Saudade saudade... (27 March 2008)

Saudade – this is the other side of Brasil. When people hear Brasil, they think of endless dazzling smiles, uplifting music and dancing, sunny beaches, and yes, that is all true. But there’s saudade. Some combination of longing, sadness, nostalgia, missing something…

So it’s kind of all come full circle – I’m on my way back to Japan. I’ve been reminiscing recently about all the places I’ve been the past year…and realize how extremely fortunate I have been to be able to experience all the things I have smelled, seen, heard, tasted, and felt…I’m kinda sintindo saudade…

Of what?

Cuba – of the music flowing in the streets, the slickness of the people, the dinosaur Chevrolets that hunker through La Habana…the smell of Cohibas…the agropecuarios where people remember you after your first visit cause there just aren’t Asians that speak fluent Spanish in Cuba…the utter sheer euphoria of dancing with Ery…

Mexico – god the food…extrano los mercados, los aguacates baratissimos en Morelos, habas with Reynold, exploring the art of DF…quesadillas de masa azul…chile verde…chilaquiles and mole negro and flautas piping hot fresh out of the pot of oil on the street…quiero los tacos en Guanajuato y San Cristobal…carnitas y tamales en Michoacan…

Guatemala – man those pupusas in Guate with Chrissy…the borrachos Hugo and Pampa…innuendos and gossip with Aurora…that stunning scenery, the tapestries, the retina slamming colors…

Brasil…o rei da saudade pra mim agora…pao de queijo, suco de manga, suco de mamao, crema de mamao (Dani!), um picanha bem feito, feijoada with oranges, couve…pineapple with cinnamon…vegan feasts…carne seca com aipim…yucca/mandioca/cassava/aipim goes in a whole nother category of its own…Forro…mais forro…the matte with limao at the beach…agua de coco…the spinach salgados…people saying beijo when they get off the phone…nights in Lapa…the blocos in Salvador, following Olodum around with your whole body vibrating from the bones because there’s just that much percission…

Argentina – the parrilla…alfajores…but yes yes yes, it’s all about the vinto tinto, those Malbecs and Syrahs from Mendoza…the cordero and the friendships I’ve got in Buenos Aires…my adoptive family…

Point: I’m suffering from a heavy dose of Saudade. Unabating, full force saudade for Latin America, for these countries where the Spanish and Portuguese of their colonizers has been transformed into a romantic distinguished warm open language of friendliness, acceptance, and, well, for me, home. It’s where I belong. I recognized it early on, when Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina happened…and now it’s confirmed.

So let the saudade end soon…less than 6 months to go…