Hello Goodbye

With 30 hours left in Brasil I have compiled a list of things I will miss and a list of things I missed about the US.

Tchau Brasil...

1. Fresh fruits and juices
2. Maids that clean my hotel room and the rest of the Transamerica staff
3. Steakhouses and food
4. My buddies
5. Being able to nap before going out because the clubs don't get crowded until 1 am
6. Money with jaguars and parrots on it
7. Not tipping

Hello America...

1. Drinking water from the tap and not paying for it at every restaurant
2. More than two TV channels in English
3. Strong internet
4. Texting on a qwerty keyboard
5. Knowing how to dial phone numbers
6. Being able to communicate with everyone and speaking English

The Vegetarian's Nightmare

My Brazilian Family

Tuesday night we decided to go big before we go home and headed to Fogo de Chao, which everyone calls the best Brazilian Steakhouse in Sao Paulo. Now, I had been there twice before at this point, but Tuesday night was special because it was all five of the American interns and Frankie from South Africa. This allowed for good conversation and we closed the place down, making sure we got the most out of the all-you-can-eat meat and salad bar.

One of the reasons that it was so fun going was because the meat became the subject of a lot of the conversation. We could all get slices of meat and compare which ones we thought were the best, ensuring that we got second, thirds, and fourths when they came around the next time. The six of us also dressed up in some of our finest. When you are paying that much to eat, why not amp it up a bit? (Aunt Pat, if you are reading this, I wore that black dress you gave me in Maui). Not to mention, a dress is like a man, it likes to go out every once and a while with a beautiful lady (Meet Me in St. Louis).

In conclusion, we laughed until we cried, ate at least a whole cow, and spent double our per diem. There are worse things to do.

The Beautiful Game

Last night I dusted off my shin guards and played soccer, or as the locals called it, futebol, last night with the other interns and people from Deloitte.

Laura’s buddy decided that we had to live like Brazilians and organized a game of soccer last night from 10:30-11:30 pm at a local sports center. We had to pay to rent out the field for an hour but I think the R$25 I paid was worth it if only to tell my children that I once played futebol in Sao Paulo with Brazilian colleagues.

The teams were people wearing colored clothing vs people wearing either yellow (color of the Brazil jersey which is common apparel for a friendly game) or white. Johanna and I played defense (complete with sacrifice of body parts in order to protect the goal) the whole time on a team with Erik, while Frankie, Miguel, and Chema were on the other team. There were some funny things about playing with the Brazilians, the primary one being that they would often yell things and we had no idea what they were saying because it was in Portuguese. Obvious displays of the language problem came when balls were passed to unsuspecting people because they didn’t understand what was called. The Brazilians were also so nice when they played with us, often saying “sorry” when they were in our way, although it was pretty obvious that I was the one that was lost, not them (although my defensive strategy included just getting in the other team’s way; it worked fairly well). I swear, the way some of them played soccer you would suspect they came out of the womb with cleats on. Seriously, they played beautifully.

After the hour game ended in a tie, we headed back to the hotel to clean up before going out with Jessica’s buddy Bruno. Bruno got us on the list for the best techno club in Sao Paulo, and I had a pretty big smile on my face when the bouncer handed me a VIP card on the way in. We danced for a while but then headed home around 3 (which is very early here) because we have more festivities planned for tonight and tomorrow.

A Day in the Life

A day in the life of Marjorie Claire Fisher- July 25, 2011

• Wake up
• Watch The King of Queens- it's either that or Greek on Brazilian hotel television at 8 am (unless you are fluent in Portuguese)
• Head down for breakfast where the hotel offers lots of fresh fruits, breads, cheese, ham, cereal, and coffee
• Catch the shuttle to my client which is only about five minutes away (five minutes of silence because the shuttle driver, Julio, doesn't speak English and I don't speak Portuguese)
• Arrive at client at 9 am
• Work on various things until lunch
• Take a full hour for lunch with my team in the cafeteria at the client
• Work until 6 pm
• Call the shuttle and usually wait a long time for it to arrive to take me back to the hotel (yesterday I didn't want to wait so I took a cab)
• Arrive back to the hotel and relax for a little while before dinner (evening English programming usually includes Oprah and Seinfeld.)
• Play futebol with Erik, Johanna, Laura, and Frankie on the top floor patio of the hotel
• Go to a pizza restaurant for dinner within walking distance of the hotel
• Come back to hotel and play cards in Johanna's room

There you have it. Kinda like my life in Chicago only it involves eating a lot more beans and rice.

