[Updating: Since this post, the US$ has appreciated 25% against the Real — thank you Euro, with a special kiss for Greece. Yet, despite the devaluation, my reaction is still, “WTF? It costs what?” And having been in Argentina, post to come, the prices are much more reasonable even in a country run ,ike a mini-Cuba by Christina Kirschner.]
So in Dispatch Number 2 from Brazil, we still have not gotten to sports. Why not? Because I am still undergoing sticker shock on E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!
Seriously, when did Brazil become London, Tokyo or Moscow. I would bow down for NY City prices. At least there y0u have B&H and other discount shops.
OK, I knew about the electronics. I also knew that things like imported Nikes cost about $300. But it is everything else. All clothes, gas, services, glasses, dining out, cell phones.
Cell phones are ridiculous. First of all, there is no phone subsidy. Want an iPhone, then pay the $400 they want. Oh wait, import taxes, pay $700. Then for the low low price of about $180 a month, you can talk for 400 minutes, get 250MB of data, and about 400 texts (called torpedoes here, which is cool). For $100 in the USA, I get unlimited calling (or an amount above what I can do), 1500 texts and unlimited data; oh, and my phone is <$200.
Other items I have found amusing, or….not
- Register as an Alien: As a foreigner, I have to register with the Federal Police within 30 days of arriving. However, to do so, you have to reserve an appointment online. So I enter the system, and the first availability is October 6, 2011. Last time I checked the Gregorian Calendar, July 26th – October 6th was more than 30 days. Well, there is no extradition treaty between the USA and Brazil, but there is deportation. Let’s see how this goes.
- Notarization: Whenever I do go to the Federal Police, I am supposed to bring my passport, and notarized copies of all the pages. Um, isn’t the reason you notarize things is because you do NOT have the original? I mean, if I am sitting there with the Federal Police, and I have my passport, and I have the copies, cannot the lazy guy just check the copies against the original passport in his possession?
- Bathrooms: I moved from a 2400 square foot house that had 2.5 bathrooms. I moved into a 1600 square foot apartment that has 4.5 bathrooms. Seriously.
- Closet Space: I moved from a 2400 square foot house that had about 150 square feet of closet space. I moved into a 1600 square foot apartment that has, at last count, like 36 storage cabinets, and that does not include the kitchen. Every piece of clothing I own can practically have its own room. This is truly awesome. And for all you guys who have wives whose wardrobe has spread like a virus through all closets, I recommend Sao Paulo
- Windows: They have the most complicated windows system here, and I don’t mean Microsoft. In the USA, you have a window and a screen and a curtain. If it is cold, you close the window. If it is hot, you open it. If you want it dark, you close the curtain; if you want it light, you open it. Not so simple here. Follow if you can:
- You have two metallic panels that act as total blackout shades. One is sealed, the other has slits to allow air in and out. You also have a window (of glass, normal). Then you have a curtain.
- If you want it dark, you close the panels. If you want air, you slide the window over to the side of panel that has no slits. If you don’t want air during the night, the window covers the panel that has slits.
- During the day, if you want light, you open the panels. But if it is cold, you put the glass window in front the opening. If it is hot, you do not.
- The curtains? You just use them to block people from looking into your room.
- So you have three things to adjust at minimum – window, solid panel, panel with slits — depending on whether you want it dark, light, hot, cold.
- Get out your Differential Equations book.
Finally, just to maintain my sports bona-fides, the Seahawks were stupid to sign Tavaris Jackson in general, and really stupid to sign Sidney Rice for $40+ Million. After Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, and TJ Houshmandzadeh, you think they would have learned their lesson.
Yes MSG 