Daily Life in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Day in Barra part 3

Ok to make up for the scary dolls I had to take a photo of something cute.

Also at Via Parque, the cutest kids shoes EVER. Just gorgeous... Being that Canadoca still hates shoes, I was able to resist. Not sure I would be able to resist twice though...

The detail of the little flowers wasn't captured well by my camera, but you get the idea.

BIG DAY

My five month long fight with the federal police ordeal to get Canadoca's passport has come to an end!!!!!

Let them have CAKE?

I would like to preface this post by saying that when the incident I am about to write about occurred, I had NO intention of writing about it. However, in the few days since it occurred, in talking with other people, it occurred to me that this is anything but an isolated incident, so I think it's worth mentioning!

Last week a well-meaning acquaintance fed Canadoca some cake when she was being held by another friend. She is not quite 6 months old now, and hadn't previously been given anything other than breastmilk. Put it this way - according to the books I'm reading (and my pediatrician) there are a few foods recommended for babies this age, and cake is not one of them. Not to mention that I am a bit anal about these things (food) despite being a pretty relaxed mom about other things, like, you know, traveling. For example, the night before, my mom and I were analyzing what would be the best foods to first introduce to Canadoca based on what her blood type is. Silly us, cake is the obvious choice.

Suffice it to say I didn't anticipate her first food being CAKE, and I had kind of looked forward to being around when she first tried solids, to see her reaction, you know... I figure I've earned that you know with all the late night feedings, giving birth, gear schlepping and gazillion loads of laundry I've done. These first are the fun parts, the mommy rewards if you will.  But no.  I also have severe (anaphylactic) allergies to nuts and shellfish, so I will be very careful when introducing certain foods to Canadoca because of the family history, baking is something I have to be extremely careful with. Anyway, the person did not mean to cause her any harm of course, as she did not see any issue with giving a five month old cake. Apparently it was par for the course for her. Got it.

I thought I was the only one who could possibly have such a bizarre incident occur, until I read Eric & Emily's post on another well-meaning South American trying to give their daughter cake, saying it couldn't hurt. Then a friend told me about how every time she goes for coffee, the barristas stuff her 14 month old full of chocolate when she turns her back to pay. You often see babies with bottles of chocolate milk, or perhaps it's milk and coffee, as in the story in Emily's post.

I get that nutrition is about personal choices and opinions and that South Americans have a different view on it than North Americans in many cases (do you really need fries, rice and pasta with your beans and meat? Not to mention no vegetables besides the beans...sugar in EVERYTHING) but I am really not okay with people feeding things to my kid without asking me first, especially when it could be putting her at risk. I also get that this is something we will have to contend with back home with people wanting to give her treats, but I didn't expect this to start before she'd even started eating. For now, cake will be officially listed as her first solid food in the baby book, no long term effects, and heck she even seemed to enjoy it. But I'll be more careful next time...  

Happy Halloween

Halloween e Satanismo. You see signs around Rio saying this, year-round. That said, the expat community keeps Halloween going in Rio, the American Society is having a party on Saturday, and there are several other small parties as well. The playgroup I took Canadoca to this week also had a Halloween party (she was a ballerina, my sobrinho back home's idea!)

So, Halloween is here if you want to find it. But some people don't. Like my husband. I think that Mr. DRL may have even sealed the deal to come to Brazil upon hearing that Brazil offered beaches, outdoor activities, a good salary and no Halloween. The guy hates Halloween, I blame his sisters (who by the way both love the holiday) for teasing him mercilessly as a child when he had to get up for a school play and dress and make noises like a flute. I think his exact lines were "flutey flute flute flutey flute..." yeah he is scarred for life. But that DID make him a pretty easy target, wouldn't you say?  The only time I can recall him ever dressing up for Halloween in the 8 years I've known him was the time that he got drunk with his buddies back in Calgary and at the last minute, they decided to paint their bodies blue and go to the bar as smurfs... I think they ended up being in some beer commercial over the whole thing... So if it was one last kick at the can, why not end on a high note, right?

Recent Inquiries & Responses: 2

A new little series on Frequently Asked Questions from readers, featuring my responses.

Questions:

How long have you been in Rio?

I’m curious and more then a little afraid of our impending move to Rio for my husbands job.. We have 3 kids, and it frightens me a bit about how they will adjust. As for me, will I be more then lonely? I anticipate the adventure, but still I am worried.

Have you enjoyed all your time in Rio?

What sort of things would you think would be important for us to ask his work for in the moving package?

My Response:

I have been in Rio since March of 2008.
Coming to Rio is certainly an adventure.
I would definitely try to get your kids' schooling covered by the company. It is EXPENSIVE here and even private school education here is not up to par with public schooling we are accustomed to back home (Sad, I know!)

