brazzilrace.com

[AllBahianGirl]

Brotha get yourself one of those beautiful Brazilian ladies. I haven't visited other parts of Brazil but I know that in Bahia those Bahianas were some of the most beautiful women in the world. If you're familiar with stunning, Bahian supermodel Adriana Lima who has multimillion dollar contracts with both Victoria's Secret and Maybelline you will know what I mean. Bahianas are generally tall,leggy and have skin the color of chocolate truffles with long,curly hair and up close blue-green eyes the color of the Atlantic Ocean. I was with my best friend and she just couldn't get over the beauty of the Bahian people. She was all up in Bahian men's faces in shock telling them "you so fine". Some of the Bahianos men of Bahia were so foine that I didn't even try to hide my staring. I almost lost my eyesight staring at them. One of my friends who is a model herself had a big camera and said that she is going to make a calendar of the fine men she saw while in Bahia. I tell ya if I could have spoke some Portuguese I would have had all kinds of fine brothas in my suitcase. I remember the first night in Bahia we went out and I was so jet lagged when we went to this restaurant. A live band came on and a Bahian man tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I wanted to dance. I was sooooo tired after a day in the air that I was about to tell him "no" until I looked into those blue-green eyes against that chocolate skin. Man, I jumped up on that dance floor and broke it down like a double barrelled shotgun. When you're in Brazil take pics of the women and believe you me your friends will be flocking to Brazil with you when you go. My friend whose Dad just got his retirement visa from the Brazilian Consulate will be moving to Bahia for good in November. Now that he goes regularly to Bahia his buddies go right along with him. He brought back pics of those lovely leggy women in Bahia now all the men in Oakland,Cali want to go there with him. Ache!

[opesllc]

I understand what you mean about the soulmate thing. I've dated blacks, whites, tall, short thin, heavy, dark and light. I also know that I want a strong family. People can pretend that love is blind, but there has to be something to attract you to a person. I know that you can't force love, and I'm not LOOKING for anyhthing to happen. To me, it's about dating. Dating is just the process of getting to know people...getting to know who they are. I love what I'm learning about brazil, and I honestly want to live there for a long perion of time. With that in mind, I KNOW that I'm going to want to date, so I want to learn about the culture of the women. The same way that I date here in the states. Let's not live in a fantasy world, your geographic location has a lot to do with the type of person that you are. I was raised in the south, and the south has instilled a calmness that I don't want to get away from. Southern women are different from women in Los Angeles. You rarely see women approaching men in the south...I've been here 23 years. When I visited my girlfriend in Los Angeles, I noticed that a LARGE number of women approached men. It's their culture. There are different values in different parts of the world, and if you relate to that culture, I don't think that there is anything wrong with loving a culture. People don't have a problem with blacks who want a woman from the islands, but people always have a problem with blacks who like brazilains. Notice that I didn't say morena or any of those other colors, because that means little. I'm 5'6" 178 lbs, I've been with a woman that was 5'9" 190lbs. I learned from that that I don't need a woman that is that much bigger than me becasue we're not sexually compatible. People from the ghetto are different from people from the suburbs. That's a fact. Now if you're from the suburbs, and you're very into the ghetto culture, you might not be compatible with other women from the suburbs. Mac, you've mentioned that your wife is a black woman with a Phd. Would you be compatible with a black woman who's not into education, but is happy with working at burger king? I've noticed that most americans that live in brazil, were born in brazil or anything of that nature, seem to have something against people who are not from brazil, but what to enjoy a particular thing in brazil, whether it be carnaval or the people of brazil. It kinda reminds me of the white guy who's been teaching boxing in the inner city for a long time, so now he doens't think that any other white guy knows enough to come to the inner city. Instead of telling people "it's great that you want to come her, but just understand these particular things before you come." most american people in brazil are like "you stupid gringos don't understand life here. You're ignorant and your ideas are screwed!" The opposite would be true for a brazilian who said that they wanted to move to the states, and they hope to meet and marry a nice american woman. I would tell them "great, what part of the U.S do you want to live?...That's cool. When it comes to dating, just be careful not to do this or that becasue women generally find that offensive."
I wouldn't attack a person's personal desires, but I WOULD help them understand the way the society works. I don't get off on knowing more than someone, I enjoy teaching people what I know. If someone came to me and said that they wanted to become a multi-millionaire, and have a different woman every night, I would laugh. But, if they said that they wanted me to teach them how to start their own business, so the can pursue it, I would teach them what I know. It is not my position to attack anyones personal desires, just because I don't agree with them. BUT, it is my position to address any misunderstandings that may get them physically injured or emotionally abused. True, I want to live in brazil for an extended period of time becasue the complexity of the culture has captured my interest and respect. What I need is someone to teach me how to get to know people in the area. Teach me the proper way to introduce myself to men and women, without being disrespectful. Tell me about what areas to avoid because I don't underatand them. Teach me the customs of the people, becasue each society is different. New York is different from Cleveland, so I KNOW that brazil is different! I have many friends that love the natural beauty of Rio, and they would love to live there. To me that's no different that wanting to live in California when you're from Miami. The speed of the city is different and so are the people. So when a person says that they want a girl from L.A. I don't question their understanding of love, I tell them about the nice girls that I met in Inglewood.

