Brazil...... So far

Ok, first off I've finally started to really work in Brazil after training my butt off basically since I arrived, I like the river a lot, it keeps me interested and on m toes, and the look in your customers faces when they realize that you really don't speak Portuguese out side of rafting commands(that I do poorly) is as priceless as you think it would be...... which is nice:-)

Impression of Brazilian people so far, is as we say in the south "good people" they are generally friendly and as soon as they find out I'm American they want to ask a lot of question in Portuguese which I really don't understand...... the guys that I work with here in Brazil are a bunch of really cool guys. and they are CRAZY, I could probably write a book about some of the shenanigans that have taken place over this past week, but I guess I'll just write them here instead.... :0)

Any way some funny stuff, first off talk about an awkward work environment when you really can't communicate with your fellow coworkers and your boss... body language takes on a whole new meaning. first off the Boss a early 40's brazilian man that is the second craziest person I've met since I've been in Brazil, he likes me being around I think for one main reason I speak english and I think he want to have his guides learn it and he himself learn it.

An example of this one of his guides Michael who is the craziest person that I've met since getting to brazil, Only knew the word "Beer!" when I first met him, which he knows well and repeats often whenever he ad myself have communication issues.... which is all the time, with that being said I think he is picking up on english from me faster then I'm learning Portuguese from everyone else, that might be because portuguese has 2 different words that all mean the same thing(2 different words for: Stop, forward, backward.. ect)

"example conversation: Me: what do you need me to help with next (in English) Michael: ????? Beer, Beer, Beer!!!!

but it's a fun and relaxed work environment and am looking forward to spending the next month and a half here that I have remaining. which for some odd reason feels like it's forever and a half off but I still don't know what happened to my last 3 weeks and where they went ???????


anyway it's nearing mid-night local time so I need try and adjust to this time zone.

Until next time

-Jason