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Modernizing Morumbi Posted by Rachel on Dec 27, 2011
Though it’s unlikely to host games during the World Cup in 2014, São Paulo’s Morumbi Stadium is getting a makeover. The stadium is home to São Paulo Futebol Clube, one of the state’s four largest local teams. The project was announced last week by the city’s mayor. According to local media source Jornal da Cidade…
Top 10 Portuguese Blog Posts of 2011 Posted by Rachel on Dec 22, 2011
We took a look at our most popular posts this year, and here’s what we found! It’s a great way to review what you’ve learned, or to read posts you may have missed. 1. How Hard is Portuguese to Learn? Find out what others think about the difficulties of learning Brazilian Portuguese. 2. How to…
Xuxa Posted by Rachel on Dec 21, 2011
In Brazil and throughout Latin America, Xuxa is a cultural icon. Born Maria da Graça Meneghel, she was born in Rio Grande do Sul in the far south of Brazil and moved to Rio de Janeiro at age 7. She began modeling as a teenager, and dated two iconic Brazilian athletes: Pelé and Ayrton Senna…
The iPhone in Brazil Posted by Rachel on Dec 20, 2011
Apple products are huge in Brazil, and last week was a big week for Apple there. The company released the Brazilian iTunes, launched the Apple TV, and began selling the iPhone 4S. Plus, for months, there have been rumors that Apple is producing iPhones in São Paulo. Though the iPhone is selling for much higher…
LinkedIn Brazil Posted by Rachel on Dec 16, 2011
LinkedIn, the professional networking website, recently opened an office in Brazil to expand its business there. Brazil is LinkedIn’s fourth-largest market with 6 million users. Reuters Brasil wrote about the office inauguration in São Paulo: Além da subsidiária, também foi anunciada a nomeação do seu diretor-geral, Osvaldo Barbosa de Oliveira, que saiu da Microsoft -onde…
Extreme Poverty Documentary Posted by Rachel on Dec 13, 2011
The Brazilian government’s TV channel, TVNBR, released a very interesting short documentary about extreme poverty in Brazil this week. While Brazil has become a development success story due to a growing middle class and declining levels of poverty, this documentary points out that pockets of extreme poverty still persist. The film focuses on two cities…
Amigo Oculto Posted by Rachel on Dec 12, 2011
If you’re a long time reader, you’ll recall the term “amigo oculto,” or Secret Santa. Also known as amigo secreto, it’s the same tradition as in U.S. when a group of people chose names and buy a present for the person they picked. Read a bit about recent trends in Secret Santa giving in Portuguese…