Sao Paulo Weekend

Moving on up

After a good time on Thursday singing our hearts out in our very own karaoke box Laura and I tried for a repeat good time and went out with Frankie, an intern here from South Africa, Miguel, an intern from Spain, and Miguel’s friend from Sao Paulo. We went to a club called Jockey which had both a live band and then some popular American music we could dance to. Miguel’s friend taught me how to samba and I also got a little fame when I invited myself onto the stage. I danced up there for a little while and then when the singer gave me a microphone so I could sing along I sang “Meu no falo Portuguese” into it. “Meu no falo Portuguese” happens to be my most used phrase and translates to “I don’t speak Portuguese.” Needless to say, I was a hit.

Taken in our very own lobby

I promised a Brazilian bonanza this weekend and it did not end Friday night (or as you may look at it, early Saturday morning). On Saturday Laura and I got up and headed over to the nice part of town around Paulista Avenue (or the Michigan Avenue of Sao Paulo). We couldn’t afford really any store except one- Havaianas. Havaianas, although once the ugly shoe that one wears when cleaning the bathroom, have found worldwide recognition as the top flip flop brand in the world. Havaianas are made in Brazil and their concept store is in Sao Paulo so Laura and I made the pilgrimage to buy average quality flip flops for above average prices. We spent a lot of time browsing and deciding which pairs made the best souvenirs.

After wandering past stores we couldn’t afford we decided to head to a lunch we could barely afford- Fogo de Chao. As I have mentioned before, I was dubious about going to Fogo de Chao because we have one on LaSalle Street in Chicago, but all the Brazilians I have talked to said it was the best in Brazil so Fogo de Chao was the place to have our Brazilian lunch. As Laura and I arrived with our Havaiana bags we were greeted by a waiter who pulled out our chairs and were ready to treat us to a four star lunch. We just took our time eating as much meat as possible, occasionally turning our cards to red to stop the waiters from bringing more meat in order to digest the vegetarian’s nightmare. While eating Miguel and his friend showed up and joined us in our feast.

Laura and I planned on going to the Sao Paulo futebol game at 6:30 that night and Miguel and his friend were also game, so we headed over to Morumbi Stadium. Sao Paulo was playing a team from out of state called Atletico, and because it was not a huge rivalry we were informed that there was less of a chance of getting caught in a fight. The security to get into the stadium was tight though. We actually got patted down, making it harder to get into Morumbi Stadium than boarding a flight.

The game was a good time, although it was kind of chilly and I was still tired from the night before. The best part about being there was watching the fans and how into they got. They had all these organized cheers, something that I can’t say is found a lot in the United States, and I don’t think there was one person at the game who wasn’t wearing their team’s colors. Unfortunately the game tied at 2-2 (Laura and I were cheering for Sao Paulo) but we still got to experience the Brazilian passion.

Laura and I were wiped out by the end of the second half, so we hopped into a cab in order to arrive at our hotel and take a nap before going out that night. Jessica’s buddy’s girlfriend was having a birthday party so we decided to attend that after trying to catch up on some sleep. The party was at a bar called Dublin of all things. We had to wait in line a while to get in but once we were there we had a great time. Everyone at the party was so kind to us and the band there played a good mix of songs along with a DJ so we could dance away so of the thousands of calories consumed during lunch. Also, it was nice to get a taste of my Dublin roots (although I think the only thing Irish there were the three street signs hung on the wall). Laura and I took a cab home around 1:30 (Jess had left earlier to catch a bus to Rio) so we could rest up for another packed day on Sunday.

Sunday I got invited to spend the day with Laura, her buddy Gabriela, and her HR person Rita. Our first stop was Embu, a smaller town outside of Sao Paulo that has a great craft fair. It was nice to get out of the city and get a view of the beautiful countryside of Brazil. I didn’t buy a lot there, but I enjoyed my time strolling along the winding streets.

For lunch they had planned to take us to Fogo de Chao, but when we told them we had gone the afternoon before they changed the plans. Instead of going to the nicest restaurant in Sao Paulo we went to the second nicest. The Italian place we went to is located on the top floor of the tallest building in Sao Paulo and although the food was average, the views were amazing. We relaxed and took our time eating while viewing Sao Paulo spread out below us. After lunch we also took our fill of pictures from the top of the building (where Gabriela and her fiancé got engaged).

All in all, a great Sao Paulo weekend. After going to a futebol game and actually spending a full weekend in Sao Paulo I think I can call myself a local.

