6 months

Howdy folks!  Yes, I'm still here.  Saudades demais.  I made my first bolo de cenoura to eat while we are watching Brasil vs Chile today.  Recipe from Tudo Gostoso, using the blender (SO Brazilian) and vague directions (3 unidades de cenoura?  And what size is a xícara de chá?)  We are missing Brazil and friends a lot.  I've often thought about writing but, well....I've only had one mango since I've been back and it's not been so tasty.  We are transitioning, adapting, learning and figuring out how to live life here.  Beijos to everyone!

Last day in Brazil

Hi there.  I am alive.  I did make it through.  I will not lie:  it has been rough.  There have been tears, and exploding microwaves, payments made in the nature of thousands of reais, broken glass, and promises unkept.  Moving is never easy, but moving internationally is a whole other challenge.  My husband is hoping that they let us out of the country tonight.  We've been told for 2 years that our permanent visas have been approved, and our names have been published, but we haven't yet been called to go to the Policia Federal and pick up the documents.  On December 23rd at about 4:00 pm, my husband realized that our "protocol" (i.e. little piece of paper that is very important) has expired, and there wasn't time to renew it.  My hope is that this is not an issue to leave the country.  But one never knows with these kind of things.  So send up some good thoughts tonight at about 9:00 pm that it all get works out.  

But we did get out of our apartment.  We sold everything except for 12 suitcases and the cello.  We delivered the car to it's buyer.  We have no keys left.  We have said goodbye lots of time, and laughed and cried with good friends.  We are going to miss this place that has been home.  With all it's challenges and cultural idiosyncrasies, it has been our home and and we made our place here.  Before everyone wakes up this morning, I'm going to go into the kitchen and wash and cut a deliciously ripe Haden mango.  I'm going to eat the whole thing by myself, celebrating realized dreams, and thanking God again for the all that I've been given.

We're moving

I've been trying to think of some nice, creative way to announce our departure, but I've been just too busy.  We're moving to the United States.  There were many factors involved in our process of making our decision, and the main factor is that we want to be closer to our families.  We moved to Brazil with the hope that we could show our children a different culture, to give them the experience of seeing a different part of the world, and to give them the chance to learn the language and hopefully thrive within another culture.  I would have to say that for the most part, we have learned that.  And I feel pretty proud of the fact that we have a good car, a nice apartment, and we are mostly satisfied with the schools the children attend.  We have figured out how to make a life here, and that is an accomplishment.

And now we are leaving.  Are we crazy??!!???

Probably.  But I would venture to say that everyone is a little crazy.  But I don't want to address that topic here.  My husband and I feel like we've had the chance to teach our children one of our values by living in Brazil.  And now it's time to show them that family is very important.  We have been saying it, but now we can show it.  And we are demonstrating to them that sometimes family is so important that we willingly and joyfully make sacrifices.  

Here are some of the details--

Date of departure from Brazil:  December 26

Last night we will sleep in our apartment:  December 12 (the rest of the time will be spent between friend's houses and hotels)

Where we will move to?  Cashmere, Washington

What we are doing for Christmas?  we don't know

What I will do for work?  look for a position in a school, and work on certification/a master's

What the husband will do? TBA

What the kids will do?  go to school

How we will keep up the Portuguese?  find some Brazilians, Skype, videos, books

What will happen to the hamster?  a friend is taking him

Have we sold the car?  yes

Can anyone rent our apartment?  talk to Adimoveis

Want to buy our stuff?  Send me an email, but most of it is sold.  I don't deal with Correios, so I don't ship.

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed with the sheer volume of stuff I have to do in the next month, especially before we move out of our apartment.  Moving out of an apartment in Brazil is a pain in the hiney (you have to pay a lot of money and paint and fix everything).  And then I have to do report cards, help with 3 talent shows, 2 graduations, do all my normal work, help my children with their final projects, and take care of all the normal things of life.  Not to mention that it's VERY important for the children to have time to say goodbye to their friends, so I'm scheduling parties, sleep overs, final play dates and good bye presents.  Aaaaaahhhh!  

So, all to say, you may not see very much of me in the next month. But my husband has taken to blogging, so read what he has to say here.

