Sao Paulo Reports

[QUOTE=TheCane;2444955]And I appreciate you being man enough to issue a public apology. And you're right about most people. Too much talk and no action ...

Now, there's no question that speaking the local language enhances the entire overall experience. I know that one reason why Spain, pound for pound and inch for inch, is my favorite country in Europe is because I can speak the language and interact with people there on a whole other level. I wish I could do the same in Brazil, but I can't. I get by with whatever English and Spanish they can understand, whatever Portuguese I can understand, and my smart phone translator. During my last trip to Brazil, I wondered how in the world I ever survived without Google Translate LOL! Anyway, as I think people can see from some of my posts, I still manage to have a rocking good time in Brazil every single time I go there! Monger on my friends![/QUOTE]Appreciate it.

I love Spain as well, I usually spend at least a month there every year as I have family there.

Hopefully getting back to Brazil soon.

I have plans for SP in May, and Rio in July. We'll see how that goes.

I personally found the transition from spanish to portuguese fairly easy and enjoyable.

They are very similar, it's more of getting accustomed to the pronunciation.

With spanish, IMO, one can easily pronounce a word, seeing it written.

With portuguese, often times I needed a word to be verbalized to me to get it down.

Stay safe!

Correct me if you think I'm wrong but I believe that Brazil will be the first country to have its sex industry up and running post covid; even before Thailand, Colombia or Mexico.

[QUOTE=Turgid;2446174]Correct me if you think I'm wrong but I believe that Brazil will be the first country to have its sex industry up and running post covid; even before Thailand, Colombia or Mexico.[/QUOTE]It never really stopped except for the large clubs. $1 Rapid Covid test in development could open everything up. But HIV rapid test run at least $20. A $5 STD rapid panel would be a game changer.

[QUOTE=Turgid;2446174]Correct me if you think I'm wrong but I believe that Brazil will be the first country to have its sex industry up and running post covid; even before Thailand, Colombia or Mexico.[/QUOTE]The heading of this post is all I had to add, LOL!

[QUOTE=Turgid;2446174]Correct me if you think I'm wrong but I believe that Brazil will be the first country to have its sex industry up and running post covid; even before Thailand, Colombia or Mexico.[/QUOTE]It's be up and thriving! You could get your fav girl to crash with you thru the whole quarantine period. Many were charging monthly rates. Basically they move in with you for the duration. Mine did!

I wonder if my two bits might be helpful for the Porto-challenged? I don't find learning languages easy but after so many years in Br for months at a time some sort of ability became innate.

My thoughts.

A simply tape for one's first trip, listened to over and over on the plane. Then you at least can seem polite when you arrive and your bom dias and obrigados won't sound forced or incomprehensible. Bring a pocket phrase book. Speak gently. Not loud.

Pick a useful word or phrase before leaving the apartment each day. Use it as many times as you can before getting back that day.

If you can afford Pimsleur, just play it over while doing some chores. It will at least get you acclimatised to reasonable intonation. When you practice saying something, imagine you are Brazilian (sounds crazy but I found it helps to imitate the speech muscles the way the language is spoken). Only for speaking purposes, don't pretend to be Brazilian!

Cariocas are the best to listen to as they over-emphasise and dramatise and they are more expressive when talking, which helps to convey meaning.

After a week or two, hang out in low life bars. Drink cola. Other people will talk slower after a drink giving you slightly more time to understand. Stand at the bar even so you overhear conversations. Learn some slang, not rude stuff, and when it's used. Later, ask your chica or even a shop assistant to confirm if you are using it correctly. Only practice rude stuff during a session of course.

If you can get an ordinary chica to hang out with you who doesn't speak much English she will help as you'll have no choice but to learn some Porto.

There are two other groups of chicas broadly speaking who speak English. Ones who are educated (and can explain things) and ones that live or work in Copa. The Copa ones talk tourist town English. Otherwise, SaoPaulo.

Brazilian Portuguese evolves. They like making words up. Adding -inho or -inha to the end of words (as diminutive) is fun.

Enjoy.

This is great advice below on how and where to pick-up Portuguese. One caveat though: I did the Pimsleur audio courses after I had made many trips to Brazil. Pimsleur requires a bit more engagement. So one needs to be committed to making regular visits to Brazil to make it worthwhile.

And yes, hanging out with garotas who don't speak much English accelerates learning the language.

Yep, Pimsleur is a pretty good Portuguese language course and was what I started out with at first. I later moved on to use Michel Thomas Method (MTM) Portuguese course and found it a bit more explanatory in Portuguese conversational usage. MTM is a bit more Portugal Portuguese focused on pronunciation. Both are good to purchase and you won't be disappointed with either.

If you're not sure which one to go with, you may be able to test drive copies at your local library.

[QUOTE=Spidy;2446573]If you're not sure which one to go with, you may be able to test drive copies at your local library.[/QUOTE]Haha, TD is a term the locals use.

Have you test driven your favorite librarian?

