Halloween In Rio de Janeiro

It's Halloween in Rio de Janeiro, but not really Halloween, no little kids running around with undersized costumes and make up ringing your doorbell in hopes of getting the good candy, not the cheap hard candy or carmel covered apples--the Snickers or the Baby Ruth's. There are no horror films in the background, nor the smell of pumkin spiced tea.

With this being said, I am still bound to have a good day. I am sitting in my apartment in Rio de Janeiro drinking English breakfast tea out of a mug that reads "I'd Rather Be Drinking Champagne" and watching Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, at least a little murder to darken my afternoon. I've been in Rio for the past two months trying to finish up my MBA in Management, still have about 4 months to go. Lots of things have happened: 1.) the movie I helped translate English subtitles O Gigante do Papelao has won two best picture awards abroad, 2.) I've started taking classes in Barra, which is about one hour from where I live, 3.) I'm starting to help as a photo assistant periodically, mainly with lighting and keeping an eye on the photographer's equipment, 4.) my Portuguese is getting better, 5.) I'm learning how to dance ballroom forro and samba finally, 5.) I've been practing guitar and piano, learning how to read music--still not very good, 6.) just hanging out and trying to enjoy life.

Coincidentally, Brazil's election for President and State Governors is today on Halloween, so everyone is out compulsorily voting. It's not like in the US where you have the choice to vote, they can vote null, but have to show up at the ballots or have a convincing discuse why they could not vote in the election, like in the hospital or traveling abroad. My opinion, the Lula backed Dilma Rousseffi will become the first woman president of Brazil, not sure if that's a good or bad thing...