[AllBahianGirl]

That's what I'm up against when I mention I want to make Bahia my home. People start stepping to me with all of their yada,yada,yada talking about how African Americans want to come to Bahia with blinders and fantasies about how life truly is in Bahia. I say it's bullsh*t! If I and other African Americans want to believe that Bahia is our utopia who are other people to tell us that we are wrong. That's why I say follow your dreams and don't listen to the naysayers. If you want a Brazilian woman for whatever reasons then I say pursue and no one has the right to tell you that you are wrong or delusilional because Brazilian women are what you want. If I choose to go to Bahia with my blinders on than that's my business. I talk to enough African Americans who have been living in Bahia who love it there and chose to make Bahia their home and that's who I share my dreams with. If Bahia doesn't turn out to be what I envisioned it to be than that's the reality I will have to live with. If a Brazilian man turns out to kick me in the butt so be it. Regardless of what the naysayers say to me let me go to Bahia and find out for myself. Don't piss on my parade!!!

[opesllc]

What a lot of people fail to understand is that some people are content in situations that they wouldn't be. For example, the author of the book "the purpose driven life" has made millions of dollars from that book, but he's living in a very humble situation in africa. Nut, he's happy because that's where he belongs. I don't think that anyone has the right to tell anyone WHERE they belong. I've grown up in a society that had me chasing mansions, millions and ferrari's. I starting a publishing company because it was a different type of business from what was being started in my area, but I later realized that I LOVE publishing my own ideas. When I started, I had a huge misunderstanding of the business of publishing. I had no idea of how much work it really was. But, as I started to learn, I fell in love with it. I would fall in love with a concept, and watch it turn into a tangible product. I love working with graphic designers on creating cover art and the such. Now I know this is where I belong. The funny thing is that I actually dropped out of college to do this. My parents weren't thrilled by my idea of quitting school, but when I gave them a copy of my first book, they were amazed by it. As a matter of fact, everyone that has read it, found it very interesting.
I'm saying this because if I'd never given it a try, I would have never known that I loved publishing and writing. Just like I know that I will never know if I'll love brazil until I get there.

[AllBahianGirl]

Good for you that you followed your heart and found employment that you love and that you have a passion for. I am the type of person who believes in letting people have their dreams and fantasies. I feel that if you feel that a Brazilian woman is your dream girl who am I to tell you differently? If you get to Brazil and find out that Brazilian women aren't what you expected them to be then I feel it's for you to find out and not for me to tell you. My previous co-worker was angry at her daughter for marrying a man who SHE felt wasn't right for her daughter. She told me how she suspected the man was an alcoholic because everytime she saw him he had a drink in his hand. I told her that parents need to let their children make their OWN mistakes and if her observation's about her daughter's husband turns out to be true let her daughter find that out for HERSELF and don't be the one to tell her. At least this way the daughter can say she found out for herself what her husband is about. I personally feel that it is nobody's business to tell me that my perceptions of Bahia are fantasy. Maybe they are and maybe I'll end up murdered and raped in an alley somewhere in Bahia but at least I made the choice to live there and find it out for myself. If I want to go to Bahia with blinders on and delusions about Bahia's "authentic African culture" then let that be on my head cause Bahia is where I'm going and Bahia is where I want to be.

