I feel I have hit a milestone, that’s right… I am so darn proud of myself that it has come to this. When your blog actually gets readers, there comes along with those readers, questions or concerns about a topic. It will happen on occasion (but hopefully not very often) that you have to retract, adjust, explain or make less complicated something you have posted. So, I have hit that milestone (applause). I have found it necessary to EXPLAIN a bit more about the post titled “Visiting a Dr. in Brazil”.
Here were the issues that a few readers brought to my attention, and I feel that some things need clarification, not justification, just plain old clarification.
The example I gave of a “regular” Dr. office visit in the USA, was based on my “Personal” experience. I NEVER once had a consultation at a Dr.'s office that was a converted home. In fact, the only time I had any type of appointment in a home was when I was taking piano lessons ( a nightmare I would like to forget). So, I was speaking based on experience. As was mentioned by a reader, in the past, there were a lot of homes that were Dr.'s offices. So, for people my parents age, it must not seem as strange, but as things develop you would naturally assume that as people see the “Office” advance to structures such as clinics built as clinics and not as homes. With the change, you would expect to see attitudes change as well, and even though the service provided is of the same level, you would see a prejudice or preference for something that “feels” modern. Or am I wrong?
This might not be the best example, but when I was back home visiting family last November, and I was riding home from the flea market with my brothers. My brother's phone rang and his little girl was on the phone. She was all excited about getting this “Old Fashioned” candy bar. She told him all about it, how it came in a foil wrapper and how cool that was. It turned out it was a Symphony Bar… the very same candy we ate as teenagers. To us, it was a bar we ate as kids, yet to her it was this “old fashioned” candy and it was so different that it was exciting to her to experience eating it. So, I guess you could say that the experience of sitting in a converted home, waiting to be called to the old kitchen to see the Dr. was like me holding an “old fashioned” candy bar. It was so strange, interesting… but will I like it? Is it as good? I don’t know… because I have never experienced it.
The second clarification I need to make is about the Brazilian example I gave. I had a comment from a Brazilian who said… “I have never had a Dr.'s appointment in a home, that makes it sound really bad. “. I then stopped to think about why my experience would be so entirely different from that of a Brazilian. I mean, I have been to about 15 different doctors and all but one was in a house. I then realized that there must be something about the way a Brazilian sees the building. I think they are viewing it as a clinic because that is what they know. It doesn't remind them of a home. I hope I was clear with one thing though, the doctor does not work from home, but the office is a converted home. That means, at some point the place was used as a home or was built as a home originally. At some point the home went through renovations to become an office. I guess though to a Brazilian this isn't always as evident as it is to someone who is not used to it.
As I sit here writing this, I am waiting for Mariana outside of an “office”. The office was obviously once a home, you can tell it is a home because there is a bathtub in the bathroom. And believe me… a bathtub in a home in Brazil is a rare thing, so in a Dr.'s office, it is an even stranger fixture. I look up the street and there are 6 Doctor's offices and every single one of them is in a home. They are Clinics, built in what was once a personal house.
Just like in the USA, depending on the amount of money you have, you can have a completely different experience. In Brazil just like the USA, money talks. If you have nothing, your service is different than if you can pay for a private doctor to give you bedside treatment in your own home.
In Brazil they have had free public health care (I will post about it some other time, since it is a topic that is interesting to me. ) as well as expensive private insurance. If you have money, you can afford modern and advanced health-care. However, that does NOT take away from the FACT that MANY doctors still practice from CONVERTED homes.
One last point I would like to clarify is when I talked about Dr.’s not giving proper examinations. I have walked away from several appointments feeling like the doctor only listened and did not look. That is MY experience. I have also had the same problem in the states on occasion. I do have two really good doctors who do a complete exam each time I go to the office. That type of treatment is what I am used to from doctors. I didn’t mean that all doctors only listen and don’t examine, It all depends on the quality of Dr. I recently went to a stomach doctor (the same one who sent me for a colonoscopy) and she never once sat me on her table to push, poke or do any type of exam. It was all verbal. However the first stomach doctor I went to was very good and did a complete exam. So, each doctor is a separate case.
So, in all of this… I just want to make it very clear, I don’t feel like there is a lack of education or lack of experience with doctors here. If you get sick in Brazil, you are going to have a good level of care, you won’t be left to die or have to worry any more or less about malpractice. It is just a different experience for me, and sort of like holding that “old fashioned” candy bar… it‘s “old fashioned“ nature makes it something "new" for me to experience.
Medical tests update.
I have now completed the mountain of tests I had to take to find out what is causing pain in the abdomen as well as dizziness. I have not seen the doctor but I have been able to look at some of the test results.
Ultrasound - shows multiple microcysts in both ovaries, a grade 3 tipped uterus that is putting pressure on the colon and tailbone (might explain some issues).
MRI- have not got the results back.
Hearing and balance test: Nothing wrong with my hearing or any of the other 15 things they checked that day. They put a gun in my ear that shot hot and cold air as well as noise and that made me soooooo dizzy and I was sick the whole next day.
Colonoscopy- I suffered a lot during the 48 hours of liquid diet, the test part was a breeze. They found a polyp that has been removed and is being sent for tests.
So, what I have left to do is the Endometriosis tests. As well as get the results back from the MRI and one other exam I did.
Conclusion- I don't have one yet, but I will let you know when I do.
Ultrasound - shows multiple microcysts in both ovaries, a grade 3 tipped uterus that is putting pressure on the colon and tailbone (might explain some issues).
MRI- have not got the results back.
Hearing and balance test: Nothing wrong with my hearing or any of the other 15 things they checked that day. They put a gun in my ear that shot hot and cold air as well as noise and that made me soooooo dizzy and I was sick the whole next day.
Colonoscopy- I suffered a lot during the 48 hours of liquid diet, the test part was a breeze. They found a polyp that has been removed and is being sent for tests.
So, what I have left to do is the Endometriosis tests. As well as get the results back from the MRI and one other exam I did.
