Stories Inspired by Life in Rural Brazil
My humble thoughts on the meaning of life, how to live deeper, love better, and all that whatnot.
The meat was sizzling on the grill. The men huddled round puffing at the flames and performing arcane rituals to minimize the smoke and maximize the heat. The women were in our kitchen pulling together some side dishes. Carrots were being grated. Collard greens were being chopped. Community news (i.e., gossip) was being shared. I …
“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” – The Dalai Lama Did the Dalai Lama really say this? Who cares. Wise words, no matter who said them. I love to travel. At the same time I put down deep, deep roots everywhere I live. Every so often I’ve also got to GO, GET …
Have you heard of the Danish idea of hygge (hue-gah)? Alex Beauchamp explains it this way: The Danish word hygge (hue-gah) is a feeling or mood that comes from taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary everyday things simply extraordinary; whether it’s using real lights on a Christmas tree or breaking out the good wine when friends come …
There. A NPR article finally said what I’ve struggled to find the words to blog for months. In just six words, no less: “Ask Who I am, not What.” No matter where I go here in interior Brazil my funny accent opens the door to the same conversation every time: “So, where are you from?” …
There’s seven flights of stairs at my school to the dining hall, and one old clunky elevator. If you’re at all athletic a slow pace up the stairs will outpace that musty old beast every time. She rounded the top flight and blew out a gasp: “Uuuufa! Delicia!” (“Pheeeeww! Delicious!”) I like her style. What …
One final reader’s favorite re-run while I finish up my classes in Belo Horizonte. While I published this oldy-but-goodie on April 24, 2012, this crônica was probably one of the very first that I wrote. It took a couple of tries to find an amenable sales representative. “Taking your cell phone to Brazil? Really? How …
Brazilian Portuguese has an odd linguistic confusion: the words to win, to earn, to receive are all the same. Ganhar. “Ganhei a loteria.” I won the lottery.“Ganhei um vidrio de geleia.” Someone gave me a jar of jelly. And my favorite: “Ganhei meu filho no ano pasado.” I had my son last year. This language charms and enchants me. This is a …
By request, this post is a translation of a poem that appeared a few months ago. Susana, so sorry it has taken me so long! Also thanks to Sandra, who helped proofread my wilting Spanish. Junto ramas secas bajo un cielo de un gris color plomo. Buitres circulan sobre nuestras cabezas sobre el campo …
A few weeks ago was our first-year anniversary of arriving in Brazil. Coincidentally, I’m also on my first trip back to the States since we left. It’s worth taking a few minutes to look forward and look back. Some things I’ve learned that haven’t been mentioned before: Slow food is healthier. Both of us are …
