Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro: 10 Steps for Foreigners Visiting the Marvelous City

First of all I would like to remove all romantic notions of a clean crisp berry smell, that the air freshener Febreeze Carnaval would have you believe Carnaval embodies. Instead, please picture people on top of everyone sweating, beer cans all over the street leaving their scent in the air, wafting breezes of body odor and piss lingering the air, as a more realistic perception of the Brazilian Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, not sure if Febreeze would like to bottle that up.

For all foreigners visiting Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval, we would like to say, thank you and welcome, but most importantly, please wear sunscreen and be ready for a fun ride of random street dancing, drinking, and kissing. Here are 10 simple tips one should know before embarking to a street bloco (street party):

1) Don’t drink too much, because the Johnny-on-the-Spots are really gross and it is illegal to pee on the street. If it is an emergency, I strongly advise you to put out 2-4 reais to use a "civilized" bathroom at a bar or restaurant. It will still be gross, but not quite as bad;

2) Accessories and costumes are very cheap and ubiquitous, so please join in the fun (there is nothing worse than a party pooper);

3) Don’t take your passport to a street party (please, I have to mention this) to avoid it falling out or being pick pocketed; 5) Stay on the perimeter of the street bloco to avoid being in the middle of the crowd if you don’t like feeling claustrophobic, but if dry humping tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

4) Go to the popular street parties downtown and in Botafogo, but be ready for a lot of bodies to rub up against you (and not in a good way); 5) Stay on the perimeter of the street bloco to avoid being in the middle of the crowd if you don’t like feeling claustrophobic, but if dry humping tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

6) Girls, this tip is mainly slanted toward you. Don’t make eye contact with the boy that keeps checking you out unless you are prepared for the attempted kiss or hookup to follow, and I have a boyfriend won’t deter a smitten Brazilian guy on a mission to conquest your lips. (Demonstrated in the pic to your right)

7) Boys, if you are interested in kissing randomly, as written above, please pay attention to the Brazilian girls’ subtle hints if they are willing. Sometimes “no” doesn’t really mean “no” here, unfortunately for the foreign girls that are trying to be nice and infer “no” it really means “try harder”, just keep that in mind.

8) Try not to get sprayed with the water guns and please don’t perpetuate this annoying act. You never know if it is water, cachaca, beer, pee or a combination of the aforementioned being shot at you.

9) Learn the Carnaval songs and sing along. It’s more fun and you look less awkward.

10) Have fun and smile, you’re at Carnaval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you follow these simple tips to the “T”, Carnaval is bound to be a good time for you and your friends.

Making Donations to Japan

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the earthquake in Japan. Events like this underscore the important work of voluntary organizations/humanitarian aid organizations, many of which also have domestic programs here in the United States. While the public at large often want to send unsolicited goods, please help disseminate the important message that “cash is best”.


http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/howtohelp.shtm


Financial contributions to a recognized disaster relief organization is the most effective donation to make.

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Most needed and the most efficient way of helping those impacted by disaster.

Allow voluntary organizations to fund response and recovery efforts, obtain goods and services locally, and provide direct financial assistance to disaster survivors to meet their own needs.

Make a financial contribution to the voluntary organization of your choice.

If you need help in determining who to give to, National Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster website has a list of major Non-profits that are active in disaster work or you can make your offer through the National Donations Management Network.

When the public supports these voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster.


Donated Goods (Confirm what is needed BEFORE taking action!)

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Donate in-kind goods that are specifically requested or needed by recognized organizations.

Unsolicited donated goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, and mixed or perishable foodstuffs require helping agencies to redirect valuable resources away from providing services to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.

Confirm the needs by contacting the voluntary organization of your choice before starting to collect.

If you have a quantity of a given item or class of item to donate, and you need help in determining which organizations to give to, you can make your offer through the National Donations Management Network.

Everyone is moved when they hear the news that disaster has struck a community. By learning the best ways to donate and volunteer, we can all make a huge difference in the lives of those affected.


Jono Anzalone (FEMA Region VII VAL)

Perpetual Construction- Ting, ting, ting...

Sure, I use my blog a lot as my outlet to vent, but this has to be the most annoying thing about Brazil to me that I will never, ever, ever, ever....(get the point) miss: the incessant perpetual construction everyday. The apartments are all made of steel enforced cement, so when construction takes place, it is a loud banging that echoes throughout the building and imagine if you are right next to it, and there is always someone fixing or reforming something.

 For the past two months there has been a rhythmic bang, bang, ting, ting, bing, bing constantly everyday starting at 9:30 am from my neighbors apartment. Not only can I not sleep in, I can't concentrate on my studies, and the sounds is so maddening that it automatically raises my blood pressure. Every other day I complain downstairs to the doormen, but there is nothing they can do, since it is within the owner's right to make reforms and undergo projects outside of the "hour of silence", that doesn't really exist here also.