Southern Hemisphere Karaoke

Since the first weekend we were in Sao Paulo, the Deloitte interns here put singing karaoke on our "must do" list. With just a little over a week left in Brazil it was high time to cross it off so we booked a karaoke "box" and hit Japantown last night.

Sao Paulo has the highest Japanese population outside of Tokyo and instead of a Chinatown like many large cities have, Sao Paulo has a Japantown called Liberdade. A few nights ago we received a suggestion for a karaoke place from our favorite front desk worker Gustavo so we called and made a reservation for eight last night. You have to make a reservation because you literally have a room with a karaoke machine to yourself so that you can sing your hearts out without getting judgemental looks from strangers. Of course, this also disables one from serenading strangers but that is the sacrifice we had to make.

We were lucky last night because every Deloitte Global intern (eight in total from three different continents) was available for dinner and karaoke, so we met in the lobby and taxied it over to Liberdade for a late dinner (which is actually more of an early dinner here). Once we arrived we found a nice sushi restaurant and got a room to ourselves. The room was complete with a doorbell to call the waiters and a slight odor of feet since we had to take our shoes off. Anyways, we order our weight in sushi and had a great time laughing and joking about our experiences in Brazil.

Our faces might not be the best in this one but it was the only clear photo.

After dinner we hurried to make our 10:30 reservation at the karaoke place. There we let our hair down and sang such hits as Usher's "Yeah!", "Wonderwall", "Man! I Feel Like a Woman", "Hakuna Matata", and "Wannabe". Unfortunately the place closed at 12 but we ended the night with a great rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and headed back to the hotel.

There are videos too...

We still have a lot of things that need to be accomplished before leaving a week from tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm hitting the town to get some Brazilian steakhouse, go shopping, and maybe even take in a futebol game. No worries, I will be sure to post updates on my "Brazil Bonanza" on the blog.

Minhas Meninas...

...or "My Girls."

I always feel like one bonds with the people they travel with very quickly because suddenly you are all thrown into the same foreign situation and the only people they have is one another. This held true with me and the girls that are in Sao Paulo with me. Every night we go to dinner together, although we are occassionally accompanied by some of the other global interns, and after dinner we usually hang out. We have had many memorable experiences, like prank calling other interns, trying to translate text messages that boys were sending us in Portuguese, and getting our nails done (Brazilian manicures are super cheap so we have been trying to take advantage of that). We also have developed friendships with most people we meet, including the front desk workers Marcello and Gustavo (I serenade Gustavo every night after we come home form dinner and he is working), and waiters at most restaurants.

Doing the laundry has been one of our biggest adventures. The front desk initially told us that we had to have our laundry sent away to be dry cleaned but that was just too much of a hassle. The laundry was going to take 36 hours (which is a long time when you only packed three pairs of jeans) and was going to cost a Brazilian king's ransom. I had purchased a bottle of detergent the other day so I could wash my underwear in the sink (a habit I developed in Ireland) and it came in handy when we discovered that there was a washing machine and dryer in the basement. The only problem was the elevator didn't go down to the basement so our crusade for clean clothes led us all over the hotel. It was a stealth mission because we had to be sure to avoid Marcello, the front desk worker who told us that the washing machine was only for "long term guests," and apparently one month is not long term.

We also have group chats during the day at work and just laugh a lot. Laura also made us promise that when we get married (although most of us think we may die alone/become cat women) we have to invite the other three to the wedding. The sad part is that in less than two weeks we will be scattered all over the US, but I'm sure we will keep in touch everytime something comes up that reminds us of our time in Brazil. I know this happens to me with the Wolfpack from Dublin. A song will come on the radio and the only people that will really get it are those girls. I imagine it will be the same this time and we will be emailing each other constantly once we are back in the States and miss Sao Paulo.

Falls Videos

For those of you who are partial to videos as opposed to reading the blog here are some from Foz do Iguacu this weekend. The first is a small 25 second video if you are a busy person and the second is two minutes and includes a cameo by yours truly.

Teaser Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw9gubsPZYY

Feature Length Film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqsE_xXfIik

Last of Foz do Iguaçu

Unfortunately when we woke up on Sunday it was pouring outside, and when you are visiting a national park there is not a lot to do when the weather does not cooperate. Instead we took our time getting up in the morning and checking out of our Argentine hostel. The rest of the morning was spent wandering the streets of Puerto Iguazu and doing some major shopping; after living in Brazil using the weak peso was very welcome.

