What NOT to include in your resume

Building your resume will take time, and believe me, it won’t be that easy. While most people battle with the things they should put on their resume, I will focus on the things you shouldn’t.

Please, do not include your photo in your resume, unless you are seeking a career in the film industry. Nobody will really pay attention how you look, unless you are trying to be the next Victoria’s Secret model.

Don’t be too confident about your skills and experience– be honest. Keep the adjectives to yourself, and don’t over estimate your abilities.

Irrelevant jobs should be kept away from your resume. If you were the mascot at your school last summer, you shouldn’t put that in your resume under jobs– maybe in activities or accomplishments. Stay away from things that don’t matter.

Physical characteristics should not be in your resume. I repeat– stay away from physical characteristics. Having a six pack won’t make you a better worker than the over weight person sitting in the corner.

Do not write your personal ideas in regards to religion, sexual orientation, marriage status, political influence, etc. If they are not important to the job you are looking for, please stay away from it and be simple.

Strange habits should be kept in secret. Your boss won’t admire you more because you can eat 30 hot dogs in one hour. This hobbies are fun, but not appropriate for a job resume.

Don’t sound unprofessional in your resume by misspelling words or using bad language. We all know writing matters, so keep it clean and double-check what you write.

Also, avoid cliches and repetition– it may throw your soon-to-be boss off.

I know it might seem like a lot of information to process before you write your resume, but believe me, it will be worth it. The job you are looking for will be ready for you, if you are ready for it; be prepared, and good luck.

A version of this was published at The Vista

The Brazilian Way (Jeitinho Brasileiro)

I think you have heard a lot about the "Brazilian Way" of doings things. And yes, it means you will break the rules, but don't assumed it's a terrible thing. It isn't. Tell me explain why:

Jeitinho Brasileiro is finding a way to accomplish something by circumventing rules or social conventions.  It's a Brazilian way where they use their emotions, family ties, promises, rewards, etc, to obtain favors or to get an advantage.

Jeitinho Brasileiro is roughly translated to "find a way."

Brazilians by nature are street-smart, and and are naturally called savvy, cunning, or sly for choosing to use common sense prior to knowledge.

I will give you an example, and the Brazilian way to deal with the issue:

Let's say you go to a store in Brazil, but as soon as you get there, you realize they are closing the doors.

With the Brazilian way, you can tell the employee that you are late because the bus broke down on the way there. 

You can say that you really need to go to the store now, because you live far and have no money to take another trip to the store. 

You can say that you need that gift for today, because you have a birthday party in less than one hour!

You can promised that you will buy more than one piece, and that you will reward the cashier.

You can brag how much you love the store, and want to promote the store's products.

You can tell the cashier that you will take five minutes to get all the products you need. 

 There are many more ways to use your Jeitinho Brasileiro... Just keep in mind that you should be honest, and not take advantage of people's kindness.

I've realized that most countries do not take in count our emotions like Brazil does. And believe me, I think it's a beautiful thing!

In Brazil people care more about your emotions, than rules. Brazilians feel for each other, and will do anything to help a brother/sister.

MALANDRAGEM!

Lady Gaga gets scary!

Not only did Lady Gaga sang beautifully at the Oscars, but she also stepped it up by getting her feet in the acting world. And, we are proud of her.

The talented actress performed at the Oscar on Sunday for her first time with a special tribute for the 50th anniversary of "The Sound of Music." She left the giant red gloves at home, and brought her amazing voice to the stage, singing "The Hills are Alive," "My Favorite Things," and "Climb Every Mountain." The crowd was wowed by such magnificent presentation.

When we think we have seen all about Gaga, she surprises her fans by posting on twitter, and revealing that she will be one of the stars in American Horror Story. The fifth season of the FX anthology series is title American Horror Story: Hotel. 

Are you scared of Gaga? Maybe you should be. Gaga is the first member of the cast to be hired for the season! We know that she is not only a great singer, but that she can explore her other talents as well. Way to go Gaga!

