Tuesday, June 1, 2010

You know you are in Brazil when

You know you are in Brazil when:

- there is a shrine to the virgin Mary in the grocery store.

- everyone grabs a sweater when the temperature drops below 78 degrees. (The mannequins in shop windows are all wearing scarves.)

- your teenage English student just returned from a month in the States with 10 new pairs of sneakers (probably having saved his father, compared to local prices, R$3,600).

- you collect your unemployment benefit from the ATM machine.

- all the grocery stores (let’s face it – ALL stores) are decorated in green and yellow in preparation for the World Cup.

- Speed Stick deodorant is sold in liquid roll-on form only (huh?).

- the president makes a public statement to calm discontent among those concerned about the futebol coach’s selection of the team that will represent Brazil at the World Cup.

- drinking sweet avocado juice for breakfast turns your palate on its head.

6 comments:

The Reader said...

LOL - all of it, so funny and true! I would add "and even the razors have Brazil emblems on them in honor of World Cup..."

Ray Adkins said...

Regarding the shrines for the Virgin Mary you could well be in Rhode Island or Massachusetts too :)

E.S. said...

I love your blog. I'm a Brazilian expat living in Budapest Hungary and I'm about to relocate back to Brazil for a long term assignment. It will be nice to meet you once I'm back in town!
Oh by reading your blog I see now how I miss Brazil... I'm sad to leave Budapest but I'm happy that I'll be in Sao Paulo soon!

Jim said...

Reader - Brazil futebol mania goes so far beyond Tshirts and key chains!

Ray - what really gets me are the crucifixes in banks and at the federal police office.

E.S. - glad you are here. Congrats on your return.

Rachel said...

Love it!

Anonymous said...

Seriously, what the HELL is with the absence of stick deodorant. Just did a drugstore.com care package purchase for my dad to send!