After getting lunch at an Italian restaurant in Puerto Iguazu we got ready to head over the border to Foz do Iguacu. As you might recall, the American interns from Rio were still in Brazil after one of them was not able to cross the border so the plan was to meet up with them to watch the Brazil/Paraguay game (I have watched more soccer the past two weeks than the past ten years), and that is exactly what we did.

During the game I had a heart-to-heart with Danny and Laura which is always a good time. I always say that being abroad really lets you think and reflect about your life, where you've been and where you're going. You are away from friends, family, school, a familiar routine, and have time to think. I personally love it and am very grateful to not only have an old friend there (Danny) but also a great new friend (Laura).

The rest of the night was pretty uneventful. Laura, Danny, Emily and I went to a Brazilian steakhouse while the Rio kids switched from what they deemed their "creepy" hostel to the one Danny had booked for us close to the airport. After dinner we stopped for some really great ice cream before heading back with a cheese pizza. We got hassled by homeless people and couldn't communicate with the taxi driver but that is nothing out of the ordinary.

The eight of us spent time in the hostel laughing and chatting before heading to bed early for our 6 am fight. The definition of travel warrior is getting on a 6 am flight to be back to the office on time Monday morning. Laura and I did it and I'm glad because the memories and sights at Foz do Iguacu were priceless and will stay with me forever.

First Glimpse at the Falls

Here is a link to my video of first seeing the falls on the boat tour last Saturday. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7ETMCFTkKE

The Falls

In touch with nature

Saturday morning came a little too soon for the three of us staying in the hostel in Argentina considering we had been up fairly late trying to locate our fellow travelers, but that didn't stop us from getting one of the first buses to the Argentine national park. Danny planned the entire trip except for my small role in booking the hostel and I am tempted to post the emails he sent outlining our agenda. We had the whole day planned out almost to the minute, and we all trusted Danny because I think he might have become TripAdvisor's most avid reader since arriving in Brazil.

When we arrived at the park after taking a bus ride we decided it might be best to buy the tickets for the boat tour first and then start hiking, catching the boat tour at the end of the day (since the boat tour takes you under the curtain of the falls). Of course, once we got there and talked to the tour guides we were left discussing the pros and cons of every possible combination of activities and when to do them. Not that I'm complaining; we planned the perfect day. I'm just trying to stress how accountants handle travel arrangements.

After much debate we decided to hop on the boat tour first, or as the park calls it, the "Great Adventure." This included a truck ride through the rainforest to the boat, where we packed all our belongings in plastic bags and raced down the rapids to the falls. Although my clothes didn't dry for the rest of the day, the first view of the falls from the boat was amazing. It was the cumulation of all the research, planning, worrying, expenses, and it was breathtaking. (Warning: The post is going to be picture heavy.)

One of the 1000 Places to See Before You Die

On the boat before getting soaked

The boat ride ended with the boat going into the falls themselves twice. We did not get misted on, we did not just get wet, we got drenched. It was almost scary when you are getting bombarded with water and realize that is because you are under one of the biggest waterfalls in the world. Long story short, good thing we brought a change of dry clothes.

After the boat tour we decided to take the ferry to San Martin island, located between the two sides of the falls. There on a rocky beach we had a picnic that I had bought on Thursday in Sao Paulo and transported all the way to Foz do Iguaçu (needless the say, anything perishable was out). We did have a good variety of cookies and Pringles, along with veggies and fruit, and for protein a stick of salami. We had more than enough food because the picnic was originally packed for ten people.

Lunch of Champions

After fueling up we decided to take a hike around San Martin Island, and we all agreed it had some of the best views of the day. But don't take my word for it (although pictures don't do it justice). The sun even peaked out for a bit to display a rainbow. This was after I changed my clothes in a restricted area on the island where I'm pretty sure a tour group saw me shimmying into my skinny jeans. I also changed my shirt in the middle of the beach, got a couple of whistles, and Danny threatened to beat the guy up (not to the guy's face because I don't think Danny is the fighting type). 

Danny and the rainbow

Once back on the mainland we explored the lower paths and took plenty more pictures.

Evidence: Laura and me

After getting our fill of those views we hopped aboard a train headed to Garganta del Diablo, or the Devil's Throat. After getting off the train we walked basically into the middle of the river and saw Foz do Iguaçu's crown jewel. So amazing, so powerful, so awe inspiring. We just lingered there for the longest time watching the water fall.