To top a great year for Gaga, she just got engaged to actor Taylor Kinney this month, revealing her huge heart-shape diamond ring. Congrats!

The pop star has some acting credits, including: A Dame to Kill for, Machete Kills, The Simpsons, and before she was Lady Gaga, The Sopranos.

Even thought there is no date for the premiere, it has been revealed that it will take place in October. Details of Gag's performance have been kept, but scary hotel? Oh no. That sounds scary already!

Believe it or not, most Brazilians are white!

It always intrigued me that in America if you have a darker pigment in your skin, people already assume you are "African American," or "Black" when you are just tan, light brown or even dark brown. Some of them are mixed, having a white mother and a black father, but people already assumed they are 100% "Black."

In Brazil when we talk about people's ethnicity we make sure we use it correctly. If somebody is light brown, they are probably mixed. They don't fall in the category "Black" so to speak.

For the people that think Brazilians are all dark, I have some news for you: only 8% of the country is constituted by Blacks. The rest of the population is distributed among whites and different shades of brown.

Whites in Brazil take place for 47,51 % of the population, and Multiracial (browns, mixed, etc) take up to 43, 42%. Leaving Blacks with less than 10%! So if you meet a Brazilian, don't assume they live on the jangle, they are all black, and they have no food to eat. That's not exactly how it works.

We have different people from different places, with different religious background. But, more importantly, we get along with everyone. We are a very mixed country and we don't want to put people in categories they don't belong.

We also have a mix between Italians, Spanish, Germans, Indians, Africans and Arabs.  We are very proud to have a country where everybody is welcomed, no matter what race, ethnicity, or religion they belong to.

It's Brazil after all! The country with the most friendly people I ever met! (I'm a Brazilian so it is hard for you to believe me, but I've met people from over 20 different countries, and I can say Brazilians were always the most friendly!)

Does Slavery Still Exits?

Slavery existed before written history, and since then it suffered many alterations. Nowadays some people might argue that slavery still exists to some extent, but some might say that slavery is completely over.

I believe it still exists, just in a different way.

Slavery is the legal or economic system where people are treated as property. People can be forced to work or they can be owned by an employer that usually abuses them mentally or physically.

It can also be dehumanization, where slaves lose their identity and become mere property. Slaves are restricted from all kinds of freedom of movement.

Does slavery still exist today? What is it called?

Modern slavery, or contemporary slavery, is harder to be spotted due to its more discreet nature.

Children that have been in arranged marriage at a very young age are included in the category of modern slavery. There are many countries where marrying at a young age is a traditional way of living, except they don't think if it as slavery

"Marriage involving children under 18 years old remains a widely culturally accepted practice in many corners of the globe. Estimates suggest that 11 percent of women worldwide were married before reaching the age of 15 (UNICEF 2012). Although boys can be affected by the practice, a great majority who suffer slavery as a consequence of child marriage are girls," stated an Anti-Slavery U.K. website.

Human trafficking is also included in the modern slavery category; human trafficking is where men, women and children are brought to a situation by the use of violence, and are usually forced to work against their will.

Sexual exploitation is the most usual form of human trafficking, even though there are many other forms. Unfortunately, many people fall into human trafficking as a way of escaping poverty and discrimination-- they're just trying to find a better life.

"Because many trafficked persons are never identified, it is difficult to get accurate statistics on the numbers affected, but the International Labour Organization estimates that worldwide, at any one time there, are some 2.5 million people who have been trafficked and are being subjected to sexual or labour exploitation," proclaimed the Anti-Slavery website.

Even though some people may deny it, it has been proven that children are being pushed to work in factories, mines, bars, restaurants and even other environments. Most of them are forced to work long hours with no permission for breaks.

According to the International Labour Organization, there are 215 million child laborers aged between five and 17 years old. Worldwide, nearly 10 million children are in slavery, debt, bondage, trafficking, pornography and other illicit activities.

