Cuidado Lambado

For all those computer travelers here are some of the big differences between Brazil and home:

Lombado: Speed bumps are bigger and more common in Sao Paulo. They are also common on the highways out of town because they are cheaper to install and maintain than a traffic light. Sometimes they are well marked but sometimes the paint has worn off. Just before you hit a hidden speed bump the driver usually yells "cuidado lambado!" which means "Careful of the speed bump!" This phrase is the one that I used the most and heard the most... Lombados are not to be confused with the potholes that are also very common in Brazil.

Toilet paper: Brazilians are convinced that their sewer pipes cannot handle toilet paper without clogging. This means that in all public restrooms they have the thinnest ply paper and a huge garbage can next to the throne for you to throw away your used toilet paper. Gross!

Fruit: They have the best fruit in Brazil. My favorite was the Cawki (spelling made up by me). It looks like a tomato, has the texture of an apple and tastes kind of like a nectarine. Fabulous! Not to mention all the limes, pineapples, starfruit and passion fruit.

Parking: When ever you enter a parking lot, there is a guard waiting to give you a token. Hang on to the token! Without it you can't prove that it is your car, and that you haven't just snuck onto the lot to steal it.

Pizza: It is always eaten with a fork and knife. And don't even think about snagging a second piece for yourself. The waiter will serve you the second piece just like he served the first.