Now Brazil is eligible to receive investment from big international funds, which are authorized to invest only in countries with good rating. This rating reflects S&P's opinion about a country's capability of paying its debts, with the highest rating at AAA.

People were not expecting the nation to reach investment grade this soon, so it's a good surprise and confirms people's positive view of Brazil.
 

Zipping along in one of Natal's famous dune buggies.

Natal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese, received its name because it was founded on December  25, 1599. During the 17th century, Natal was invaded and occupied by the Dutch. It later served as a base for American troops during World War II,  who called it the "Trampoline of Victory."

In recent decades, tourism became the major industry in Natal for both Brazilians and foreigner travelers. The most famous beaches are Genipabu, Pipa, and Pirangi, where you will find the biggest cashew tree in the world. In Genipabu,  you can take a buggy ride in the dunes with a professional driver accredited by the State Ministry of Tourism - with or without stomach-dropping stunts at your request! Those who choose the first should prepare for 90-degree dives down dunes over 10 meters tall, with vehicles accelerating into free fall. The famous tour is full of fun and guaranteed adrenalin.

But Natal is not only beaches. It has a delicious cuisine, the sounds of forró, and a charming local population. Each year the city celebrates Carnatal, the biggest out-of-season Carnaval in the country with brings groups like Chiclete com Banana, Asa de Águia, Cheiro de Amor, Banda Mel, and more. For four days, Carnatal gathers together thousands of tourists and artists. In 2008, the festivities will happen from December 4 to  7.

Events and places to visit in Natal: www.visitnatalbrazil.com (in Portuguese)

Traditional Brazilian breakfast - complete with a pingado.

The Wright brothers did NOT invent the airplane. It was Alberto Santos Dumont, a Brazilian living in Paris, France.

Brazilian cats have only seven lives, not nine.  (Gato tem 7 vidas...)

Brazilians women (and a lot of men, too) take their novelas (soap operas) seriously. Each storyline is a primetime show on air from Monday to Saturday, and usually lasting 8-12 months.

Unlike the U.S., most laws in Brazil are legislated at the Federal level. Therefore, they are more likely to be uniform throughout the country, making traffic laws, driving ages, voting, taxation and other laws much the same in any state in Brazil.

Making new friends at April's bate-papo.

Bate-Papo -
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm

Over a dozen people joined us for a bate-papo (relaxed conversation) on Thursday, May 1 to practice Portuguese and make new friends at Gregory's Coffee. It was a very nice crowd and we stayed until the place closed at 9pm. To see some pictures of the event, visit http://portuguese.meetup.com/265/.

The bate-papo is a chance for relaxed Portuguese conversation.  We will hold this regularly occurring event on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. Our second bate-papo this month will be on Thursday, May 15 at 7pm at Gregory's Coffee.

All levels welcome, from beginners to native speakers, and attendees will be encouraged to speak Portuguese the whole time. The event is free (you pay what you consume) and it is an opportunity to practice Portuguese and meet new people in a relaxed environment. If you want to learn or improve your Portuguese, we will be happy to teach you at Brazil Station.

Gregory's Coffee
327 Park Ave South
btwn 24th & 25th St
New York, NY 10010
(212) 979-8600
Click here for directions.

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Contact us at Info@BrazilStation.com by Sunday, May 18 to RSVP.

Meet the people of the Amazon in the Amazônia Brasil Exhibition.

In this 13,000-square-foot recreation of the Amazon, visitors can experience firsthand the sights, sounds and wonders of life in the Brazilian Amazon, including its biodiversity, people, villages and cities. Visitors will be able to interact directly with communities living in the heart of the forest via the Internet, and meet shamans and artisans from the region in person. Exhibit-goers will be able to bring a piece of the rainforest home when they buy crafts made by artisans in the Brazilian Amazon, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting a fund to helps to protect the Amazon.

For more information, visit www.farearte.com.br/amazoniabrasil/amazoniabrasil.html.

South Street Seaport
Fulton & South Streets, Pier 17
New York, NY 10038
(212) SEA-PORT

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Capoeira Nago Batizado - Saturday, May 17 at 3pm

Former Brazil Station student Desirée Rosario-Moodie's capoeira group is hosting a Capoeira Batizado this month and invites you to participate. Admission for this event will be $10. 

Capoeira is a blend of martial arts and dance which originated in Brazil. It was created and developed by both the native Indians in Brazil and slaves brought from Africa. Participants form a roda (circle) take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, and the extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts.