What do you think about modern slavery? Do you think slavery still exists? Write us back and share your opinion.

Choosing Your Major

It's so common for college students to battle when deciding a major, but it should be easier than you think. It's not that hard, in fact, it is quite easy.

I wish somebody told me this before, but it's okay to be undecided; we have all been there once, and it just means we are experimenting with what we like first, so we can decided on something later.

Don't freak out, you will find your career one day.

Your career doesn't necessarily need to be something you are good at, but that will help you along the way. Also, you don't need to have a career in something that will give you lots of money, unless that's the only thing you are looking for, but I believe we all seek for something we like, and can relate to.

Choosing a major, something you will work with for 20, 30 or 40 years, sounds very difficult. Don't stress over your major, you soon will have a heart for it.

In today's modern Internet we can find so many easy ways to test what we are driven to. There are quizzes asking what kind of major we identify with more, what we think of college, how much money we plan to earn, what do we want to get out of college, etc.

These quizzes can be very helpful and come in handy.

Take your time. Let your heart tell you what you will pursue in the next few years of your life.

You might be overwhelmed, but believe me, this will all pass. Be strong.

A Better Understanding on Love

Hollywood love stories entertained many people decades ago, but do you really believe these love stories could be real?

Why do Hollywood movies need to make relationships look perfect and gives us an unrealistic view of love?

Is the girl really going to fall in love at first sight? Will she leave her family and friends because she fell in love with a stranger? It you agree with me, you cannot believe such a thing could happen.

With that said, I decided to do a further research on relationships and love, and here’s what I found:
Relationships might have a better chance to work if both partners have self-esteem and mutual respect. They need to be independent as individuals and establish intimacy as they progress.

Nobody can stand the obsessive partner that cannot let you go to Walmart without consent. Obsessive relationships tend to be very radical, and partners might feel trapped or in charge of each other’s life.

Communication is vital to the endurance of relationships. Partners that cannot communicate well will have a higher possibility to break up or divorce. With communication you can establish, maintain and nourish relationships.

Partners that are flexible and understanding will be able to bounce back from confrontation better than others. Arguments exist in all relationships, but it’s how we deal with them that can either improve or ruin them.

Remember, relationships are a second step from friendships; partners should be friends first. They should also enjoy each other’s company as well as time pursing their own goals.

Most people have experienced the cycles or stages of love where we transition from intense passion to intimacy, and then commitment. At first, we might feel like we are in a roller-coaster, starting with great happiness to deep depths of despair.

It hurts, and most people do not know how to deal with it.

Psychology Robert Sternberg said that these cycles will gradually decrease as the relationship develops and progresses. After a period, the passion decreases and becomes affection, empathy, tolerance, caring and attachment.

At that time, partners will become more involved with social activities and still have a connection with each other. Relationships will need intimacy, passion and commitment to succeed.

If partners have intimacy and commitment but no passion, it might lead to compassionate love where both have a long-term friendship with each other.

More importantly, partners need to understand that their relationship won’t be the same as those portrayed in Hollywood movies. That’s okay, it only means they are living in the real world where fairy tales are not allowed.

 

A version of this was posted at This Vista 

Move Over Valentine's Day, Fat Tuesday is here!

You better we wearing sweat pants right now, because it’s Shrove Tuesday! The day is also known in many countries as Fat Day or Pancake Day. I can say I already feel my mouth watering from thinking about so many delicious food.

Nothing better than eating all you want, without having to think twice. Let’s just hope we didn’t gain five pounds in a day. Let’s save that for Thanksgiving, alright?

Shrove Tuesday refers to the Carnival celebrations that happens the day before Ash Wednesday. The traditional day is practiced among Roman Catholics, being most practiced in Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, and also in the United States. The celebration is also prior to the fasting season of Lent.

Thanks to this great history, now we can eat as much pancakes- and fatty foods- as we like! But if you did not eat enough today, I have some great news for you.

