Where is the Love
This is still one long transition, still planting seeds and establishing roots, last Sunday moving to a flat where I'll reside for the next two months, possibly 5.
4 photos from this gallery weren’t in the backup.
Yes, there's a hammock!
You may remember I discussed the house hunting process a few weeks back...
"I began in the student area, what a guy, the front-runner, living with 3 brazilian dudes in a belter of a room in a pretty cool area close to both the center and the beaches. Just need to plug into his internet. He may appear later in the stories."
Well, he does. His name is Jose and the landlord of this flat, and here, there's a difference, its nicer and therefore more expensive but more importantly, the guys hang out together and we have now most nights. As soon as I arrived all 3 came out to greet me and we headed into the back patio where we spoke for a long time. Of Brazil, of England, similarities, differences and politics. This then led to a long political debate between the Brazilians in of course, Portuguese. I insisted they continued in this way.
They have an Presidential election coming up very soon and its becoming an increasingly interesting one, which has led to a lot of debate and involvement.
I couldn't understand all their discussion, as we all know, when politics is the agenda, the passion and speed increases, but I got the gist. I could tell what each person stood for, who disagreed with whom and where they stood on the political spectrum. One left, one center and another leftish center, but as it seems that's not so clear this time around.
I really am understanding more and am becoming more and more comfortable using it. I had my last lesson today, because moneys a thing, and came out ready to start living amongst the Cariocas. Ironically though when I received my certificate and the teachers showered me with praise, I tried to ask where my cake was and failed miserably, asking "where the ball?". Also earlier I had the teacher laughing because my two most common phrases equate to "I don't know" and "not much". Solid Base.
Despite my pitfalls, when we were all hanging out watching the debate the other day, with the subtitles on, I could understand way more than I imagined, again knowing each persons position and main issues. The only killer was the speed of the speaking. If I could deconstruct time and slow it down, life would be easy, but it's at least getting easier.
They had some similar characters, A loud mouthed right winged guy with 1% of votes who shouted his points. A lefty with no tie, who seemed pretty chill (I liked him because he spoke clear and slow, and yknow... left), and an older very rigid man who wants everyone to have cards which can be swiped with all their medical history on. I think.
Now, one guy wasn't there. The front-runner. Scared you may think?
Well, no, but Brazil should be, he was recently hospitalized because he was stabbed by a guy with mental issues who disagreed with his views. I can see why. Imagine Trump but with a military background. His name is Bolsonaro and he's divided the country, riding high on the crest of the right wing wave engulfing the world.
Seriously, look up some of things hes said, they are terrible, beyond imaginable for a presidential candidate. Such highlights include
"She doesn't deserve to be raped because she's very ugly. She's not my type, I'd never rape her. I'm not a rapist, but if I was, I wouldn't rape her because she doesn't deserve it."
—Bolsonaro speaking to Zero Hora in December 2014, explaining why he previously told leftist deputy, Maria do Rosario: "I wouldn't rape you, you don't deserve it."
"I wouldn't be able to love a gay son. I wouldn't be a hypocrite, I'd prefer a son to die in an accident than appear with a moustacho."
—Interview with Playboy magazine, June 2011
As you can imagine, this has sparked furor, debate and many protests
A photo was here ("not him"); it wasn’t in the backup.
But he will return for the second debate healthy and unfortunately bolstered by this attempt on his life. His military background is an issue and his Trump-esque claims that he wont accept a loss make him scary win or lose.
Now they have a first round of voting on Sunday of which they may choose from a variety of candidates, but similar to America, only the top 2 advance to the second round of which you may only choose one.
Hopefully all those against Bolsonaro will combine, although he already has a worryingly high 40% of votes, considering this probably doesn't include the silent voters who will hide their preference because they know its socially unacceptable to support him. I know one person who told me his vote was a secret... so its not really.
The real problem is, that the second most popular is the left candidate, A man advocated by the once great Lula who I am told once did even greater things for the poor people of Brazil. However he currently resides in jail due to his involvement in a huge corruption scandal, involving the oil companies (shock) and other members of their government. This has really rocked Brazil, with people telling me how let down they feel by Lula, how they will not vote for his 'puppet' and the status quo, which they wish to change.
Lefties and centrists alike considering going extreme right for a change, ignoring certain aspects of Bolsonaro's views, of which to me are inexcusable, all in the hope of something different.
To me it feels like talking to a friend who runs into the arms of a relationship that is only bad news. They know what this persons about and how they treat people, but they don't care. From the outside, it seems crazy, how can they do this? How can they ignore these views? But on the inside it's different. They don't want to go back to how it was. They were hurt. Big time.
Why did you do this to them Lula.
I gave my views, discussed Trump, they told me they would never have voted for him if they were American and they can see the comparisons, but it seems things are different on the inside. They are flirting with the idea of a no vote, of which I expressed my regret of not sorting myself to vote in Brexit. They listened and it seems they all have a lot to consider, to them picking the lesser of two evils. Although possibly the more.
The central candidates are supposedly considering dropping out to combine for one popular candidate to help him or her advance and take on Bolsonaro. Will it be enough, who knows, but it's definitely in the balance and an incredibly intriguing election.
Why am I always in the country for the election of tyrants.