Garganta del Diablo

Like a black hole

Girlies

Danny and Me

It was nearing the end of the day so we ran (literally ran) to the bus stop to get a bus back to our hostel. We were booked to go on the moonlight tour because it was a full moon that weekend but unfortunately it was too cloudy and we were foiled. Instead we had dinner with two girl we had met on the bus on the way back to the hostel. Both girls were from Princeton and pursuing projects from grants in Argentina and Brazil. We had a nice time hearing their stories and talking with other college students. After ice cream it was time to turn in, although I could not resist rocking in the hammock outside our hostel for a few minutes before heading to bed.

And then there were three

It was a rocky road to Foz do Iguaçu. The original plan was for ten of us to sleep in the hostel Friday night; three slept there. It doesn't take an auditor to understand those are not good numbers.

The cast of starcrossed travelers:

• Me and Laura- my partner in crime here is Sao Paulo
• Erik and Johanna- also in Sao Paulo and in consulting
• Danny Burns- Curitiba intern and college friend
• Emily Rong- Campinas intern
• Anika, Raheem, Will, and Ellen- Rio interns

The drama started around 1:30 pm on Friday when I received a call from Johanna, who was flying out to Foz do Iguaçu with Erik around that time. I was busy talking to my senior manager so I just ignored the call and texted her. That is when she texted back "We can't go to the falls." Naturally I get a little worried. Was it "we" like her and Erik or "we" like the ten of us? After I got done talking with Fernando, my senior manager and mentor, I called up Johanna and she informed me that after arriving at the airport in Sao Paulo named Congonhas she realized that her and Erik's flight left from Campinas airport. Whoops. They decided the best option from that point was to go to Rio for the weekend instead.

We were down to eight.

Everyone was supposed to meet at the airport in Foz do Iguaçu around 1:20 am late Friday night. Laura and I were on the plane with the Rio interns and as we are departing the plane and going through the airport I see Danny talking with one of the airport people. You never talk with an airline person about something positive, only if you've missed a flight or lost luggage. In this case, we lost a person. Apparently Emily has missed her connecting filght, flew to some other Brazilian city, and is in the process of taking a six hour bus to Foz do Iguaçu. To top it all off, we get this information from the airline and Danny can't reach her. Right as I walk up to Danny she calls and we give her the hotel information so she can meet us there in the morning (if she isn't kidnapped or lost by then).

We were down to seven.

Outside the airport we divide into two taxis to go over the border to the hostel we are staying at in Argentina. Laura, Danny, and I go in one taxi while the Rio interns go in another. We pass through the border no problem, arrive at the hostel and check in, and then begin to try and get ahold of Emily again. Making phone calls was a huge problem because we all had Brazilian cell phones but were in Argentina so the calls weren't going through.

At this point we can't get a hold of Emily, who called us from a stranger's phone later that morning around 5 am, and the Rio kids have not arrived at the hostel yet and we arrived over 30 mins ago. Just when we are starting to get extremely worried and about to call the American consulate we then get a call from Raheem, who only has time to say "We have a big problem. Anika can't go across the border" before his phone dies. Yes, this is a big problem.

Anika is from Bangladesh and therefore needed a visa to get into Argentina, which we didn't know. So here we are, 2 am, in Argentina, and we have basically no way of communicating or helping anyone.

We were down to three.

We were planning on just leaving a note at the front desk telling Emily where to meet us in the park around lunchtime but as luck would have it, she started knocking on the hostel door about 15 minutes before we were about to leave. I answered the door and she just let out a huge sigh after being in transit all night. We were back up to four, but for the rest of Saturday it would be just us because the Rio interns ended up staying in Brazil with Anika and exploring the Brazilian side of the park.

There you have it. I don't know if it is more like The Oddessey or a horror film but we none of us were sold into white slavery so I call it a good day.

Another Adventure

When you are only in Brazil for four weeks you have to cover a lot of ground quickly (and in Brazil there is a lot of ground). This weekend I am going along with seven other interns to Foz do Iguaçu. Foz do Iguaçu are massive waterfalls on the border of Argentina and Brazil and promise to make you forget Niagra like writers on Glee forget plot lines.

This adventure is especially amazing because it coincides with the full moon and we are having a moonlight tour tomorrow. I have always said moonlight is my favorite light and seeing the falls lit up should be breathtaking. There is even talks of seeing lunar rainbows (who even know that existed?). The only trouble we have in the forecast, which was cause it to be too cloudy but hopefully the clear forecast holds true (I sacrificed a calf to the weather gods for a little extra security).

