Episode 36: Milton Finally Gets it

Milton and I respond to more feedback, and we have a bit better sound quality.

Word of the day: zebra

Links:

• Brazilian Jokes
• rocinhajj's Favela Blog

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Comments

[Chicago Peter]

I had to check some of the dates on americancatholic.org, but even a somewhat lapsed Catholic like myself knew two of the holidays concerning Saint Mary. To be clear, this particular Saint Mary is Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

August 15 - Assumption of Mary

December 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Many people, even many Catholics, think "Immaculate Conception" refers to the conception of Jesus. It refers to the conception of Mary, who was conceived the old-fashioned way, but without original sin.

It took a few minutes on wikipedia.org to find that October 12 is the feast of Our Lady of the Conception who Appeared.

[Mark]

I'm curious as to why Milton disagreed that the US team was the underdog in the Confederations Cup Final. Brazil had already quite soundly beaten the US in the first round, and we only barely got out of that round by quite a bit of luck. Granted, the US did well in the semifinals against Spain, but I doubt many really had hopes that the US could beat Brazil in the final game. Or did I misunderstand what Milton said?

About drivers in Brazil: they are insane. I thought I was going to die the first time I rode a bus in São Paulo. I remember getting to the bus stop and seeing the bus waiting, with no driver. It concerned me when a guy in a nearby bar put down his mug of beer and climbed behind the steering wheel of the bus I was about to take. Eventually, I got used to the drivers, and it didn't take long to start driving the same way. It seemed that if you didn't almost get into an accident at least once a trip, something was wrong.

I don't know if Novo Hamburgo is actually the shoe capital of Brazil, but that's what they told me when I was there, and I saw enough shoe-making to not doubt it. Nearly half the people I knew there had something to do with shoe-making. Some worked in factories, but a lot worked at home making shoes. I understand another city (Franca, I believe) also claims the title, and Jaú claims the title of women's shoe capital of Brazil, and yet another that claims to be the sneaker capital of Brazil. So, take from that what you will.

[Chris]

Well I have to say Milton has to be the only Brasilian I know that thinks the USA team is not an underdog lol. Most of the world thinks we suck and we are not good at all. I think we are a force to be reckond with come 2010 world cup. GO USA !!! lol

[Kinsey]

Peter, I also thought the Immaculate Conception referred to Jesus' conception. So many things about Catholicism confuse me.

Mark, Brazilian drivers do take some getting used to. I just wish the taxi drivers would stop disabling their seat belts. I'll have to ask Milton about Milton's underdog opinion in the next feedback episode.

Chris, I hope not. I remember when Brazil won or almost won (I don't remember which) the World Cup in 1990. The whole country went crazy, and it was kind of scary.

[Mark]

I was in Brazil for the 1998 World Cup. It was amazing to see the entire city shut down when Brazil was playing. When Brazil lost to France in the finals, there was still a big party in the city center. Brazilians don't really need a reason to party.

[rocinhajj]

Milton & Kinsey,

I apologize for not being here in a long time. I enjoy your podcasts.

thank you for adressing my "favela" coments on your podcast. I feel that my comunity is very happy for me to be like ambassador for Rocinha. It makes me sad when only negatives are said about our comunities.

I am working on some wonderful projets here to create jobs for residents but also helping cross cultural exchange with foreigners too.

I love my home and that I have the ability to help other people better there lives here in Rocinha!

you can contact me at: [email protected]

and Please take a good look at my website:
http://www.favelatour.org

there are 3 parts to the website

Tours/visits, Cultural Adventures, and the non profit to build a comunity center.

if you want me to be on your show, please contact me,,

thank you,
Zezinho da Rocinha

[Chris]

Zezinho, I have taken a look at your website and i am impressed. I myself would like to take a visit to Rocinha and acutally stay for a while to learn about what goes on there. What it is like to live in a favela for a while, help people out visit with people and make friends. I like the Favela Adventures program where kids can be able to learn Brasilian Jiu Jitsu, Mauy Thai, Or Caporeia. Ive heard that learning Brasilian Jiu Jitsu from the Gracies or in the clubs in Rio isnt cheap at all in fact i think only the wealthy can afford it. But I have seen in gracie magazine where people that know Jiu Jitsu are moving a traning place into some favelas to let the kids of the favelas learn without having to worry about spending a whole lot of money on something like that. but anyhow you have a nice website there...I like it and its interesting. Do you arrage stays for people to stay in the Favela or anything ?..Do people have a problem with forginers staying in the favela ?

