Today marks one month of living in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Yes, I had all the preconceived notions as well: Is it safe to eat the food and drink the water? Will I live in a shanty on the side of a hill? Will I be safe???
In fact, when Derrick was first asked to travel to Brazil for his job about three years ago, he was handed a sheet of paper of the numerous amounts of things he should not eat or drink (not to mention the shots he needed to get!) The list was forever long and we ultimately thought he would starve to death. That is, if he wasn’t run over by a speeding taxi here first. So, we went out for a big (read, expensive) Japanese dinner the night before he left. Come to find out, the food here in Porto Alegre is some of the best (if not THE best) I have ever had. One of the most common cuisines is, in fact, Japanese. More to come on the very delicious food of Porto Alegre in further posts!
What I’d really like to know is, what do you think of Brazil? What are the preconceived notions you would have about visiting or living here. Why? Because, 1) I am sure I had the same thoughts as you did and 2) because, though I’ve only lived here for a month, I’ve been proven wrong on many occasions by this vibrant city and the people who live here. I’d love to give you a glimpse of my new world and the experiences I have while I am lucky enough to experience it.
Until next time, check out this video from the Porto Alegre department of Tourism. It’s a bit long, but really gives a good glimpse into the city of Porto Alegre. (Thanks, Amber for putting this on her Facebook page!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ3x3jPzWUI&feature=share
Tchau!
-Ashley