[opesllc]

As far as dating goes, people can date and marry who they want, for whatever reason they want. It's kinda funny to me because I know that if I were to say that I wanted an african wife, most people would have no problem with that. If I said that I wanted a Haitian wife, no one has a problem with that. But as soon as a black man says that he wants a brazilian wife, now all of a sudden, he doesn't understand love, and he shouldn't want a woman because of where she's from. Then people start to try to question your "blackness." Especially white people. Most of my friends are very intelligent. When I mentioned that I wanted to live in brazil and have a serious relationship with a brazilian woman, my friend Chris was very supportive. As a matter of fact, he even thought that I would do better dating brazilians because I'm so opposite from what young females here in states are looking for. He understands because he's the same way, but he's older and he's already married.
I've noticed that many white american men in brazil, or married to brazilians, are so against african americans wanting to marry a brazilian. If you read the bahia forum, you'll read a statement from a black man who stated that he met some very good women in brazil because of his personality, and the white men nailed him! They went on about how the women only wanted him because of his money and it had little to do with him. But, when the white men mentioned the women that they met and married, it was because the women in bahia were so nice and color blind! Why is it that a black man can only meet a woman if he has money, but white me can find true love? You see, brazil has become a paradise for white american men. It's one of the few places on earth that they can marry brown women, and not get crazy looks. That's why they don't want intelligent, nice looking african american men to come there, because it's supposed to be their little secrete place. No doubt brazilians can nitice an american from a mile away. Why do you think that so many white men flock to salvador? It's a fantasy to them. I don't care where I go, salvador, recife, sao paulo, rio, where ever! I don't rely on my nationality to get me anywhere. I rely on my personality, intelligence and humor. White american men don't want men like myself or my friends comming to brazil because we're young, intelligent, financially okay, funny and nice looking. Brazil is supposed to be the place for middle-aged white men to find their perfect mullatta. They don't want us comming there and living because they'll loose their "exotic" existance. I don't plan on comming to bahia and trying to make it! I plan on comming with a nice six figure american income, and getting a piece of brazilian realty. No matter where it is in brazil! You see, a lot of these white men don't want young successful african americans to live in brazil, because it takes the attention away from their work. They like brown people, but they don't want brown people to like brown people. If brown people stat loving brown people, they won't like them, and that kills their paradise. You have white people that will pay thousands for plane tickets to poor brown brazil, but they won't drive 30 minutes to see poor BLACK america

[AllBahianGirl]

Your post was right on the money. When I was in Bahia I saw a lot of young,financially secure African American men who had been living in Brazil for years and wee married to Bahian women. I met a brotha from Oakland who recently built a ten room mansion on the beach and who had on vacation to Bahia 20 years ago and fell in love with Bahia and his wife who now have 3 kids. You also see a lot of middle-aged and older white men in nice 5 star restaurants or strolling through the Peulorinho with young,attractive morena women on their arms. My friend,Ache who took our group to Bahia is a young,shapely African American woman who is fluent in Portuguese and she told me to be on the lookout for that trend in Bahia. Ache herself has been hit on by middle-aged white men from America and Europe herself because they thought she was a Bahiana. What has happened in America is that African American women due to civil rights are more educated and have better jobs than do their poorer Afro-Brazilian female counterparts so we no longer have to submit to the sexual desires of white men who want brown flesh. White men who have a taste for brown sugar now have to prey on the poverty of the Afro-Brazilian woman. I know the post you are talking about on Bahia forum where the young Black man stated that he went to Bahia and made out well with the young Bahian ladies. A white man did accuse him of being arrogant and then he went on to say that African Americans aren't accepted by Afro-Brazilians just because we share a common slave heritage and that even though we are brown like they are we stick out like a sore thumb. I think what you're stating in your post is true,a lot of older white men don't want the competition from young,upwardly mobile attractive Black men who they feel are snooping around in their paradise. I also notice that the opposition about Blacks moving to Brazil is coming from white men who themselves have been living in Brazil and enjoying her fruits longer than God. They're the ones constantly telling African Americans how there is no African culture in Brazil,that we're suffering from paranoid delusions of fantasies about how great life is in Brazil. Well if Brazil is such a nasty,hostile place with men and women who aren't "all that" then why are they living there with their black wives? That's why I refuse to listen to them because I truly think they don't want Afro-Brazilians and African Americans joining forces together and establishing business and cultural ties. Avocet Travel company is trying to establish such ties that's why they're offering inexpensive tours to Bahia specifically to get African Americans to invest in and enjoy the gifts Bahia has to offer us. White men can rant and holler all they want but African Americans both men and women are coming to Bahia in droves and are about to run over them in their haste to buy property in Bahia and other parts of Brazil and start enjoying some of the gifts white men are trying to keep all to themselves.

