Editorial

Does anybody out there know a Brazilian? Or know someone who knows one?

I don't' know about you, but wherever I turn, I keep meeting them. They are everywhere!
At the supermarket, shopping centers, movie theaters, cleaning our houses, delivering our newspaper and even sleeping in our beds.

When I moved from Rio de Janeiro to California ten years ago, I remember the struggle of finding Brazilian products or meeting other compatriots for a chat. Now you can find them almost everywhere.

Finally, I don't have to give up my little pleasures: a Brazilian manicure, the chocolates, energetic Guarana and my soap operas from the O Globo TV.

Let's welcome the colors, the vibrant culture of Brazilians. They definitely will disrupt our routine with their spontaneity.

It is a fact that Brazilians like to travel but this is becoming more like an exodus.
Are they coming to stay? Don't' mislead yourself by appearances. Brazilians are not coming to stay.

There is something you need to know about Brazilians. They love Brazil.
Most of them, no matter what they are doing here, poor or rich, well educated or not, sooner or later, will end up going back.

Why is that? It is similar with "banzo"- the nostalgic feelings shared for the slaves kept far away from Africa- they start missing home.

Some miss the baby-sitter, the maid or the food. Others miss the beaches, their relatives, the soccer, the people.

To me, I miss the freedom the most.
For the rest I keep using my comfortable Havainas sandals with the little Brazilian flag on it.

Is this not contradictory? After all aren't I living in the land of freedom?

I don't know how to explain it.

You have to go to Brazil to feel it yourself.

Elisabeth Da Cruz,
Publisher, Brazil-Online

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