We first two nights we are staying on the Argentinian side and on Sunday evening (we fly back early Monday) we are staying on the Brazilian side. This really pleases the part of me that loves getting her passport stamped.

In closing, I will be safe, take lots of pictures, and update you all when I return.

Tchau!

Observations

Here is the list I keep running about differences between Sao Paulo and Chicago:

• Everyone usually takes a coffee break together and the cups are very small. No Ventis here.
• People bring a toothbrush to the office and brush their teeth throughout the workday.
• Most buildings do not have heating. Probably not the best idea in Chicago.
• Fruit juices are extremely popular and fruit is frequently eaten for dessert.
• In the US, a hair color commercial usually showcases three girls: the blonde, redhead, and brunette. Here it is brown, darker brown, and black.
• Lunch is usually the biggest meal of the day and everyone in the office always takes an hour lunch break. They always ask me if it is common in the US to work through lunch because they do not do that here.

Futebol

During my in depth study of the people of Brazil and their culture I have made a groundbreaking discovery- soccer is very important to them.

Interns, Gabriela, Octavio, and Dimitri

Last night was the Brazil vs Ecuador game in the Americas Cup and the US interns went out with Laura's buddy Gabriela, her fiance, and her younger brother. I had to watch the game because the whole day before and the day after people asked where I was watch the game or if I watched and I fear what would have happened if I said no; they might have revoked my visa. Watching the game (which Brazil won) was especially fun with three Brazilians because they could tell us about what was going on and the deep love they have for soccer. I'm even learning the jokes that are made about each team and everyone tries to persuade me that their team is the best. Heated discussions have occurred. I have to make it to a Sao Paulo game before I leave and cheer with the locals. I also have to study up so that I can hold a conversation because soccer comes up in essentially every conversation.

My Brazilian Buddies

I have to say, sometimes it is a little hard to be so far away from home and dealing with a business environment where Portuguese, a language I heard for the first time a month or so ago, is the primary method of communication. After talking with the interns from Rio and here, one thing we agree on is we would not be able to do it without our buddies and the amazing people here at Deloitte. Often when in another country you have so many questions, most times about the small things like where to buy groceries or how to use the ATM. Deloitte people here are so nice and always go beyond to make sure we are comfortable and, most of all, safe. Afterall, Sao Paulo isn't exactly the safest place and not being a local we often don't know what areas to avoid or how to stay safe on the streets.

They understand that we are away from home and in a new environment and do everything in their power to make us feel at home. Here are some examples:

Fernando and Marcelo, my senior manager and manager, take the time to explain things to me and get to know me. They really want to ensure I have a great understanding of not only the accounting and audit professions, but also Brazil's economy and how things are done here. I'm constantly pleasantly surprised when they take hours out of their day to show me around the office or explain why we do a certain test or spreadsheet. Fernando is always showing me different things that can be done with the technical library, and today Marcelo gave me a bunch of presentations about Brazil's taxes, economy, and some Brazilian music to get familiar with.

Fernando was also insistant that I get a backpack (instead of my computer bag) so I don't get robbed. It never occured to me but if people see you walking on the street with what looks like a laptop they will target you. Fernando, along with the rest of the team, made sure that I could have a nice Deloitte backpack (Deloitte branding is somewhat concealed on the backpack so that it doesn't put a target on your back) in order to walk safely down the street.

But they didn't stop there! I also received a shirt and calendar from Deloitte Brasil. After I picked up the shirt and backpack from the office Fernando offered to drive me back to the hotel, which was about three blocks away because it was getting dark. He insisted because as he says, I don't look like a local.

Not only do they help me with work related things, but they also help me get to know Sao Paulo. Paula, one of my buddies, along with Marcelo, send me emails about where to eat or watch the soccer game. They are such great resources and Paula is even taking me out in the city tonight to hear some Brazilian music.

Everyone on my team's interest in me goes beyond work as well. They ask to see photos of my latest weekend trip and ask about my life in America and how I am coping to Sao Paulo. It is so comforting to know people here care about me.

Along with everything else they schedule happy hours, buy plane tickets for us when we can't figure it out on our own, and are patient with my Portuguese, giving me a new phrase or word every day. I also had to make five goals to accomplish while here and each of them has given thought to how I can accomplish what I want to and Fernando and Marcello spent time discussing the goals with me and giving me relevant projects.