IHOP is celebrating National Pancake Day on March 3rd. You won’t leave hungry, because they are offering a free stack of Buttermilk Pancakes.

American Pancakes, potato pancakes, sweet delicious pancake, crepes, doesn’t matter; all of them taste absolutely amazing, and we should eat it as much as we want. The pleasure is undeniable, and the pancake flipping skills are definitely amusing. Invite everybody over for a pancake party (and don’t forget to invite me.)

Brazil run's dry? Blame the politicans!

It's well known that Brazil has great reservoirs of water, and is sometimes called the "Saudi Arabia of Water." So I ask myself, what happened to all the water?

Earlier this year, São Paulo, endowed with the Amazon and many other rivers, stated their taps are running dry. 

It's common in the northeast of Brazil to run dry as they are located in an area where it doesn't rain very often. Eight cities in the northeast of Brazil suffered dries over the last decades: Alagoas, Ceará , Bahia, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe). The Brazilian government always knew about the problems in the Northeast, but little help was given to them.

Suddenly, all attention is in São Paulo, as the largest and wealthiest city in Brazil is enduring water cutoffs, and going days without it.

Paulo Massato, a senior official at São Paulo's water utility, said that residents might have to be warned to flee because "there's not enough water, they won't be water bathe, to clean" homes.

"Because of environmental degradation and political cowardice, millions of people in São Paulo are now wondering when the water will run out," said Marússia Whately, a water specialist at Instituto Socioambiental, a Brazilian environmental group.

Public schools are prohibiting students from using water, and some of them are currently closed. Families are saving water in buckets to wash clothes or flush toilets. Around 30 million are frighted by Brazilian's natural disaster and fear for their future!

Experts say that the city's grown population, leaking systems that spill on water, and pollution is the caused for the main reservoir run dry. Destruction of forests and wetlands also have a link to the tragedy.

"This is Brazil, where human beings are treated worse than dogs by our own politicians," said owner of a bar in Parque Alexandra, Maria da Fátima Ribeiro.

It's sad but it's true. Brazilians want to see a great change. It's time to have new politicians and a new government.

Seca no Nordeste, Brasil.

Are you "Facebook Official"?

Social Media takes a huge part of your life, Facebook included.

Some couples do not believe they are dating until they have changed their status on Facebook. As silly as it sounds, it happens to most relationships.

According to the Urban Dictionary, Facebook official the ultimate definition of a college relationship- when one''s Facebook says "In a Relationship" with your other's name listed next to it.

The pressure usually relies on one partner to change his or her Facebook status, and due to the amount of pressure, and insecurities from the other, the person usually decides to update their status.

The ongoing cycle starts when both agree to change their status, and it develops to "We are engaged, to "We just got married," and then "We just had a baby."

I ask myself, does the status on Facebook really matter this much? 

Some young adults would say no, explaining that posting a picture with their significant other, or a cute video together is far more important than changing their status. 

Some would rather change their profile picture to one with their partner, as a way of saying "I'm taken, back off.

Changing the status on Facebook can be good for some couples, but it certainty doesn't work for everybody. I've seen people making up and breaking up almost every month, and let me tell you, it's quite annoying. 

Solve your relationship problems out of social media, and give us all a break for once.  

A version of this was posted at The Vista

Fake Happiness on Social Media

Those likes aren’t real.

Social Media has, since its beginning, tended to portray things as being better than they truly are, and people tend to show a lifestyle they do not have.

People are falling into this sick cycle where they need to obtain the perfect lifestyle so they can make their followers like their photos. Instead of really enjoying dates or outdoor activities, people are focusing on getting the perfect picture that will attract more people to follow them.

Relationships sound perfect, trips sound incredible, parties are endless and the posts go on nonstop. Are they truly living this fairy tale romance and traveling to the most beautiful places on earth, or is this merely a bunch of lies?

What is even worse, people are paying to get the right features for their Instagram account. There are apps that are designed to help people become more famous, such as GramFamous, Get followers, Like4Like and many others.

