There haven't been any updates for a while because for the past month I have been on the road, exploring this enormous country. I only once did I stay in a place more than five nights, and I did not bring me old compy, hence no blogging.
But now I gotta go. Back to New York. Up north, where visa restrictions force me. It's not that I am unhappy to return – quite the contrary, I am excited to see my friends and family again – but rather that I am actually afraid to. A friend of mine from Buenos Aires who studies and works full-time here in Rio said it well, "here life is a dream, man." I guess I am afraid to 'wake up.'
Not always a dream though. More like, somewhere where everywhere else is 'real life.'
Of course I will miss some things. Many things. The cultural value system, the stereotypical but true relaxed and open nature of (most of) the people, my new friends and family, and not having to wear shirts, pants, or closed-toed shoes all the time. (Full disclosure: I am not wearing a shirt right now.) But other things I will not miss, and you will learn about those if you stay tuned.
An overall impression I've got from this country is that Brazilians and Americans are similar in many ways. To address such 'big ideas' that all this travel has distilled into my brain, this here blog will now go in a new direction. It will offer a space for my reflections on Brazil after having left, and will advise future gringos-in-Brazil. Beginning with general observations and 'tips,' we will work our way towards city- and region-specific personal reviews and advice. This may or may not be part of a larger work, depends how distracting the first world will be.
For now, know that this is probably one of the strangest, most beautiful, and most complete countries in the world. You should see all it offers while it's still wild. I will be back.