During a Batizado (a "baptism" into the art of capoeira), new members being "baptized" are normally given a corda (cord belt) and an apelido (capoeira nickname) if they haven't already earned one. Batizado is also held in conjunction with a Troca de Corda (change of belts), in which students already baptized who have trained hard and been deemed worthy by their teachers are awarded higher-ranking belts as an acknowledgment of their efforts. Such ceremonies provide opportunities to see a variety of different capoeira styles, watch mestres play, and see some of the best of the game.

For more information, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira and http://www.capoeiranago-usa.com/Batizado.html.

Croatian Center
502 W 41st St at 10th Ave
New York, NY 10036

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Roberto Carlos in Concert - Friday, May 23 at 8pm

Roberto Carlos is a name known to every Brazilian and recognized worldwide wherever smooth music and romantic lyrics are known and loved. Carlos is a Grammy Award-winning Musica Popular Brasileira singer who has achieved a great deal of success and recognition in his almost 50-year-old career. He has sold over 100 million albums around the world, making him one of the best-selling Latin American artists and earning him the nickname "The King." In 1994, Carlos became the first Latin American artist to sell more albums than the Beatles, selling over 70 million copies of his albums.

See "The King" of Brazil live on Friday, May 23 at 8pm at the WaMu Theater in Madison Square Garden. For more information, visit www.thegarden.com/events/robert-carlos-0508.html

WaMu Theater At Madison Square Garden
7th Ave at 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001

Ivan Lins & Trio da Paz  - Friday, May 23 & Saturday, May 24 at 8pm

Ivan Lins' 35-year career has garnered him a 2000 Latin Grammy nomination and a 2001 Grammy award for Latin Pop Vocal.  He is a prolific singer, songwriter, and pianist and a mesmerizing performer.  Lins' songs have been recorded by Quincy Jones, George Benson, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, and Barbara Streisand.

Jazz at Lincoln Center celebrates the music and spirit of Brazil with a performance by Ivan Lins and Trio da Paz, joined by vocal jazz quartet New York Voices. Lins bring the essence of romance to Rose Theater on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24 at 8pm.

For more information, visit www.jalc.org/concerts/details.asp?EventID=1302.

Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center
Broadway at 60th Street
New York, NY 10023

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Rosa Passos Quartet - Fri., May 23 & Sat., May 24 at 7:30 and 9:30pm

Inspired by João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim—the godfathers of bossa nova— Rosa Passos switched from piano to guitar and began writing her own material as a teenager.  As a Brazilian singer and songwriter, she is known for keeping Brazilian jazz alive with all its mystery, rhythm, and romance intact.  Fans all over the world know her to be loyal to her Afro-Brazilian heritage, maintaining the soulful cool of bossa nova without commercial compromise. She celebrates the 50th anniversary of bossa nova with an appearance at Lincoln Center on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24, making the classic tunes sound new again. 

For more information, visit www.jalc.org/concerts/details.asp?EventID=1296.

The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center
Broadway at 60th Street
New York, NY 10023

1. N1BS - Beginner Level 1 group class for Spanish Speakers will start Tuesday, May 13 at 6:15pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.

2. N1B - Beginner Level 1 group class will start on Wednesday, May 14 at 8pm. It is for people with little or no knowledge of Portuguese. 

3. N2B - Beginner Level 2 group class will start on Monday, May 19 at 8pm. It is for people who have some knowledge of Portuguese. 

4. N3BS - Beginner Level 3 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Tuesday, May 21 at 8pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with decent knowledge of Portuguese.

5. N2BS - Beginner Level 2 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Saturday, May 31 at 11am. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with some knowledge of Portuguese.

We offer Private and Semi-private classes from Monday to Saturday. You can start taking classes with us at any day, any time. In addition to our traditional Portuguese classes, Brazil Station also offers Portuguese for Spanish and Italian Speakers, Business Portuguese, and Travel Classes. We teach off-site classes and Corporate Language Education as well. Contact us at (646) 287-6645 or Newsletter@BrazilStation.com to find the right programs for you!

Brazilians are very fond of the diminutive. Everything seems to be ‘inho’ (masculine form) or ‘inha’ (feminine form), making it more endearing, cuter, smaller, and more acceptable. 

For example, "bonito" means cute. But when you see a little baby, he is "bonitinho." On the other hand, a "feinho" (a little ugly) is less ugly than a "feio" (ugly). A big woman is not "gorda" (fat), she is "gordinha." When you want more cake, you may say "um pouco mais" (a little more), but "um pouquinho mais" means a little tiny bit more.