Some apps require payment in form of likes– the more you pay the more likes you’ll get.
This might sound crazy, but this is the world that we live in now. It’s more important to look perfect on social media than in real life.

It’s sad, but I still hope people will go back to their old ways and just enjoy a trip to the beach without taking numerous photos.

A student focus on his posts on Facebook.

 A version of this was posted at The Vista

What is carnival anyway?

We hear about the Brazilian Carnival very often, but do we really know what it means?

Carnival (Carnaval) is a festival that marks the "farewell of the meat," (in Portuguese, adeus a carne) and it was first celebrated after a period of abstinence and fasting.

Carnival usually lasts 3 days, but it can be prolonged, leading up to "Ash Wednesday" (in Portuguese, quarta de cinzas). It does not have a fixed day, because it varies depending on the annual calendar, but occurs 47 days before Easter.

The preparation of the party is meticulous and might take up months to organize details. Every state has it's own tradition according to their own customs, such as different foods, celebrations, music festivals, and entertainments.

The tremendous celebration started in Rome over centuries ago, marked by huge parties; where they are, drink, and celebrated a pursuit of happiness. All activities and business were suspected and slaves gained temporary freedom to do whatever they pursue. Moral restrictions were also diminished.

In the Renascence period, the parties were incorporated with rich costumes, boats, and masquerade themes.

People in Brazil still follow the tradition, and dress to impress with beautiful ornaments and different colors.

Escolas de Samba (in English, samba schools) takes a big role in the big festival, characterized by samba competitions in public shows.

Each samba school represent a plot, accompanied with a drum, where hundred of even thousand dancers walk in a parade and show off their skills. Beautiful scenery and sculptures are also to be expected.

Rio de Janeiro holds the largest Carnival in the world, according to the Guinness Book, with estimated 2 million people celebrating the festival per day.

If you ever want to party, go to Brazil! Let the celebration begin!

Are you sleeping right?

College students have a reputation for missing early morning classes or falling asleep in class, and we ask ourselves, why is that?

Facts show that students don’t necessary need to be out partying to fall asleep in class the following morning.

Most young adults have a circadian rhythm which is an internal daily cycle for sleeping and wakening that tells them when to wake up or go to sleep. These circadian rhythms can cause students to have a sleep deprivation due to the requirements of the college.

Students might feel drowsy, have burning eyes and find it hard to pay attention when they are sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation refers to sleep duration of less than the average seven to eight hours.

Most adults need eight hours of sleep each night, but the typical college student sleeps only six to seven hours on weekdays.

According to a survey by the American College Health Association, 23 percent of college men and 25 percent of college women rated sleep difficulties as the third major impediment, after stress and illness, to academic performance.

The side effects of not getting enough sleep are endless due to the fact that the body doesn’t have enough time to restore, and body tissues won’t be relaxed.

Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation are also linked to serious physical and mental health conditions including congestive heart failure, hypertension, heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis, influenza, asthma, bronchitis, depression, suicide and obesity.

Sleep is associated with overall health and quality of life, so what can we do to have a better night of sleep and improve our sleeping habits?

We should maintain a regular sleeping schedule, so our bodies will be able to adjust well. Having an altering schedule throws the biological internal clock off and disrupts sleep.

We need to create a sleep-friendly environment by changing the mattress or the pillow, finding a quiet place to rest, finding the ideal temperature in the room for your body or adjusting to your best body position.

Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol before bed time, because these stimulants might take up to four to six hours to clear from your blood. It reduces sleeping time by half or might quadruple the number of night awakenings.

Also, avoid exercising close to bed time. Research shows that exercising three hours prior bed time is not recommended because it releases adrenaline.

Try to manage stress before nighttime and find what will make you relax, such as taking a break from technology or reading a book. Adjusting to a better sleeping schedule might take time, but it’s worth it– don’t hesitate.

A version of this was published at The Vista 

Want to be healthy? Drink this!

Have you ever stop to think how much you need water and how important it is to your body?

