Saudades!!

This week I've been thinking about all of my friends and family that I haven't seen for quite a while. I get asked a lot what I miss the most from Brazil. I do of course miss my family and friends a lot. But what I really miss is the warmth of people in Brazil. I'm not saying that Americans are cold people or unfriendly and that I don't feel the warmth of people here. Please, don't take it that way. It's just that Brazilians are all about people. The genuine kisses and hugs you get every time somebody complements you. I miss talking for hours with somebody. In Brazil people just don't say "hi" for a moment...we talk, and talk and talk...and even if we have tons of things to do, whatever it is, the dishes, the house choirs, the gym, whatever their responsibilities maybe, it all can wait because that moment, that conversation is far more important. Family events don't have a schedule time to end. In fact, most families in Brazil plan events on a Saturday or the day before a holiday knowing that they'll be up late and will need the next day to rest. YES, that's exactly what happens. We don't plan events to end...they last as long as people feel like talking and hanging out with their family and friends.
In Brazil we also don't have this formality of always calling to let the person know you are coming over to their house. We just go visit somebody. You know why we do that? Because we know the person will just love the surprise. Once we're there, don't think it's going to be a 1/2 hour visit just because you went without notice. You will be there for hours.
Eu tenho saudades disso. SAUDADES - a word that I can not translate. Saudades means to want to be by a person or a place again, to want to live the past, What I miss the most? This intensive "hunger" to live and share your life with others.