Saturday 5 February 2011
IT'S BRAZIL DANGEROUS part 2
Hi guys, it's been a while since last post and here a quick update on Brazilian life. Back on Rio on 12th January after a cuple of months spent between Italy and Uk. My first thought goes to the European winter, I'm not used to the cold weather anymore, just suffice to say that I got sick 3 times in this short period! I hear you to say....you're getting old it's not the weather! Don't think so! I'm still a young,strong and mean machine, an exceptional example of Italian excellence! Any comments on that, any doubts?Young, yes still young, no need to remind you that 40's it's the new 30's, and no I'm not on the wrong side of 40 scale just check my fake i.d. Hehehe. Yes,it's true, I'm starting to grew these odd hair on my shoulders and hears. Yes, few of them are white but it's only take few minutes to pull them away. What? Can you repeat, please? Hemorrhoids? That's just because I'm living an healthy life style and abuse riding my bicycle! As for strong, yes maybe you're right I've lost my muscles but just because here it's too hot to train, ok my abs are gone too, it's just because I'm getting used to the new Brazilian foods. I promise you to publish a pic of my abs in 3 months time, than I'll expect a huge apology!!!
By the way I'm supposed to tell you something on Brazilian safety, quite a high number of houses in Brazil are still using bottled gas to cook and I strongly reccomend you to triple check the connections and make sure that the rubber tube doesn't come in contact with the cooker. Did you see the picture of the rubber tube in my kitchen. Another hour of cooking beans and you wouldn't be able to get any more posts from this fantastic blog.
Beijos
Saturday 6 November 2010
Is Brazil a dangerous country?
Well, it's quite common to hear that Brazil is a beautiful country and it's also a well known fact that it is quite dangerous to live in. Just a quick search on the internet and you'll find several articles stating this, especially true for the "cidade maravilhosa" Rio de Janeiro. Here a link on some of the most dangerous places to go on holiday http://www.gustey.com/2010-most-dangerous-cities-in-the-world . So what's my experience after spending 6 months living in Rio as a resident and not just a tourist?Trying to be less of a target may help. I have to say that I've lost a bit of the "gringo" look I used to have when first arrived. The milky glow spotted at my arrival (15 years in London didn't help)has gone , command of the language has improved but the "sotaque" (accent) it's a very strong Italian one as I had it when in London, never tried to hide it! Clothing is definitely "Carioca" now, "chinelos"(sandals), football shirts (rigorously fake), rubbish mobile phone, wallet in the front pocket and a bit of friendly arrogance when addressing people. Knowing the area you are in it's a plus, it's not advisable venturing in places you don't know anything about especially when it's dark. You quickly learn not to flash any money when outside, prepare your change to take the bus in advance, trying to use cash point during opening times inside the branch etc.. Listening at the news on the telly it makes you quite itchy, every single day there's a report of some sort of shooting, armed robbery, drug dealer war, police shooting, lovers shooting and the always present "bala perdida" (stray bullet). Apparently most of the reported stray bullets were indeed addressed to the right target! Cannot comment on that,just suffice to say that it happens often. When visiting Brazil avoid watching a tv show "Brazil urgent" or you'll never leave the hotel. By the way the hotel is not a safe bet either http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/front-page/hostages-taken-at-luxury-hotel-in-rio/
I think that Brazil is more dangerous than Europe when talking about violent crime as weapons are easily available to lots of people and the class inequality doesn't help. Unfortunately crack cocaine is on the increase and are quite rare social programs to help the drug addicts, who will recurr to violent crime or prostitution to feed their habits. As I said the place you are in helps to avoid some of the dangers but you are never safe ,just have a look a the pic I've posted next to this post. It happened when I was living in a decent building in Copacabana, 50 mt from the beach. A family fight ended with a complete window (glass and frame) falling down to the terrace where 5 minutes before I was having my breakfast. Have a safe day!
