Brazzil
September 1998

Letters

Stay the Course!

First let me say, 'Thank you!' Your magazine is the one magazine that I subscribe to that I can't wait to get my hands on every month. And I subscribe to a wide variety of magazines. I love Brazil. I can't get enough. After my first journey to Rio, a friend of mine gave me Brazzil [then called News from Brazil] as a gift. I have been loyal ever since. I feel like the letter in the August 1998 issue from V. Hunt accusing you of 'abusing your readers' was a foolish opinion. Just because she is entitled to her opinion does not mean that it is not foolish. Of course, that is my opinion. The reason I like your magazine is because you are not tight in a certain part of your anatomy with your mind set.

I believe this magazine should be as close to what happens in Brazil. I believe people read it so they can feel a closeness to Brazil. You have included articles as well that weren't always 'pretty and touristy' about Brazil. I respect those articles too.

Please, please, please do not conform your magazine to the "adolescent high-school tee-hee shhh... don't talk about that... it's only for the bedroom" attitudes of so many Americans like Ms. Hunt. She mentioned that she is not frustrated and is 'single by choice'. Yeah, whatever!

Remember, America is a country that only in the past few years has been able to show ads on TV about bras with real people in them. I mean come on. I will support your magazine always. If you ever need someone to write occasionally about the sexy side of Rio from a man's perspective, uncensored, let me know. I will be heading back to Rio in October and for the last Carnaval of this century in February 1999. Keep up the good work!

Raymond Barton
Baltimore, Maryland

A Fair Mirror

We just returned from two months in Brazil when we received your August issue. We were very impressed with the accuracy and timeliness of your reporting. We enjoy all of the magazine—including Rapidinhas for its open and honest reporting of social and sexual topics. Your articles are an accurate reflection of life in Brazil. We love Brazil and spend our summer months there, learning to speak Portuguese, making new friends, and volunteering our time helping governmental agencies with water pollution and environmental management problems.

Some of your articles are more honest than the Brazilian press. Your discussion of the continuing deforestation in the northern Amazon region revealed how the Brazilian government suppressed and manipulated satellite data to conceal the extent of the burning before last December's environmental conference in Tokyo. Last month, president Fernando Henrique Cardoso signed a decree (Medida Provisória 1.170 Aug. 7) giving a 10-year amnesty to violators of Brazil's new strong environmental laws. There was suspicion in the Brazilian press that the eco-criminals would become large contributors to FHC's campaign fund. Brazil is a keystone country in managing the world's environmental degradation. Keep up the excellent reporting of Brazilian issues!

James & Grace Rickard
Borrego Springs, California

London Bridge

I have recently come across a few of the articles in Brazzil magazine about popular Brazilian culture. I have enjoyed them and found them very informative. I think entertainment like novelas can help strangers like myself to begin to understand a country's character.

I work for an independent think tank based in London. We are interested in how trends move between countries and how global culture is formed from this constant movement. Our particular focus is emerging trends. Obviously a major part of this involves understanding different cultures. We are a small company (currently three people) and we work by talking to various experts in different cultures. These could range from car designers to clothes stylists to club promoters to journalists.

Nick B.
London, England

Brazzil Cupid

Five years ago I traveled for the first time to Brazil. I went to Manaus, and spent four weeks exploring the surrounding jungle. My journey to the Amazon opened my eyes to a world so different than any other place I'd yet experienced. I'd traveled quite extensively through Europe and North America. But now wanted only to return to Brazil. I have returned twice making three trips to this intoxicating country.

My last trip brought me through São Paulo, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Santa Catarina, Salvador, Fortaleza, and of course always back to Rio. The majestic beauty of the mountains, lush and green rolling down to the hottest beach on the planet makes Rio the alluring city it has always been famous for.

I won't ramble on about all that's right and wrong with Brazil. This I will leave to your great magazine to which I've subscribed for five years. I will simply state one of the most obvious things a man should notice in Brazil. Something impossible in fact to miss, and that is of course the women. They are amazing. I've been blessed with this knowledge first hand. Nowhere else in the world have I discovered such warmth and intense beauty wrapped into such a passionately desirable combination.

Through my travels in Brazil and the integration I've made forming lifelong friendships, I have of course had more than average exposure to the culture. The amazing epilogue to this story is that through your magazine I met (about 4½ months ago) the Carioca of my dreams. She ran an ad in your Open Market section, I answered it (both of us had never done this before) along with about 100 other guys. I was the lucky guy who won her heart! We are now planning our future together, and are deeply in love. So miracles do happen! Thanks again to your magazine for assisting with our destinies.