Conclusion- I don't have one yet, but I will let you know when I do.
Phonetics.... my nightmare!
So, here is something personal, not a lot of people know about me... I am was terrible at English phonetics!
I was reminded of this the other day when I realized that my spelling in Portuguese is much better than my spelling in English. I also find Portuguese Phonetics much easier than English. I really don't know what part of my brain wasn't working in grade school, but it was such a nightmare for me.
In grade school, I had to attend special classes for a few hours a day because I had a little bit of dyslexia as well as I was having a big issue with phonetics. It was more ammunition for the kids who were already taunting me about my leg braces. I got a lot of snickers and heckles about having to leave class for a few hours to attend the "special" class. It was difficult and I hated being called out of class like that, but it was worth it. I ended up having to learn to read by the EVIL "sight words". I had to memorize what a word looked like in order to know what it was. I could not just "sound it out" as I was being told to do. Learning to read this way did complicate things for a while, when a word I had never seen would appear, I was lost. I guess my brain adjusted over the few years I was attending the class and both the dyslexia and the phonetic issues dissipated. I could phonetically sound things out, but sight words were the start I needed.
So, 20 years later and I am speaking my 3rd language and I am starting to realize that the phonetics of English language are much more difficult than both Spanish and Portuguese. Portuguese doesn't have the massive list of rules for decoding the phonetics like English does. When I use phonetics in Portuguese, it makes sense! I think English Phonetics are complicated by the foreign language influences. We have adopted so many foreign words and changed the spellings to fit our own tongue that they become difficult to identify, pronounce and spell, we then have to create phonetic decoding rules to adjust. Phonetics in the English language work, but only to a certain extent. You step beyond the basic English words and things get very complicated and letter combination in one word can sound completely different in another word.
Portuguese is a difficult language to learn, but I can attest to it being phonetically easier than English... and that is about it.
I was reminded of this the other day when I realized that my spelling in Portuguese is much better than my spelling in English. I also find Portuguese Phonetics much easier than English. I really don't know what part of my brain wasn't working in grade school, but it was such a nightmare for me.
In grade school, I had to attend special classes for a few hours a day because I had a little bit of dyslexia as well as I was having a big issue with phonetics. It was more ammunition for the kids who were already taunting me about my leg braces. I got a lot of snickers and heckles about having to leave class for a few hours to attend the "special" class. It was difficult and I hated being called out of class like that, but it was worth it. I ended up having to learn to read by the EVIL "sight words". I had to memorize what a word looked like in order to know what it was. I could not just "sound it out" as I was being told to do. Learning to read this way did complicate things for a while, when a word I had never seen would appear, I was lost. I guess my brain adjusted over the few years I was attending the class and both the dyslexia and the phonetic issues dissipated. I could phonetically sound things out, but sight words were the start I needed.
So, 20 years later and I am speaking my 3rd language and I am starting to realize that the phonetics of English language are much more difficult than both Spanish and Portuguese. Portuguese doesn't have the massive list of rules for decoding the phonetics like English does. When I use phonetics in Portuguese, it makes sense! I think English Phonetics are complicated by the foreign language influences. We have adopted so many foreign words and changed the spellings to fit our own tongue that they become difficult to identify, pronounce and spell, we then have to create phonetic decoding rules to adjust. Phonetics in the English language work, but only to a certain extent. You step beyond the basic English words and things get very complicated and letter combination in one word can sound completely different in another word.
Portuguese is a difficult language to learn, but I can attest to it being phonetically easier than English... and that is about it.
Visiting a Dr. in Brazil.
I thought about writing this a few times, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to articulate exactly what it is like to visit a doctor in Brazil. There are so many things that are different and the whole experience is something you must try yourself to appreciate the differences in how things are done.
My first experience at a doctor's office here in Brazil was quite strange. I felt really uncomfortable with the whole experience and was not really sure what to think. I had many illnesses as a child and when I developed Legg- Calvé- Perthes syndrome, I spent a whole lot of time in and out of the doctor's office. I think my experience with the medical world as a child, made it much more difficult to accept the differences in the way things are done here in Brazil.
I think a typical American experience at the Dr's office goes something like this... ( maybe my Brazilian friends might find this different) You make an appointment with the Dr. who is a general practitioner. You arrive at the clinic (generally a building specific for the doctor or a group of doctors) and announce your arrival at the reception desk. You wait in a large and usually spacious waiting room, fill out your forms (if there are any to fill out). There might be a small play area for the kids as well as chairs for the adults. You are then called back to the doctors area, where you enter one of several exam rooms. You wait in the exam room until the doctor sees you. Sometimes your wait in the exam room can take as long as the wait in the waiting room. The Dr, comes in (usually you are sitting on the bed or in a chair) he sits on his little chair in front of you. If there is a desk it is usually up against a wall and not usually used as a barrier between him and the patient. The Dr. spends most of his time next to you, asking questions and examining you. Then he either orders some tests or writes a prescription. If he orders tests, most of the time the x-ray's and blood work are taken in the same office on the same day. If it is an exam which allows you to have results in a few minutes, he will send you off to do that. You will then return to the room and wait for him to return with your result. You get the results and any prescriptions or medical preparations are given at the moment. If you need to see a specialist, you are given a referral at that time. You leave the room walking past all the other patients rooms where the doctor has now returned to attending. The doctor usually has several rooms with patients and he/she goes from one room to another attending several patients in the hour.
The Brazilian Dr. Office experiences that I have had. You need to make a general guess of what you think your problem might be. Look up a specialist in that area (whom your insurance works with), make an appointment. If they are a good doctor, you can expect a few weeks to months of wait. If you have no clue what your problem is, you go to a general practitioner for them to guess it for you.