I think it's safe to say, without the Deloitte people here I would either be robbed, lost, lonely, or a combination of the three.

Rio Day 3: The Girl from Ipanema

"Tall and tanned and young and lovely..."

Sunday morning Laura and I woke up around 9:30 after going out to dinner and hanging out with all the Deloitte interns stationed in Rio for July. It was great to get to know them and talk about the similar experiences we've had getting ready and coming to Brazil. Laura and I made it down to breakfast before it closed at 10 while the boys peacefully slumbered after going out the previous night. After breakfast the two of us took a small walk in one of the parks located near our hotel and then went back in order to get ready for the beach day we had planned. The boys were going to go hanggliding instead.

Laura and I were both really interested in doing some shopping so it might have been best that the boys weren't with us. We hoped to find a "feira livre" or open market to go to in order to buy souvenirs and handicrafts but when we went to the front desk the women was less than helpful and informed us that there were none of those around on a Sunday. Lucky for us, I never leave home without my trusty guidebook and Fodor's helped me locate the perfect market in Ipanema. Laura and I took a risk (I never trust the guide book entirely) and told a taxi cab driver where we wanted to go and sure enough we pulled up to a giant market called the Feira Hippie.

Laura and I spent quite a bit of time shopping and had the boys been with us I have no doubt they would have mutinied before that, and then wanted to head to the beach. Our plan was to find a food stand on the beach and eat there but it seemed the stands were only selling drinks and snacks so we headed to a grcoery store and bought some sandwiches and drinks to eat on the beach. I love a picnic so you can imagine picnicking on Ipanema was unbelievable.

For the rest of the day Laura and I took turns going in the water (someone had to watch the bags and defend against thiefs), reading, relaxing from our packed day yesterday, and catching some Brazilian rays. I even bought a coconut and tried coconut water for only R$3 ($2).

After a day at the beach we caught a cab home that was playing the soccer game on the radio (the speed those broadcasters talk is unreal) and met Danny at the hotel room where he was packing in anticipation of his flight back to Curitiba. Our flight wasn't until later but after he was done we headed out to dinner with him where we talked about the last two days and even did our "peaks and pits," a throwback to my days in Ireland and Europe.

All in all, it was a perfect weekend that I wouldn't have changed anything about. Beautiful city, beautiful nature, great friends- who could ask for more?

Rio Day 2: Sugar Loaf

After the favela tour we were just going to go back to the hotel and rest up before dinner, until Laura and Will suggested we try and make it to Sugar Loaf for sunset. This idea was so great and allowed us to see Rio in a different light (literally).

You get up to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain by cable car. There are two legs of the journey, first to the small mountain beside Sugar Loaf and then to the top of Sugar Loaf itself. We had a few bumps along the way when the boys failed to get in the same car as us...twice... but it was unforgettable nonetheless.* The cable cars don't take too long and we spent a lot of time taking pictures with Rio spread out before us.

Enjoy the beauty. You can see Christ the Redeemer lit up white in some of the pictures.

*Actually the second time they missed the car it was because they were going to get some food. Danny bought a slice of cake while Laura and I waited in line but we ended up getting in the car without them. Danny was going to bring the cake down for us to share but they wouldn't let him on the cable car with food so he had to eat it himself in less than a minute.

Rio Day 2: Favela Tour

Let me begin by explaining what a favela is. Favelas are basically the slums of Brazilian cities and run by drug cartels. Now before you call my parents and alert them of my unsafe behaviors or come to Brazil to drag me back to the suburbs where I'll be safe let me just say that I didn't really feel very unsafe while I was there. There is very little crime in the favela (aside for the thriving drug business) and our tour guide knew everyone, not to mention the people in the favela are very proud of their culture and welcome tours, which are also a source of income and our tour helped fund a school in the favela. The greatest danger I had was the a gang war was going to break out and I might get caught in the crossfire (I was fairly certain that wasn't going to happen). When I booked the tour I also felt somewhat safe because I knew that when the Business Honors students from U of I went to Rio with the College of Business they also went on the tour. If U of I was going to let students go it probably wasn't as scary as I thought (although I admit, I started off the tour pretty nervous).

Now that I've explained why it was alright for me to go I want to explain why we decided to go in the first place. Favelas are really like their own country within Brazil. They have their own laws, culture, and way of life different from anything that I could encounter in Chicago. Many of the Brazilians do not like the favelas and want to know why of all the beautiful and great things in Brazil people choose to pay to see the favelas. Sure, I could have maybe hung out at the beach instead but then I would not even have a remote idea about the over 1.5 million people in Rio that live in favelas and enable the city to run (and plenty of people to purchase illegal drugs from).