Water is the most important substance your body needs to prevent dehydration and survival. It makes up more than two thirds of the human body weight, and without the substance, we would die in a matter of days.

The human brain is approximately 95% water, the man’s body 60% water, and the woman’s body 50% water.

Water is the most vital substance that is involved in the processes of our body, such as: blood, heart, muscle, brain, skin, and bone.

Water serves as a lubricant, helping chewing, swallowing and also digestion. It also lubricates joints and cartilages and allows them to move more frequently. When dehydrated, one might feel friction and cause knee and back pain.

It’s important to hydrate our bodies with water to compensate that 2-3 quarts of water is lost through urination, sweating and breathing.

Water also helps the body to remove harmful toxins by reducing constipation and ensuring the waste is removed quickly and regularly before it harms the body. Drinking lots of water will diminish the burden in the kidneys and diver by fluxing out waste.

Since water is so important to body functions, it would make sense to pay a close attention to how much and how often you are consuming it.

Water can empower health and wellness, along with regular excise and a good nutrition. Stay healthy!

A version of this was published at The Vista.

The Spider Rises back up!

Anderson da Silva, former Ultimate Fighter Championship Middleweight Champion, made a huge comeback after his horrific injury in December 2013 in his match against Chris Weidman.

Some thought it was impossible for the 39-year-old to come back in the martial arts world, but Silva made it happen when he defeated Nick Diaz last Saturday via unanimous decision on Jan. 30.

The winner didn’t hold back his tears, and celebrated along with his fans a great victory for the UFC champions.

“Thank you God, for giving me one more chance to stay here,” said Silva (34-6). “Thank you to my family and friends, my real friends.”

Silva, nicknamed The Spider, holds the longest title in defense streak in UFC history. UFC president Dana White and other publications have called Silva the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.

The Spider’s fighting style is quite remarkable, and his striking ability is considered to be one of the best in MMA. He also holds statistical records in the UFC  including most all-time knockdowns in UFC history, No.1 in strike accuracy, most title fight victories, most UFC title defenses and longest reign by days.

Despite calls for Silva to retire from MMA, it was confirmed he agreed on a new 15 fight contract that replaced their previous deal.

We expect him to keep winning; the Spider is going back up.

A version of this was published at The Vista.

My Journey as Journalist

As a child I always paid close attention to writers, reporters and editors. They intrigued me tremendously, because they were so mysterious.

Reporters went through difficult situations to deliver the truth, and when rediscovering myself I decided to do the same.

I wanted to become a speaker of the truth, a truth deliverer and an ethical journalist.

My first journey to become a journalist started when I was 14 years old in a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. I had a desire to tell people what I was experiencing as I traveled along.

With that idea in mind, I grabbed a little video camera and started exploring the beautiful city.
I stopped people in the streets and asked them why they were in Buenos Aires, how long they were staying and what they expected to see. Little did I know I was becoming a true journalist.

My passion for journalism brought me to America, and since then my life was never the same. It was not always easy let me tell you, but being determined brought me success.

At first I felt out of place. I couldn’t adapt to the drastic cultural change, and I almost gave up on my dream to become a passionate writer.  I was devastated.

I was mocked for not saying the words correctly, or for having an accent. I cried.

I told my mother I was returning home, with my dreams crashed in my own hands. But thanks to my supportive family, I was able to stay and never give up.

My mother said, “If you give up on this, you will give up on everything in your life. You have to commit yourself to it.”

My mother was right. I had to stay and make a move.

Moving to Oklahoma, attending UCO and working for The Vista has been the best life experience I would ever describe. Teddy Burch, adviser for The Vista, believed in me and encouraged me to do better– even when I didn’t believe in myself.

“Doesn’t matter where you’re at, you can always get better,” Burch said.

 The Vista staff made me the confident person I am today, and even though I’m not as grown as I want to be, I know I’ll be that person someday– a true journalist.

A version of this was published at The Vista.