I have seen documentaries on youtube about the favelas and the gangs there and they never seem to WANT to kill ANYBODY...they are really just wanting to help thier community out. From what I understood the only reason they were to kill anybody were just afriad of the polica coming in and arresting them for nothing. But they were dealing with drugs which is a no no..but selling drugs when you are poor can make you quite alot of money. So I dont blame them, you have to do what you got to do. What I am wondering does these fire fights happen on a daily routine between the gangs and the police or between the 2 gangs in Rocinha ?..

[Chris]

Kinsey, I was only born in 1989 so lol i was only one year old when the 1990 world cup happen. But Yeah, I can see the Brasilians going nuts when they won the world cup...even in 2014 if they win it I can see the place going nuts. Espically in the favelas hahaha they should be partys going on forever. Plus you will have people tearing shit up...which ive never understood why people put on a riot and tear things up and catch things on fire.

When the club Barcalona (Spain) beat the club Manchester United (England) for the UEFA Championship...the people in Barcalona went on a riot and caught things on fire and people died. I dont see no need for this though hahah you can celebrate without rioting. even when i played basketball in school when we won a game i never wanted to go tear up the gym lol.

[Kinsey]

Mark, that is true. I heard that even emergency room surgeons operate while watching the World Cup, and they stop and cheer whenever Brazil scores a goal. I don't really believe that, but it comes close.

Zezinho da Rocinha, it's cool that you're still listening. We'll definitely want to have you on a future show. Things are a bit crazy right now, but I'll e-mail you when I get back to Brazil from my upcoming trip to the US. Maybe we can do a show in November.

Chris, it happens in the US too. One year my local university in Indiana won some big basketball game, and the campus went crazy! Students were actually carrying dorm furniture out of the buildings and using it build bonfires. At the same time, some people, who were never caught, managed to steal an overhanging traffic light from an intersection.

[Karl]

Milton and Kinsey,

I really enjoyed this episode! I've been following the podcast for sometime now, since I hope to go to Brazil one day (hopefully to study abroad for some time in college).

There are a few questions about Brazil/Brazilian culture that I have:

-How are schools, such as high schools and universities, thought of in Brazil? What should an American student expect if he were to study abroad in a Brazilian university?

-I've heard that Brazil is the most populous Roman Catholic country in the world; any comments/stories on that?

-While I was making penpals from Brazil to practice my Portuguese, I noticed how friendly they were to me since I was an American. Is there a reason that Brazilians have a certain fascination with Americans?

I hope these questions/topics haven't already been answered elsewhere!

-Karl

[rocinhajj]

Chris contrary to what people may think, we have many foreigners living in or visiting Rocinha. Rocinha is a unique place. I do not recomend just walking into any favela comunity but Rocinha is very diferent..

The reason for my website is to take 25% of the profits to put towards opening a comunity center. With the comunity center I want all the residents to be able to participate for free. My comunity has given me the role of ambassador to help link and bring together the world of the favela to the asfalto. I take this role given to me becase I care about Rocinha and how the outside world sees us!

The favela adventures part of my site is directed towards foreigners who want to experience favela life but included in authentic activity..what could be more authentic than training in Capoeira in a favela?

I have no publically released or promoted my site yet, in december I will start all my programs..tours/visits and adventure programs!

I also do set up oportunities for people to stay/visit in Rocinha, but a tour of the area is a necessity as you will need to know how to get around. Each day we have over 200 tourists come into Rocinha, so our favela is very much welcoming to visitors.

