I haven't spoken to anyone else down here about this yet, but prior to my departure I had a difficult time determining what sort of adapter and/or voltage converter (if any) I would need to bring with me in order to accommodate my electronics in Brazil.
It was frustrating not being able to 100% confirm what I would need, but now that I have experienced this problem firsthand, I can share the answer with you: you kind of sometimes need an adapter for some things.
Simple, yeah?
The plug pictured above is the most accommodating I have found thus far; you can simply plug any* device from America in and huzza! instant functionality. But then you may ask, what is that extra hole on top for? Can I plug my device in upside-down? You know what? That is actually an excellent question, I will have to give it a try.
The answer is that the rounded holes, used together, accommodate another plug not used in the US that I won't take the time to describe because it really shouldn't take much imagination to picture it.
More commonly you will find a variation of the power outlet; it is a bitch to use with foreign plugs (you need an adapter that will convert two or three prong plugs used in the US into the funky double-rod-plug that goes into the two vertical holes – yeah) because the plug does not fit due to the outlet being set into the wall (some are flush with the wall).
You also need to buy a sort of extension adapter to access the plug in the first place. Exciting stuff I know. Go read a book or something.
*Disclaimer:all the facts in this post are based off of real life experience and/or made up; reference at your own risk.