Capitals of the Southeast

Belo Horizonte would be a slightly pudgy, middle class, middle aged man - conservative, religious and balding. The type who wears black socks with his leather sandals. This guy is so cheap he makes change in the offering plate. He's so suspicious he greeted his daughter's prom date cleaning a shot gun. He ate at McDonald's that time his wife dragged him to Paris for vacation. Deep down though, despite all his grousing about all the riffraff lowering his property value to his buddies at the bar, he's really just a sweet family man who could probably stand a little more culture in his life.

Rio, on the other hand, is a shaggy haired, irreverent surfer dude. He works out everyday to keep his perfectly toned beach body ripped to make waves at the club where the all the girls (and quite a few men) go crazy when he gyrates his perfectly shaped ass. He likes rough sex, lots of pot and has no troubled obtaining either. If you visit him at home, his room is a disaster and there are dirty dishes covering the sink, but you don't really mind too much because his smile and conversation are so charming and well... he's gorgeous. While he's prejudiced and fights when he gets drunk, he also has a very sweet, vulnerable side under all the bluster that you can't help falling for.

This past weekend I went to Sao Paulo. Wow. A cool young professional. His impeccably stylish clothes are always flawlessly pressed. A sharp tongue and a relentlessly witty attitude makes his conversation sparkle. He charges down the street, briefcase in hand, eyes fixed ahead, focused and motivated. On the weekends, he dances hard under the club lights, music pounding, sweat pouring down his forehead. He's got money to spend: nice car, beautifully designed house in a ritzy neighborhood. Graduate of a prestigious university, he speaks dozens of languages and uses his money to finance the innovation in Brazil.

I could be friends with all of them, but who I'd want to live with...? Rio de Janeiro, for sure. What can I say? Drama aside, I've got a thing for hot boys with a naughty side. Just so much fun.

I'm sorry... that's just annoying

Today I went out to buy some tupperware and some things at the supermarket.

But no.

Everything is closed for some ridiculous holiday. The Day of the Shop Worker... it would be. I was going to cook dinner tonight, but I guess we're going out to eat again. Better hurry before it's Waiter's Day.

Roommies

I live with six roommates. If that seems like a lot, you're entirely right. It is.

Fortunately for me, not one of them wakes up before noon and I'm a morning person. I enjoy hours of solitude.

Often though, I lose momentum especially after going to the beach for a few hours and I crash on my bunk bed for a nap. When I wake up hours later, the living room is filled with loud music and usually some dish with enough garlic to make your eyes water is on the stove.

HEY! HEY YOU! OVER HERE!!

I was getting breakfast on the street corner while a beggar tried to get my attention. He actually was waving his hands and jumping, "hey! hey, you!! Yeah, you at the register! HEY!! GIVE ME SOME MONEY!! hey! OVER HERE!!" As if I had some trouble noticing him.

Though I'm not going to give money to these guys, it pays to be chill about your refusal. I mean, they're making a living like everyone else; I'm not going to begrudge them respect.

This morning, however, I was irritated because there was no toilet paper, paper towels, coffee filters or water when I woke up this morning with a caffeine headache, a stopped up nose and a dry throat. Roommates...

Resigned, I got dressed and grabbed my last bit of change to stumble down to the corner for some coffee and toast.

Sure enough, "hey! hey, you!! hey! Money?! HEY!" It just aggravated me so much that he was shouting at me for money when he almost assuredly had more in his pockets than I had in mine. I HAD JUST COUNTED OUT DIMES FOR A R$1 CUP OF COFFEE.

In my raspy voice, without even turning my back I croaked out an abrupt "get lost."

Ugh... then my conscience was bothering me the entire cup of coffee. I burned my tongue a little too...

stupid Karma.

More on the move

Yesterday I had a long conversation with Leo's cousin and her girlfriend. They are currently living in Australia, where they are studying English and working as cleaning ladies. I was reminded by the pure courage one must have to do something so daring as move to a foreign country. They are not happy there. People are cold and look down on them for their broken English. They work on into the night cleaning toilets, yet are so poor they are going hungry.

It was so a relief to talk to them because they understood. You wake up early in the morning? Your chest feels tight? You worry constantly about the future? You're lonely? Unhappy? Oh my God, that's what I was feeling!

The point is, making changes is NOT admitting failure. My experiences in Belo Horizonte were invaluable. I learned skills (like washing clothes by hand) and gained insights into numerous aspects of Brazilian life (like operating electric shower heads and distrusting everyone). I now feel more self-sufficient than ever before. It's simply time to move on.

Making changes is scary. I'm leaving a secure job, a secure living situation, a secure life... to plunge myself in Rio de Janeiro. Despite the unknowns... I can't wait!!

Let this be a lesson for you, dear reader. If you're unhappy in a relationship, a job, a city... give it a chance, yes, but in the end: having the courage to make changes will work out much better for you than whining about being uphappy. This is your life! Don't waste time! What have you got to lose?!

Change!

my RSS reader had 1000+ items in it. tons of e-mails sat in my inbox for days. no music. no news. bouncing from one hotel to another.

I just want to let you all know that I'm moving to Rio! I know this seems like an abrupt shift, but really I've been considering a change for some time now.

Pictures to follow as soon as I get settled!