The favela is literally hundreds of little apartments built on one another until it is a mosaic of ramshackle buildings. In fact, there are favelas all over Brazil; I can even see one from my client in Sao Paulo. It's hard to explain so I hope to post some videos in the next couple of days of the favela tour. It's really it's own world.

The first favela we went to was Rocinha, the largest favela in Rio. Rocinha has an estimated 200,000 residents and is run by the drug gang Friends of Friends. Here are some of the take aways from the tour:

• There are no streets in favelas except for the one main street. Therefore it is easy to get lost and most of the people don't have addresses which does not allow them to have bank accounts and many other necessities. Also, if you buy a fridge you have to carry it all the way to your home from the main road.
• Currently there is a reform going on to give everyone in the favela an address and drive out all of the drug lords. My manager said this was to clean up for the World Cup and the Olympics.
• Next to the favela was the American school which was very expensive. At the other favela there were also giant houses next to the favela and the favela lowers the property value, but a lot of the people from the favela work in the large homes as housekeepers.
• We couldn't take pictures of some of the houses or people.
• Men were at the gates with AK47s.
• There are three gangs, Friends of Friends, Red Command, Third Command, with one gang having control over each favela.
• Back in 2004 there was a forty day gang war when Friends of Friends scaled the mountian side above Rocinha and invaded. No one was allowed to enter or leave the city for the forty days of fighting and now Friends of Friends has control. Also, McDonald's left (don't worry, there is still a Bob's Burgers in the favela).
• Each week a new gang war starts for control over one of the favelas.
• Crime, other than drug deals, is very rare in the favelas because they don't want anyone to commit a crime that could bring the cops into the favela. Therefore, if you live in the favela and commit a crime in the favela you are killed. I actually did not feel very unsafe while on the tour, partially due to the fact that we heard crime was rare, but also the fact that our tour guide knew many of the inhabitants and the people are proud of their culture and welcome tourists.
• The people in the favela use fireworks to communicate. Red fireworks signal danger while green and white signal a new shipment of marijuana and cocaine respectively.
• Everyone in Brazil is required to vote. Since many people in the favela are illiterate each candidate is given a number and voters type in that number at the voting booth and a picture of the candidate pops up.

Rocinha with its 200,000 inhabitants



Rio Day 2: Corcovado

Larger than Life

Saturday is what we called "Rio in one day." Being the travel warriors we are we did it all. We woke up rather early got some breakfast and then were off by taxi to the train station in order to catch the first train up to Corcovado; we wanted to make it there before it got crowded and was still clear. It was just perfect timing and the start to the perfect day.

Train up Corcovado. Great views.

View of Rio de Janeiro from Corcovado

The masses and lovely Rio de Janeiro

Classic

D Squad Picture

Me and Danny

Me and Laura-Travel Twins

(seriously, someone asked if we were twins)

The Deloitte interns taking in Rio atop Corcovado and bonding like we didn't just meet each other less than twelve hours ago

Sure I saw Christ the Redeemer but seeing the live wild monkey afterwards was the highlight of the morning

I have to say one of my favorite parts of the day was the fact that we weren't on a tight schedule and could just take a million photos in order to find the perfect Facebook profile picture and spend time just looking at the marvelous and famous sights of the world. After spending a lot of time taking it all in we went back down on the train and took a taxi to Copacabana. Our tour was meeting at the Copacabana Palace Hotel and it is one of the world's most famous hotels so we had to check it out. After all, it has a whole song about it.

We walked around and went to the pool and stopped in the bathroom. They had a bidet and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about so I went to turn it on (I was not sitting on it, just looking at it) and this stream came from the bottom and sprayed me in the face. And of course, since it was spraying in my eyes I couldn't figure out how to turn it off. It was one of those real life cartoon moments. A few seconds later I could out of the stall with my face all wet and Laura asks if I'm ok, but I assure her that I wasn't crying, just unfamiliar which French plumbing.

We met up and after paying ridiculous fees to go to a Brazilian ATM we found a place with a patio next to the beach for lunch. The food was mediocre and afterwards we walked along the famous mosaic path of Copacabana while making our way back to the Palace Hotel for our tour.

The Copacabana Palace Hotel

It may not seem like a big deal, but something about it just holds this mythical quality, like it is some glamorous paradise of Old Hollywood.