Tag: brazil

Random

Ovaltine is different in Brazil

I mean, beyond the name, where it’s called “Ovomaltine”, which apparently is how the whole world calls it except English-speaking countries? Well, anyway, when it was introduced in the country, there were some issues with the production line and the product didn’t turn powdery enough, becoming flaky and crispy when mixed in milk, creating a nicely texturized chocolate-y drink. I …

Random

Black Friday, linguistics, and Brazil

There’s an interesting shift in Brazil where the word “Friday”, in English, might get another meaning. Surprising no one (I hope), most Brazilians don’t speak English, so they don’t know what “Black Friday” really means. Some might be aware that “black” means “dark” or the literal color black but have no idea that “Friday”, a less common English word to …

Writing

Cleansing Flames

This story was written years ago for a contest. It got a positive feedback, but wasn’t picked. I found it again a few months ago, adjusted a bit of the flow, and it’s now here. Some people say Hell is a fiery pit of despair, eternally engulfed in flames. Others say it’s a cold and desolated wasteland, where no hope …

Random

Well, would you look at that

It is sad that, while being in a country with more than one café on each corner, it’s hard to find good coffee, to the point where Starbucks is an acceptable substitute. Even more because Starbucks over-roast their coffee, so much so that this “blonde roast” is more like a medium roast everywhere else. On the other hand, I’ve never …