[opesllc]

EXACTLY! Or better yet, they don't want african americans and brazilians creating ANY type of relationship that will gain the trust of the brazilian people enough to open their eyes to what's REALLY going on! Those same men wouldn't have the balls to approach a black woman in america, so they flock to brazil where the women haven't been educated on that level yet. I know that there are many intelligent brown brazilians who marry white men in brazil, but this goes back to what I mentioned earlier about how they see white and european men as intelligent and mature. If these white men were so intelligent, why don't they try to find a nice woman in sao paulo, they flock to "poor" salvador because the women aren't supposed to know better. Then they have the nerve to call these women dumb. I'll talk to whoever, wherever. I don't need to go to europe to get a white girlfriend, that's if I wanted one. I can get one here if I wanted one.
The thing is that african americans are gaing status in the world, and whites don't want the world to know it. We'll see how many young brazilian women are walking around with middle-aged white men once young brothers make their presence known in a big way.

[AllBahianGirl]

Poverty is a terrible thang! African American women are financially better off than their Afro-Brazilian sistahs so we don't have to submit to the perversions of old white men like they do. There's this white male poster on this message board that goes by the name "O Tabouro" which probably translates in Portuguese to "Old Toilet Bowl'. I had to get him told on the "Blacks Stay Away" post started by this self-hating racist Puerto Rican "Borinquen" which probably means "shit bowl" in Spanish. Some of these racists on these message boards kill me with their use of the n-word. That's one reason why I don't particularly care for message boards because whimps with no balls can sprout their racist idealogy behind the safety of their computer screens. O Tabouro got himself a permanent Visa to Brazil and is living in some old whack formerly German province Rio Grande De Sul or whatever the crap it is. Even though he is living in Brazil he is obsessed with n-words and n-word loving white women as he calls them. Why a white racist would move to Brazil (any part of Brazil) is beyond me because outside of Nigeria,Brazil has more n-words than anywhere in the world. I'm so happy for you that you want to live in Brazil and marry a Brazilian woman. It's good to do it while you're young and can have children. My one regret is that I didn't make my move to Brazil a lot sooner when time was on my side. Also,it's good that you have supportive friends cause when I was with my Brazilian guy I was up against a lot of envy and resentment from women who were addicted to guys who were no good but were scared to break free and get better. Ache!

[opesllc]

A lot of the people on these forums are nothing but liars who try to say things to anger blacks. We all know the truth.
I try not judge anyone, but I would think that some people would at least have enough of a conscience to not to exploit poverty. When I see the culture of the people of bahia, it makes me realize how blessed I am to be able to enjoy the luxaries that I enjoy. But at the same time, I respect the purity of bahia. I say that because even the mansions in bahia maintain the cultural feel, unlike manyof the los angeles style homes of sao paulo or rio. It's like...I may be wrong but...it's like they're not trying to be american. They respect their culture. I hate to see the favelas of salvador or the slums of recife, and I want to do everything in my power to help. I've heard lots of how the south of brazil has elected so many black governing officials, but what does that mean for the blacks there? I personally know that a black government doesn't neccessarily mean justice for blacks. I don't know everything, but I'm pretty sure that the poor people of brazil want out of poverty, but not out of brazil. Poverty will never be completely eliminated, but change has to come. Look at the contrast of sao paulo and salvador. Sao Paulo is very new yorkish, while salvador still has south american charm. When are people going to realize that looking and acting like americans, doesn't make you an american. Or European. Prosperity doens't mean that your city has to look like miami. Prosperity means that people don't lack the basic needs of life. I feel that african americans should visit bahia more often. Hopefully, we can bring a positive impact. I know that many white people don't want to hear anything like that but...oh well

You're right about doing this stuff at a young age. I also know that youth is a very powerful thing, because younger people are very creative. I don't know if it's a gift from god, or something that I've learned, but I know how to make almost anything make money. I also believe that anything is possible. That's why we need more intelligent young black people investing in brazil. We all share an african heritage so I view them all as my brothers and sisters.
One more thing, I was reading this site from this african american minister who's living in brazil, and he's stated that brazilians in bahia are desiring strong relationships with african americans. He's been there for a few years now and he says that now is the time for african americans to come to bahia and experience the culture. It is so untrue that brown and black brazilians don't like african americans. I see so much promise in northeastern brazil! There must be a visionary there. As the bible says, "where there is no vision, the people perish."