With kids you will probably also want a driver, large apartment and possibly some help around the house. Try to get this and your utilities all included in your package if possible. This is all quite standard for expats. Also either an allowance for household items or a shipment (although they take months to arrive/clear customs sometimes). Also most importantly of course - health insurance! Our plan was terrible when we first arrived - didn't even cover me having a baby (we quickly switched).

I doubt you will be lonely or bored here. There is a vibrant expat community, and SO MUCH to do.  You will definitely miss some of the comforts and I expect family/friends back home. Although the Canadians are eager to escape the cold and come visit, in my experience!

 I expected to make Brazilian friends as well, but that has not happened for me, but that said, people with kids seem to have more luck with this (parents of their kids' friends, etc.).

Recent Inquiries & Resposes: 1

I've been getting more and more emails from people coming to Rio. Which I figure is good because a lot of people have just LEFT US! We should be recruiting!

I figure if one person asks a question, the answer may be beneficial to others too. Since I am heading out on holidays I figured I would use some of these as easy blog posts over the next couple of weeks (sorry, I am getting worse with the upkeep of this blog by the day!

Question 1:

Now you are a mum, do you feel safe going about your daily business with your baby? We have an 18 month old, and that is my one concern. I’d be grateful if you could give me any insight into this.

My Response:

There is a baby & toddler group here in Rio that is organized through the INC (though you don't need to be a member!).

I feel pretty safe going about daily business with my baby, on foot, within Ipanema and Leblon. We get out everyday and so far have done so without incident. I do not like to travel with her in a car as carjackings are frequent, so I avoid this whenever possible. I do not drive with her alone under any circumstances, and someone is always in the back seat with her in case there is a need to get out of the car in a hurry. Enough said...

Something I think would be more challenging for you is that your child is mobile... traffic is crazy here and I already dread taking her out in the streets when one step (or slip) in the wrong direction could be very bad! You will sure have to be careful!

More Canadoca-wear

The Canadoca likes to flaunt her dual citizenship status by wearing articles of clothing from her two home countries. I've posted a couple of her Canada items in the past, but check out this dress:

 

It's seriously a great Rio piece...

 

She also has some cute "Gatinha Carioca" and "Ela e Carioca"  onesies - but I think the dress is the best!

Where to find it?

Parceria Carioca, which has locations in Jardim Botanico, Shopping da Gavea and Forum de Ipanema

Fraldario

The malls here in Brazil have little diaper change rooms complete with staff, supplies, chairs to breastfeed in, microwaves, high chairs... it's nice! A staff member puts down a fresh cover for the change area between each baby and offers any additional help you might need. It's nice!

Here are some photos from Sao Conrado Fashion Mall:

Above: supplies provided

Below: Canadoca ready for a change

 

Scary

This isn't a great photo but this little girl could not have been older than 10 years old, and was wearing makeup, little heels, a tanktop and miniskirt... plus a purse. wow.

No passport

So the wedding is tomorrow but we are still in Rio as we do not have Canadoca's Brazilian passport... it ended up being the cartorio that delayed the process so much.

Perfect day in the Peapod Pop Tent!

The Canadoca has earned the "oca" (from Carioca) in her name... she offically loves the beach. Even if it IS "winter"...  Last Friday we took her and our guests out to Recreio to the beach for a little sun, frescoball and R&R. Mr. DRL even took the day off!

We bought the Canadoca a little Peapod Pop Tent/Travel Bed thing that folds up super small and protects her from some elements (sun, wind, insects, etc.) while engaging in outdoor pursuits. Almost like a pack & play but much lighter and smaller (less than 5 lbs, and measures 14x14x5 - easily put in a suitcase)! Friday was the first time we used it so we weren't sure how it would go but she seemed mesmerized by the red interior and with the exception of coming out for feedings, she spent the better part of 5 hours of the afternoon in there!

Canadoca's Brazilian Passport

She has her dress picked out:

but will she get to wear it? (Dress is from Fabula - a children's boutique here in Rio).

Canadoca's aunt is getting married two weeks from today somewhere in Canada. Will we and the Canadoca be there to show off her mad air guitar skills (aided by mom)? Not sure. Why? No Brazilian passport yet.

To be fair, this should have been a fairly easy process. IF we had already received our Residency Cards, which we applied for over a year ago.

I was told by other gringoes to make an appointment at Shopping Leblon at the passport office and that from there on it would be quite simple and we'd have the passport within days. Our appointment was in mid-June.

We arrived at the appointment accompanied by an agent from the company my husband's firm employs to take care of passport and visa issues. When our name was called, we were told that since we didn't have our Residence Cards yet, we could not be issued a passport at that office and rather we would have to go to the Federal Police at the International Airport. This was frustrating for two reasons: 1) Mr. DRL took the day off work for this appointment, but more importantly, 2) Our agent should have realized that this was the case since they were involved in applying for our residency cards.

