The Little Things

“You can’t argue with the little things, it’s the little things that make up life,” a line from the Simpsons but very true.  There are a lot of little things that make me happy living in Brazil, whether it’s the smell of the air after the rain or the array of fresh fruits in a supermarket, going to a football match or having a barbecue with friends.  Some of these things might not be everyone’s cup of tea, some may be just me, but they make me happy!

Fresh Fruit

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that supermarkets in Brazil have a good selection of fresh fruit, but what strikes me is the smell.   As you approach the fruit section, the air is filled with the intoxicating aroma of fresh fruit, to the extent I’ve never experienced in Britain or the US.  Then you go to a dedicated fruit shop or market…

Churrasco

Barbecue (churrasco in Portuguese) is very popular in Brazil, especially in the South.  The format varies by region, with some areas preferring steaks and smaller skewers, while others prefer large pieces of meat, cooked over several hours and sliced at the table.  This is often accompanied by rice, farofa (a crunchy accompaniment made with cassava flour and various other ingredients, such as bacon, olives, egg etc), maionaise (Brazilian potato salad) and salad.  In my wife’s family at least, this is a typical Sunday lunch.

Rain

If you told me 5 years ago that I’d be glad of rain, I’d say you were mad.  Growing up in Britain, you take rain for granted, in fact you generally spend your time praying for a dry day!  After 4 and a half years in California, I found myself longing for some airborne moisture and Brazil (at least Paraná) does not disappoint!  When it gets really hot and humid, usually a nice cooling shower is on the way!

Coffee

Oh the coffee!  Brazil is the biggest coffee producer in the world, supplying about one third of the global production and it’s good!  It also plays a large part in the culture: breakfast is called “café de manha” (literally morning coffee) and meals are often followed by a little cafezinho.  If you go to a bank, restaurant or rest area by the motorway, you may well see a thermos of free coffee (although this is often already sweetened – my preference of unsweetened coffee is seen as a bit weird here!) 

Football

It will come as no surprise that the only country to have won the World Cup five times is mad about football.  The year starts off slowly with the state competitions, and then moves on to the Campeonato Brasileiro, the national league.  Everyone appears to have a favourite team, even people that aren't that keen on football and the atmosphere inside the stadium can't be beaten.

Arena da Baixada, the stadium of Atlético Paranaense

Green Things

It might seem silly, but it feels really good to drive through the countryside and see so much green!  After the greyish brown of California, the green grass, plants and trees make the country seem so alive.  Even in big cities like Curitiba, there is so much green, whether it’s trees by the side of the road, or the many parks and it’s all natural – not imported from other regions and sustained by constant sprinklers.

Woods near Pato Branco with pinheiros standing out on the horizon

Pinheiros

Yes, more green stuff.  These trees are only found in the South of Brazil and are the state tree of the Paraná.  Their unique look lends them a kind of charisma and seeing a stand of Pinheiros is like a welcome to the South.

Guaraná

It comes in a green can!  This is a very Brazilian soft drink, made from the guaraná fruit and is a more natural energy drink!  Living in Britain and the US, it was always a rare treat to find guaraná, here it is obviously widely available, so I’m being careful to not get carried away!  But it’s so good…

Coxinhas with Guaraná

Snack Foods

Brazil has many salgadinhos – little savoury snacks – such as pasteis, coxinhas, pão de queijo etc…  I’ll write about them some other time, for now all you need to know is that they’re bloody good!  

Sweets

I know I’m taking this post down a foodie cul-de-sac, but I can’t help it!  The variety of chocolates and sweets on offer here is great.  And that’s before you get into popular homemade sweets like brigadeiro (a chocolaty treat made with condensed milk and cocoa powder.)  I’m getting hungry… 

Holidays

Brazil has loads of public holidays and the best part is that when they land on a Tuesday, most employers allow employees to take the Monday off, and the same with Fridays when the holiday is on a Thursday.  The downside is that if a holiday falls on a weekend, there is no day off in lieu.  Although with the extra days off, there will always be plenty of holidays.

Comfortable Coaches

Brazil is a big country and one of the easiest ways of getting around is by coach.  There are various levels, including conventional, executive and the more luxurious leito.  Taking an overnight leito coach is an easy way to get where you need to be and get some sleep along the way.

 Hotel Breakfast

Yes, I’m back on to food.  Most hotels have a very good spread for breakfast, including; juices, coffee, fresh fruits, various breads and other baked goods, eggs and yoghurts.  If you leave feeling hungry, you’re not doing it right! 

Rodizio Restauarants

This a type of restaurant where waiters continually bring around food, rather than ordering a la carte.  Most Brazilian restaurants abroad are barbecue rodizio restaurants, where the meat is brought around on large skewers and sliced off upon request, but there are other types, including pasta and pizza, which are both very good.  The obvious advantage is that you can have as much or little as you like, and have the opportunity to try dishes that you might otherwise not order.  Not to mention that it is always freshly cooked when it reaches you.

Blackout Curtains

When I sleep, I like the room to be as dark as possible, especially if I have the chance to sleep in in the morning.  What better than an impenetrable blackout curtain to keep out that intrusive morning sunlight?

Sunlight

And now, I’ll contradict myself.  Much as I like to sleep in a nice dark room, it’s nice to have a well lit room when I’m not sleeping.  The apartments I had in the US all seemed rather dark, it’s nice to be somewhere where the sun can shine in and light up the room.  (I know this is very subjective and depends on where you live, but it’s just another reason why I’m happy to be here!)

It’s Summer Again!

I know it won’t last, but it’s nice to have summer, a few weeks of winter, then summer again!  Now I need to somehow escape to Europe in August!