Things to Learn From Brazilians

Some things I've picked up - for which I'll be forever grateful...

- The value of well-designed closets. They've figured it, as I've mentioned before in a prior post. The Canadoca actually has a play area in my closet! No, you do not need to call social services, the closet is just that sweet.

- The importance of fibre in the diet. Feijoada, fruit, acai, quinoa, say no more.

- Essential oral hygiene. After-meal teeth brushing parties in the office bathrooms and dental floss in public washrooms. I have mentioned the Canadoca's brazilianness in her food choices but forgot to mention until now her absolute obsession with brushing her teeth. "Teeth" is also one of her favorite words of the moment...

- Smaller swimsuit bottoms somehow actually seem to make your butt look better/smaller. Funny how that works...

- Stand by your woman. After reading about this, I might need to Brazilianize my hubby a bit in this department! I bet there's not a couple in the world who hasn't had an argument about how one did not properly stand up for the other some awkward social or family situation. Well, maybe not this couple... What's am I talking about? It seems as though two US air marshals arrested the wife of a Brazilian judge on a flight to Rio recently. Why? She was reportedly intoxicated, unruly, and trying to break into the galley looking to score more booze. Before we judge, let's remember it's a 10 hr flight from anywhere in the states ;)  I guess I SHOULD mention that she assaulted and, um, bit one of them. She happened to be on the same Houston-Rio Continental connection that I normally take.... now why can't anything as interesting as this happen when I'm on board! Like I said - a 10 hr flight - could use some entertainment! She has her husband not only just give someone a piece of his mind upon her arrival in Rio, but ARREST the air marshals for assault, took their passports and everything! They ended up FLEEING the country (and the bogus charges).  So, fellas, let this be yet another lesson to you from the Brazilians - next time your wife asks you to speak up for her when your mother throws her a rotten dig, just do it, and remember it's not as though she asked you to initiate an international relations crisis on her behalf. I get that this guy may have taken Honor Thy Wife  a bit over the top.... But who wants to argue with a biter?  You can read more about this incident here.

 

There is a Brazilian expression that Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) has been known to share:

If you’re smart, you learn from your mistakes, but if you’re a genius, you learn from other people’s mistakes.

Comments

[Rachel]

My sons LOVE to brush their teeth! They were discussing it at school and he told me all about what happens if you don't.

And smaller swimsuits do make a huge difference! I'm a huge convert to the Brazilian bikini, even after 2 children!

[brandy]

I agree with the oral hygiene part. It's very cool to have such an availability of floss (and sometimes mouthwash) whenever we eat out. That said, there is something that they must eat here that makes the breath smell terrible! I don't know what it is, but every now and then I'll get a whiff and want to puke. Also, I'm pregnant, I don't know if that has anything to do with it?