Summer 2006
 
My trip to Brazil over the summer was my chance to re-connect with as much of my family there as I possibly could. It’s a big family-- my dad has eight siblings and my mom ten. This was also the first time I spent any significant time in Brazil by myself, which considering that I moved to the States at the age of ten, was a little bit intimidating at first. Any apprehension I felt quickly melted away as I was welcomed with open arms by absolutely everyone.
 
The pictures are a bit confusing because I went to so many different places, from big cities to smaller cities to a little farm town (I think I slept in eight different beds), so just keep that in mind. Before looking at the pictures, you should check out these low-resolution movie clips from the trip in which...
 
1) ...my grandma is just too cute.
2) ...I feed a cow.
3) ...my uncle Romeu plows the field.
4) ...I go to a country dance.
5) ...a couple makes out at the beach.
6) ...I attend an impromptu concert at the dinner table with old family friends.
Brazil
Grandma’s house.
My aunt Beatriz is happy to see me!
Grandma doing her little old lady things...
Ok, so that’s called a chimarrão and it’s delicious.
How can one family have so many good-looking men?
Meat on a sword!
Grandma cleans off the table.
My cousin Cristiano and his wife Vivi.
I pretend to look outdoorsy.
I love this old lady.
Meet my uncle Romeu. He owns a farm.
I want a pet cow.
Where the cows sleep at night.
The view from my room. No shit.
An aunt who lives next door hangs up the laundry.
Hello there!
My cousins being ridiculous. These guys are great fun.
My uncle is the hardest working man I know.
That’s my cousin Cris who works at town hall.
I ate some kind of fruit I had never eaten before.
Artistic, no?
My cousins Cassiana and Vanessa.
I love this one.
The neighbor’s kid. BABY!
My uncle Romeu and his daughter Denise.
That’s Romeu’s other daughter Daniela.
I go on a trip with my uncle Carmo to the mountains.
I think I’m allergic to nature.
My cousin Marcos, his wife, and their adorable kids.
I think this picture will give my mom a heart attack.
My cousin Fernando and his kid.
Campaigning for the October elections.
Family photo with my uncle Pedro.
Livia is addicted to instant messaging.
Mateus proudly defends his soccer team.
She’s a hoot.
More meat on a sword!
More food than I have ever eaten in my life.
Family photo with my uncle Gilberto.
Adorable.
Ok, so both of these cousins are models!
This is Florianópolis. Wow.
My uncle Gilmar, who lives here, took me everywhere.
God, I need to live near a beach.
Can I retire now and live here forever?
Ladies, he’s available! My uncle is a very cool guy.
I found my favorite fast-food restaurant!
My cousin Catiane is going to be a doctor.
GOOOOOOOOL!
At the amusement park.
C’mon, it’s a little funny.
We waited 3 fucking hours to get a headache from this.
Priceless.
I pretend to play the accordion.
I can’t really figure out what that is. Can you?
My trip ended in São Paulo with my cousin Rafaela.