You arrive at the clinic but instead of the idea of a special building, most clinics are just regular homes (see image) that have the rooms inside equipt with the medical equipment. This was something difficult for me, It was very different to be walking into a house and not a clinic. Then you speak to the receptionist and are seated in a small waiting room. Usually the living room or even entry way of a small house. Then you are called back to see the doctor. The doctor is always seated behind a desk and contact with the doctor is minimal. You are the only patient he has at the time, and there is only one office where he has patients in and out of. You talk about your issues with the doctor and he goes on typing or writing what you say. Then, he might or might not examine you, based on what he thinks it might be. You will then receive a prescription or an order for tests. Most offices do not have the x-ray machines or any diagnosing equipment, so you must go to a third source to take these tests. You can talk about any and all of your medical problems with the specialist and they will treat or send you to be treated for each thing. For example, I went to an endocrinologist and she then told me who I should see for my skin problems as well as my hip problems. The following visits with the endocrinologist included me giving her updates on those other issues as well. So, there is no need to make separate appointments to speak about separate issues.
You take your prescriptions and requests for blood work or x-rays to the third source (usually a specialized clinic in diagnostics). You then wait for several days for the results. You pick up the results and take them to your next scheduled appointment with your doctor.
One interesting thing that never happened to me in the USA is that I am the one who keeps all my x-rays and all my exam results. The doctor only looks at them, makes notes and then returns them to me before I leave the office. I have a little stack of all my exams an x-rays here in my closet. No need to ask the doctor for a medical history report.
So, the things that were very difficult for me. The office being a home can seem very informal and can cause you to make a judgment about the doctor based on the condition of the home. I have only one Dr. who I see in an actual clinic that was built for that purpose, the rest are all in converted homes. I mean, seriously... the only doctors I knew who did work from a house were the doctors who lost their license and were hiding the practice. Another issue is the doctor sitting behind a desk and not very interactive with the patient during the consultation. This can seem a little intimidating and a bit formal. I also don't like having to get my exams done by a 3rd source and not being able to walk down the hall to get my x-ray done.
Things I like. I like that the doctor has devoted attention to me, he isn't running off to attend another patient down the hall, and I don't wait for him, he waits for me. I like that I don't need a referral, I can go straight to the specialist (if you know what your problem is this can cut down several weeks of waiting to solve the issue). I like that I get to keep my exam results and I like that I can take a look at them any old time I want. It comes in handy when I try to explain to people that I have less than half my hip left. Somehow an x-ray is worth a thousand words in that case.
So, tell me what you think? Would these things bug you? Would you be able to take a doctor seriously if you were being attended in a converted bedroom, bathroom, kitchen?
My first experience at a doctor's office here in Brazil was quite strange. I felt really uncomfortable with the whole experience and was not really sure what to think. I had many illnesses as a child and when I developed Legg- Calvé- Perthes syndrome, I spent a whole lot of time in and out of the doctor's office. I think my experience with the medical world as a child, made it much more difficult to accept the differences in the way things are done here in Brazil.
I think a typical American experience at the Dr's office goes something like this... ( maybe my Brazilian friends might find this different) You make an appointment with the Dr. who is a general practitioner. You arrive at the clinic (generally a building specific for the doctor or a group of doctors) and announce your arrival at the reception desk. You wait in a large and usually spacious waiting room, fill out your forms (if there are any to fill out). There might be a small play area for the kids as well as chairs for the adults. You are then called back to the doctors area, where you enter one of several exam rooms. You wait in the exam room until the doctor sees you. Sometimes your wait in the exam room can take as long as the wait in the waiting room. The Dr, comes in (usually you are sitting on the bed or in a chair) he sits on his little chair in front of you. If there is a desk it is usually up against a wall and not usually used as a barrier between him and the patient. The Dr. spends most of his time next to you, asking questions and examining you. Then he either orders some tests or writes a prescription. If he orders tests, most of the time the x-ray's and blood work are taken in the same office on the same day. If it is an exam which allows you to have results in a few minutes, he will send you off to do that. You will then return to the room and wait for him to return with your result. You get the results and any prescriptions or medical preparations are given at the moment. If you need to see a specialist, you are given a referral at that time. You leave the room walking past all the other patients rooms where the doctor has now returned to attending. The doctor usually has several rooms with patients and he/she goes from one room to another attending several patients in the hour.
The Brazilian Dr. Office experiences that I have had. You need to make a general guess of what you think your problem might be. Look up a specialist in that area (whom your insurance works with), make an appointment. If they are a good doctor, you can expect a few weeks to months of wait. If you have no clue what your problem is, you go to a general practitioner for them to guess it for you.
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| Doctors Office. |
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| Waiting Room. |
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| The Doctors Consultation. |
You take your prescriptions and requests for blood work or x-rays to the third source (usually a specialized clinic in diagnostics). You then wait for several days for the results. You pick up the results and take them to your next scheduled appointment with your doctor.
One interesting thing that never happened to me in the USA is that I am the one who keeps all my x-rays and all my exam results. The doctor only looks at them, makes notes and then returns them to me before I leave the office. I have a little stack of all my exams an x-rays here in my closet. No need to ask the doctor for a medical history report.
So, the things that were very difficult for me. The office being a home can seem very informal and can cause you to make a judgment about the doctor based on the condition of the home. I have only one Dr. who I see in an actual clinic that was built for that purpose, the rest are all in converted homes. I mean, seriously... the only doctors I knew who did work from a house were the doctors who lost their license and were hiding the practice. Another issue is the doctor sitting behind a desk and not very interactive with the patient during the consultation. This can seem a little intimidating and a bit formal. I also don't like having to get my exams done by a 3rd source and not being able to walk down the hall to get my x-ray done.
Things I like. I like that the doctor has devoted attention to me, he isn't running off to attend another patient down the hall, and I don't wait for him, he waits for me. I like that I don't need a referral, I can go straight to the specialist (if you know what your problem is this can cut down several weeks of waiting to solve the issue). I like that I get to keep my exam results and I like that I can take a look at them any old time I want. It comes in handy when I try to explain to people that I have less than half my hip left. Somehow an x-ray is worth a thousand words in that case.