[AllBahianGirl]

I really feel that Salvador da Bahia is welcoming me home and while there I could really feel the pulse and influence of Africa. I am in the process of purchasing real estate in Bahia next year and I'm still not sure if I want to have a house built or purchase one of those old colonial mansions. I like the ache or energy of the old buildings like the Church Of Our Lady Of The Rosary Of Black People in the Peulorinho built in 1704 by slaves. Our group went to mass there one evening and then walked to the back of the church where there was a cemetery for slaves and the Shrine of Anastacia. The energy was very powerful there and I felt like I was actually communicating with slave ancestors. Anastacia's shrine was really spooky though. Have you ever heard of Slave Anastacia who is a big historical figure in both Salvador and Rio? Supposedly she was a Bantu slave with some Dutch ancestry (she's depicted with blue eyes) who preached freedom to her people and the Afro-Brazilians are trying to have her canonized as a saint. She wears this surgical mask thingy over the lower part of her face and legend has it that she had her tongue cut out by her master's jealous wife or her tongue was cut out because she preached freedom to her peope. Her shrine is very beautiful in Bahia but I just get the shivers when I go pass it especially at night.

[opesllc]

Yea I have heard of her, though I couldn't tell you any details.
That kinda gets me to thinking about these really old yet beautiful plantation homes that we have here in mobile alabama. I always said that I wanted to buy one, though they'll cost a few million dollars, until my dad said that they might be haunted with the souls of dead rednecks. LOL
I say that because it's amazing how a building or a painting can give you a feeling. Whe I first saw some pics of salvador bahia, though it didn't look as flashy as miami or los angeles, I could just see myself living there! It was like...I belong in brazil. I honestly didn't know anything about bahia, but as I started to learn more, I jus felt that I belonged there. Right now I feel like a salt water fish in a fresh water tank. The fresh water tank may be prettier and cleaner, but it's no place for a salt water fish. I need to get back to the natural salt water!

[Macunaima]

ABG sez:

[Macunaima]

You know, ABG, the funny thing about all this is that your views on "Brazilian ladies" are not at all that different from those of the white male sex tourists who come down here. Both of you believe that Brazilians have some sort of "special" sexuality. Both of you believe that they have a "special" spirituality. And both of you believe that anyone who critiques your viewpoint is "envious".

Now, Franz Fanon, a black psychologist and revolutionary, said all there needs to be said about people who believe that other peoples are more "sensual", "sexual", or "spiritual". My position on this point comes straight out of Fanon's "Black skins, white masks". So unless you want to make the claim that Fanon is somehow "envious" of you, too, I think you should take a look at what he has to say and compare his critique to your attitudes.

As for fearing competition, I can't speak for any other white gringos down here and wouldn't try because frankly, most of them don't have anything like my values. But where, exactly, do you see this "competition" coming in? I'm a happily married man, working in a field that hardly any gringo could work in without going through years of trainging down here. And even if they could, most wouldn't because it pays so damned little. So no, it's no skin off of my back how many people you screw or how much status you feel you're earning in Salvador: our interests simply don't coincide in any competitive way.

But why then am I worried about what you feel? Because I think, bottom line, that it's racist. I think you're doing the same sort of projection of "noble savage" stereotypes onto "the brown people" of Brazil that white europeans have been doing for centuries. I feel that such fanatasies aren't going to do you any good and they might very well HURT Brazilians who believe that you're taking them and their history seriously, only to find out that you're not even perceiving them as they really are.

But what's so ironic is that I could show you clip after clip from my fieldwork with sleazy old white guys saying the same damned things about Brazilians that you are, making the exact same sort of projections onto them. Now THAT'S scary. A ethnocentric or racist opinion doesn't suddenly become acceptable simply because it's a black woman mouthing it. The adjectives you are using to describe Brazilians are simplistic, reductionist and deterministic. They do not seek to set Brazilians on a plain of equality with you, but on a plain of superiority in some areas and inferiority in others. And this all in a set of POWER RELATIONSHIP which very concretely PRIVILEGE you. You are able to come on down here when and how you like. Those poor Brazilians you admire so much, especially the women of color DO NOT have that same privilege. Hell, they couldn't probably even get a visa to the states. So no matter what your intentions are, you're meeting these people on a very unlevel playing field, one which is socio-economically skewed in your favor.

Now, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't come here. But I would think that it would give an anti-racist, anti-imperialist pause to realize that she's giving free reign to fantasize about a people and attempt to put those fantasies into action when said people do not have anyhting like a similar degree of power to do that to her.
_________________
Brazil is the country of the future and always will be!

