Hey guys. This first world Brazil I am living in is starting to feel semi-american and normal to me as I sit with my starbucks iced coffee at a table in the middle of the mall. I am surrounded by a lot of consumers and posters of Katy Perry, the Statue of Liberty, Kiehl’s Body Cream, and Giselle Bundchen… oh wait! the couple next to me just started to make out. BAM! Brazilian Culture!

I haven’t really gone anywhere exceptional. I have been dealing with an ear infection and a pain in the butt translating assignment for CIESPI, but both recently took big steps in the process of being resolved.

The one thing I am actually getting excited about is reading and learning (woohoo!). I am very glad my job is at a university. Lot of good NYTimes articles are forcing me to pay the 99cent monthly web-subscription. Leaving the U.S. has had the funny effect of making me care more about what is going on there. Yet I am still very worldly in my choice of literature.

Sorry I haven’t gone on any worldwind adventures. We will see what happens when I start going into the favelas for my work. In the meantime, I will try to be more observant.

P.S. Just saw a little kid accidentally pop his balloon. His big brother then gave him his balloon. Power of the brothers!