Helpful guide to living in Belo Horizonte

http://expatchild.com/expat-blogs/

For a while I was feeling like the only foreign blogger in Belo Horizonte, but there are some great blogs out there worth pointing out.  First, Josh at braziliangringo.com has posted a handy guide to Belo Horizonte.  Check it out!

If you are looking for specific info on Belo, you may want to also check out the following:


anotefrombrazil.com.  Cool pix, interesting observations
http://www.ericandemilysadventures.blogspot.com. No longer updated since Emily moved back to the US, but she posted lots about Belo while they were living here
http://belo4all.blogspot.com.br/.  Lots of interesting cultural stuff about BH
http://outboundmom.com/. Another mom writing about her experiences.
https://hypocritiquebrazil.wordpress.com  A blog I just found, through the Minas International Website
http://anirishmaninbh.wordpress.com Name pretty much explains it all

Happy brazilversary to me

Tuesday this week marked three years since we arrive in Belo Horizonte.  

The day passed pretty unremarkably.  Matt went to work.  Dora walked to school (she now studies in the morning).  I stayed home with the other 2, but managed to squeeze in a few errands.  We had Strogonoff for lunch, which all the children like.  It is hard to find a meal that everyone likes here in the R-K household.  I took Beatrice and Sebastian to school, and then worked.  I combed through Dora's hair, because we have yet AGAIN another case of lice (the 3rd or 4th time for Dora).  I made sandwiches for the kids for dinner, and then went to a meeting at work, where I shared for 5 minutes IN PORTUGUESE about 1st Grade Music Class.  Then I came home and did dishes and laundry and went to bed.

Like I said, it seems pretty unremarkable, which is significant.  After three years of living here, we've been able to "figure out" how to do "it.'  By no means have we integrated.  We (Matt and I) are not fluent.  We are still very much strangers in a very strange land, and almost daily we are aware of just how much we don't fit in here.  But not only do we know how to do the day-in-day-out stuff, but we have figured out how to make a life for our family here.  I schedule play dates for the kids.  We call the Internet company and complain about our slow service, and after 3 weeks we actually get something accomplished.  I have learned to ONLY go to the bank before 10 am and after 4 pm to get cash, so I don't get stuck in the HORRIBLE revolving doors security system.  We have learned how to make the most of some bad circumstances (see all the mishaps tags), and we know that you should never really turn down an invitation to a party.

And what makes me proud is that we have done this ourselves.  We were not brought here by a big company that found us housing, paid for our kid's schooling, and helped us deal with the bureaucracy.  We are not married to any Brazilians, so we don't have family connections.  We are a unique situation, and we came here for unique reasons. And we have learned on our very own.  When I stand back and consider it all, I really don't know how we have been able to do it.  It really shouldn't have worked out so well.  But it has.  And it is good.

Google Voice to make calls to the States!

Wow, I'm so excited. 

In one of my last posts, I asked about making and receiving phone calls on my new Android phone.  And today I figured out how to do it! I can't promise that my instructions will work for in all situations, but this is what I did.

1.  Get a google voice phone number.  I had to do this while I was in the states, because I needed to have a physical phone line to register the number.  Don't ask me how to do this.  I just found the directions on the Google Voice website.

2.  Download Groove IP on your Android phone.  You can also google information on how this works.  I actually downloaded Groove IP Light from the Amazon.com App store for free!  The "normal" app is about USD $5

3.  You have to make sure that your Google Voice settings are set to "chat."  Again, if this doesn't make sense, do a google search.

4.  Log into Groove IP on your phone.  As long as you have a data connection (WiFi with Groove IP light, or if you pay the USD $5 I think you can do it over your mobile data network) you should be able to make and receive phone calls. 

And I still love technology...

How I've become Brazilian

Moving to another country requires adapting.  I was thinking the other day about how I've changed since moving here, and I thought I'd share about some of the ways that I've become "Brazilian" in the past 2 years.

1.  I don't feel like lunch (the main meal of the day) is complete without beans and rice.  I really like almoço.  I like to eat a big meal in the middle of the day.  It feels healthier to me, and I've grown to really, really like my beans and rice.

