Brazil and Minas Gerais are my birth country and state. There are lots of nice holidays and important dates to celebrate. The families of my state are more reserved than in the other states. I think my state is like Wisconsin here, with dairy farms and lots of agriculture. We are famous about our tasty cheese too. In June, we usually have a big party with lots of food, funny dances, bonfire, and farmer clothes (like ladies and cowboys from Westerns, sometimes with patches at their pants, boots, and painted black teeth). Here my sister husband and she on my nephews birthday. They like to mix the tradition with their son birthday because its part of our culture and its fun.

Here in US the parties are quiet and finish earlier than in Brazil. We usually don’t have time to finish, sometimes it’s still in another day! With no stop!

Here in US the people have more fun with their holidays. I think they have more money to spend and enjoy everything. They decorate their garden and homes with every type of thing for holidays. For example, now they are celebrating Halloween and falls, the gardens and houses are filled the interesting things, pumpkins, ghosts, bats, cemetery, skeletons, wizards, dried corn plants and much more. December always is the month of the lights for Christmas then, they have beautiful decorations outside and inside. In Brazil as usual a fake decorated pine tree, sometimes white or covered of cotton simulating snow. I think it is because “Father Noel” (for Brazilians) or “Santa” (for US) lives in North Pole! In Brazil people can’t put decorations outside, first because have tall fence or wall (sometimes electric fence to keep no welcomes out) and people can’t see the houses and second it attracts thieves too. I know there are thieves or robbers everywhere but the problem in Brazil is about homeless teenagers or too much poverty. Here everything is open, we can see the houses, gardens.

Brazil is a beautiful country with a wonderful weather and mild winters but it isn’t enough to have good life there. There are a lot of problems, few employments and consequently poverty and high crime rats. Everything is expensive when the money is rare! The Brazilians usually work hard to survive and sometimes they can save a little bit to eventually. Brazil is rich country but the inequality is huge, a few of them to much rich and gazillions with a little or nothing. The university isn’t for everybody and without it the people can’t get good jobs. It’s a vicious circle, to study, to get a job, to enjoy the life. Here in US it works really well, there are tons of good schools, lots of jobs and opportunities to get money and everything isn’t far dreamed but possible.

Today I’m a mix American. I’m both, North and South American. North I’m learning not only English but American culture and a little bit other cultures too because I’m living in a immigrant country and at school in my class has many people of different countries, sharing my culture too, working the opportunities, meeting good people and making money.

My husband and I have our dream and we are making its true. We enjoy everything and it keeps our days happy.