My Favorite Brazilian Food

Today I'll be talking about the delicious food I tried last visit in Brazil. You'll be amazed on how diverse Brazilian food and snacks can be!

 Acarajé: Brazilian heaven... at least in my opinion! Acaraje is a dish made from peeled black-eyed peas formed into a ball and then deep-fried in palm oil. It's mostly found in the northeast of Brazil, as well as in Nigeria. It's served with vatapa and caruru - spicy pastes made from shrimp, palm oil, cashews and other ingredients. Split in half,  a pasty and a salad made out of green and red tomatoes is added to the dish. Fried shrimps also go on top along with hot pepper sauce. Vegetarian acaraje is served with hot peppers and green tomatoes. It's delish! 

Acaraje from Maceio, without green and red tomatoes. 

 Pãozinho de Queijo: Brazilian cheese balls! This amazing snack originally from Minas Genais is very popular in Brazil, and you'll know why. They are not only easy to make, but they are cheesy, fluffy and delicious in taste. The amazing recipe is full or cheese, tapioca starch, eggs and milk. It's a win win dish. Yum! 

Brazilian Cheese Bread, Paozinho de Queijo.

Coconut: We are coconut freaks and we cannot deny that. If you live in the northeast of Brazil, I EXPECT you to love coconuts more than water itself. I'm not kidding, we take a lot of pride in our beautifully green coconuts. The inner part of the coconut, as we called it "carne" or "meat" is the best part of the coconut. The coconut water is also wonderful! Tip for you: cut the "carne" of the coconut and let it rest in the fridge for a couple hours. It will taste amazing, believe me.

Beautiful coconuts cut in half.

Arroz, carne de Siri and Pirão:  (Translation: rice, crab meat and grab paste.) One of the most popular dishes you'll find at the beach in the northeast of Brazil. The rice is usually plain, with no much than garlic, onion and salt. The crab meat is cooked with peppers, tomatoes, olive oil, bell pepper along with other  yummy ingredients. The paste has a similar flavor to the crab meat (carne de siri), but the ingredients are blended instead of cooked.

 

 Salmão Assado com batata: (Translation: roasted salmon with potatoes) I could probably eat this dish everyday and never get tired of it. The salmon goes to the oven, along with garlic, 4 potatoes, 2 lemons, onion, olive oil, parsley, rosemary and basil. It's a healthy tasty dish full of protein. Very rich in flavor!

Popsicle Tablito: Best dessert in the whole world! I remember eating this nonstop when I was young. Outside is a dark chunky chocolate, but inside is a white cheamy chocolate full of wonder. Please, do me a favor, and try this amazing popsicle (that taste like icecream, or heaven per say). 

It's PORTUGUÊS not Spanish!

Please, I beg you: do not assume we speak Spanish in Brazil, because we really don't!

The Official language of Brazil is Portuguese!

Brazil is the only Portuguese speaking language in the Americas, bringing a lot of pride for the beautiful and rich language.

Yes, Brazil share colonial history with Spanish and French natives, but the Portuguese influence really sets Brazil apart for the other countries.

Even though we take a lot of pride in your native language, it's mandatory to study a second language for all 12 grades of the mandatory education system (primary and secondary education, called Ensino Fundamental, and Ensino Médio). Most schools offer English and Spanish as the second language.

We also respect the sigh language and adapted as our second spoken language in Brazil. A sigh law language was passed in 2002 by the National Congress of Brazil mandating the use of Brazilian Sign Language (called LIBRAS in Portuguese) in education and government services.

The accent also varies from state to state, and we refer to it as "Portuguese dialects." The differences between Portuguese dialects are in phonology (the frequency of using certain grammatical forms, and the variation between the formal and informal levels of speech.)

With that said: Northern dialects tend to be more open with Pre-stressed vowels. The south of Brazil, however, speak with a more notable German, Italian or Polish accent. But remember, it's all one language, PORTUGUÊS!

Português, portuguese language.