Evan B Campbell
Redondo Beach, California

Brazil Prep

Unfortunately, I didn't notice that my subscription expired with the May issue. I am enclosing my check for another year. Your magazine is excellent by any standard, and all the more so in its forthright boldness. I intend to finally get to Brazil for the first time in the coming year, and Brazzil is superb preparation.

Don Devine
Beaverton, Oregon

Bewitched

Enclosed is my check for my subscription to Brazzil, which I have already ordered by e-mail. I don't need to wait for a sample copy. I've already seen the magazine. It's a bargain in any language! I lived in Rio from 1968 to 1970, teaching conversational English (Instituto Yázigi, in Avenida Central). I'd like to share some of my experiences and observations from that time with the readers of Brazzil. I think they will be interesting to Brazilians and non-Brazilians alike, especially those who remember Brazil from that era.

For now, I'll just tell you this: I did not simply decide overnight to leave the States and live in Brazil. I gave it a lot of thought. But the catalyst—the thing that finally pushed me over the edge—was João Gilberto singing "Samba de uma Nota Só." João and Tom: the Pied Pipers!

Bernie Borok
Burlingame, California

Hard to
Catch Up

I am renewing my subscription, but I wish you people could mail Brazzil a lot sooner, like the first week of every month. I used to drive all the way to the Bossa Nova Restaurant in West Hollywood to pick up a free copy. I thought having a subscription would be more convenient, but you send the magazine out so late! I'm sure I'm not the only one to complain about this. I hope your company will try to improve.

Marcelino Menudiado
Los Angeles, California

Back Issues
Only on
the Net

I have just recently become very intrigued with Brazilian culture and I wish to know more, first by obtaining earlier issues of your publication and subscribing to it. I'd like to personally meet Brazilians but I am not sure of where to begin, so I'd like to have a personal ad published.

Bill Campbell
Rosewood, California

Sizzling Newzz

Brazzil Magazine offers a cornucopia of information about a wide range of topics on Brazil and its people. I find the format of this magazine, exciting, informative and entertaining. Please process my request for a subscription.

Donald Slazinski
Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Heart of
the Matter

Enclosed is a money order for $3. I would like to start receiving your magazine as soon as possible. I really enjoy having news from Brazil, and I appreciate the straightforward and honest way that you present the stories featured in your magazine.

William D. McCain
El Cajon, California

How Could
We Forget

When listing Brazilian TV's top actors and actresses on your July cover story you forgot to mention Glória Pires who, for her age, time in the profession and an exemplary professionalism and versatility is maybe the top of the top, don't you think so? Congratulations for the magazine.

Túlio Lemos
Via Internet

Brazilian
Yankees

I'm a Brazilian expatriate living in Israel since 1968 and I'm a history buff. I'm very interested in knowing something about the immigration of Southern families to the then Empire of Brazil, after the Civil War. I know they went to São Paulo (Americana and Santa Bárbara do Oeste) and to the Amazon area. Could you help me to find something about the subject? Or indicate someone or some University in Brazil or in the USA to guide me in this search?

I saw your Web pages in the Internet—by the way very well done, especially about the suggestions to an American newcomer.

Carlos Lefevre
Kibbutz Lahav, Israel

If Only We
Had One

Congratulations for your magazine and Web site. I wish Spain—my own country—would have a source of information like this open to everyone in the Net.

Alberto Lopez-Gonzalez
Dickinson College
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Wrong
Majesty

Guess what! I was going to see Roberto Carlos, the "King," in person. I was very happy thinking that finally I was going to hear some Brazilian music... Well, how disappointed I was. My idol only sang and spoke in Spanish! Not that I have anything against the Spanish language, but I was dying to hear some Brazilian music. What a pity!

Ilma Heaven
New York, NY 

Getting
China High

Maybe you can help me, I'm trying to set up a restaurant in Beijing (China) with 400 seats. As I know cachaça (sugar-cane liquor) very well from Belo Horizonte, I would like to get cachaça as well in the new restaurant. I tried to get it via the Brazilian Embassy in Beijing, but I did not get any response. It cannot be possible that we cannot get cachaça into China. Maybe you can help me with some addresses or some importers to get cachaça here.

Alvaro Rautenberg
Beijing, China

Enchanté

It is a pleasure to know that a Brazilian magazine exists in the USA. I am a photographer and would like to know your magazine better since I might have some pictures you would be interested in. Thanks a lot and keep going with your beautiful work.

Mauro Goulart
Atlanta, Georgia

Still $3 Cheap

I would like to re-subscribe to this wonderful and unique magazine. Please send me a form. I remember it used to be extremely cheap to subscribe. I was thinking about subscribing for a few friends as well.

Jackeline Alves Sharoni
San Ramon, California

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