things I know.

July 16 2010


I'd like to take a moment to capture some of the current knowledge I've acquired, since I'm sure all my theories will bite the dust as soon as I get to Brazil.

The language:

My Portuguese vocabulary is growing sloooowly but surely. The phrases I know off the top of my head, and can speak on a whim include the following:

- Ola! Oi! (hi!)

- Bom dia! (good morning)

- Boa tarde (good afternoon)

- Boa noite (good night)

- Como vai voce? (how are you?)

- Eu estou bem, e voce? (I am good, and you?)

- Eu nao fala Portuguese (I don't speak Portuguese)

- Voce fala ingles? (do you speak English?)

- Ate logo!, ate mais (see ya later)
- Beijos (kisses!)

- Com licenca (excuse me)

- Quanto? (how much?)

- Eu sou Canadian (I am Canadian)

- Como você se chama? (what is your name?)

- Meu nome é Heidi (my name is Heidi)

- Onde você mora? (where are you from?)

- Por Favor (please)

- Obrigada (thank you)

- parabens! (congratulations!)

- Legal! (cool!)

Ahhh, wow I have a long way to go. I understand about 30-40 individual words too, but can't string sentences around them (yet). Luckily, reading is a totally different ball game...Its funny, I'm good at understanding written Portuguese, but at this stage, something still gets lost in translation when I hear it/speak it. A friend of mine calls this the 'silent period'. "Take it all in...your mind is paying attention".

The culture:

My North American friends/family have one opinion of South America, and my South American friends tell a completely different story.

A lot of people in Canada are telling me to be careful, to dye my hair dark, that drug lords and pimps are out to get me...lol. don't think so. In fact, I have spent a great deal of time learning about Brazil, and through a lot of sources. I'm not nervous at all about my trip. Well, not for those reasons.

To be honest, I haven't met a Brazilian yet that hasn't been completely helpful/friendly/sincere with me.

I look at Edmonton and think about the warnings I would give a newcomer...they sound pretty similar (well except the one about dying my hair)....I will take care as I do here, and as a new person in a new city, but no more than that. In other words, my faith and expectations of fellow citizens won't be changing. not worried.

oh and I am staying blonde.

I have a head full of local knowledge (Sao Paulo) and a small list of things to do/see/experience when I am there. Other than that...let's see where the wind takes me.

we'll be finding out together.

Ticket in my pocket...

July 4, 2010

Well, today was a big day. Fairly important as far as the development of my trip goes....I'd say.

I bought my ticket today, which happens to be USA's Independence Day...and interestingly, I will be arriving in Sao Paulo on Brazil's Independence Day (aka September 7th). How completely appropriate.

From what I understand, there will be a lot of parades- mostly military- and since its a holiday, everything will be closed. Regardless, it should be an interesting day to arrive in the city. A friend, Pe, has offered to pick me up from the airport, take me for *real* coffee (in his words, "Canadians drink coffee flavored water") then we will watch the parades.

Side note: I am still deciding if names need to be changed to protect the anonymity of the people I meet along the way...but the reality is, my mum is the only one who knows this exists. hi mum.

Real names it is.

And so, with a ticket in my pocket, a visa application submitted, and an ipod with a translation app, my countdown for the ten adventure can officially begin.