2.  I don't have a problem any more with motorcycles whizzing past me while driving.  And I have no problem crowding the other cars out as I "merge" at the stoplight.  Or create my own lane at the stop light.  I have no problem with that.

3.  I buy pão de sal every day at the bakery.  We eat these little crusty rolls for breakfast, as a snack, or with hotdogs or sandwiches for "dinner."  They are a staple in our household.

4.  I've learned to be more relaxed with time.  We left our house 15 minutes after the birthday party started (the one I mentioned last post).  We arrived 45 minutes after it started, and WE WERE NOT THE FIRST ONES THERE!   I think that was a first for me!

5.  I scrubbed my daughter's flip-flops before she went to her (Brazilian) friend's house the other day.  Why?  a) Clean shoes/feet/socks/flip flops are just assumed here.  b) It's "wrong" to let a child go barefoot inside, because walking barefoot on the tile will give them a cold.

6.  I socialized with the personal banker today.  I've learned that it's way too American to just jump right to the point of your meeting.  So often I'm internally freaking out prior to an interaction, trying to think about how to say basic things in Portuguese, and I get nervous and just try to say what I want right away.  But I'm' gradually learning that you have to ease into these things.  First, I need to ask about the family.  How is your child?  It's a girl right?  How is she?  How is school?  And how was your vacation?  And the weather?  And of course, the other person is going to ask you about your husband's work, your work, your Portuguese, what you think about Brazil, how long you've lived here, and so on and so on. 

7.  I've learned how to celebrate.  Most American birthday parties are about 2 or 3 hours.  Heck, 3 hours might be long.  An American wedding?  The ceremony and reception might be 4 hours, if it's at night and you know the couple well.  NOT SO IN BRAZIL!  I've been to lunches that have lasted 6 hours.  And we were the first to leave.  I've finally come to the point where I know that when we go to a churrasco (BBQ), birthday party, lunch, etcetera, we are going to be there for a while.  You have to get relaxed, linger, talk and talk and then talk some more.  I told a co-worker last week that American's unfortunately don't know how to have parties.  Brazilians know how to party.  Just take a look at the sheer number of party supply stores, salão de festas (places to rent to hold your big party), catering companies, cake vendors, party entertainers, salons to get your nails/hair/makeup done for parties, party dress stores, etcetera, etcetera.  And that's just for the kids (i.e. weddings is a whole other business...)

8. The Female Brazilian (Mineira?) Lilt.  I sometimes catch myself speaking English like I hear Brazilian women speak.  It's almost like singing, a bit whiny, in the higher range.  And I hear my 5 year old speaking like this all the time.  Sorry, I don't have a visual nor a video for this.  Anyone else out there know what I'm talking about?

9. I open the window every time I get into the car/bus.  It doesn't matter if it's raining, if it's cold, or if I'm right next to a big truck blowing fumes right in my face.  When we were in the states, my youngest kept asking to open the window in my parent's car.  In Washington state.  In the dead of winter.  She just couldn't understand why we wouldn't open the windows.

10.  I spontaneously say "nossa" (pronounced NO--sah) when I'm surprised.  Short for "Nossa Senhora," which I would translate as "jeeze," or "oh my god."  When I see a woman wearing 4 inch heels walking up a steep hill.  When I find out how much the bill will be at the restaurant.  When a child at school does something cute.  When the bus sits at a bus stop for 5 minutes because so many people are trying to crowd on and the bus driver won't go because there are too many people hanging out the door. 

I realize that most of these things are life changing, but they are certainly things I was NOT doing 2 years ago.  And if you want to read about a fellow-blogger who is trying to "become Brazilian" every day this year, check out Born Again Brazilian. 

Working it out

I got pretty irritated this week.  My husband said that I should just let it go.  And I've tried, and I have become less annoyed.  But I'm hoping that writing about it will be some additional therapy.  So bear with me as I try to work this out.

In my last post, I wrote about how good our experience has been in Brazil.  It's not been without difficulty or frustration, but we've been able to figure how to "do life" and make a place for ourselves in a foreign country.  I try to use this blog as a place to focus on the positive, and remind myself that we are actually doing what I'd dreamed about doing.  And in my opinion, we've done a pretty good job at it.  We have friends.  We can usually communicate what we need in Portuguese.  We can get around, pay our bills, make phone calls, resolve problems, and plan parties. 

