tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84377500583611054972024-03-13T17:35:32.524-03:00Rachel's Rantings in Rio de JaneiroRachel's Rantings in Rio de JaneiroRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.comBlogger903125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-53986261767394381142012-02-27T09:21:00.002-03:002012-02-27T09:21:38.803-03:00MOVEDHi All, I'm now over at www.rachelsrantings.com
Come by! Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-35229782043571035592012-02-26T15:29:00.000-03:002012-02-26T15:29:30.663-03:00Going It On My Own
So the day has come where this little sarcastic birdie has to jump nest and try to make it on her own. Yes, you heard it here second (actually third as I mentioned it both on my Facebook page and Twitter account), I have my own domain. It gives a girl a definite false sense of superiority. Think about it, I'm in charge of my own domain. Cue evil laughter: Bwahahahaha
Anyway, I have been Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-15177832416331003582012-02-24T08:53:00.001-02:002012-02-24T14:16:51.762-02:00The Latin Man
I'm going to start by saying that Mr. Rant is a very involved Father and Husband. He plays with the kids, helps with the kiddo responsibilities, and even does stuff around the house.
That being said, he is still very much a Latin Man.
What do I mean by that? Well, let me explain. You see, this weekend we took a Latin woman friend and her kids out to the country with us. At one point I was Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-61318534525056342742012-02-19T08:24:00.000-02:002012-02-19T08:24:41.590-02:00Going on VacationPhoto by: http://milkmade.com/articles/628-MADE-BY-BRIAN-BOWEN-SMITH
This little lady is taking a couple of days off! Per our own little Carnaval tradition, we are escaping the madness and heading out to the in-law's home in the countryside.
It all started with kiddo number 1 and the increasing size of blocos. Plus since there are so many pre-Carnaval parties, we are able to get our family Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-75548537286502017872012-02-18T18:21:00.000-02:002012-02-18T18:21:34.179-02:00Inside the Bloco: Rio de Janeiro Carnaval
Last night I went to the scene of my very first bloco of my very first Carnaval during my very first visit to Rio de Janeiro. That was in 2003 and the same bloco is still going on in 2012. It has changed a bit. The 50 friends have multiplied into one hell of a scene.
None the less, it still has the family feel and I really enjoyed travelling down memory lane last night. Here are some videos forRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-4704697315581199482012-02-16T12:22:00.000-02:002012-02-16T12:22:28.611-02:00Shit Showers?!
So this is a bit of a public service announcement. The newspaper Globo was kind enough to take away any shred of doubt I had about the cleanliness of the showers at the beach.
You see, one of my absolute favorite things about the beaches here is that they have showers at the top of the sand where you can cool off, hose off, and let your kids play. Given that the ocean is said to be Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-40423857181090244012012-02-15T09:41:00.000-02:002012-02-15T09:41:57.698-02:00Wordless Wednesday: Mr Rant is Back!
Rio de Janeiro has her Mr Rant back!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-62304802782876525212012-02-14T13:33:00.000-02:002012-02-14T13:33:07.870-02:00The Carioca Driver
I took my youngest in to get a booster shot at the pediatrician today. Yes, I vaccinate my children. I also happen to live in a country that has a Meningitis season.
Anyway, my pediatrician had just gotten back from the states and had a gripe to share with me.
Apparently he got a $165 ticket. He was horrified. Him and his family were driving around Orlando and he didn't realize that his turn Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-84814951901350370302012-02-13T21:18:00.000-02:002012-02-13T21:18:13.869-02:00Make Out Party
Yes, that is Carnaval, one big make out party. The actual tradition for singles, and many taken folks alike, is to make out with numerous different people while partying at the famous street parties or blocos as Brazilians call them.
Of course that is not the heart of Carnaval. No, there is much more to it but can you really blame people for making out? If you haven't been just imagine the Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-88861088505274268962012-02-13T08:35:00.000-02:002012-02-13T08:35:54.510-02:00Brazil Counters France in Parenting Style
For all you not reading the required obsessive literature on how to raise your children correctly, and simultaneously making yourself feel inadequate, you may not realize the current hip method is comparing yourself to the French.
I found this brilliant article: Why American Kids Are Brats by Judith Warner and it really hit home. The theory is that French Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-42570359263591753082012-02-10T09:00:00.000-02:002012-02-10T09:00:09.962-02:00Hot Brazilians for your Friday!
Today's hot Brazilian for your Friday is a little different. I stumbled upon a fabulously hot ad campaign for Colcci staring none other than Gisele Bundchen and Rodrigo Hilbert. It was all kinds of sweaty tasty that I could resist.
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-84187875215908882882012-02-09T10:02:00.002-02:002012-02-09T12:13:44.801-02:0010 Tips to learning a New Language and Surviving it MentallyThanks for the image: http://lynmidnight.blogspot.com
Today's blog post is part of a language learning moms blog carnival. These posts are written by moms, for moms and are intended to be a great resource of encouragement, advice, tips and ideas for language learning moms. If you're a mom or if you know a mom who is a language learner or who would like to be a language learner, Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-23209138907555878932012-02-08T12:33:00.000-02:002012-02-08T12:33:26.682-02:0010 Things I like Better: Brazil vs the USJust wrong
I did the US vs Brazil yesterday and here is where Brazil stands against the US.
1. Coconut water. Sure it's all hip to drink coconut water now in the states but that little box does not compare to a freshly opened chilled real coconut.
