When the rainy season hits in Rio de Janeiro it seems that the media overseas choose to report floods of biblical proportions that force locals to stockpile animals and supplies into arcs as a last resort for waiting out the storms (I hope Giant Stone Jesus saves us). This is not the case; you
Step 1: Learning The Portuguese At PUC-Rio
8:30am. This is the time intensive Portuguese class begins. Intensive Portuguese class is every day. Intensive Portuguese class lasts until 13:00. Intensive Portuguese class is intensive. Every day I need to take a van (or bus, taxi, horse, walk...or just sleep in) to a campus approximately
A Visit To Corcovado and Cristo Redentor (The Giant Stone Jesus)
Corcovado is the name of a mountain in the middle of Rio de Janeiro. Atop this mountain stands a 130 ft / 40 m tall statue of a man known to some as Jesus, to others as Christ, and to others still as "that guy on the cross". To reach said man you have the option of trekking two hours through a
Brazil Day One: Mistakes At Duty Free
When we finally arrive in Rio de Janeiro I disembark the plane and my newfound friend and mentor, Steve, makes the executive decision to go to duty-free (again), where I am coerced into purchasing two more bottles of Jameson and a six-pack of Red Bull (thanks a lot, Steve). After retrieving our bags
A Plane Ride To Rio de Janeiro
After finishing a subpar IHOP breakfast accompanied by a delicious bottle of Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc, I was dropped off at LAX by my acquaintances Mr. Sterv and Senhor Cardiner. I do not remember much of LAX, but I do know that the people sitting next to me on that first plane were nowhere near as
I’m Moving To Brazil (That’s South America)
In just under fourteen hours, I will be boarding US Airways flight 1580 to a place many of you have likely only heard stories about, and that you have never even dreamed of going to - Charlotte, North Carolina. It is there I will sit for two hours, waiting to be delivered from the land of once