, and gives some helpful advice also.
1. Where are you from in Brazil and what do you do?
I'm from São Paulo and work as researcher and lecturer in the UK.
2. What are the main obstacles for foreigners in Brazil?
That's something I've never thought about, but I think the language is the major obstacle.
3. What are common mistakes that foreigners make in Brazil?
In my opinion it's to think that most people speak and understand English. I've seen foreigners trying to explain to the coach driver where they would like to go, surprised that the coach driver looked very puzzled they repeated the same thing really slowly, like it would make any difference... Lucky for them there were people around to help, but in some parts of the country this could be very difficult...
…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$1.60 to R$1.61. The Euro has also risen, from R$2.49 to R$2.53. The British Pound continues the trend, rising from R$3.15 to R$3.19.