Brazil Mystery #4 – The “Talita” Kid
Photo by Paul Hart The absence of doorbells on Brazilian houses is more common than you’d expect. When you come to a house without a doorbell, you have three …
Brazil Mystery #3 – Why do Brazilians eat Halls like candy?
Before coming to Brazil, I thought Halls were cough drops – you know, something you only use when you’re sick, because the menthol and eucalyptus soothe your throat. A …
7 things you’ll see at the Lavagem do Bonfim
The Lavagem do Bonfim, Salvador’s second-biggest street party after Carnaval, consists of an 8-kilometer procession through the lower city, up to Bonfim Church. Bahian women bring flowers and wash …
Brazil Mystery #2 – The strange sound-car – SOLVED!
Image source One of the irritating parts about life in Brazil is the existence of carros-som (“sound-cars”), which drive around with speakers strapped to their roofs, blasting advertisements for …
Brazil Mystery #1: Where have all the R$ 2 bills gone?
I’m starting a new series called Brazil Mysteries – they are things I don’t (or didn’t used to) understand about life in this country. Some have been solved, some are …
The downside of fluency
Image source …is that is messes with your translation work. I’ve just come up for air after finishing a mega-project of about 60 pages in 4 days (which may …
And my 2012 theme is…
Image source I am a natural resolution-maker. My inclination is to make not only resolutions, but also quarterly targets and monthly progress checks and SMART goals (see picture). The problem …
Chapada Diamantina: Photos & Videos
My rather melancholy Christmas had a surprise ending! Christian came home from work on Christmas evening and said, “I have the next 3 days off. Let’s go to Lençóis.” …
Favorite books of 2011
Inspired by Danielle’s 2011 reading list, here are 10 books I’ve really enjoyed this year: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss A heartbreakingly beautiful book about an old …
What I didn’t do this Christmas
Image source I didn’t: Spend time with my family (a hemisphere away) or my husband’s family (6 hours away) Attend a holiday party Have a big special dinner Eat …