So, tell me what you think? Would these things bug you? Would you be able to take a doctor seriously if you were being attended in a converted bedroom, bathroom, kitchen?
Only read if you have a strong stomach.
Here is where my personal life is going to get really mixed up in my blog.
I have had a battery of tests the past few days and tomorrow evening it will all end with a bang as I get my first ever colonoscopy. I was given a piece of paper that told me what I have to do to prepare my bowls. The last time I ate was last night and I won't be eating anything solid again until almost 48 hours later. I think the thing that scares me the most is not the exam (since I will be sedated for that it doesn't scare me) but the preparation. Basically I have to survive on liquids and laxatives for 48 hours.
It makes me wonder... How, when someone gives a hoot, we can make amazing advancements in medical treatment, but when nobody cares, and there is no funding, we are stuck with "whatever works the best". I find it amazing that we can break up kidney stones with lasers, make major heart and organ repairs with keyhole surgery, but I still have to sit on the toilet for 2 days to have someone look at my colon. I could have my hip replaced and be in my recovery bed in the amount of time it takes me to clean out my bowel for someone to have a look.
I guess the whole prospect of 2 days of no eating is the most scary when you have blood sugar issues. I have really bad sugar drops about 2 to 3 hours after I eat. I am really scared I am going to have a drop during the next 48 hours.
I guess I should just stop worrying about it and get on with it... but then again, that just isn't how my head works.
I will see you all later with an update.
I have had a battery of tests the past few days and tomorrow evening it will all end with a bang as I get my first ever colonoscopy. I was given a piece of paper that told me what I have to do to prepare my bowls. The last time I ate was last night and I won't be eating anything solid again until almost 48 hours later. I think the thing that scares me the most is not the exam (since I will be sedated for that it doesn't scare me) but the preparation. Basically I have to survive on liquids and laxatives for 48 hours.
It makes me wonder... How, when someone gives a hoot, we can make amazing advancements in medical treatment, but when nobody cares, and there is no funding, we are stuck with "whatever works the best". I find it amazing that we can break up kidney stones with lasers, make major heart and organ repairs with keyhole surgery, but I still have to sit on the toilet for 2 days to have someone look at my colon. I could have my hip replaced and be in my recovery bed in the amount of time it takes me to clean out my bowel for someone to have a look.
I guess the whole prospect of 2 days of no eating is the most scary when you have blood sugar issues. I have really bad sugar drops about 2 to 3 hours after I eat. I am really scared I am going to have a drop during the next 48 hours.
I guess I should just stop worrying about it and get on with it... but then again, that just isn't how my head works.
I will see you all later with an update.
All I want for Christmas is... Hot water and sun!
I have found myself walking from spot to spot in the house and yard the past few days. I am searching for sun to warm me up. Since most places here don't have heating, it gets a bit nippy during the winter.
I guess the reason most people don't bother putting heaters in the home is because winter is so short, and heating is so expensive.
I talked about showers in a previous post, so you can read about them there. My shower has gone out 2 times this winter and we are going to buy a new one tomorrow. The electric unit in this one burnt out because we were trying to get the water hot enough in that cold bathroom. The only setting on it that works is "warm" and that doesn't help when your whole bathroom is tile and freezing cold. We end up having to turn the pressure down so low that quite frankly I can spit more than comes out of the shower head at that point. So, tomorrow is payday and I am off to buy a new one.
By the time Christmas rolls around, I will be at the beach complaining that the water is too hot! :D
I guess the reason most people don't bother putting heaters in the home is because winter is so short, and heating is so expensive.
I talked about showers in a previous post, so you can read about them there. My shower has gone out 2 times this winter and we are going to buy a new one tomorrow. The electric unit in this one burnt out because we were trying to get the water hot enough in that cold bathroom. The only setting on it that works is "warm" and that doesn't help when your whole bathroom is tile and freezing cold. We end up having to turn the pressure down so low that quite frankly I can spit more than comes out of the shower head at that point. So, tomorrow is payday and I am off to buy a new one.
By the time Christmas rolls around, I will be at the beach complaining that the water is too hot! :D
Where is my change?
I purchased my fresh baked bread from the "padaria" (bakery) yesterday. I gave the cashier a R$ 1.00 note and expected 17 cents back. What I got back from him were two small pieces of candy. I stuffed the candy in my pocket and headed back home. I am totally used to this by now, and receiving two pieces of candy is sometimes better than getting stuck with no change at all. In Brazil there is a coin shortage. The banks never coin enough change. So, a way that some merchants deal with the problem is by giving you back something of equal value thus the two pieces of candy, each cost 10 cents.
The one cent coin is the most scarce and the government stopped production of them and so most retailers just round up the price to the nearest .5 or .10.
Now, I don't know what you get if you are a diabetic, but something tells me, you don't get special treatment. It is generally accepted that you will get short changed at the market. It adds up though. My friend's father saved up all the pieces of candy he got from the padaria for 3 months and took them all back to the padaria and told the manager, ok, now here is your candy there is 15 bucks worth of candy here, I want my cash. The owner didn't accept them back, but ever since then, they have been very good about not giving him candy for change.
So, if you happen to be in Brazil and get a hand full of candy back as change, you know why.
The one cent coin is the most scarce and the government stopped production of them and so most retailers just round up the price to the nearest .5 or .10.
Now, I don't know what you get if you are a diabetic, but something tells me, you don't get special treatment. It is generally accepted that you will get short changed at the market. It adds up though. My friend's father saved up all the pieces of candy he got from the padaria for 3 months and took them all back to the padaria and told the manager, ok, now here is your candy there is 15 bucks worth of candy here, I want my cash. The owner didn't accept them back, but ever since then, they have been very good about not giving him candy for change.
So, if you happen to be in Brazil and get a hand full of candy back as change, you know why.