The next day, we headed to the international airport. A different agent met us there and asked us what we were there for (!! I am not even going to go there.... I am just not...) and basically stood around. Mr. DRL dealt directly with the officials, who told us that our presence wasn't really required, we could have motoboyed in some forms, and that they would need to launch an investigation into our daughter's birth since we don't have our residence cards yet. We were told that this would take about 30 days. Around this time the agency also admits that there was some sort of error or mix-up on their part with our application for residency cards. Strike three.

We are now applying for permanent citizenship based on the fact that we have a Brazilian child. Which will apparently take about another year, but allows us to work here, for any company, rather than being tied to the company because it holds our visa. Nice to have flexibility for sure.

However, currently we are waiting to hear if the signatures from FOUR doctors present in the delivery room are enough to prove that Canadoca is ours. I have heard horror stories of people having to undergo DNA testing in this scenario so we are hopeful that their word will suffice (I guess I should have opted for the birth video at the hospital!). 

Clearly our agency dropped the ball. I just hope that it can be retrieved in time, so that we can attend Mr. DRL's sister's wedding, and so that he can be there when his family first sees Canadoca. (I'm going home once the passport is issued, regardless, but he is only going to go if he can attend the wedding).

Lessons learned:
1) If you are a foreigner having a child in Brazil, make EVERY effort to ensure you receive your residence card before the child is born. It will save you a lot of hassle.
2) Carefully check the reputation of any agency you entrust with these matters. This particular agency deals with many companies here and seems to do a great job with the actual workers' visas/passports, etc. but drops the ball when it comes to the dependants/families. I know another woman whose husband works for another company who was stuck in the US for WEEKS earlier this year because the same agency made mistakes with their family's visas.

The Chupera

Another massive FAIL on my part as a parent according to many of the Brazilians I encounter on my daily adventures is the lack of a CHUPERA in Canadoca's mouth. If she cries for even a moment they immediately ask if she has one, when I say no, I inevitably get a tsk tsk or the dreaded shaking of the finger in my face (because every baby's life is incomplete until they suck and chew on plastic? It's okay for babies to cry for a minute or two every once in a while...). Don't get me wrong, there are times that I would definitely love to simply stick in a plug of some sort to console Canadoca when it will be a few minutes until she can feed or be changed. BUT SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT, people!! She won't take it. It's not really an issue, as she doesn't generally cry unless there is reason to do so, and promptly stops when her needs are met. She's a great baby. All the more reason not to have her dependant on a soother.

I am thinking of purchasing one of the crazy baby soothers below to carry around and distract the Brazilians when they ask if she has one...

English Speaking Private Schools in Rio

Sending kids to English private school in Rio is NOT CHEAP. Most expats I know who have children include school fees in their compensation packages. See below, it's quite the perk...

Here is the link for the American School http://www.earj.com.br/

Escola Americano Tuition schedule for the upcoming school year:

2009-10 Academic Year

Monthly tuition payments due the 5th  of each month, to be paid in 12 monthly installments:

3 day per week Toddler program:                      R$ 1.585,00
Pre-school half-day:                                            R$ 2.171,00
Pre-school   extended day:                                 R$ 3.193,00
Lower School (Kindergarten to 5th Grade):      R$ 3.942,00
Middle School Fees (Grades 6 – 8):                   R$ 4.281,00
Upper School Fees (Grades 9 – 12):                 R$ 4.873,00

Capital Fee: US$ 6,500.00

The Capital Fee, paid once for every child who is enrolled in 1st grade or above, is used to support investments in technology, facility renovations or other special projects.

Bus fees currently range from R$ 293,00 to R$ 408,00, depending on the route.

Lunch ticket: R$ 11,00 per day or R$10,00 for monthly contracts.

British School: http://www.britishschool.g12.br

2009 Monthly Fees
Pre-Nursery (Part-Time)     R$ 1.963,00
Pre-Nursery (full time) & Nursery     R$ 3.007,00
Reception to Class 4     R$ 2.759,00
Class 5 to Class 11     R$ 3.367.00

Entrance Fees

An Entrance Fee is charged at the time a child enters the school. Entrance Fees contribute to the school’s Development Fund which is maintained strictly for major development projects. Use of this fund is controlled by the Board of Governors. Entrance Fees are as follows:
Entrance Fees
(1st January – 31st December 2009)
First child     R$ 16.747,00
Second child     R$ 10.766,00
Third and subsequent children     R$ 8.374,00

Picnic

It's amazing how in Rio, a person can see so much just going to the lagoa for 45 minutes for a picnic. I doubt highly that there is a better place to people-watch than Rio de Janeiro.