2. The beach. I thought I knew the beach before Brazil but I was so wrong. Brazilians do the beach the way it was meant to be done! I can't explain Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-57068504209875158892012-02-08T08:18:00.000-02:002012-02-08T08:18:18.028-02:00Slacklining Pedra da Gavea: Wordless Wednesday Video
Slacklining can be looked at as some poser sport people do on the beach. On the other hand, it can be a f*cking cool extreme sport. I thought I'd share a video of some Brazilian slackliners slacklinging at Pedra da Gavea. Not only are they shirtless and the scenery amazing, it's also crazy what they are doing!
Would you do this?
Highline Pedra da Gavea (Gavea Stone) - Rio de Janeiro - BrasilRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-40230206007419023072012-02-07T08:24:00.000-02:002012-02-07T08:24:45.412-02:0010 Things I like Better: USA vs Brazil
I found this awesome post idea from a cool expat blog called A Suitcase and Stilettos. I thought I would take a go at the list.
Things I Like Better in the USA:
1. Mexican food. Mexican food in Rio de Janeiro is usually crap and overpriced. It's such a sad Mexican food situation down here that I get excited over wannabe store bought tortillas and Old El Paso spice packets I receive in the mailRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-90325039835814839642012-02-05T21:55:00.001-02:002012-02-06T14:38:46.007-02:00Rio de Janeiro on Public UrinationThank you Globo for the fabulous picture!
This weekend 96 people committing the unforgivable act of urinating in the streets of this great city were arrested. 13 were women.
While I would LOVE to be able to say "Thank goodness they arrested those uncivilized folk," I have been to far too many blocos to say it with a straight face. Hell, there is a damn good possibility that IRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-3829182340319339662012-02-05T07:59:00.001-02:002012-02-05T08:02:28.970-02:00SOC: Carnaval can be ANNOYING
Carnaval season has arrived in Rio de Janeiro. While this used to be a fun event, I feel that it is a little out of control. Yesterday, 2 weeks or so before the actual start of Carnaval, there were 21 blocos (street parties). 21! And with the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter, these blocos are not the small-ish neighborhood parties they used to be.
We are talking full on parties.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-18534363969678928812012-02-03T08:43:00.000-02:002012-02-03T08:43:36.180-02:00Hot Brazilians for your Friday!
Happy Hot Brazilians For Your Friday!
This is Paola Oliveira popped out and into this beautiful world in the city of São Paulo. She started her career as a model before getting her break in Brazilian soap operas.
Mateus Verdelho has already starred on this blog in the brief segment: Cuties for your Tuesday. I'm going to be honest, after seeing this picture he was upgraded to HOTTIERachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-91815416622842144462012-02-02T18:42:00.000-02:002012-02-02T18:42:15.842-02:00Yemanjá Day
I heard about Yemanjá one of my first visits to the beach here in Rio de Janeiro. I was wearing some new earrings and my Mother-in-law suggested that I be careful when I entered the water. It wasn't because she feared that I would drown. Instead she informed me that Yemanjá loves jewelry, as any woman does, and has no qualms about taking ours off as an unofficial offering.
A couple weeks Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-83851101377430971662012-02-02T10:32:00.000-02:002012-02-02T10:32:53.045-02:00Expat Adaptation and American Haters
A reader of mine, Marcio, asked two interesting questions in the comment section of my post I Love my Gyno. No, they are not questions about my vagina, gyno, nor anything else related.
1. When does an Expat start feeling Brazilian, does your Brazilians friends/family consider you a Brazilian?
I have been in Rio de Janeiro for 6 consecutive years now and I do not consider Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-63529042549750707452012-02-01T08:45:00.000-02:002012-02-01T08:45:29.888-02:00Wordless Wednesday: Rio de JaneiroPhoto by: UrbanpeekRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-89618087014230740812012-01-31T10:49:00.000-02:002012-01-31T10:49:17.748-02:00I Love my Gyno
My gynecologist believes that I am becoming Brazilian. No, my pap smear did not come out green and yellow.
So I had an appointment to see her this morning at 830am. Seeing that I am an early riser and Mr. Rant has to be at work by 10am at the latest (more like 1015. Now he is Brazilian) I schedule my appointments early.
This morning Mr. Rant was a super champ. I only had to nudge Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-70274290150512976672012-01-30T08:54:00.000-02:002012-01-30T08:54:00.476-02:00Do I Look Fat in this Thong?
It seems that Brazil's expanding waist size is getting international press. Apparently Brazilian companies are, gasp, making larger bikinis!! Oh the insanity of it all.
I stumbled upon this random article discussing how Brazilian bikini companies are finally making plus sizes.
A growing number of bikini manufacturers have woken up to Brazil's thickening waistline and are Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-39519025034263623422012-01-27T19:12:00.000-02:002012-01-27T19:12:07.170-02:00Hot Brazilians for your Friday!
Hot Brazilians For Your Friday
Maybe this is why I always found Bruno Campos hot when watching my guilty please show Jesse. The man is a Carioca!!
Fernanda Motta is the host of Brazil's Next Top Model. This sexy Brazilian was discovered on Guarapari Beach, north of Rio. Rio, where the hotties come out to play. Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437750058361105497.post-2687430782252101522012-01-26T09:42:00.001-02:002012-01-26T09:42:23.287-02:00Rio de Janeiro Buildings Collapse and Media Worries About GamesPhoto from: http://www.nst.com.my
Reuters has a thing or two to learn about class and holding their tongue. Rio de Janeiro had 3 buildings collapse last night next to the principal plaza Cinelandia. Thankfully it was later at night and thus the building and downtown area were generally empty in comparison to how it is during the day. The things that killed me was the first paragraph of Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.com48