And what irritated me was that I had a conversation with someone who made me question my ability to do these things.  And the funny thing is that this person had been an expat as well.  I met this person about 6 months ago, and I should have seen the warning signs back then.  They were obsessively asking me questions about my neighborhood, schools, teachers, and philosophy on teaching music.  Don't get my wrong; this person has a great heart, seems like a great parent, and is trying to figure out what the best options are for their family.  Our paths crossed again, and we found out that we had a similar problem that needed resolving.  He offered to help me, but unfortunately, the info he had didn't help me.  I finally got things figured out, so I contacted him and shared with him the good news and suggested that perhaps this might be a good option for him.  And then, he started with the obsessive questions again.  And of course, there were some questions I couldn't answer.  He was really surprised that I would consider my solution to be a valid if I hadn't answered all these questions.  I could start to feel myself getting angry and defensive.  What I had done was use my resources to the best of my ability to find a solution that seemed the wisest based on my situation.  I had tried to use the information that he had given me to solve things, but websites didn't work, people didn't answer phones and my phone Portuguese is still pretty remedial.  But I had to figure something out.  And I did.  But they way that this person asked questions made me feel like I was dumb and that I had made an irrational decision.  And coming from another person with experience living abroad, it stung. 

The truth of the matter is that I still don't know how many important things "work" in Brazil.  I was not born and raised here, and I am still limited in being able to communicate.  And sometimes I don't do things right.  I don't pay at the right counter.  I don't get the school supplies in time.  I don't understand that Beatrice has not been held back at school (oops, that was a big boo-boo that we made).  I don't understand that I should save every receipt.  I don't know that you are supposed to open the door for a guest when they leave so that they will come back.  I don't know that you aren't supposed to give children cold water to drink.  And I don't know about laws, regulations, and procedures.  I know that Brazil has many systems in place to protect people, and for the most part they work.  Things happen.  People are protected.  The way this happens is foreign to me and mind bogglingly complex.  So, it is tempting at times to feel like Brazil is in chaos.  As an outsider, it just looks messy.  I did not break any laws with my solution, and I did not put anyone at risk.  But this person that I spoke to made me feel like I had taken an uncalculated risk, I should know better.  And I started to question myself, my decisions, and I started worrying.

In my opinion, worrying is not helpful but in fact self-destructive.  The reality is that life is dangerous and full of risks.  We get sick.  We get hurt.  We love people, and they don't love us back.  We try to do things to protect ourselves (and we should), but you can't manage and control everything.  As an expat parent, there are SO MANY more things you can worry about.  I could make a HUGE list of things that I've worried about.  But there has to be a point where you extend some trust, when you let it go.  It's a challenge.  But I have calculated the risks, and I ultimately think that we are coming out ahead. 

I probably shouldn't have let this get to me.  And my husband says that what I wrote isn't clear because I didn't give all the details for the situation.  But, it has helped to write it out.  And I'm going to move on:  we're driving to Sabará today with some friends to use a Peixe Urbano (like Groupon in the states) coupon at a "resort!" 

2 Years Ago Today

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of our (me and the kids) arrival in Brazil.  It's hard to believe it's been 2 years already.  I remember how hot it was that day, and how green everything was.  I remember dragging Beatrice past the security guard to deposit her in Daddy's arms, and then how I ignored the same security guard who told me I couldn't go back in to get my luggage.  I remember how amazed I was by our friends Marcio and Luiza and their family; they were so generous and hospitable, giving up beds and space in their tiny apartment.  I remember crying when I saw that all our luggage and totes had actually made it.  I remember the noise, the horns, the people talking in a language that I couldn't understand at all.  I remember thinking that the city was alive with sounds, people, music and energy.  And I remember that I was totally overwhelmed. 