The highlights:

A cute little CHUBBY boy rubbing his stomach, looking at the ice cream cart saying "Que delicio!" I wish I had it on video... so cute.

Brazilians playing baseball. There is no way to accurately describe it, you must see it for yourself.

A wide variety of smells. Sometimes they would change as often as every three steps ago.

Vehicles on the bike path - ranging from everything from roller blades to bikes to bikes for two to bikes for four to skateboards to skateboards with super-big wheels to every variety and brand of stroller on the market to wagons and mini-cars for kids to foot.

A parrot!

Portuguese post

Okay so only part of it will be in Portuguese but here is a comic Mr. DRL brought home for me yesterday (probably in hopes of getting back in the good books after working way too much).  Very cute.

Worried? Who's Worried?

Many friends and family back home have expressed concern about us having a baby "so far from home" - who will help us? Won't it be lonely? You won't have anyone checking in on you!

Here is the reality of the situation.

I am not going to name names but there are three ladies in particular who I have met down here, all fairly new-Gramma's, who keep me in line. As in, make me go to bed. Don't allow me to lift anything in their presence. Cook a lot of good food...  Examples? Sure, I have examples.

Exhibit A) I was in Buzios for the weekend with some friends, and emailing back and forth with one of these friends who was back in the US at the time, about a few (okay a tonne of) items I had shipped to her home which she had so kindly offered to bring down (thanks again!!!).  At some point in our texts back and forth she indicated that she had calculated the time difference and it was high time I should be in bed!  It was about midnight.  (As a sidenote, I must stay up most nights to even see my husband - he gets home at like 10:30 at night! I find it very funny slash depressing to be skyping with friends and family back home and realize that most people there arrive home before Mr. DRL does - and we are 3 or 4 hours ahead of these people, depending on which timezone they are in).  The same woman asked me early on in my pregnancy if I was taking enough vitamins when I was tired one day :)

Exhibit B) I returned an email to another friend I'll call "L" at 10:25 pm a couple of weeks ago.

The response came within moments:

On 25-Mar-09, at 10:29 PM, L wrote:

What are you doing up this late? A pregnant woman needs her sleep!

Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 10:34 PM
To: L
What, now you! (Harassing me about my bedtime!) haha I love it, so funny.

Minutes later, the actual topic of the email was answered, and I was left with this closing:

Go to bed!

Exhibit C) This one is the funniest and most persistent. Last week I hosted the weekly "Canasta" game.  I was asked repeatedly if I was up to it in "my condition" and I honestly wonder if people were discouraged from going in fears of putting me out, as we had a small turnout! Anyway I was quite spoiled with help and now some items are at my house which we will need next week and I emailed this woman, the next hostess (K), saying I would bring these items by her place.  Here is the response I received today (picture a very strong Southern accent, it makes it better):

From: K
Date: April 9, 2009 12:22

I can have my driver pick them up I DO NOT WANT YOU TO CARRY THEM AROUND!!!!!  Do you understand that.

I also have received the following emails from "K"

From: K
Date: March 10, 2009
You be careful walking around and watch the area you are in.  Got it!

From: K
Date: Feb 18, 2009
I will not be at the beach on Thursday, but if you go don't get to much sun!  And don't get around L,  don't want you to get the bug she has had.

I saved these emails in my baby emails folder and they totally crack me up every time.

So anyone who was worried shouldn't be - these ladies have it covered! And the concern is well-appreciated.

Parenthood Preparation

This is what I need to do:
“In bathrooms, boardrooms, buses, bagel shops, and everywhere else, we all need to imagine a little girl following us around, repeating everything we say and everything we do. Think about all of the things you want for yourself and your daughters, granddaughters, and girls everywhere- and teach them by living it yourself.”- Nell Merlino, In Stepping Out of the Line: Lessons for Women who Want it their way in life, love and work.

No, I don't know if it's a girl or a boy, but really this applies either way!

Resources for Women Having Babies Abroad

Some articles and pages:

From Expat Women - Some of the VERY basics On Having A Baby Far From Home.

Expat Moms Chronicling Raising Kids Abroad - features many of the benefits of living abroad with your kids.

The What to Expect and BabyCenter web sites are fantastic - you can connect with other moms, find out information about your baby's "evolution" as they call it here in Brazil, find names and more. They'll also send you weekly or daily updates on a variety of topics related to your pregnancy.

Podcasts - I've been listening to the Pea in the PodCast and the PregTastic podcast - both via iTunes.  They feature a variety of topics that may be applicable to what you are curious about.  PregTastic is a bit long and dragged out sometimes, as some of the women go into great detail about specific details of their pregnancies, which is helpful if you have similar issues or concerns and a bit boring at times if you don't.  The Pea in the Podcast is a bit more newsy and succinct, also features a weekly podcast with information on your specific point in the pregnancy.

