Brazil 1 April 2001

After spending 1.5 months between Chile and Argentina, it seems like we are flying through Brazil. Warm weather therapy, and a few days at the beach... the glaciers, wind and chill of only a few days earlier became memories.

Nights where the sardines jump and dance against the blackened sea, hotel bedrooms without blankets, rotund bellies tanning on the beach, hard abdomens practicing Capujieira·· on the street, black, brown, white, yellow, living together in streets in families - all speaking Brazileño which is Portuguese sung with the melony of the Brazilian attitude -- a smile for the thrill of seeing a red motorcycle on the highway, a wave and a dance..... nice cars and shacks of plastic and cardboard, more smiles.... tropics and beaches and the Iguazu falls to me as impressive as rapidly moving glaciers....

(Note ·· Capujieira is a Brazilian martial art/dance that originated when the native warriors were practicing their martial art, but did not want to be discovered, so they disguised it like a dance.)

3 New Words in Brasileño

When we arrived in Brazil a new language struck, and for the first time, Brazilians respond to every question asked in Spanish, with such confidence that I think they must understand everything that I am saying. I however find Portuguese more difficult to understand than French, Castellano, Italian and even Catalan.

Fortunately, non-verbal communication is more important than words or pronunciation. Smiles and nods are useful. Thank You has been my most essential learning in all countries I visit. These days I say a lot of Obrigados which do sound strangely like Arrigato (the Japanese form of Thank You).

In the brief time we have been in Brazil, I have nailed down a few noises that resemble useful Portuguese vocabulary: Dua. Now that I am married, everything is for 2, and a bed for Dua or a table for Dua is pretty easy to say, and the people usually understand. Hoi means hi. Clearly this is good to get things started. Bo means good. It is bo to keep things on a positive note. A pretty easy dialogue:

Hoi. (A polite introduction)

Table for Dua? (Do you have a lovely table for my husband and I?)

Bo (This is a great table) Obrigado (Thank you for all of your effort and attention)

This gets me in the door, to the table and assures good service. Negative words are better not to learn, and our time in Brazil passes faster than my capability to learn more syllables.

Kelly