Brazil - Peeling the pinapple

Wednesday 31st July

Studying and using Portuguese is a little like "peeling a pineapple". After a total of 5 months in Brazil, I'm now at a stage where I can understand about 80% of almost any conversation, and am speaking more Portuguese than English in work and with Nívea's family (thanks to their patience). I've been able to converse with Nívea's Grandmother for the first time, and am finding myself using new words & ways of speaking not studied, but picked up from day to day interactions!

Below are some other Brazilian expressions I've come across - plain English expressions follow at the bottom of this post!

1) Don't count on the eggs in the chicken's ass
2) Someone born with their asshole facing the moon
3) Slap the panther
4) Stick your foot in the jackfruit
5) The flip-flop is going to sing
6) I'm arriving

7) Finally, why did these Ford KAs end up in my WhatsApp thread...

And on the subject of quirky observations...

- This improvised top shower shelf is a good example of Brazilian Gambiarra -

- Brazilian dentists are known to be some of the best in the world, and to make use of innovative techniques. This oral exam felt like a very unusual criminal line up -

- A very large camera built in Brazil in 1960. Apparently it was used for analogue magnification - 

- Patent pending for the speed dip -

- After several weeks in São Paulo, we escaped to a quiet beach, about 1.5 hours away by car - 

1) - Don't count on something uncertain

2) Someone who is lucky

3) To smoke a joint

4) Do something to excess

5) Threat of punishment

6) I'm just leaving (on my way there)

6) Literally, "kakaka". One of the several Brazilian alternatives to 'hahah'.

And, as the local saying goes, "to peel a pineapple" means to solve a tricky, sometimes unattractive, but worthwhile problem.