If you are like us, a couple living abroad in a country where the native language is not your own, the idea of taking a birthing class in another language is more than a little intimidating.  I am willing to try to do pretty much anything else in Portuguese, but I believe that when it comes to health, it is best to have as few opportunities for misunderstanding as possible.  Where am I going with this? We opted not to take a birthing class in Portuguese.  Yes, we considered hiring a translator but thought it would make for some very long sessions that way, and let's face it, my husband's work schedule hasn't been super-accomodating.  You're wondering what my big solution is, right? I started looking for a DVD of a birthing class but found something even better and more instantaneous - a webcast! From a company called The Best Birth, on demand webcast.  When you purchase the webcast, you can immediately watch it, an unlimited number times for 90 days, from anywhere you have an internet connection. Sure, it would be nice to be able to take a class with other couples, but we saw this as the best subsititution for a birthing class while living abroad.

For a humorous take on a number of issues affecting moms - tune into the MomVersation - I first heard about it reading the Mighty Girl blog, which I love. It's pretty entertaining and these moms don't hold back! Click here for the Momversation web site.

Emotions running high....

I'm constantly checking the news and Bring Sean Home blog today, and the facebook group for the cause as well waiting to hear news...

And apparently, finally there was good news to be had... according to a news report, David Goldman did get to see his son today.  Hooray!!! A major feat but what this man deserves is to take his little boy home.

I was first introduced to the story from Rachel's RioGringa blog, she has been a huge support to David Goldman, and really helped get this story out (the Brazilian media has refused to cover the story).  For more background on the story, check her site out. David Goldman is the man who was featured on Dateline NBC last week for his absolutely infuriating struggle to see his child, who was kidnapped by his mother at age 4, brought to Brazil illegally, denied permission to see his father by his mother and now by his stepfather.  The boy's mother has since passed away, and still despite court orders, David Goldman had not SEEN his son in over 4 years, because Sean's STEP-father, a powerful lawyer, has him. It's absolutely tragic. Terrifying to see what powerful people can accomplish - keeping a child away from his only biological parent? It's horrific.

If you haven't heard anything about this story yet, watch the Dateline NBC hour-long interview with David and Meredith Vieira that aired about a week ago. It tells the story from start to finish and is very moving, yet frustrating to watch because this situation is so infuriating.  Watching over home videos and photos what an amazing father David seems to be makes it even more emotional. And emotional I am right now... watch the Dateline piece and you'll be, too...

Porcao is the place for kids

Having visitors with two young children has opened my eyes in many ways to what life is like in Brazil with kids. More specifically, how kids are received here. It's much better than in North America, I'll tell you that!

For example, here, walking into a fine dining restaurant with two kids under three - no one flinches. My girlfriend who is visiting and I find this so funny because back home there is a chain called "Earl's" which fancies itself to be upscale but in reality it's just a place to grab a bite. At the location we would go to, they really don't cater to kids, it's impossible to get a booster seat even, and the official "line" of the restaurant is that it's not as though they don't like kids, they just don't do anything for them. O---kay.

Then there's Brazil....
We've taken the kids to Carlota and Sawasdee in Leblon and were treated exactly as we would have been without the kids.

We took them to Porcao and my goodness it is a parent's paradise...
The servers (all male) were all over the kids, lifting the 2 yr old in and out of the highchair, feeding the baby her bottle (see photo below). In fact at one point when the baby had less than oh, six or so, adoring (all male) admirers doting on her she pitched a fit. Pretty funny!

I like how men feel more comfortable to reach out to kids here. I think in North American society there is such concern about pedophiles that it has made men scared to even show that they like little kids in a lot of places. For example, men won't come up to strangers with babies to say hi to the baby, whereas here you can't go anywhere without it happening. Some people may find this creepy, I find it helpful even! It's help keeping the kids entertained!

Here are some photos of Porcao...

More notes on Porcao - the servers also cut up the meat for the two year old, and there is a supervised play area where people can drop their kids off... WOW.

Ipanema 444

**Warning - this is a baby related post but I really hope some people find this helpful!**

It was recommended to me to check out the Galleria in Ipanema "444 Visconde de Piraja" - for baby stuff, etc. and it is well worth it, there are some great finds to be had! Wonderful baby clothes, cute onesies with little expressions (both Portuguese & English), costumes, shoes, the whole nine yards... great place to buy baby stuff in Rio!

Highlights:

Pe de Dragao, a very cute shoe store for kids...
Donna Chita, a store for the fashionable tot...
Bb moderno & cia
I'm Not A Baby - my favorite of all...

I tried to restrain myself but in the end picked up a onesie - red - that looks like a present and says "best gift ever" - so cute. Thank goodness I don't know if it's a girl or boy otherwise the shopping would probably get out of control.

