One part Jersey. One part Rio.
a.k.a. personal space does not exist in Brazil.
How many times have I heard “Americans are so cold!”? Each time, I object. Not all Americans are cold. I don’t mind hugging and kissing — after all, I come from an Italian-American family. We’re very touchy-feely.
Or so I thought.
Gustavo is away this week. He’s on a trip for work, which means this is the first time I’m staying here in Rio without him. Continue reading Introvert vs. Brazil
I’d been eyeing the Gringo Cafe for quite some time. When I lived in Paris, not far from my apartment was a restaurant called Breakfast in America. In the heart of Paris, there it was, this throwback to an American diner, with full-fledged American breakfasts in the land of croissants and jam. I loved it. Continue reading Gringo Cafe
If you think paperwork and Brazilian bureaucracy sounds daunting, let me tell you something: you’re absolutely right. Continue reading Applying for my Visa in Brazil
It sounds very romantic, doesn’t it? Meeting someone overseas. Various trips to get to know each other in, what feels like, exotic locations for the two of you. (It’s hard to imagine New Jersey as exotic, but it is very different from Rio.) And then, finally, you decide “We need to figure out how to be together in the same country.” Continue reading Getting Married in Brazil
As a kid, New Year’s Eve always meant sitting around the TV watching the ball drop in Times Square. At midnight, we’d grab some pots, pans, and spoons, run outside into the freezing weather, drumming and screaming “Happy new year!” Continue reading New Year’s in Rio
In general, I’m more of a fan of Festivus than Christmas. While I was raised Catholic, I don’t abide by any particular religion or belief system and typically find myself more exasperated than excited about carols, gifts, trees, Santas, and so on. Continue reading So This is Christmas
“Good news!” my mom messaged me. “I was able to get express on your second package without an extra fee. They told me it will be there in two weeks.”
Read. Nov. 26, 2017. Continue reading Run, Correios, Run
Ilha Grande is an island off the coast of Brazil, right next to the city of Angra dos Reis. In the past, it was both a leper colony and home to one of the highest security prisons in Brazil. These days, it’s home to the many, many tourists visiting from Rio de Janeiro to enjoy trails, swimming, and sunbathing over the weekend. Continue reading Our Weekend in Ilha Grande
Traveling with any type of dietary restriction is a challenge. In restaurants, it takes a leap of faith to trust the chef understands your allergy or restriction enough to know what not to use (I’m looking at you, soy sauce) and the language barrier can make reading labels nearly impossible (labels in Abu Dhabi were the most challenging for me yet). Nevertheless, it’s far from impossible to overcome. Continue reading Gluten-Free in Rio