I think that living an expat life requires a certain kind of "crazy."  Being an expat is not for everyone.  I love it, but I recognize that not everyone can do what we are doing.  Living this way demands flexibility, the ability to accept the unknown, to hold two opposing truths together simultaneously, and a huge amount of patience.  And perseverance.  The past two years have been full of learning, growing, and doing things that I never thought I'd really be able to do.  This experience has changed me, and changed our family. 

We moved from the desert to the cerrado (pronounced seh-rah-du, meaning tropical savanna).  There were many wonderful things about living in Arizona, and it was a hard, hot, dry place.  I'd like to think that our move has been metaphorical; that we had been in a harsh, difficult climate.  And now we are dwelling in a flourishing, abundant and fertile place, growing and becoming better people.

Reflections on flying internationally with children

I would by no means call myself a seasoned international traveler.  Nor would I consider myself an expert on flying with children.  But having done it twice, I've learned somethings. 

1.  If at all possible, don't fly by yourself with kids.  When we moved to Brazil, I had to do it.  It was really hard, but I survived it.  One of the most vivid (and unpleasant) memories was trying to navigate  Guarulhos, the airport in São Paulo.  My memories from 2010 were that it was blazing hot, way too crowded, dirty, and had NO helpful signs for finding customs or baggage claim.  We had a 10 hour (ug) layover in São Paulo on the way to the States, and now I found Guarulhos to be spacious, somewhat easy to get around, and clean.  I really don't think anything was different; it was just that my perspective and comfort level had changed. 

But all that to say, that crazy trip to Brazil in 2010 was very difficult.  Flying to the states in December 2011 with my husband (and older children) was a piece of cake.  When you can, enlist help.

2.  Take the long flight at night.  We had a heck of a time looking online for flights that were at a somewhat decent hour.  We finally ended up going with a travel agent that was GREAT (email me if you want his info).  He found flights we couldn't find online.  We left São Paulo at about 10 pm, and arrived in Atlanta at about 6 am.  It's never easy to sleep on a plane, but it was much better for our children to spend the long flight attempting to sleep.  Or watching hours and hours of movies.

3.  Snacks.  I packed what I thought was WAY too much on the way to the states.  I essentially filled a mini roller suitcase and brought it on the plane.  I made cocoa krispy treats a few days before we left, and emptied our pantry before we left, packing raisins, craisins, any and all candy, apples, tangerines, nuts, granola bars, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, crackers, and so on.  This was a life saver.  We bought some lunch in São Paulo (3 pay by the kilo plates for about R$75.  holy expensive, batman!), but found the McDonalds ice cream cones to be great (R$2).  And sometimes you just don't have time to buy food between flights, or you have to wait FOREVER on the plane for food to be served.  So like the boy scouts say, be prepared. 

4.  Hit up the Duty Free stores to mask unpleasant body odors.  There's no way to avoid being stinky when traveling for 30 + hours.  Unfortunately both me and my hubby were smelling foul by the time we got to the airport in Belo Horizonte.  Don't be shy; spray away!

5.  Entertainment.  We hit up the Banco de Jornais (or dollar store in the states) and got stickers, activity books, magazines and gum.  I printed out some activities for the kids, got extra books on the Kindle, and on the way back my husband downloaded some aps for his iPad (Monopoly, Tetris, some silly Little Miss Spider game).  We tried to keep ourselves and the kids occupied.  And for the most part, it worked.

6.  Use jeito.  I don't want to go into all the nitty gritty details here, but there was some luggage that we really needed to get back to Brazil.  We should have paid some extra to make sure it wouldn't be a problem, but for various reasons we didn't do so.  In the past we were able to gate check this luggage.  But our flight from SEA to Atlanta was full, and the airline employee was a little cranky.  She was giving us a very hard time, but thankfully at the last moment they gate checked it (along with having to "fully" check the carry on luggage that had all our other important things, like the new Wii, the camera and some presents).   But thankfully when we got to Atlanta, we were reunited with the important stuff.  We got lucky in Atlanta, and a sympathetic Delta manager actually gave us an extra seat for our item.  Whoa.  My husband then suggested that we buy a seat on our flight from São Paulo to BH to avoid any other problems, and we decided that we would do so in São Paulo.  But our flight was a little late, it took a long time to get through customs, and the transfer gate for Gol was INSANE.  Crazy as in the attendants were calling out flights, "flight to Rio leaving in 10 minutes.  Please step to the front of the line."  So of course, we didn't get checked into our flight until 5 minutes before it was supposed to leave.  The woman there told us there was NO way we could get through security with our extra luggage, and it was too late to buy a ticket.  We schmoozed, we were patient, we did not give in.  Finally the lady let us go, but told us that we wouldn't even be able to get through security.  Of course, we made it thru security, and were the last ones to get on the flight.  The stewardess asked if we had a ticket for our item, we said no, but there was an extra seat (we got soooo lucky).  She just wanted to close the door for the airplane, so she just told us to sit down.  Like I said, we were lucky, and we used jeito.  But both my husband and I agreed that we wouldn't ever try that again. 

