90 minutes of pure emotion

As I write this morning, I wonder: "How does one describe a soccer game?" This article doesn't do much justice, but it gives the facts.

We had an amazing opportunity last night to go to a soccer game in Maracanã (Mah-rah-kah-nah). This stadium was built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, which had a paid attendance of 199,500 (actual attendance was estimated at 210,000). That's standing room only, folks. In the late 1990s, it was converted to an "all-seater" stadium, meaning that instead of bleachers, there are actual seats.

I thought that the crowd would be similar to that of an American football game. Boy, was I wrong. Never having seen a live professional soccer game before (only on TV), I had no idea of the excitement that it can incite in die-hard fans. Let me tell you, TV does not do soccer justice.

We got to the stadium about 8pm (for a 9:50 game), and the streets around the stadium were packed with people tailgating and making a ruckus. We soon found out that the guy that got our tickets had 15 in the "special chairs" and 4 seats in the "tribuna de honra", which are the two best types of seats in the stadium. The team went and sat in the special chairs (as there were 14 of them) with R, and D, A, and I got to sit in the tribuna de honra. Even explaining the tribuna is hard. If the president was there, that's where he would sit. We walked into an air-conditioned room and were informed that there would be snacks at halftime, though we couldn't take them out to our seats. We walked out to our seats and where were we but MIDFIELD.

At 8:30, the Fluminense fans were already in full force in the stadium. They had filled up their section and were waving flags and sparklers. As much as I say about it, there is no way to describe a Brasilian's love for his soccer team. The only acceptable reason for a man to cry here is a loss by his soccer team. The fans come with their radios, so they can listen to the game while they are watching it.

One of the only things that is actually on time here is soccer. I can mark time if I'm not looking at the clock. The games always start at the same time, so when I hear the huge boom of fireworks from my house on Wednesdays and Sundays, I know what time it is. Yes, I can hear them from my house. That pitiful sound from 2 km away is nothing compared to hearing it IN the stadium. The referees walked out onto the field, and the entire stadium erupted in boos. I looked for the "other" team, but they were nowhere to be seen. I finally figured out that booing the referees is definitely a requirement, no matter who you're cheering for.

The emotion surrounding the playing and goals is indescribable. I have never heard so much cursing and had to laugh, because every time something didn't go our way, we'd hear it again.... When your team scores a goal, expect to be deafened by the eruption of noise and hugged by everyone around you, even if you don't know them. You're all there for the same reason, after all.

At the end of events, the outcome was this: FLU 3, SP 1. The streets were packed with celebrating fans.

Brasil facts of the day

I saw this article over at Marginal Revolution and am amazed that the "middle-class" salary in Brasil is $635 a month. With the crappy dollar, that's approximately R$1050 per month. I currently fall into that category, but I don't have to pay rent or buy my gas or pay for car repairs. Thinking of it like that makes me wonder how Brasilians are making ends meet at all around here.
We work with the lower class and the poor of the poor, and I know that I have never known what it is to want for anything.

Emotions and rest

I am sitting here in between Julie's leaving and David's arrival and experiencing a lot of emotions. Gratefulness that my friend who lived across the world for 2 years got to come and visit, experiencing most of what I experience on a daily basis. Amazement at how alike we are (and how alike our men seem to be!). Jealousy that she is getting married in 2 months and I still have to wait. Anticipation that David gets here on Wednesday and disappointment that I can't see him until Thursday. Longing to be settled instead of being a vagabond. 4 years is enough. Sadness at the realization that I only have 5 months left here.

I am distracted easily. So easily, in fact, that I find it hard sometimes to bring a sentence (or at least a thought) to completion. The emotions above are mixed in with thoughts of what I have to do this week, and how I'm going to get organized, and how I'm going to get everything done. Included in those thoughts is how I'm going to finish the 5 books that I'm currently reading (plus the Bible), how I'm going to get caught up on all my TV shows (almost there with LOST), and general overactive mind. So overactive, in fact, that what's up there is a big ol' mess of jumble, and unlike my desk, where I can find things, I reach for things in my mind that just don't seem to be there. But maybe they moved out without telling me.

I have so much on my plate (some job-related, some self-imposed) that my journal entries have shrunk to the minuscule size of "Job 20-42" and "1 Chronicles 1-6." Is it speaking and thinking in two languages? Is it my inability to rest? Is it being ready to finish? Is it the fear of not being able to contain the words once they start coming out? I don't know. I know that I am tired, and that even vacation didn't really help (though it was amazing). I want to rest my mind, and I want to take care of myself, so I can be ready to do what needs to be done. But the rest doesn't come.

We went up to Petrópolis today, where the emperor's summer home is now a museum. It's about an hour outside of Rio, and the 10-degree difference was welcome! Petrópolis is in the mountains and has a heavy German influence, since Dom Pedro II (Brasil's second emperor) encouraged German farmers to immigrate to Brasil from the Rhineland.

The Summer Palace of the second Brazilian emperor, Dom Pedro II

Dom Pedro II's flower box -- notice that the box is made from granite.

Here is the shirt mentioned in the previous post. It's the guy on the right, though the guy on the left could fight him for it.

Versatility

We went out last night to Rio Scenarium, a "cultural pavilion" in Rio's old downtown area. They have live bands that play samba and bossa nova, and everyone dances. It's a place full of people, Brazilians and foreigners alike. We saw one particular man whose shirt would have been very useful for a number of purposes other than a shirt.

Julie and I went back and forth, trying to one-up one another with our suggestions, and we finally got to laughing so hard we were crying. Here is what we came up with:

• curtains
• sofa
• pillows
• ironing board cover
• toaster cover
• drapes
• chair
• ottoman
• dust ruffle
• tablecloth
• chair covers
• headboard (in a hotel only)
• placemats
• seat cushions
• shower curtain
• toilet paper roll cover
• toilet seat cover (the top part, not the actual seat)

Pictures to come. Your suggestions are welcome.

Newbie

I know that Julie got here a few days ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting this funny story that happened to her in the grocery store on Wednesday.

I was getting bread and this lady came up to her and started asking her where the crushed nuts were. Of course, she can't speak Portuguese, so I jumped in and started talking to the lady.
Me: Talk to me; she doesn't speak Portuguese.
Random lady (RL): Oh, okay. You mean she hasn't learned anything from you?
Me: Well, she just got here this morning.
RL: Oh, well she'll be speaking a lot by the time she leaves. I'm sure she'll learn.

When she walked away, I of course shared our conversation with Julie, who said, "Wow. I just got slammed for not speaking Portuguese."

The verdict is in....

Susanna has decided on her paint colors (see this previous post), and here they are:
Dining Room - Apple Green
Kitchen - Banana Peel
Living Room/Hallway - Chestnut Shell
Library - Burnt Orange Peel
Guest Bedroom - still unknown
Master Bedroom - Outdoor BBQ and Blueberry Champagne
Master Bath - Blueberry Champagne
Shutters - Blackberry Cobbler