So the moral of the story is, I pay rent to be able to study, read, enjoy myself around the house, live and I can't even cook or do laundry sometimes because of all the banging. Livid at this point. Watch out construction workers!!! Just kinding, but seriously annoyed!

Here's To Another Year!

I raise my plastic champagne glass to the sky and thank God for another year wishing for the best.

I think to myself and ponder what will 2011bring? Hopeful, I comprise a list of goals for the new year:

1. Laugh More

2. Make My Health Number One Priority

3. Eat More Healthfully

4. Exercise Daily

5. Practice Guitar & Piano More

6. Finish MBA

7. Learn More Interesting Information Just For The Fun Of It

8. Dance More

9. Realize Personal Projects

10. Love And Have More Grace

11. Don't Judge Others As Much

12. Spend More Time With Loved Ones

13. Stress Less

14. Get One Step Closer To Where I Want To Be

15. Move Closer To Figuring Out What I Want Out Of Life

THE NEW YEAR IS PROMISSING & DIVINE: HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

One Afternoon in Arproador

View from the top of the rock in Arproador

Some kids catching some waves

"ARTE DE VIVER" sponsored a group meditation session

Umm...

Bliss

Turf War Rio de Janeiro

In Rio de Janeiro there is a huge gap in wealth and social stratification. Beautiful high-rise buildings overlook spiraling slums creeping up hills. A city where the poor deal with the corruption of drug lords in your neighborhoods as their governing body, and the rich deal with the same corruption of drug lords on a less blatant platform, but that deals with a greater sum of money.

Over the past few years the police of Rio de Janeiro have been slowly taking over the "drug lord's" turf in the slum (favelas) and permanently reclaiming the land and power as Brazil's. The series of operations have not been peaceful or been done without some type of retaliation from the escaping drug traffickers.

Last week, due the up and coming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the police invaded  the favelas of Pena in the north zone which sparked a wave of crime and retaliation throughout the city: buses and cars burned, people robbed, stray bullets near the slums of the invasion, drive by shooting aimed for police posts, stores closing early, classes cancelled, and terror in general spread. Now as I type the police have secured Complexo do Alemao. Now waves the flags of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil at the top of the conquered hill.

Let's all hope that there are no more innocent people killed or wounded by this all out war between authority and anarchy. Which leads me to the question: why did the government let it get to this point? Also, knowing that drugs kill people, innocent people and ruin the lives of loved ones, why do people (rich & poor)  continue to use and create a demand for these illicit crimes. Stepping onto my soapbox--people, love your neighbor and do good to each other. Treat those how you would want to be treated.

I'll leave you with a quote by Ganhdi, "You have to be the change that you want to see in the world." Please don't create a market for blood shed.



The Gayest Day of the Year in Rio de Janeiro

So, every Sunday I take my weekly walk on the beach in Copacabana, nothing usual. I stroll down Ave. Atlantica dodging little poodles and kids motoring around in miniature cars and bicycles; however, two Sundays ago I was met at the beach with "Ra ra u-la la, Ra ra u-la la, Ga ga..." blaring over (what's typically used during Caraval blocos) these monsterous sound trailers with people dancing atop in tight white jeans shirtless and men in drag. Normally, I see old men walking along with their saggy sungas (Brazilian version of a Speedo), but today that was replaced by young guys walking around with angle wings on their backs. This meant only one thing, the excessive dance music, topless men with sparkles, drag queens, butch women, and a rainbow of colors, it was only the GAYEST day of the year in Rio de Janeiro-Gay Pride, my friends!

Last year my friend (super cute gay guy) dragged me to the parade where I was shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of sweaty topless guys. Surprisingly enough, only men hit on me there. I was a little taken back by this, as it was a "gay pride" parade. Fortunately, my friend posed as my boyfriend the entire way repelling off the hordes of hormonal conquistadores. The girls that saw me gave me one look and ran the other direction. One even looked at me and turned to her friend and said "She's straight!" right in my face.

That leads me to a digression- how does one look straight? From all I could tell at the parade in Rio (I know some people aren't gonna like this, but oh well, here it goes anyway) a straight girl looks normal, by normal I mean isn't butched out, while a gay guy is harder to tell. All of the women I saw were wearing sports braws, cut off jean shorts, and many with ball caps demostrating their muffin top bellies. Call me traditional, but that's not sexy at all! If a woman were to like another woman, why would she go for one that looks like a guy? Why not just have a boyfriend? It's socially acceptable and easier. The men there were gorgeous for the most part, some outrageously flamboyant, but at least with nice bodies.

This year instead of being in the middle of the action I opted to be a passive observer from a kiosk a safe distance from the crowd (I'm American- I like my personal space). I would say that the parade this year was very tame in comparison to last year's giantic parade. The most excitement was when a drunk guy and one of the kiosk security guards got into a fist fight 6 feet from my table. All in all it was a very gay day in deed!