Comida Mineira
I don't know how she does it, but every once in a while Mariana is able to convince her Dad to cook according to her whim. This time it was Brazilian comfort food. Comida Mineira (Food from the region of Minas Gerais) is the beating heart of Brazilian cuisine.. Food from this region is considered comfort food for many Brazilians.
Here is a look at what we had this Sunday.
Virado: Prepared with beans that are cooked then recooked or refried with fat, salt, onions and garlic. You then add manioc flour until it absorbs all the juice.
In Brazil many dishes have a traditional day that they are served. This dish is usually served on a Monday. There are many variations to this dish.
Lombo de porco: There isn't much science to this dish, but if done right, you will end up with a delicious and tender meat. The dish is.. Pork loin, usually prepared with butter, salt, pepper, lemon or lime juice and potatoes.
(left) Farofa: Is a very popular Brazilian dish. It is used as an accompaniment to meat. It usually enhances the meat flavor as well as adds a toasted smokey taste to the meat. Farofa is mainly made with manioc flour, but is typically enhanced with bacon fat, bacon, sausage, corn, boiled eggs and onions.
The origin of the dish is registered as the colonial period about 1500 when the first people from Portugal started to arrive. The dish has remained a popular dish because of its great flavor. It is a very inexpensive and easy dish to make, as well.
(center) Linguiça Calabresa: Sausage, but not the breakfast ones we are used to in the states. This sausage to me is much more similar to pepperoni in texture but not taste. Calabresa is really difficult for me to describe the taste, but it tastes delicious. It is typically fried with onions and served as is or on bread.
(right) Torresmo: Fried pork rinds. It isn't typical to only fry the skin like it is in the states. Torresmo usually contains the skin, a layer of fat, some meat and more fat. It is deep fried and served up hot and crispy just like the British Pork Crackling.
Couve: This dish reminds me of the South in the USA and I love it! It is made of thinly sliced leafs of collard greens. The greens are fried in fat with bacon, salt and garlic. This is a very traditional dish and is normally served with any one of the dishes described above. It has a wonderful flavor that just enhances the whole Mineira experience.
Anyone want to come over for dinner next Sunday?
Here is a look at what we had this Sunday.
 |
| Left to right. Virado, Lombo de porco (top), Farofa (bottom), Linguiça calabresa,Torresmo, Couve (not shown here) |
In Brazil many dishes have a traditional day that they are served. This dish is usually served on a Monday. There are many variations to this dish.
Lombo de porco: There isn't much science to this dish, but if done right, you will end up with a delicious and tender meat. The dish is.. Pork loin, usually prepared with butter, salt, pepper, lemon or lime juice and potatoes.
 |
| Click here for larger image. |
The origin of the dish is registered as the colonial period about 1500 when the first people from Portugal started to arrive. The dish has remained a popular dish because of its great flavor. It is a very inexpensive and easy dish to make, as well.
(center) Linguiça Calabresa: Sausage, but not the breakfast ones we are used to in the states. This sausage to me is much more similar to pepperoni in texture but not taste. Calabresa is really difficult for me to describe the taste, but it tastes delicious. It is typically fried with onions and served as is or on bread.
(right) Torresmo: Fried pork rinds. It isn't typical to only fry the skin like it is in the states. Torresmo usually contains the skin, a layer of fat, some meat and more fat. It is deep fried and served up hot and crispy just like the British Pork Crackling.
Anyone want to come over for dinner next Sunday?
Walking update...
Ok... just to update you, I am still walking 3 times a week. Today was killer. I decided to do the body for life way, where you increase your speed for so many minutes. IT KILLED ME! It still feels good though. It is funny how I wake up and think, oh after I go for a walk, I will stop and McDonalds and have a drink. Once I get done walking, I want nothing to do with McDonalds. It happens almost every morning that I get up to go. I have not once stopped at McDonalds, but I totally go with that in my mind.
By the way... McDonalds is expensive here. I actually have to pay a lot of money to get fat. So, I have no idea how this happened ;)
By the way... McDonalds is expensive here. I actually have to pay a lot of money to get fat. So, I have no idea how this happened ;)
The Beast!
Yesterday I posted about laundry and I mentioned I wanted a dryer. It reminded me that my mom still has not seen a picture of "The Beast", so I will take care of that problem now. The Beast is what I lovingly call my washing machine. It is a nice little story about how I came to own it.
When I first moved to Brazil, I was not fully aware of how things worked here, despite having lived here before for a few years. There were still things I had never come across in the past. I had no idea that washing machines were sold by how many kilos of clothes they would wash. The washer I purchased seemed a bit small in size but I assumed it was just the brand. I didn't pay much attention to anything but the price of the machine.
I got the washing machine delivered and started my first load of clothes. It was only then that I noticed how small the basket really was, and that the center agitator was not there. I could only really fit about 2 pants and 3 or 4 shirts at one time. I took out the manual and started to read up. I noticed on the manual a giant 4 kilos in a big circle. I thought... wow that is one light weight washer. I asked myself...hum, does the machine really only weigh 4 kilos ? I went out to the machine, tipped it back on two legs and thought, well it is kinda light. Closed the manual and kept using the washer. It broke after a few weeks of use, I had it repaired and was told it was a broken spring. Well the same thing kept happening over and over. Then I pulled out the manual about 3 months into using the machine to look at some odd ball thing I was curious about. It was only then that Mariana pointed to the cover and said, wow it only washes 4 kilos of clothes at a time. Talk about a DOH moment. (insert sound effect) ;)
So, my new machine (now out of return date). was basically only good for washing a few items. I was trying to wash blankets and towels and jeans in the poor thing. I was stuck with it, because I had paid almost a grand for it. I used it for 4 years, it sat dormant for 1 year because I got to the point I could not stand it. I washed clothes by hand for a year before Mariana and I could get up enough money to buy an new one. It may not seem like a big deal, but it was a huge deal for me.