Thanks to two of my girlfriends who had babies this summer and have loaned me their maternity wardrobes, clothes for me are not much of an issue right now, in fact it's almost like I have a whole new wardrobe without even having to shop...

However if one were so inclined, there are a couple of maternity shops that I can recommend that are 1) NOT hideous!
2) Not too overpriced

(*Note - with today's current exchange rate there is not much that IS overpriced in Rio... but who knows how long this will last...*)

Mom's Gestantes - which is in Shopping Leblon, as well as Barra Shopping, Barra Gardens, Shopping Rio Sul & Niteroi (Shopping Cine Center).  I bought a pair of cute white maternity shorts there a couple of weeks ago.

Fernanda Chies - which is just off V. de Piraja in Ipanema, on Rua Maria Quiteria - carries the Zazou line of maternity wear, lots of cute options.  My mom wanted to check out this store when she was here and low and behold there was a maternity section!

Some Price Comparisons... Baby Buyer Beware!

We were incredibly fortunate that my husband had to go to the US & Canada last month on a business trip. Why fortunate, you ask? If you read this blog regularly you know that I HARDLY want to get rid of my husband, even for a few days! It also was not "fortunate" weather - he was snowed in in Houston, and had to tolerate blizzards and -40 temperatures in Calgary. Fortunate because now we are expecting, not planning more trips back to North America before the baby, and frankly, we needed a lot of stuff!

Everyone with kids here had warned me I'd want to buy as much as possible back home and either have it shipped or brought down with other people. I soon realized why.... the prices are out of control. And that's when you can actually find this stuff here. I have yet to see my stroller here.

Just SOME examples:
1) Dr. Brown's bottles (supposedly the best for newborns as the internal vent technology prevents too much air from getting into baby's system).  My husband bought an entire starter pack (10 bottles, cleaning brush, various nipples, lids, etc.) for US$49.99 at Toys R Us in Houston. So to break that down it's less than $4.99 US per bottle considering all the extras they throw in.  I have seen Dr. Brown's products in one store here in Rio, in Barra at Via Parque. One 4 oz bottle was R$37.99 or US $16.90.  So roughly 4 times the price (and frankly, that's being generous as the 4 oz bottles are more inexpensive and I am not allotting anything for the extras thrown in with the starter pack...)

Admittedly these are imported products so the sticker price should be no shocker and yes there are Brazilian alternatives but with all the "plastic" scares out there I do want to make sure these bottles are up to snuff. Potential TMI alert - yes, I am hoping to breastfeed but want the baby to take a bottle per day as well! (Bonding time for dad, freedom opportunities for mom!)

2) Peg Perego Car Seat - I have located one in a store in Shopping Rio Sul, R$1300 when you include the base. Toys R Us in the US - $249.
So it's more than double the price to get it here.
Again, there are Brazilian alternatives but considering how well any Brazilian-made appliances I've bought have survived the test of time (like coffee makers that fall apart after 6 uses), and that this is a device that could potentially save our child's life, I want the one with the North American safety rating, please.

3) Grooming Kit - I spotted this Safety First grooming kit yesterday in a toy/children's store for $R120. We purchased exactly the same one in the US for US$9.99. A savings of over US$40, it is literally 5 times the price here.

All is not lost, however, in moving to Brazil and having a baby. Especially if you have a lot of people coming and going from North America bringing stuff for you!
I have found a number of beautiful shops for baby clothes and as my girlfriend with two kids pointed out to me the other day, I could decorate a gorgeous kids room just shopping at the hippie fair alone! Besides the bedding that I am getting from Restoration Hardware of course!

There is a baby fair at the end of the month at the Convention Centre in Barra as well, so I will be checking that out.

Something cool I did not realize that "Red" is the color of choice for luck for babies in Brazil. I love it! My Portuguese instructor bought us some red booties, so adorable. There is way too much sage green and yellow unisex stuff out there, why not red? I have also been buying anything grey I find as it's pretty unisex as well and who doesn't look good in grey... haha.

Here is a photo of our "stash" so far - a lot of it has been coming in handy with two little munchkins running around our place the past week. 

Great find...

There are so many great things to buy for kids in Rio, unique, cheap and fun. My nephew is really into fish right now and his mom always puts "his own magnets for the fridge" on his gift wish lists, so we plan to mail him & his sister these twp by two. (Since he loves getting mail so much and all....)

These were procured at the Copacabana steet fair, on the far end (Arpoador side) in a little booth. I don't think we paid R$2 each for them... There are more, including a mermaid, but being that there's been a 2 yr old in the house lately who really loves these too, I can't seem to find them... haha.

Another alternative to gunfire...

Frequently in Rio I hear noises that could easily be interpreted as gunfire. I try to tell myself that it is one of a few things other than gunfire: a car backfiring, fireworks or firecrackers (especially on a night where there's a football game) or something really loud falling and making a big noise.

