An American Halloween in Germany

The phone rang this afternoon. It was the local Newspaper.

Yes, Hello?

Good Day. My name is Mrs Blablabla from the Biberblaber Newspaper, I am calling for a Mr. Baden.

I am he.

I found your name from the official registration records of our district, and it says that you are an American. Can you give our subscribers a unique view on how Halloween is celebrated in your country?

Moment... only so I understand correct. You find me from official record. You know I be American. You want know how people from my country party about Halloween?

Yes, exactly. Can you tell our readers how Halloween is celebrated in your country?

Wow. It is good to know records like this are so open. OK. Halloween...

I proceeded to explain--using my 5-year old German--all the different things most Americans do during Halloween. I tried to tie in what I remember about the background and directed her to Wikipedia. I found that I was missing a few German words when trying to explain concepts like Pagan Roots and Bobbing for Apples. Our 20 minute conversation ended up with her asking if it would be OK to send someone around to take my photo for the paper. Absolutely Not, I replied...It's bad enough that I can be tracked down as an American living in this little pig-farming dorf... a photo in the paper is out of the question. So much for keeping a low profile. Time to move to a bigger city.

Brazillian Basics I

Food: Lots of very good, exotic fruit, therefor lots of crazy fruit juices sold in Juice Bars. Everything that could be sweet is way sweeter than you expect. Meat, Fish, Sushi all very good and inexpensive. Sandwitches (sanWee-gee) and places where you can pay for a plate of food by weight abound.

Drinks: Beer (shoppe) is O.K., best to go with Caipirinha just not with Pitú (known as shrimp juice here). Guaraná Antarctica is also very nice.

Driving:
fullflex bi-fuel system. Top 3 brands: VW, Fiat and Chevy.

Language: Everyone speaks very fast. Use the phrase "tudo bom" (tu-do bon) and/or "tudo bem" (tu-do bayn) as much as possible--it means "everything cool?" and everything is always cool. Also, when meeting somebody, you get to say "Oi" like a London punk rock bitch-head from the mid 70´s.

Pets: Very high concentration of veterinary clinics, pet grooming and pet supply stores. People love cats and small/medium sized dogs.

Beach Weekend - Maresias, Brazil

Years ago, when I was living in New York City, I learned how to recognize and appreciate the moments that become wonderful memories as they occure. This weekend was one--in spades! Every aspect from the weather, the location, the company, the food... perfectly magical. Saturday morning we woke up late, and rushed to jump on a bus for Sao Paulo. Arriving, we took the metro to where we where to meet with our new friend Bianca. After a quick purchase of some more summer threads, we met our new friend and 'zoom' off to the beach. Just before we arrived in Maresias, we stopped for a bit at Camburi Beach. We walked down the beach, hiked through the jungle, and ended up chilling on the rocks that jut out into the sea (pictured). Moments like this turn people you know, into friends that you love. From rocks back to beach for food, drink and a swim that ended up being our first of many 'If we don't kill ourselves' adventure of the trip. The three lifeguards that saved us from being swept out to see where very nice guys, by the way. After not dieing, we drove the 6km to Maresias where we met Jeff and Lille. Well actually they where called Je & Le Le, as Brazilians have the custom to shortening names. Men get one syllable, the women also but it's repeated. The rest of the evening was filled with great food, vodka and tropical fruit... and toped off by dancing until 7am in what has to be the best clubbing experience of my life. Imagine a club located in the middle of a beach jungle... hidden within walls of lush trees and beautiful people. As I think back on it all now... I feel changed somehow. It was so much to digest in such a short time. Perhaps I am digesting still.

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Campinas, Brazil

From Germany, to Holland, to Spain... and finally the madness stopped in Brazil. That was last Friday, and what feels like a month ago. I am creating a reservation web application for a museum on what it's like to be blind. It's called Diálogo No Escuro and it is part of the whole Dialog im Dunkeln exhibition. This pano was shot from my 'Office/Apartment' window while taking a break from coding. No doubt there will be entries following this one... to include more of The Rich and Beautiful Brazil, The Poor and Heartbreaking Brazil... and the sun kissed Brazilian Bikini Waxed Bodies. Boing!

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