So, we took advantage of every cent we had to spend and we purchased "The Beast". She is actually a beauty but because she washes 15 kilos of clothes, I lovingly call her "The Beast". I was totally giddy when I got the machine home, I spent all week trying to overfill it. I can wash two massive blankets at one time, not that I needed to do it, I just did it because I could. Ha ha ha. I love it!
PS... don't make fun of the fact she is not a front loader... I worked at Sears and would never buy a front loader! :) Here she is...
When I first moved to Brazil, I was not fully aware of how things worked here, despite having lived here before for a few years. There were still things I had never come across in the past. I had no idea that washing machines were sold by how many kilos of clothes they would wash. The washer I purchased seemed a bit small in size but I assumed it was just the brand. I didn't pay much attention to anything but the price of the machine.
I got the washing machine delivered and started my first load of clothes. It was only then that I noticed how small the basket really was, and that the center agitator was not there. I could only really fit about 2 pants and 3 or 4 shirts at one time. I took out the manual and started to read up. I noticed on the manual a giant 4 kilos in a big circle. I thought... wow that is one light weight washer. I asked myself...hum, does the machine really only weigh 4 kilos ? I went out to the machine, tipped it back on two legs and thought, well it is kinda light. Closed the manual and kept using the washer. It broke after a few weeks of use, I had it repaired and was told it was a broken spring. Well the same thing kept happening over and over. Then I pulled out the manual about 3 months into using the machine to look at some odd ball thing I was curious about. It was only then that Mariana pointed to the cover and said, wow it only washes 4 kilos of clothes at a time. Talk about a DOH moment. (insert sound effect) ;)
So, my new machine (now out of return date). was basically only good for washing a few items. I was trying to wash blankets and towels and jeans in the poor thing. I was stuck with it, because I had paid almost a grand for it. I used it for 4 years, it sat dormant for 1 year because I got to the point I could not stand it. I washed clothes by hand for a year before Mariana and I could get up enough money to buy an new one. It may not seem like a big deal, but it was a huge deal for me.
So, we took advantage of every cent we had to spend and we purchased "The Beast". She is actually a beauty but because she washes 15 kilos of clothes, I lovingly call her "The Beast". I was totally giddy when I got the machine home, I spent all week trying to overfill it. I can wash two massive blankets at one time, not that I needed to do it, I just did it because I could. Ha ha ha. I love it!
PS... don't make fun of the fact she is not a front loader... I worked at Sears and would never buy a front loader! :) Here she is...
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| I love you! |
Dirty Laundry.
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| Yes Mom, I'm rockin' the ASU shirt!!! |
I don't mind hanging out the laundry. I find it fascinating that on a really hot day, my clothes are bone dry in about 20 min. The problem is, when my hips start hurting... I can't stand there long enough to hang it. I have to be moving this hip around or it locks up on me. I know, I know, I already sound like I am 75.
The other drawback to hanging out my laundry ... my socks! I swear that the manufactures of socks must assume everyone owns a dryer. My socks don't regain shape and just get bigger and bigger each time I wash them. I can't stand it! almost all of my socks are now considered "stay at home" socks. I have to buy new socks every few weeks, and they are not cheap.
So, if you think about the fact that most Brazilians don't use a clothes dryer, you can imagine that it is a fairly common sight to see clothes hanging from lines as you drive down the streets. However, in most areas, the clothes line has tactfully been hidden in the back yard, but you will on occasion see this...
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| Laundry Day |
Garden Update.
It has only been a week and I have some seedlings growing. When I go to the room and open up the windows to give them some light each morning, I am totally excited to see how much they have grown. Every day there are some new ones poking out of the dirt.
I have to keep the door to the room shut, since last attempt at growing things was a disaster when Sasha (the dog) would make a snack of the little seedlings.
Here they are...
Can you guess the plants from the seedlings?
I have to keep the door to the room shut, since last attempt at growing things was a disaster when Sasha (the dog) would make a snack of the little seedlings.
Here they are...
Can you guess the plants from the seedlings?
Water in Brazil, to drink or not to drink?
I have had a few people ask me if the water is OK to drink here. That question gets a bit complicated when you take into consideration that MOST Brazilians drink filtered or bottled water. It is rare that you will be offered water from the tap. I can't speak for the states in the north of Brazil, but I can speak for the region I have been living in.
One thing you will find strange is that "cold" water isn't really as cold as we like it in the USA. I was used to having a glass of water that was 90 percent ice cubes before I moved here. It took me about 2 years to get used to the temperature of the water served here. If you buy water from a street vendor and ask for it "Bem Gelado" (very cold). You will get a bottle of water that has been sitting in water that may have at one point in the day had ice in it.
Most people believe that drinking anything cold will cause you to get sick, so it isn't very common for someone to ask for "Bem Gelado". The first few times I purchased water from a street vendor it was warm. I could not stomach drinking warm water. Nowadays, I keep a bottle of water in my room and drink it warm most of the time.
Something that is very common is for a household to have a terracotta water filter. The clay base usually keeps the water at a cooler temperature. I have not gotten used to the water from these filters yet. There is a slight after taste of moss. I think the pots tend to grow a moss over time and the water then tastes a bit like pond water. One of my friends said that is why she loves the water from the clay pot, because it tastes earthy. I don't know about that, but the water from the clay pots does mess with my intestines, so I avoid it when I can.
We buy our water like most businesses do in the states, we spend about 4 bucks to get a 20 liter jug delivered every week. The water jug is more popular than the clay pot filter nowadays, because it is cheaper and more readily available than it used to be.
So, to answer the question , to drink or not to drink... It depends on where in Brazil you are, if you are in the São Paulo region, It is very unlikely you will be offered water from the tap. Even if you ask for water at a restaurant, you get charged for a bottle. So go ahead and drink and don't forget to ask for "Bem Gelado". Outside of this region, I can't speak for, so don't write me if your trip is spoiled by a bad case of the runs.