Monday 9 August 2010
TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG THAT'S THE QUESTION
According to statistics 90% of all blogs created get "dormient" after one year, well I've to say that in my case that's true! Just realized that my last post was back in September 2009. Why's that? Perhaps due to the fact that I had just an official follower and maybe one of two others too shy to register?Noooooooooooooo I've never be bother to get consensus from others; hallooooo? we're talking of one follower, not to aspire to get elected in a national poll! Yes it's true no one gives a f*ck on what I've to say. Too bad for you, you absent reader, mine it's a wonderful blog for whoever is interested in a change in his/her life! That's could be the reason, why someone should make a change and morover, making a change in someone's life, is just about making a move in an other continent? Did I make a change? Is my blog really useful?Guilty as charged! Shit now I got depressed and my next post will be in a year time. Yesssssss, what's all this noise, this excitement at the news that I'll stop writing my blog? Weren't all of you already gone? Not so soon, in fact in the nest few weeks I'll add some more interesting facts in how to get a student visa, how to plan a decent investment and an encounter with a "mae dos santos" in a "terreiro de candomble'"
Wednesday 23 September 2009
The downshift
Drop one brand level on everything and see if you can tell the difference. If you can't, stick with the cheaper product.Let's applaud the sheer marketing genius of this. The system allows supermarkets to justify huge price variations. Think about it for a second: when you're in Tesco(the biggest supermarket in Uk), you assume Tesco Finest is glam and gorgeous and Tesco Value is cheap and nasty, so the immense price difference feels legitimate. Yet who actually decides this? Tesco of course! Its packaging and product placement are all designed to support this myth.
Don’t get me wrong, there are differences in ingredients and production quality. Yet it isn’t uniform: just because the salmon en croute is great, it doesn’t mean the same brand's gourmet mousse, made in a different factory in another part of the world, is too.Don’t worry, I'm not about to argue you should buy no-frills everything; your bottom certainly requires smoother toilet paper! The aim's to downshift only where you can't tell the difference and, for many families, this alone can save 15% a year on shopping bills.
The Downshift Challenge in-store.
The next time you shop, swap one of everything to something just one brand level lower. So if you usually buy four cans of Tesco's own-brand baked beans, this time buy three and one Tesco Value. If you use luxury lavender shower gel, drop to Asda’s own brand.
The Downshift Challenge online.
The supermarket comparison site mySupermarket* now includes a downshift challenge section based exactly on this theory. So when you enter your shopping trolley, as well as comparing the price across online supermarkets, it gives you the downshifted option.
This is a quick system and a great way to see the scale of the savings, even if you don't shop online.
The impact is enormous:
Drop one brand level on everything and the average bill's cut by a third. On a £100 weekly shop, that's £1,700 a year less.
Again, there was a standard 33% average saving by dropping one brand level for every product. This consistency indicates that supermarkets deliberately devise their price structures this way. It's worth noting the biggest downshift savings aren't from premium brands to manufacturer brands, but for those already lower down the brand chain to begin with.The downshift challenge isn’t about automatically dropping a brand level, it’s about seeing if you can notice any difference. If you don’t like the lower brand level or the drop in quality is too severe, all but those who are in drastic need of urgent savings should switch back. Yet you'll be surprised at how few things you notice the change.
However there's an important point to watch for when trying downshifted goods:
Taste with your mouth, not with your eyes
The packaging and look of a product has a big psychological effect: just knowing something is more expensive means, after years of retail hypnosis, we assume it’s better. Taste with that knowledge, and you often prefer it. If you can taste the food blind, great. If not, at least don't have the packaging out when you do.
Yes I did try the downshift challange and i've to consider that there is some merit on the above statement. My challange continued and I first sold my motorbike, then my 1 year old car and I've started using the public service. Sometimes it felt funny, amuzing,eco friendly, relaxing. Yes relaxing you don't need to bother to incoming traffic, mad cyclists, suicidal pedestrians, arrogant assholes driving their Suv for the school run or to carry a lady Godiva chocobox but then a huge list of horrible situations come to mind: crammed buses, sweaty people, smelly bloke, high testoterone kids always ready for a "friendly" fight and the list goes on and on. So let me shout w the suv. Let's go back to the downshift, most of you would agree I had my big share of it, did I stop there? No here it comes the biggest of all, from LONDON to Londrina. Did I go a step too far?