Right now i have found places for two university students studying in Rocinha for varios projets..I have had so many requests lately that I will be thinking of posibly buying a place to house visitors. But everybody that I help out has to sign a liability agrement that they will not participate in illegal activities (using drugs).

ok the drugs thing..the gangs certainly are not angels but
Almost every favela is under the control of a criminal faction. Currently Rocinha is under control of ADA (Amigos dos Amigos). There are two other main factions, CV (Comando Vermelho) and TCP (Terceiro Comando Puro). They act as a parellel power in the favelas. Sometimes providing resources for day care centers, food and medicine for the poorer residents in the community, They also maintain a high level of control and enforce strong discipline codes in the favela. They strictly prohibit street crimes such as rape, muggings, and break-ins. Despite the low fequency of street crimes in the favelas, there can be gun battles that break out between police and rival gangs and can present real dangers. The police and trafickers co-exist in a very complicated balance of power that invloves a high level of corruption and cooperation. Even so, police invasions of favelas like Rocinha, do happen but they are not an everyday occurance.

the drug guys would rather run and hide that shoot it out..they only shoot when they feel they are trapped..we do not have invasions every day no!

the drug thing is very complicated and many reasons why the guys sell drugs..one i know for a fact is that most sell becase of lack of oportunity for jobs for young favela men..but the most is becase of money....just to be a lookout you can earn 500-700 reais a month..this is more than my father earns...

anyhow I prefer to talk more about the positives that exist here, ..everybody already knows the negatives..

It is my job to show Rocinha good side to the outside world. It is far from the perfect place, but it is the place, I call hom and I am proud of!

thank you,

Zezinho

[rocinhajj]

December will probably be a better time for me to talk with you on your show..

For ideas about what I am doing to help my comunity, please take a look at my website:
www.favelatour.org

Thank you,

Zezinho

[rocinhajj]

Kinsey, Milton and others..

You can find me on Facebook & Orkut too

Add me as a friend!

On Facebook I am: "DeeJay Zezinho"
On Orkut I am: "Favelado do Sucesso"

Tchau for now!

Zezinho

[Kinsey]

Karl, those are good questions, and we really haven't addressed them yet. The first two are a bit complicated, but we'll discuss them is great detail when we do episodes on education and religion.

I think most of the fascination Brazilians have for Americans comes from all the movies, TV programs, books and music that come from the US and get heavily consumed in Brazil.

Zezinho, I've added you on Facebook and Orkut. December sounds good. Someday I would like to go on one of your tours, but I never seem to make it to Rio.

[rocinhajj]

Kinsey you would not come on a tour but a visit to meet my family and friends here in Rocinha, no problem!

[Kinsey]

Zezinho, that's very kind. I may take you up on that someday. :)

[Chris]

Ah Zezinho, I know there has to be and is alot of postives in the favela...prolly more postives in the favela's than there is outside them. I would love to come there and visit and stay in Rocinha. and yeah id defintaly sign an agreement to not partake in illegal activity since i dont do drugs or raise hell lol.

Kinsey, lol thats funny that they did that in Indiana. I have family that lives in Indiana, They do take basketball serious there but i wouldnt say as quite serious as Kentuckians considering UK is pretty big in basketball and has alot of fans hahaha. But i wasnt aware they done something like that. somebody shoulda really calmed them hoosiers down hahaha.

[Kinsey]

Chris, that was many years ago. Hopefully, the campus police have since learned to up security whenever there's a huge game.

[rocinhajj]

Chris if you decide to come to Rio and have interest in Rocinha, please keep in touch

Zezinho

[Chris]

I will Zezinho, I could acutally come now. It just a matter of getting my passport and visa and flight lol. Although Im a little worried about not having enough money lol. though i guess i shouldnt be worried if i can go to flordia on about 300 or 400 dollars.

[Rafael]

I am not sure you guys are still doing the podcast (I made a couple comments last week but haven’t heard back) but I had to make a comment about this episode.

The part about Milton not getting the pit bull joke was really funny, once he said "genitals" I couldn’t stop laughing. But I understand why he thought that, I think in Brasil we have some jokes about 5 legged "jumentos" (I am guessing this is how he made that connection).

Anyways, hope you guys release a new episode soon.

[Kinsey]

Rafael,

Yes, that was hilarious. I really thought he'd get the joke, but he didn't. I was also pleased when I realized I had a perfect photo to go with the episode.

Don't worry. We're still coming out with new episodes, just very slowly. :)

[Rafael]

Yes, good picture!! I think Milton actually said the word "genitals" twice on that episode, I dont remember what he was referencing to the second time. Funny stuff.

[Kinsey]

It was also hilarious that Milton took several days to notice that in the photo, Hello Kitty genitals.