Thu, 23 Dec 2004 09:31:39 -0800 (PST)
Hello from Brazil - the Christmas greeting

Hello all,

It has been a while since I have sent out any updates from my recent travels. I finished up my exchange semester in Chapel Hill North Carolina a few weeks ago, where I had an excellent time learning about the American culture and language (I learned that `you guys` is really `y'all` and that `process` is really pronounced `prawcess`). It made me realize that small town USA is a place that I don't want to live until I am old and ready to lead a boring life.

After I finished up the term, I drove down to Dayton Florida in my highly desireable 1992 ford escort station wagon to visit my Brother for a few days where he just moved into a new house there (after moving from Miami). On the 8 hour drive down I listened to some Tony Robbins that I ripped off the internet, and learned that the key to living a healthy life is to take 10 deep breaths a day.

I arrived a few days ago in Brazil, and am staying in a hostel. ...it is very easy to meet people, as the majority of travellers are travelling alone, and you generally share a room with about 5 or 10 other people .... On sunday I went to a soccer game with other hostel dwellers in the worlds largest stadium which was built for 120000 people, but has apparently held up to 180000 during some championship games and at one point in the past a section of the stadium collapsed during a game.

Another night, I went out with a group of people from the hostel, and one of the girls in the group was pick-pocketed at the exact momemt that she was telling someone how she will never be pick-pocketed because she is always aware of what is going on ... it was a good lesson! .. they used a technique where someone bumps you from the front into a person behind you, and during the commotion they stick their hand in your back pocket and run away. Another guy was robbed by a transvestite, who came up and asked if he wanted to party, grabbed his balls as a distraction, and put her hand in his back pocket to take his money .. as soon as he said he wasn't interested in `partying`, she/he ran away and a few seconds later he realized his wallet was gone.

However, having said all that , I actually feel safer in Rio than I have in many other latin american countries (maybe wrongly so). The areas that I generally stick to are Ipanema and Copacabana which feel almost like a western country ... the main difference being the higher number of people begging and that food and drink here is quite cheap. Also, they speak Portugese here instead of Spanish .. I can generally communicate using Spanish, but it takes a lot of effort, and I think they don't really like it .. because they know that their language is losing out to Spanish in the world scene..

In Brazil at night, it is illegal to stop at red lights as it gives the car-jackers an easy target, and it also will cause accidents as the people behind you will not be expecting you to stop.

I will be here until Jan 4th, and apparently during New Years eve, the largest party in the world takes place on the beaches and streets of Copacabana with over 2 million people out .. it should be interesting to see!