One thing you will find strange is that "cold" water isn't really as cold as we like it in the USA. I was used to having a glass of water that was 90 percent ice cubes before I moved here. It took me about 2 years to get used to the temperature of the water served here. If you buy water from a street vendor and ask for it "Bem Gelado" (very cold). You will get a bottle of water that has been sitting in water that may have at one point in the day had ice in it.
Most people believe that drinking anything cold will cause you to get sick, so it isn't very common for someone to ask for "Bem Gelado". The first few times I purchased water from a street vendor it was warm. I could not stomach drinking warm water. Nowadays, I keep a bottle of water in my room and drink it warm most of the time.
We buy our water like most businesses do in the states, we spend about 4 bucks to get a 20 liter jug delivered every week. The water jug is more popular than the clay pot filter nowadays, because it is cheaper and more readily available than it used to be.
So, to answer the question , to drink or not to drink... It depends on where in Brazil you are, if you are in the São Paulo region, It is very unlikely you will be offered water from the tap. Even if you ask for water at a restaurant, you get charged for a bottle. So go ahead and drink and don't forget to ask for "Bem Gelado". Outside of this region, I can't speak for, so don't write me if your trip is spoiled by a bad case of the runs.
Yards in Brazil
It has taken me a while to get used to the Brazilian yard. I grew up in a small city in Utah and am used to houses with a bit of grass and property that surround them. In Brazil you have to leave the city to find a house with some green surrounding it. Even though we live in a tropical environment, city living is anything but GREEN.
I wanted to purchase a house with a little plot of land for me to grow a small garden. When I started looking for something, I realized that the only option is something outside the city limits. Inside the limits you only find houses that have small yards and they are completely tiled. So, instead of watering the yard, you wash the tile (a big chore if you ask me). If you go outside the city limits it is beautiful and green and very tropical looking, however you have to give up a lot to move there. If you live in these areas, you don't really have access to internet or cable TV. There is also a lot of crime that happens in these areas.
It sounds a little backwards from the USA. In the USA if you live in the country you don't usually see as much crime. However, here in Brazil, the opposite is true, because most of the houses in the country side are owned by people who have money. So the criminals are attracted to these areas because they can invade a property and hold people at gun point and loot an entire house and there is nobody around to catch them. They can usually make a clean getaway before the police even arrive.
So, the next option if you want a house with some property, is to purchase one in a gated community. You will be locked into paying the security fee each month and that can be very expensive. When I lived in Sao Paulo, I lived in an apartment that had a security fee of 500.00 a month. It is an expensive alternative, but still an option. This is actually the most popular choice of living here.
So, I will settle for this city house I am in, with a small square in the front yard for planting. It isn't perfect, it isn't the dream home, but it will do just fine.
I wanted to purchase a house with a little plot of land for me to grow a small garden. When I started looking for something, I realized that the only option is something outside the city limits. Inside the limits you only find houses that have small yards and they are completely tiled. So, instead of watering the yard, you wash the tile (a big chore if you ask me). If you go outside the city limits it is beautiful and green and very tropical looking, however you have to give up a lot to move there. If you live in these areas, you don't really have access to internet or cable TV. There is also a lot of crime that happens in these areas.
It sounds a little backwards from the USA. In the USA if you live in the country you don't usually see as much crime. However, here in Brazil, the opposite is true, because most of the houses in the country side are owned by people who have money. So the criminals are attracted to these areas because they can invade a property and hold people at gun point and loot an entire house and there is nobody around to catch them. They can usually make a clean getaway before the police even arrive.
So, the next option if you want a house with some property, is to purchase one in a gated community. You will be locked into paying the security fee each month and that can be very expensive. When I lived in Sao Paulo, I lived in an apartment that had a security fee of 500.00 a month. It is an expensive alternative, but still an option. This is actually the most popular choice of living here.
So, I will settle for this city house I am in, with a small square in the front yard for planting. It isn't perfect, it isn't the dream home, but it will do just fine.
Christmas all year! Giant Poinsettia in the garden.
We have a poinsettia that was planted in the garden... the thing grew and grew and grew and now it is bigger than the azalea bush. It is visible from the living room window and I love how it reminds me of Christmas.
Thinking on... Italy
I love to travel and next year I have my eyes and heart set on seeing Italy. If I am able to get money saved up I might include a short side trip to another country. I love history and when I travel, that is what entertains me the most, I am for sure a museum and historical trail type of girl.
I have come across a few guides but have not settled on one particular one yet. I think I will wait a bit and buy next years updated guides. The guides in English here are a lot more expensive than the ones in Portuguese. I am looking at close to a hundred bucks for a guide with maps. It will be worth it though, I am sure.
I did come across a site called Booking.com, I am not sure how good they are, but I know someone who has used them before. Booking.com offers hotels at a discount. I wonder if there is another site that gives better discounts. Someone told me to wait and when I arrive, go to the local travel agency and they can book me a hotel for a fraction of the price. I am a spontaneous person and as disorganized as I am, I couldn't force myself to leave my home without knowing where I am going to sleep. This bum hip of mine can't be laid down just any old place. What if I got there and nothing was available? No, I can't do it. So, I will keep an eye out for something reasonable.
As always, if anyone has any suggestions or if you have traveled to Italy, and have advice or tips... let me know.
I have come across a few guides but have not settled on one particular one yet. I think I will wait a bit and buy next years updated guides. The guides in English here are a lot more expensive than the ones in Portuguese. I am looking at close to a hundred bucks for a guide with maps. It will be worth it though, I am sure.
I did come across a site called Booking.com, I am not sure how good they are, but I know someone who has used them before. Booking.com offers hotels at a discount. I wonder if there is another site that gives better discounts. Someone told me to wait and when I arrive, go to the local travel agency and they can book me a hotel for a fraction of the price. I am a spontaneous person and as disorganized as I am, I couldn't force myself to leave my home without knowing where I am going to sleep. This bum hip of mine can't be laid down just any old place. What if I got there and nothing was available? No, I can't do it. So, I will keep an eye out for something reasonable.