[opesllc]

You know mac, you're a very intelligent man and I respect you knowledge about a country that I've never been to. With that said, I'm glad that you finally came unglued. But, you still don't get what I am saying, nor do you care to know because you've never asked me one question. You've never inquired anything of me. ABG has her thing and that's her thing, and my thing is my thing. The fact is that I HAVE studied the culture, in fact, that's what I'm loving about brazil. I'm saying that I have different personality traits than most women in my region of the U.S. Remember, just as you have over 20 years in brazil, I have over 20 years in the U.S. I've dated many types of women in the U.S. Whites, blacks, browns, rich and poor. I'm saying that I've ran into the same problems with each girl. That led me to really research dating and mariage in the U.S. and why don't our relationships don't work....I've come to my conclusion as of why. I researched dating and relationships in brazil, and I've come to my conclusions. I've concluded that after studying the culture of brazil, and my own personal cultural beliefs, I can relate to the culture of brazil, and that's why I want to get to know the people for myself. I have no preconceived notions of individuals, but I educate myself on the culture. That led me to try to talk to people from brazil, to get an idea of personalities and relations. That is why I started trying to talk to people online, as many as I can. Not for dating, but to get to know people. They know that I'm not trying to meet them, so therefore, I get some honesty. I know that everyone is different, but you can get an idea of life in general. I don't know every african american woman, but having dealt with them as much as I have, I can give you a general idea, that would fit at least 70% of african american women from 18 to 25 years of age. As a matter of fact, you can ask 100 men my age and they'll give you the same statement. You're a married man, and I'm sure you've haven't had to date for a long time, but I have to date. So therefore you wouldn't know as much about dating in 2005 as I would.
As far as spiritual stuff goes...the spirit is the internal man. The real man. Do you agree that brazil has a strong history? Every country does. So when a person speaks of the spirit of a country, he's speaking about the current environment that reflects it's history. That's why I mentioned the mansions in moble alabama. They're from slavery, but they're here in 2005, yet, you can still feel it's history. The people living i the house may not reflect it's history, but the house tells it's own story.
When I said in an earlier post that I've learned that brazilian women like nice and intelligent men, you asked me did I think that I'm generalizing an entire country from just a few women. Well, do the same brazilian women you know want a man that's nice and intelligent? Do they want a man that beats them and curses like a satan himself? You yourself even stated that the brazilian women that you've listen to, portrayed brazilain men as not the nicest people. I'm sure that there are some bitches in brazil, just as there are some nice and sweet young ladies. Truthfully, I innitially found brazilian women very attractive, as a matter of fact, most men in the WORLD do. I know that I have to learn about the history and culture of brazil before I travel there, just as I would Tokyo Japan! As a matter of fact, I spent an entire day looking for coal to cream, but it's out of print so I have to order it online. I want so bad to learn as much as I can about the culture! I'm not some sex tourist, as a matter of fact, I abstinent until marriage! I want to learn as much as I can before I go, so I can have something to bring to an intelligent conversation as a foundation for learning. I'm bussin' my butt trying to learn portugueese! I know that I have a lot to offer anyone, but that doesn't mean that I'm not open to learning. Relationships are about two people relating to eachother. That means give and take. It's not my fault that the playing feild isn't level. They may see it that way but I don't.
You asked me a question about knowing some brazilain rap artist. How would I? It's a local artist. I'm sure that you wouldn't know who young dee or jay meezie are...do you? No, because they're local artist and not international artist. You didn't ask me that question to test my knowledge, you asked that to try to belittle me and exalt yourself. Not for the sharing of information. You are a very inteligent man, but you ARE somewhat stuck on your own knowledge. I'm a very humble person, but I can be a pitbull when it's time. You may know a lot, but you don't know what I know. If you knew what I knew, you wouldn't try to talk down to me. If the people that you know are anything like you, honestly, I wouldn't want to date them anyway because we wouldn't be compatible. If you want to be a wise man, ask questons. If you want to be fool, think that no one can teach you anything. Did you go to brazil with the knowledge that you have, or did it take time to aquire? I don't care how long you've lived somewhere, you only know very little. You fall directly into that catagory of the white man who deals with brown people, and all of a sudden, you're an expert on an entire culture. Though I spent many years in school, it's different now, than it was then. There's always something that we don't know, but there is always someone who knows. Use your experience to teach and prepare people, not to judge their personal motives or understanding. 20 something years in another country and all of a sudden you see americans as gringos. You don't even see yourself as a gringo do you? Living around a people doesn't turn you into on of them. That reminds me of something Jay-Z said in one of his songs "man you was who you was when you came here."