Now I have something else to add to the list of things it could be other than gunfire...
Meet the Dumano. Dumano's are small little white things that kids can throw on the ground and stomp on, making a very loud, startling, crackling sound. My friend's little son's feet will demonstrate below:
I love how he put his spiderman flip flops on the wrong feet... so cute.

Christmas Carolers and All!

I'd been meaning to get to Ipanema for days to get a shot of this bank at night - and this Christmas display was actually even better than what I thought it was - it has a singing "caroler" Santa and everything! Note: this is a BANK.  I don't think I've ever seen any bank get this into the Christmas spirit back home... The bank is located kitty corner from an amazing nativity scene at a church (on VIsc. de Piraja) that I will post tomorrow.

A Very Zona Sul Christmas

One of my favorite memories with my nephew was about two years ago when he was two years old. He had slept over at our house just after Christmas (and Auntie gave him one too many mint flavored chocolates and he "gurfed" on the floor - his word, not mine... "Auntie I gurfed"... minty gurf... ok not the favorite memory I was talking about but I am getting there... ) and that year my father in law had given us this beautiful Father Christmas which stood just a bit taller than our nephew at the time.  He thought it was the greatest thing ever.

Fast forward to May, which happened to be the next time that a get-together happened at our house.  He walked in the door and exclaimed: "Where's SANTA?" He thought Santa lived at our house? Now it was my turn to think that it was the greatest thing ever.  Needless to say I didn't have the heart to tell him that Santa was in a box in the basement, rather just said he'd be back at Christmas time.

Kids HERE, in Rio, must think that Santa resides at our neighbourhood supermarket, Zona Sul... here are some photos of how far the Christmas decorating has gone. I'm particularly a fan of the little carts with reindeer on them...

Santa sure rolls a little differently in Rio!

The Heartbreak of Rio

If you read my blog you know this: I did not plan to have a child in Rio. In fact, after moving here I questioned whether or not I would ever like to have children of my own. I was set on adopting. (My husband does not share my enthusiasm though). Having my own children seemed frivolous when there are street babies here who could use a proper home.  It must be my own child, why?  So that I can have a little mini-me?

That said, adopting in Brazil is no piece of cake. According to several people I've spoken with who have tried, it's practically impossible.

When I was home this summer I shared some of my opinions (no, not with the 10 friends & family who just gave birth... I left them alone!), no wonder some people were surprised to hear our news.

Rio Gringa did a very descriptive post earlier this week about what it's like to pass by these children and families. Imagine how I felt the day I found out I was "for sure" expecting, and after going out for a fancy dinner with our family friends who were visiting, walking by a similar scene pretty much on our doorstep when we returned home.

Despite this, I have come to terms with the guilty feelings and refuse to feel guilty about having this child, and am very excited about this new chapter.  I just wish I could do more for the rest of those babies too and imagine it will become even harder to see children in poverty once I am a mother myself.

Christmas Shopping

I'd been looking for a cool kite for my nephew - I love this one! Found on the beach from a vendor, they range in price from R$10 - $R20, depending on how cool of a little action figure you want to be on your parachute. Also: easily packaged up!

Alphabet Soup

Does anyone have a good recipe for alphabet soup?

I actually do have a package of alphabet shaped pasta in my cupboard and it sounds a lot better than eating... er... crow.

Why do I have a hankering for alphabet soup?

I just have so many words to eat!

So... it turns out that our friends and family, not to mention my blog readers, know us a lot better than we know ourselves.  Since we have been in Rio we have done almost everything we said we would not do. I think we should take the hint and start never saying never! All summer when we were home everyone kept asking us if we thought we would have a baby in Rio.

Absolutely not!

So we said...

LIttle did we know, that we were wrong.

Surprised?

Probably not as surprised as me...

And yes, it seems as though my husband really got his way this time... haha!

So... I am due in early May, the baby will be born in Rio, and hopefully truly be a citizen of the world.

Oh and the number one question I'm fielding these days - am I getting fat? Sure am. 3 kilos I've gained! Of the maximum TEN allotment the doctors here recommend... and that is apparently being generous, yesterday I read an article recommending no more than 7 kilos weight gain... yikes that would make me about halfway there in terms of weight gain...

I promise not to make this a total Mommy Blog but will definitely include some interesting anecdotes on what it's like to be pregnant here/going to doctors/having a baby abroad. But will try to keep it as Brazil-relevant as possible!

Halloween

As I'm sure you are aware, yesterday was Halloween.  However, in case you were wondering, you'd hardly know it here in Brazil! In fact, there are many more Christmas decorations out at this point than Halloween decorations.

