What I miss and don't miss about living in Brazil - Saudades para o Brasil

The other day I was thinking about how much I miss living in Brazil.  I was thinking about how I'm afraid I might forget Portuguese, how I miss certain people, and how I miss living near the beach.  But then I also started thinking about the crappy work situation we had, how we didn't have a lot of money, and how some people were not very nice to me.  So I decided to write about the things I miss and don't miss about living in Brazil.

(The pictures included in this post don't necessarily represent the text that they precede or follow.  I just wanted to include some of my favorite photos from our year of living in Brazil.  The year recap is posted here.)

I don't miss not having a car.

I do miss having everything I need within walking distance.

I don't miss the crappy living/work situation.

I do miss the 10 minute walk to the beach.

I don't miss not having a stable job.

I do miss my sweet violin and piano students.

I don't miss how expensive everything was.

I do miss the super nice malls and shopping centers.

I don't miss a few specific people.

I do miss a few other specific people who became good friends and surrogate family.

I don't miss having to take taxis everywhere.

I do miss the interesting conversations I had with the taxi drivers.

I don't miss the heat and humidity.

I do miss being able to wear sundresses and flip-flops every day of the year.



I don't miss being misunderstood because of my American accent.

I do miss being able to learn and speak Portuguese every day.

I don't miss being far away from family.

I do miss meeting interesting people from all over the world.

I don't miss the traffic and crazy drivers.

I do miss the unique and beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro.

What do you miss about living abroad?  Or if you are living abroad, what do you miss about home?

XO,

Julie

Has moving abroad made you more patriotic?

I debated whether or not to post this, because I don't want it to be taken the wrong way.  But I think I need to get it off my chest.  Living in Brazil has been very difficult.  I've spoken with many other expats who have validated my thoughts and feelings.  Don't get me wrong, Rio is a beautiful city.  I love the city of Rio.  The beach, the mountains, the historic center - all beautiful and gorgeous places to visit.  And yet I don't think I want to live here and raise a family here.  I have spoken with several expats here who have mentioned that moving to Brazil has made them more patriotic.  And I think the same goes for me, too.  For me it's more than just general homesickness or culture shock.

Maybe it's the fact that the Brazilian government is so incredibly corrupt.

Maybe it's the fact that the Brazilian government does not seem to care one tiny bit about their citizens.

Maybe it's the fact that at least 40% of my husband's salary has gone to this corrupt government.

Maybe it's the fact that the country seems to be falling apart and the people just want to ignore it.

Maybe it's the fact that I've met a lot of foreigners (whether Brazilian or from some other country) who have some incredibly misinformed opinions and beliefs about U.S. politics and try to tell me what our country needs to do to be "better."  Thank you, incredibly biased media.

Maybe it's the fact that there is such a huge distinction between upper and lower class here, with almost no middle class.

Maybe it's the fact that houses don't have yards, they have tall walls armed with barbed wire, electric fences, and glass shards.

Maybe it's the fact that normal, dollar-store quality items, are incredibly expensive.

Maybe it's the fact that I haven't purchased anything for myself (be it a new shirt or a new lipstick) in the year that we've been here because everything is so ridiculously expensive.

Maybe it's the fact that they came to repair a leaking pipe in our bathroom, worked on it for a whole month, and then realized that they "fixed" the wrong pipe.  "Oh well that's the pipe that was leaking in all the other apartments, so we just assumed it was the same one." They didn't even check to make sure they were fixing the correct one before they threw my apartment into disarray for a month.

Maybe it's the fact that we spent an exhausting 6 months trying to figure out how the heck to get my visa?

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.  Everything in Brazil is so much more complicated.  I understand that the U.S. has its problems.  I understand that the U.S. government is getting more and more corrupt, that the middle class is shrinking, and that our rights are slowly being chipped away.  But overall I am proud to be an American.  I am proud to (patiently) explain to my friends how the U.S. government actually works (no, the president doesn't have all the power, even though it seems like our current one does sometimes).  I am proud to (patiently) explain to my Brazilian friends why they have to pay for a visa to enter the U.S. (hint: it has to do with the fact that Brazil is technically considered an "enemy" of the U.S. because they are allies with some major communist countries).  I am proud of the fact that I attended public schools and had the opportunity to play music and sports in school (not available in public schools here).  I am proud of the fact that our country was founded on the basis of freedom.

