Walking on Water, Turning Beer into Water

& other unusual discoveries in Brazil

My intention for this entry is to address the inevitable question, “So what’s different over there?”  (The second intention is to get my family and friends to stop saying “You know Rachel, you haven’t blogged in awhile . . .”  I figure a longer post will buy me more time)  I believe that there are some universal truths; it seems that everywhere in the world children know how to execute the perfect tantrum in a grocery store, and regardless of which city one is living in, they always have a semi-creepy old man neighbor who is never wearing a shirt (though really should be).  Apart from these similarities what is it that I find odd or different about Brazil?  Perhaps I should start by explaining the title. 

This is when the tide is "high" just imagine it low

Walking on Water:  As I mentioned in some previous posts, I am fortunate enough to live just a few blocks from the beach. As Iowa native Bill Bryson writes in his book The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America, “When you come from the Midwest, the ocean is a thing rarely encountered.”  So I think I have my roots to thank for my great appreciation for the sea, and as you can imagine, I go to the beach quite often.  I thought I had seen it all but one morning I was shocked to discover people walking in the middle of the sea.  I promise I was not hallucinating; there is a reasonable explanation.  Every morning for about two hours or so the tide recedes.  There is a sandbank and so people will walk far into the ocean without fear of drowning or even getting wet.  From the shore it appears that these people are actually walking on water.  In fact, sometimes the tide is so low that people actually ride bikes out into the middle of the ocean.  I don’t believe even the Son of God attempted cycling on water.  

Turning Beer into Water, aka Light Beer: I’m not going to lie I am a fan of light beer.  However, Brazilian beer is just too light.  It’s not just that they have a light beer or some light beer options; all beer in Brazil is light.  I’m not saying that Brazilians are lightweights; they’re not your typical freshmen at the senior party.  Quite the contrary, the caipirinha is the national cocktail of Brazil.  They consist of cachaça (sugar cane rum), lime, and sugar and are normally served on the rocks.  They are anything but their weak watered down alcohol counterpart.  So what is with this disconnect?  Honestly, I’m not sure.  I may be missing a component here; for instance it is possible that Brazilians actually use beer to rehydrate, as an American would use water or Gatorade.  Or maybe beer is watered down so they can pace themselves and therefore party ‘til the sun comes up (which they do fairly often).  Even the way they serve beer is different.  Almost always when you order a beer from a bar or restaurant they will bring out a whole bucket filled with ice and several beers.  You drink as many beers as you want and only pay for the ones that you want.  This is a pretty smart idea actually since even if you only think you are going to have one or two beers you usually end up drinking everything in the bucket.  It’s convenient, and as we all know Americans love convenience so I may have a new business venture when I get back to the States.

       

Futevôlei: This is an incredible sport that combines soccer and volleyball; it looks exactly how it sounds.  Maybe you already know about it because apparently the sport has already made it to the U.S., in fact there is even a World Cup.  I like to pretend that the reason why I don’t know about American pop culture or recent trends is because I spend a lot of time abroad.  I’ve learned that you can only use that excuse so much.  For example, I was in Chicago this January hanging out with some friends when a song came on.  I mentioned that I know almost no new American hits after being out of the country for a year.  They informed me that the song was “Buy you a Drank” and that it has been out for 5 years.  So yeah, sometimes I’m just oblivious.  Anyway, just in case you are as clueless as I am, here’s what you need to know about Futevôlei or Footvolley.  The sport originated in Rio in the 1960s. It takes place on a sand volleyball court.  Instead of serving they kick the volleyball over the net.  Players are allowed the same amount of attempts to get the ball over the net they simply cannot use their arms or hands.  The ultimate play it seems is when a skilled player faces away from the ball then jumps in the air and kicks his leg high to connect with the ball and send it flying over the net.  You can check out the action for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFUEDsi42qg

 Elevators: (Warning: This is by no means life-changing or even really that interesting it just struck me as different) 

Every apartment building I have been in, in Brazil (which is quite a few thanks to my search for a place to live) has 2 elevators, no more, no less.  One elevator is “social” purely for people.  The other is “service” which is to be used if you have are transporting any pets up or down, or if for example you are moving.  Also almost all elevators here have 2 doors.  They have the typical sliding doors that one would see in the U.S., but in addition, there is a door you must swing open to enter or exit the lift.  This is apparently is to prevent people from absentmindedly walking into the elevator shaft before the elevator arrives and plummeting to a rather tragic death.  As a clumsy person (I regularly stub my toe, I have been known to fall up the stairs, and once I even walked into a sliding glass door) I for one am grateful for the added measure of security.

Style: Overall, I think Brazilians are very fashionable people, which is why I was surprised to see one style trend that looks like it was plucked out of the ‘80s and then tweaked by a designer who at the time was dropping acid.  I have seen Brazilian women everywhere in Maceió wearing these crazy, neon, floral-print leggings.  I think they are especially popular at the gym and at the beach.  Some women even have matching sports bras or tank tops so they turn into just one psychedelic blob.  And in anticipation of your next question, the answer is yes, I am definitely planning on buying a pair; you know what they say, when in Maceió . . . 

Sorry that these photos aren’t the best.  It’s hard to capture these outrages leggings on camera without looking too suspicious.  Also you can see that even some men don’t escape this fashion trend.  Fortunately, I have yet to see a man wearing one of those at the gym.