I have heard that there was some trick-or-treating going on in a gated community in Urca, also a Halloween party for toddlers last week, oh and the American Society had a Halloween party last weekend.

We were invited to a Halloween party on Friday but it was short notice and considering how difficult it is to source, well, pretty much anything in Brazil on short notice and I had plans all day and that night, it wasn't in the cards. 

So I hope you enjoyed Halloween! Being that Mr. DRL is not much of a Halloween fan, he is happy to dodge the dress-up bullet by being in Brazil.  I got my fill just seeing the photos of all our friends' kids dressed up.

One good costume I heard of this year: Ellen Degeneres dressed up as "Change" apparently (making a political statement).

I would also like to share that our three but almost four year old nephew is going as "Death" this year (we thought we heard him wrong the first three or four times but no, he has a grim reaper costume, apparently that was what caught his eye).  Which is quite a change from last year when he went as a blue butterfly!  His new baby sister is dressed as a ballerina, and the photos we received today were hilarious as "death" stands over this innocent looking little baby ballerina... very funny and cute.

Build A Bear: The Brazilian Version

Build- A - Bear in North America is a great little company - kids go in and choose their own bear and get to build him or her, insert a heart, insert a voice box with a special message or multiple voice boxes, give them a bath, choose an outfit, create a birth certificate, and more!  So cute, and a great way to spend a memorable afternoon.  Before we moved, we went with our nephew and made one for him and one for us, such a fun morning.

Brazil has its own version of Build-A-Bear, it's called Animaland or Animalandia, and I would argue its business model is much more efficient than its North American counterpart, particularly from an "overhead" perspective.  Build-A-Bear is situated in shopping malls where it generally has large stores, Animaland is set up as kiosks in the mall where patrons move around the kiosks to the different stations (stuffing, accessories, etc.)

Here, Animaland also features a scent station for the stuffies. 

Iguazu: For Kids

I got a kick out of how one of the hotels we stayed in, in the "Iguassu" Brasilian side:  Mabu Thermas, catered to kids, not only throughout the resort but at reception:

Unfortunately there weren't any kids checking in at the same time we were but I assume they get some sort of treat or special kids pass upon check-in. 

There seemed to be quite the comprehensive kids program & entertainment staff much like you'd find in an all-inclusive in Mexico.

Expat Kids in Brazil

Disclaimer - no, I am not a mom.  I realize I don't fully understand what it's like to have kids of my own.  I promise to read this again someday if I do. I love kids, respect parents for doing a great job (and one hard job!). Ok? End of Disclaimer.

I get a lot of hits from people looking for info on moving to Brazil with kids.  While I can't say that I have done this myself, I do have a few observations which I will share.

• There seems to be a lot of support for expat moms - including quite the dynamic toddler group that meets at least once a week in a different locale for the moms to talk and the kids to play.
• Brazilians love kids and their reactions to kids are priceless.
• Kids seem to get sick a lot here. I realize this is the case everywhere having several friends with kids back home.  Especially toddlers, which makes sense as many of the kids I know were moved here when they were a year old or less, and kids immune systems generally aren't developed until age 2.  They are exposed to things here they and their parents were not necessarily exposed to where they lived before.  Just an observation, but most of the kids I know in the 2-3 year range here have incessant hacking coughs most of the time (and their parents worry because they have had them for months).  I wonder if it is the case as much with kids who are conceived/carried/nursed here in Brazil, if they have different antibodies... just a theory/question...
• There are wonderful places to take children such as the Jardim Botanico, Parque Lage, the zoo, the beach, out walking. Oh and of course all the little snack & juice shops, kids love those. Malls and public places cater to children in ways I am not accustomed to in North America.
• I have yet to see a "kid on a leash" in Brazil - which is refreshing because when I was in Banff, Alberta, Canada, just over a week ago, I saw a mother with a kid on a leash and the kid literally tripped on a curb and fell on his face because his mother pulled on the leash not really watching what he was doing.
• Kids pick up the language quickly and often end up teaching their parents.  It's also cute to see the little ones asking for agua. 
• What would scare me the most as a parent if I lived here would be kidnapping or carjacking.  Because it is pretty much impossible for a kid to get themselves out of a carseat in a carjacking scenario.  Not to scare people, but rather to inform, as this is a potential hazard of living in Rio with kids.
• Every parent whose children attends the American School in Gavea says their kids LOVE school here much more than ever before.  This applies to the littlies and teens alike.
• Expat moms seem to be much more involved than a lot of the Brazilian moms in my neighbourhood - most of the Brazilians with children have a "Baba" or nanny, easily spotted as they are dressed all in white.  Most of the expats seem to be relishing in the fact that they have a great excuse to stay home and have quality time with their children.

Mom's? Anything you can add to help inform people with children who are trying to make the decision of whether or not to come and live in Rio? What is easy, what's hard?