Yes, the U.S. has problems.  But Brazil has even bigger ones.  And I think that every U.S. citizen who is fed-up or annoyed at our country should come live here for awhile.  You might leave with a greater appreciation of your country, its history, and the principles it was founded upon.

So tell me, has living abroad made you more patriotic?

XO,

Julie

Disclaimer: Brazil is not a horrible place.  We've had some lovely experiences here.  But sometimes the negative outweighs the positive, which is why we are leaving in June.

The Expat Diaries - Travel Tips

Today I'm participating in my first link-up party hosted by postcardsfromrachel.com, lostintravelsblog.com, totheseablog.com, and rhymeandribbons.com! I'm hoping that this will attract a few more blog followers.  

Also, side note, it seems like forever ago when I mentioned transitioning over to a new domain... that is still in process!  I still plan on doing it, but I haven't had the resources quite yet.  But my goal is to get the site up by the end of the month.  You're going to love it.  :)

I'm supposed to share a travel story or tip.  So here we go.  This is actually a repost from about 6 months ago.  I never followed up with a Part 2, but I have plans to soon.

Julie's Tips for Traveling Overseas

- Part 1 -

I have traveled a lot around the world, and most recently moved with my husband to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  I thought I'd share a few things I have learned from all the packing, airports, customs, and eating I have done around the world.  I hope this is beneficial for at least one person reading!

1.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Flying dehydrates you!  There are several reasons why I get dehydrated while traveling. You can't bring water past security and bottled waters are expensive in airports!  I often don't drink anything until I'm on the plane and the flight attendants bring around the beverage cart.  And then it's just a tiny cup of water.  I subconsciously don't drink a lot because I have the world's smallest bladder.  (These are all horrible excuses btw.)  Airplanes recycle air which is very drying.

Staying hydrated is important not only for looking and feeling great, but to keep your immune system functioning, flushing out toxins, regulating your bowels, and much more.  Drink lots of water before you leave!  Buy a water bottle at the airport and ask the flight attendant to refill your water bottle when you get on the plane.

Flying also dehydrates my skin.  I already have dry skin, so flying just makes it worse!  If you also have this problem, I suggest using a hydrating face mask the night before you leave.  I used a Mary Kay moisturizing mask and my skin felt amazing!

Contact Mary Kay Beauty Consultant Ruth Smith to order*

2.  Stock up on healthy snacks

A couple of days before we left I went to Whole Foods and stocked up on healthy snacks. Airport food is expensive, flights are long, some airlines don't serve meals and, if they do, they might be nasty, gross, or unhealthy.

A couple of items that saved my sanity this past trip:

An apple

Gluten Free Crackers

Vegetable chips (not the overly processed ones from Trader Joe's, but the actually real, dehydrated veggies from Whole Foods)

KIND fruit + nut Almond and Apricot bars

Click on the picture to purchase

Justin's Honey Almond Butter (Great on gluten-free crackers, apple, celery, etc)

Click on the picture to purchase

Other items you could bring;
Fresh veggies such as carrots and celery
Fresh fruit such as apples and bananas
Trail mix
Seed and nut mix (I like to mix almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, craisins, raisins, and chocolate chips)


3.  CALM

CALM is a natural supplement that does just want is says: calms.  This is great for people who suffer from bowel issues (any kind) that are aggravated by travel or other stressful situations, including packing, mentally preparing for a major life change, or anything else that may cause stress.  I have a canister of it at home, but I picked up a couple of individual packages to easily pack it in my carry-on.

Click on the picture to purchase

Thanks for reading!  Do you have any other tips you'd like to add?  Any travel problems in particular you'd like me to address in Part 2?   Leave a comment below.

* I am not receiving compensation from Ruth Smith or Mary Kay.  I mentioned the product because I want to bring awareness to my mom's business, and not for any other purpose or personal gain.

 Note: This post contains affiliate links.  Read my disclaimer here.