Monday 13 July 2009
A garota de Ipanema
Here I'm, finalizing the last details and almost ready to relocate to Brazil. Why did I choose this country as my next move? I 've visited it only 3 times but I feel a strong tye and an irresistible impulse to get there. I think it's an unconscious desire to stay young at heart as it reminds me of my teens years and the time spent dreaming with open eyes. Playing footballs with friends trying to emulate the champions and calling each other Pele',Rivelino,Jairzinho then Zico,Falcao.... Watching documentaries exploring Rio,the "cidade maravilhiosa" and the natives that refer themselves as Cariocas depicted as friendly folks who always have time for the sensual pleasures of good living and the rhythm of samba. Ipanema and Copacabana, anchor Rio's 45 miles of white sand beaches. The commentator used to say: expect the unexpected in this nearly five hundred year old City (founded 1502) but be spontaneous if you wish to experience the festival of song, color and joy around you. Primeval splendor encourages a youthful approach to city living where colors are richer, people are beautiful and tomorrow's just another day. Wander, wonder, feel the rhythms of joy which must be renewed with the gods once a year. The River of January City lives for its February eruption of exultation in the present known as Carnaval. All of the above was part of my dream, then I remember the various Gianni Mina's interviews with the famous football players, the singers, the artists, the writers, journalists all of which kept alive the desire to be part of this far apart world. Further more shows like "Te lo do' io il Brasile" kept reinforcing my thoughts of "one day........".
Saudade has been described as a "vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist ... a turning towards the past or towards the future".A stronger form of saudade may be felt towards people and things whose whereabouts are unknown.
Nonetheless I'll go. Stand still it's not an option, and as my old friend Cesare, the porter, used to say "panta rei". So let's go with the flow! I'd like you take the time to read through the lyrics of "A garota de Ipanema" to try to understand what first prompted me towards Brazilian way of life. Enjoy!
Olha que coisa mais linda
Moça do corpo dourado, do sol de Ipanema
Ah! Porque estou tão sozinho
A beleza que não é só minha
Ah! Se ela soubesse
mais cheia de graça
É ela menina que vem e que passa
nun doce balanço, caminho do mar...
O seu balançado é mais que un poema
é a coisa mais linda
que eu já vi passar...
Ah! Porque tudo é tão triste
Ah! A beleza que existe
que também passa sozinha
que quando ela passa
o mundo sorrindo
se enche de graça
e fica mais lindo
por causa do amor
por causa do amor
por causa do amor
Friday 10 July 2009
The initial trip
It's a fact that Brazil is a hyper bureaucratic country and most of the expat complain for the length of time to get the utilities:electricity,water,telephone,cable/satellite tv,gas,garbage collections,mobile phone services,waste water collection(if separately handled) and local authority services. Apparently most of them are quite expensive if compared to Europe considering the minimum salary which in Brazil £150. Is the quality of service as bad as someone say?. I have to say in UK the quality of service has worsen quite a lot.Is the police efficient or run by crooks? Will hospitals and clinics be up to the European standard.It seems the safe option is to get a private medical insurance. I'll let you know.
Transport. New and second hand cars are more expensive in Brazil than Uk, the import tax is huge that's why some car companies have a local factory. The cost of petrol is cheaper, not a big difference, and there is the choice to use alcohol, much cheaper. It's a must to buy a flexi car.Will the public transport be reliable?
Shopping and facilities, my experience tells me that food, restaurants,drink, rent,property are cheaper in Brazil but electrical goods,cars,wine are more expensive
Banking:opening a bank account should be a struggle for non residents, that's why I'm applying for a student visa.It should smooth things out. I hope
Entertainment and leisure activities: London is difficult to match although you can pay £15! to watch a movie in the west end.
Time will tell if my expectation will be met. Beijo.