Brazil: Like a bigger Miami

And what else was I expecting, exactly?

I always tend to make comparisons of my home town to Russia, saying that Russia is like a Miami but with an actual winter, and the people are lighter. However, Rio de Janeiro is, unfortunately, very, very similar to Miami. Only cheaper. Which, hey, I'm all for. Also, everyone here is Brazilian as opposed to Cuban (read: hotter). So, apart from the frustration of not speaking Portuguese, this place is practically home.

Oh, wait, there are some mountains and stuff, too.

Don't get me wrong, the only reason I say "unfortunately" is because none of it really surprises me. The churros, the cocos sold with a straw in them, the delicious meat/beans/rice combo, the laid back attitude, the beaches. It's all on South Beach. Nevertheless, I'd venture to say that this place is BETTER than Miami. Why? Cuz everything seems like Miami 2.0. People are so laid back, there are always people at the beach, or listening to samba at a random corner in the streets and smoking pot in the open. Things are so cheap, I can stuff myself for 11 reais ($6.20) (and that's at the more expensive juice bar in the middle of Ipanema). And people are so hot, that I'm probably REALLY annoying my friend that I'm visiting by always being like "omg look over there. I'm about to lose it." ALL THE TIME.

Life is hard.

Oh, if only there was a way to convince the government to let me come study here... hmmm... oh yeah... well, we'll put that idea to a side for now. I DO have to start working, after all (and a big fuck you to that NYT article for making me feel bad about not working, and thanks The Atlantic, for appeasing my fears), and if I'm abroad on someone else's money for one more year, then... wait, what's wrong with that again? Oh yeah, Catholic guilt. (insert *fuck you* here for my Hispanic Roman Catholic upbringing)

But to update you on some stuff. I'm been here 3 days, I went to the beach for 2, and we're going again on this 4th day. I'm pretty sure I'll be black by the time I get back to the States (oops, sorry, I was supposed to say "African American," huh?). Also went to a market, Jesus Christ, and Sugar Loaf. The yuzh. Oh, and watched Inception. FOR THE THIRD TIME. That movie has become a useful language tool for me, btw. Watched it first in Russian, then in Miami, now in Rio with Portuguese subtitles. Tonight, we'll be souvenir shopping, going to the Jardim Botanico, and a gay club. Oh, Ipanema is to Rio as Castro is to SF as South Beach is to Miami. And the street one block away is like Market/Lincoln Road, respectively. Maybe I SHOULD move here. It's practically home.

One thing I do find refreshing is the absolute equality amongst races. I mean, again, same as blacks in the Latin Caribbean countries, but here as well it's not different. At all. One thing I hate about America is how everyone talks about equality yet there are clearly some very distinct differences in how we treat blacks vs. whites, and how Hispanics have to be white-washed in order to "make it" in America. But here, the color spectrum is much more a spectrum than polarities, and I don't know what else to say other than it's perfectly normal. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure if a Brazilian read what I wrote he/she'd come up with the question "Why are you talking about this? Does it matter?" Oh buddy, how I wish it didn't back where I come from.

I'll give you guys some pictures once I'm back in the States. For 12 hours.

Also, looking outside my window, DAMN there are a lot of seagulls.