And a word on bringing things to Brazil.  Be careful.  We know of people that buy things in the States and then bring them back to sell.  Some make it through customs with no problems, others end up having to pay the import taxes.  We decided that it just wasn't worth it to us to take the risk, and even though having kids might make it "appear" easier, we didn't want to submit them to any additional waiting. 

7.  Try to enjoy yourself.  It's not really so fun to travel, but the fact that we get to travel means that we have the resources to do so.  There are many people that live away from family and from what they consider home, and have no way to return.  So in those crazy moments in the middle of the night when your 4 year old needs to poop, just try to remember what it's all about.  When you are sprinting through the airport with 80 pounds of luggage, remember that you have lots of great stuff in that luggage.  Laugh at the in-flight magazine.  Eat chocolate with your kids.  Make fun of the security videos.  You'll be to your destination soon.

Things to stock up on

***updated list, thanks to comments!**
First, I must preface this list with wise words that my sister gave me.  Before we made the move to Brazil, she said that we should think about one thing that will make us feel at home, no matter where we are.  That is the thing that you have to make sure that you pack/stock up on/bring with you.  My husband always says that having art on the walls makes him feel at home, so we brought some nice unframed canvases with us.  It only took us a year and a half to get them up on our walls, but having these made our place seem like home to my husband.  For me, it was the French Press and a big coffee mug.  I'm not as particular about my coffee as my sister (or my husband for that matter), but having a the ability to make coffee the way I like, and a nice big mug to drink it out of made me feel at home.  So for all of you out there thinking about making the plunge to another country, I advise you to think this one over, and plan.

Now, here is the list of things that we stock up when we go to the states.  Some of the items are a bit random and specific to our professions, but I'm putting it all out there for you to get an idea.

1.  Shoes.  We buy shoes that fit the kids now, and shoes that they will grow into.  Tennis shoes, dress shoes, crocs, sandals, rain boots... you think you'll want it, buy it and bring it.

2.  Clothes.  I don't care so much about brands/names.  Heck, I spent probably close to USD $200 just at Goodwill (have I mentioned how much I LOVE Goodwill?)  But I bought lots, and lots, and lots of clothes.  Jeans, shirts, socks, underwear, baseball hats, jackets and on and on. 

3.  Chili powder.  If you like to make Mexican food, bring Chili powder.  You can get it here, but it's pricey.  I like to make Enchilada sauce.

4.  Cardamom (pods or ground).  Again, you can find it here, but it's CRAZY expensive.  Oh, and red and/or yellow lentils to make Indian Daal.  Can't find them here.

5.  Razors.  Expensive here. 

6.  Make Up.  I don't wear much, but it's so much easier and cheaper to get in the states.  You can usually find it on sale in the states (again, I'm a Target/Walgreens kinda girl), and the cheap USD$5 pressed powder is much better quality than the R$20 stuff sold at O Boticário.  Or you can splurge and buy Lancome and get all those free samples;  those kind of promotions never happen in Brazil.  At least as far as I've seen.

7.  Pencil sharpeners and pencils.  I don't know why this has annoyed me so much, but I've had a heck of a time with Brazilian pencils and sharpeners.  The lead always breaks, or the pencil sharpener breaks, or just does a crappy job.  I saw an electric pencil sharpener that would normally sell for about USD $35 here at Kalunga for R$150. 

