empathetic embarrassment

Our typical "Brazilian way" of dealing with things (in Portuguese: 'jeitinho brasileiro') is known worldwide. We find a way for everything (except for ending political corruption plague in the country, among other very important issues). However, too much informality may represent us in a disgraceful light.

Protocols there are often broken because people  think it is silly, that this encumbers to make things easier, tripping them to have some faster advantage. If there is any wriggling room in a rule or law, it will be used somehow.

A good, present and actual example of our negligence is the arriving of Olympic Flag in Rio yesterday. There, many individuals, including authorities, touched it without any protection as asked by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). A huge disrespect. 

Read more here.

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Well, this is just the beginning... The future is in our hands, literally.

If everyone does their part, we can build not only a good image of our country, but another one. Otherwise, nobody will respect us, always giving us a credit for getting things for nothing.

Let's wait for more news (I hope not putting in check anymore our reputation all over the map).
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A quote by Nelson Rodrigues which illustrates exactly what I feel about:

"O brasileiro não está preparado para ser o maior do mundo em coisa nenhuma. Ser o maior do mundo em qualquer coisa, mesmo em cuspe à distância, implica uma grave, pesada e sufocante responsabilidade" (The Brazilian is not prepared to be the best in the world in anything. Being in this position, even in spitting distance, implies a serious, heavy and suffocating responsibility) 

Unfortunately, I have the impression we are not ready for that... not yet!

a place for everything and everything in its place

It's no use: other's mother IS NOT ours.

Lucky me to have mine, even far!

Going out of her way, truly pulling the universe out of her soul to help me and make me happy, this is priceless.
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everything has it's price!

Lately, Queen Elizabeth II revised the Royal Household Order of Precedence. Little changes involved only Kate Middleton, though, in order to remind her about her commoner roots.

At this newest protocol, the Duchess of Cambridge must curtsy to your husband's relatives unless she is with him. Probably the worst part will be do it, whether in private or in public, to Eugenie and Beatrice, two blood princesses, cousins of Prince William, when she meets them alone.

Well, if it is humiliation caused by Queen's jealousy of her popularity (as magazines have speculated by now) or if it is just respect for their old royal tradition, I really don't mind...(!) In my opinion, all monarchy stuff is completely old-fashioned and out of place nowadays.

After all, who pay for it? By the way, I sincerely don't understand how a country as Canada, for example, still maintains its political system tied with the British Royal Family, supporting them and their caprices (Kate's expensive new dresses, included!).

Tant pis au Québéc! (yes, unfortunately we are also paying for that...)
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in the bargain, I feel very blessed not to having a mother-in-law like princess Diana had.

Fortunately, I love mine! ♥

killing it

EVERY time I see people breaking spaghetti before putting it in boiling water, or even when, already cooked, they cut it on their plates, this hurts me so deeply! I admit.

My (Italian ancestry obligates me to start a) campaign: DO NOT do that! Please, use the spoon in order to help you to roll up it around the fork.

It's not difficult! Furthermore, it's the protocol.