I landed in SP this week and at GRU airport masks were optional and half the airport is closed. Kinda scary and the government just extended the entry restriction to May 28. I can see the Real hitting 6.0.

I thought they would give me hard time at the passport checkpoint but the girl did not say a word to me with my BR document. Seems the guys at passport check want to ask questions more.

[QUOTE=Hobbying;2447439]I landed in SP this week and at GRU airport masks were optional and half the airport is closed. Kinda scary and the government just extended the entry restriction to May 28. I can see the Real hitting 6.0.

I thought they would give me hard time at the passport checkpoint but the girl did not say a word to me with my BR document. Seems the guys at passport check want to ask questions more.[/QUOTE]According to embassy entry is closed except for people in these categories.

Brazilian citizens, born or naturalized.

Permanent residents of Brazil.

Foreign professionals employed by a non-governmental aid organization recognized by the Brazilian government.

Foreign officials accredited by the Brazilian government.

Spouse, domestic partner, son or daughter, father or mother, or caregiver of a Brazilian citizen.

Any person whose entrance into Brazil is deemed by the government to be in the public interest.

Travelers in transit in one of the following categories:

Cargo delivery.

International passengers making a connection who do not leave the international transit area.

Passengers required to disembark for aircraft refueling or repairs.

Flight crews.

Are you in one of those categories or are you suggesting they are not enforcing these restrictions?

[QUOTE=Rovnak;2447810]According to embassy entry is closed except for people in these categories.

Brazilian citizens, born or naturalized.

Permanent residents of Brazil.

Foreign professionals employed by a non-governmental aid organization recognized by the Brazilian government.

Foreign officials accredited by the Brazilian government.

Spouse, domestic partner, son or daughter, father or mother, or caregiver of a Brazilian citizen.

Any person whose entrance into Brazil is deemed by the government to be in the public interest.

Travelers in transit in one of the following categories:

Cargo delivery.

International passengers making a connection who do not leave the international transit area.

Passengers required to disembark for aircraft refueling or repairs.

Flight crews.

Are you in one of those categories or are you suggesting they are not enforcing these restrictions?[/QUOTE]In my original post I said I gave them my BR document so yes I am in one of those categories.

According to the US consulate in BR, it is extended to May 28 but it does not say May 28 on the BR Consulate website. Need to confirm the date.

[QUOTE=Hobbying;2447862]In my original post I said I gave them my BR document so yes I am in one of those categories.

According to the US consulate in BR, it is extended to May 28 but it does not say May 28 on the BR Consulate website. Need to confirm the date.[/QUOTE]Sorry that was not clear in your first post that is why I asked for clarification. Any type of visa, even a tourist visa can be considered a "BR document", so "BR document was ambiguous and I was confused, as there have been conflicting reports on this site re travel.

Cheers.

[QUOTE=Rovnak;2447810]According to embassy entry is closed except for people in these categories.

Brazilian citizens, born or naturalized.

Permanent residents of Brazil.

Foreign professionals employed by a non-governmental aid organization recognized by the Brazilian government.

Foreign officials accredited by the Brazilian government.

Spouse, domestic partner, son or daughter, father or mother, or caregiver of a Brazilian citizen.

Any person whose entrance into Brazil is deemed by the government to be in the public interest.

Travelers in transit in one of the following categories:

Cargo delivery.

International passengers making a connection who do not leave the international transit area.

Passengers required to disembark for aircraft refueling or repairs.

Flight crews.

Are you in one of those categories or are you suggesting they are not enforcing these restrictions?[/QUOTE]Hopefully, in addition to your helpful post, the following link will help others have a clear perspective on those details. Plus it basically includes information from the majority of countries within the world, not just Brazil. Just scroll down to whatever country you are interested in. [URL]https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm[/URL].

BTW, Brazil has extended there ban on allowing regular tourists from entering Brazil for an additional 30 days from the original closure, which now goes to the 28th of May. That being said, who is to say they may have another extension after that depending on the statistics and the flattening of the curve. Hope this helps.

[QUOTE=WyattEarp;2446730] haha, TD is a term the locals use.

Have you test driven your favorite librarian?[/QUOTE]I too absolutely love the Brazilian colloquial term 'test drive' and decided long ago to co-opt it as my own...haha.

But speaking of 'librarians', reminds me (back in the day 2004?) of a short thin morena cutie in Fortaleza with average looks and a [b] very nice rack [/b] (I won't soon forget), that I lived with for about a month, who was studying to become a history teacher and just loved the library. Well not exactly 'test driving' my favorite librarian as you put it, but close enough...kkk

Thanks for the memories!! I hadn't thought about her in a while...Ahhh, yes that rack of hers!!!...kkk

[i][center]Liberian girl
You came and you changed my world
A love so brand new
Liberian girl
You came and you changed my world
A feeling so true
. . .
"Do you love me"
And he says so endlessly
"I love you, Liberian girl"[/center][/i][i][b][right]....MJ R.I.P. [/b][/right][/i]