8.  Tupperware.  Plastic storage pieces are crazy pricey in Brazil.

9.  Materials in English.  I have a daughter who can read a book a day if given the opportunity.  We bought a kindle, but I always try to bring back some books for her.  I hit up Goodwill and get the Newberry Classics or other award-winners.  I also bring back curriculum for work, teaching materials, and my husband brings back sheet music.  He claims you can't buy classical sheet music in Brazil.

10.  Pipe cleaners.  They don't exist here.  Handy for little kid crafts.

11.  Toys.  I bought all the kid's birthday presents, extra presents to give, puzzles, markers, and games.  Worth every cent.  Especially since I got after-Christmas sale prices.

12.  Backpacks and lunch boxes.  Found some on clearance in the States.  Waayy over priced here.

13.  Chocolate chips.  My husband makes really REALLY good cookies.  They sell something that looks like a chocolate chip here, but it's not real chocolate.  So we buy several bags in the states.

14.  Maple Syrup extract.  Rather than take up extra space in our luggage, I just buy the extract and make my own syrup.  But then again, I am that kind of person. 

15.  Ziploc bags.  I don't think I've seen them here, and Americans kinda like them.  I'm so thrifty that I wash mine and reuse them.  But then again I was already doing that in the states...

16. Peanut butter.  You can find it now (Verdemar, my hubby has seen Peter Pan brand for R$12, and I think last year he bought a jar of Skippy for R$20.  But it's not always there). 

That's all I have time for now.  Am I missing anything, fellow expats?

The best way to bring your stuff to Brazil

Brazilians making shopping trips to the US has been in the news quite a bit.  Prices on certain items in Brazil are so high that many upper class and middle class Brazilians have found it cheaper to buy a flight, hotel rooms, and the item desired than to buy it in Brazil.  So, you can imagine that American expats in Brazil get really excited about shopping when they make visits back to the States.  My family was surprised by the amount of shopping that we did, and the amount of money that we spent.  I'm a notorious cheapskate, coupon clipper and bargain hunter.  Prior to moving to Brazil, I was very VERY frugal, and was very careful with our budget and our expenses.  I'm still careful, but living in Brazil has made me have to relax.  But it's fun to go back to the US with my big shopping list, and hit the stores.  



And we've found the best way to bring back all our stuff.  My sister shared her travel secret with me, and now I'll share it with you.  First, don't bother with buying extra suitcases to bring to Brazil.  Go to Target, and buy Rubbermaid 18 Gallon Totes (usually priced between US$7 and US$10).

Don't skimp and buy the Sterilite ones because they tops break too easily.  Don't forget that each traveler can bring 2 pieces of luggage, so I'd suggest buying as many of these puppies as you can.  These will easily hold between 50 and 70 pounds (50 pounds is the limit for US domestic travel, 70 lbs for travel to Brazil).  You probably could buy the 22 Gallon Tubs, but I think they are a little more difficult to maneuver and get in and out of taxis and cars.  Also, buy 2 TSA approved locks for each Tote (also found at Target), and "zip ties" or cable ties (see image below):


Then you should drill 4 holes in the top corners WITH THE LID ON.  You don't want to drill too close to the edge of the tote/lid, but make sure that your locks are long enough so that the hole you drill doesn't have to be too close to the edge.

Then fill that thing up of all your stuff.  Really cram it in there.  You can use clothes, socks, feminine hygiene products, etcetera to cushion.  But fill it up.  If it's tight, it should hold about 50 pounds.  Make sure you make a list of everything you put in, and put that list inside the box and keep a copy with you.  Also put the address of your final destination inside.  Then put 2 locks through two opposite corners, and zip ties through the other corners.  Put the address of your final destination on the outside also, and tape all the edges closed with duct tape or packing tape.  My sister got a strap, but we've always just used tape:



The beauty of these totes is that they are much cheaper (and in my opinion more durable) than buying luggage.  They are great for storing things (we've even kept them outside, and they've kept sealed enough to keep moisture out).   Plus, these things are hard to find in Brazil, and from about 5 minutes of research online, they run for R$50 on Mercado Livre.  So, even if you don't want to keep them, you can easily sell them.

Hope this helps!