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.


Sao Paulo: Thanksgiving at Finnegan's Pub

November 25, 2008
Classic rock and roast turkey at Finnegan's Irish Pub
Thursday, November 27, at 9 p.m.
Rua Cristiano Viana, 358 - Pinheiros
São Paulo, São Paulo
Reserve a table: (11) 3062-3232
R$9 cover charge
For future gigs refer to JasonBermingham.com.



Brazil: The Spirit of Ayrton Senna Lives On

John Fitzpatrick
November 25, 2008
This year´s Brazilian Formula One race was one of the most exciting ever. The local hero, Felipe Massa, was heading for the championship when only 70 meters from the finishing post, his rival Lewis Hamilton sneaked ahead of another and finished in fifth place, thereby ensuring that he gained enough points to become the world champion. The Englishman´s victory was a bitter blow for Brazilian fans, especially as it happened on their home ground. Among those watching was Viviane Senna, whose brother, Ayrton Senna, is still regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of Grand Prix racing. His death at Ímola on May 1, 1994 was a great shock and millions of people filled the streets of São Paulo for his funeral cortege. Viviane Senna has ensured that her brother´s name lives on, not just as a sporting champion but also as someone who cared about ending the social inequality which blights Brazil. In November 1994 the Ayrton Senna Foundation was founded to create opportunities and help educate children and young people in cooperation with companies, governments, town halls, schools, universities and NGOs. Since then, it has helped more than nine million children and young people obtain access to educational opportunities. In this interview, Viviane Senna talks about Ayrton´s Senna´s dream, the work of the Foundation and how the private and public sector have cooperated to make it a success.
John Fitzpatrick: Why did you decide to focus the Institute´s work on education and child development?
Viviane Senna: My family took the decision to found the Institute to try and fulfill Ayrton´s wish to offer educational opportunities to children and young people. This arose from a conversation we had in March 1994 in which Ayrton spoke about a project which would be broad and well structured. Another reason was our belief that education is the best way of transforming an individual´s potential into skills for life.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Around Brazil: Hostelling in Salvador de Bahia

By Kari Winn
November 25, 2008
About Salvador de Bahia
Located on the northeast coast of Brazil in a region of tropical rainforests, Salvador is historically known as ‘Sao Salvador da Baia de Todos os Santos‘ (or Holy Savior of All Saints Bay). As the third most populous Brazilian city, Salvador is known in Brazil for its cuisine, music and architecture. The metro area is one of the wealthiest in the north-eastern region of the country, and over 80% of the population has some Black African ancestry, making for a heady mix of cultures and traditions.
Go
Salvador‘s Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhaes International Airport is one of Brazil‘s main airports, receiving many direct flights from Europe and North America. As the airport is 28km from the city centre via the Paralela expressway, travellers are advised to take either a taxi or urban bus. Additionally, Salvador‘s long-distance bus station is in the middle the middle of the new city, 14km from downtown, and scheduled buses arrive from all over the country daily.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Gringoes Poll

Last fortnight's poll is on the recent rumblings about the amnesty for illegal immigrants. Are you going to claim amnesty if it arrives, or is there no need? A perhaps surprising first place this time with 43% saying "Yes" you will be seeking amnesty, 39% "No, I already have a visa", 11% "No, I don't want to", and 8% "No, I am a Brazilian citizen".
This fortnight's poll is on Christmas. With only a few shopping days left, what do you make of Christmas in Brazil? Do you find it very different, or much the same as your home country? 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!


Interviews

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!

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 Cable Car taken by Andrea Molnar Szego at Pão de Açucar, Rio de Janeiro. 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.


Brazil Through Foreign Eyes

November 19, 2008
Meet Barry Elliott who first moved to Brazil from Canada as a teenager, and then returned a few years later. Read the following interview in which he tells us about some of his most memorable experiences 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 originally from Grand Bank, Newfoundland, Canada. I like sports, mainly basketball and soccer. I enjoy movies, not to be critical but for the entertainment. I work as a Technical Support analyst. I love going to the feira, sampling the fresh fruit and having a few pasties.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
I arrived for the first time in Brazil in 1990 as a teenager. My parents were missionaries and I actually did not want to come to Brazil at first. (just getting used to my new school and friends) I finished high school and then went back to Canada. I was back and forth between the two countries (because I met my wife in SP) and finally arrived to settle down in 1998.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Ask a Brazilian: Well-to-do Ladies

November 19, 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 your own comments and experiences in order to add to our replies.
Several years ago, I read an article about the Philippines in which the author described well-to-do ladies casually tossing trash to the floor of a department store as one bit of evidence of a damaged culture. As I recall, the article described a real closeness to friends and family but a rather casual indifference to the society at large. I have certainly noticed a lot of Brazilians dropping trash on the ground, including where there were trash receptables nearby. I've seen drivers throw papers, coconuts and bags of trash out of car windows. I've also seen drivers park and block other cars for long periods of time. Yet, Brazilians are also known as more warm and generous to friends and family members than are people in the USA and Europe. I guess the trash issue bothers me since it's linked to sanitation. What gives? Thanks.
-- Steve
Steve,
Maybe we should mention the indifference to the society before society indifference? What other reason for not taking out the trash but ignorance?
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Meetup: Paraiba Paradise Association Christmas Party

November 19, 2008
We would like to invite you to the Paraiba Paradise Association Christmas party that will take place on the 14th December 2008 at the Sagarana Restaurant in Cabo Branco. Address Av Cabe Branco 3056, Joao Pessoa, telephone number (83) 3247 5055/6434
Its easy to get to, at the end of Epitacio Pessoa, turn right at the bust of Admiral Tamandare and take a very pleasant drive down Ave Cabo Branco. The restaurant is after the Hotel Farao and before Hotel IBIS.
It will start at 12:30 pm and finish around 7pm. There is a very large secure, sheltered car park and a play area for the children with a trampoline, drawing tables and pens and paper.
There will be a large shaded area reserved for us.
You do not need to be a member of the association to come along as it is really for people to meet up, make new friends and contacts. Please feel free to bring along any other people.
We have arranged for a local band to play so there will be a small cover charge of R$5 per person (over the age of 18) to cover the cost of the band and other expenses. You only need to pay on the day, when you arrive.
There is a special simplified menu for ease of ordering as well as the standard menu where you can get meals for two for under R$40.
…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 again over the fortnight, from R$2.27 to R$2.36. The Euro has risen as well, from R$2.86 to R$3.05. The British Pound has also risen, from R$3.41 to R$3.61.