Bureaucracy, Preparation, Reflection

Man. I have been at home for the past week and a half now getting ready for Brazil. And it is at the very least a part time job -- hunting down the necessary documents, tying up loose ends, playing email and phone tag with Ci&T and the Brazilian consulate... It's that necessary bullshit you have to go through whenever you move to another country. Oh, it's definitely worth it in the end, but a bigity bitch nonetheless.

Since preparing for Brazil is but a part time job I spend the rest of my time relaxing from that devil of a trimester I finished, playing with my mom's dog (my favorite dog of all time), and most importantly studying Portuguese. I do this hardcore for at least an hour or two per day, and I love it. Brazilian Portuguese is a strange and beautiful language that reminds me of French. Ain't nothin' better than learning a foreign language, and it's much easier this time around with French under my belt.

I had a semi-interesting revelation recently: I like myself better when I'm abroad. It's not really anything to do with avoiding my troubles at home or not liking myself in the U.S. It's just that when I'm living in another country I'm learning another language, an activity that fills me with immense joy. Every day I study the language and then get to practice what I learn; the instant feedback I get by learning something and then directly applying my knowledge provides me with incredible incentive to learn more. I love everything about that process.

I also am much more outgoing; whereas normally I would avoid making tedious small talk with Joe Bagadonuts on the subway, when I'm abroad every social interaction is a chance to practice the language so I revel in it. The fact that I'm generally psyched to be where I am makes me more adventurous too. Plus, I can always play my foreigner card -- I love the role of the young, daring, multilingual American who is at home in a foreign land. Foreigners respect the fact that I speak their language well and am interested in their culture. Because I am foreign and speak the language I am immediately interesting. I always have my go to talking point: "Yeah, I'm foreign. Philadelphia, United States. Yes, Bush is an asshat and Family Guy is sweet. Sure, I'll come to your party!" Socially everything's easier: girls like me more, cool people think I'm cool, and a lack of tact is easily forgiven as a harmless blunder committed by a well meaning foreigner.

When I'm in the U.S., I can't play the daring foreigner role. At home, there's nothing about me that's outwardly special. It just ain't the same. It's not that it's bad here, it's just so awesome there.

On the bright side, I'll be in Brazil next week...