As always, if anyone has any suggestions or if you have traveled to Italy, and have advice or tips... let me know.
Miniatures out the ears.
Anyone who really knows me, knows that I love miniatures. I collect all sorts of miniatures, including Homies and Kinder Surprise (aka Kinder Ovo aka Kinder Egg), Glass animals, Mini wooden furniture... the list goes on. I don't know what it is about a miniature that gets me all excited, but I am sure it must have something to do with my childhood.
I have a memory of visiting my grandma one summer and seeing mounted on her wall a miniature collection displayed in an old printers tray (the trays that printing presses used to hold the little letters for typesetting). I was fascinated by both the collection and the tray. I remember seeing amongst her collection a miniature baby doll and I couldn't believe they could make a baby doll so small. I wasn't allowed to touch, but when grandma wasn't looking, I touched everything in the display case. When I got older I was given an old printers tray and I used that for my own miniatures collection until it outgrew the case. For the past 7 years my miniatures have been boxed away because I have had no place to display them.
I took them out the other day and started to put them on an empty shelf I have, I realized about an hour into it, that I will have to take them all back down when the maid comes to clean. I can't imagine having to do that every few weeks with a collection so large. So, I am starting my search for a great way to display my large collection without dust being an issue... Any suggestions are welcome.
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| Not a miniature but part of my collection. Ozzy! |
I have a memory of visiting my grandma one summer and seeing mounted on her wall a miniature collection displayed in an old printers tray (the trays that printing presses used to hold the little letters for typesetting). I was fascinated by both the collection and the tray. I remember seeing amongst her collection a miniature baby doll and I couldn't believe they could make a baby doll so small. I wasn't allowed to touch, but when grandma wasn't looking, I touched everything in the display case. When I got older I was given an old printers tray and I used that for my own miniatures collection until it outgrew the case. For the past 7 years my miniatures have been boxed away because I have had no place to display them.
I took them out the other day and started to put them on an empty shelf I have, I realized about an hour into it, that I will have to take them all back down when the maid comes to clean. I can't imagine having to do that every few weeks with a collection so large. So, I am starting my search for a great way to display my large collection without dust being an issue... Any suggestions are welcome.
When Faux Went Horribly Wrong!
We have a cracked and chipped white bowl that sits as a centerpiece to the dining room table. In this bowl is the remainder of what was once a beautiful (I am only guessing as to it's former charm) arrangement of some colorful fruit. I can only guess the age of this fruit to be older than 10 years. The age is not the problem, I could handle some vintage fruit in my house. The problem is the fruit was unwisely made of wax. Now, I know wax is typically a great medium for molding and coloring. I don't think the artist, nor the consumer thought about the fact we live in Brazil before making/buying it.
I don't really know how long the fruit lasted, I assume it made it half way through one summer here in Brazil and each year the fruit gets rotated and melts a little more to one side. The banana is a thin wavy strip of yellow, the apple has half melted, the pear looks like yellow ball of wax. The only partial save, are the grapes that are made of plastic, however they trap water and get moldy. I don't know what to do to revive it, I do know that it makes for the most awful centerpiece I have ever seen. Unfortunately it has "sentimental value" and the other occupants of the house don't see it as I do.
So that leads to my next thought... What items am I attached to, and could I bring myself to toss those items away if they were dust bin worthy. - faux fruit isn't one of them.
I don't really know how long the fruit lasted, I assume it made it half way through one summer here in Brazil and each year the fruit gets rotated and melts a little more to one side. The banana is a thin wavy strip of yellow, the apple has half melted, the pear looks like yellow ball of wax. The only partial save, are the grapes that are made of plastic, however they trap water and get moldy. I don't know what to do to revive it, I do know that it makes for the most awful centerpiece I have ever seen. Unfortunately it has "sentimental value" and the other occupants of the house don't see it as I do.So that leads to my next thought... What items am I attached to, and could I bring myself to toss those items away if they were dust bin worthy. - faux fruit isn't one of them.
Wifi Booster... crafty old me :)
The Wifi in the house was really weak because the main router is hidden in a corner office with outside windows. I get one bar of connection when I am in the small office at the back of the house. Since I spend most of my time in the back area of the house, I decided to try and find a way to boost the signal. I did a search and found this simple little parabolic antenna booster. It took me about 10 minutes to print out and make. I hooked it over the antenna and checked the signal around the house. I get double the bars in most areas of the house. I still have not gotten it to blast back to the back rooms at full strength but I figure a slightly bigger one will do the trick. I have plans tomorrow to get a bigger one built.
So, maybe it is coincidence that my signal has been stronger for the past week that I have had it up, but I would like to think this thing is working... because I felt all cool making it.
You can find the pattern for making it here... Parabolic Antenna
Germinating
In reality, this is my second attempt in the past 5 years to get things to grow here. You would think that things would just grow and grow in this tropical environment. I am here to attest that you MUST still have a green thumb in Brazil. My first attempt at planting was very disastrous and costly. If you believe in negative energy like most of the people (that I know here) do, then there must have been a bad spirit hovering around my plants, just waiting to suck the life out of them. There is a common belief here in Brazil (I talked about it in a previous post) that someone with negative energy can walk by a pepper plant and dry it right up. Well, I don't know if it is coincidence or not, but that very thing happened to about a dozen plants of mine. I had a visitor who came for a few hours and when she had left, the plants were dried up and my dog was vomiting. Who knows what that was... but it does make you raise an eyebrow. The plants that survived the ladies visit, turned to dust a few months later when a swarm of mites came down on them, then ants attacked them to have a mite lunch. Sad, Sad, Sad!
So, this time, it is a different house and there are already plants growing well here, so if disaster strikes again, we will see about placing some blame on me. It all depends on my mood though.
I planted: Tomato, Cherry Tomato, Okra, Onion (green), Garlic, several types of Peppers, Peas and a few flowers.
Now I need a lot of green luck!
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