"This is a No Grump Zone," Sean says as he zips closed the mosquito net that covers our bed.  It's a nice way to remind me to quit whining in the small time and space that we have together during the day.  In this case, I was trying to take a nap in preparation to go to a birthday party that started at about 11:00 in the evening.  One of Sean's students, Antonio, had invited him to his birthday party and really wanted us to go so we were going even though it started quite late at night and was really far away.  This was only fair as the night before Sean helped me with a favor and gave a last-minute presentation with me about university life in the U.S. from 7-9pm at a local college after a full day's work and on a Friday night no less.  Their keynote speaker had called in sick and the event organizer was desperate so we did it even though Sean didn't really want to.  This whole business of compromises and the required give and take in marriage seemed a whole lot more manageable on paper than it actually is in practice.  I would highly advise constructing various No Grump Zones around your house.  It helps a little.

Antonio and Sean (notice all the sweat - it's hot dancing samba outside in this weather, even at 3am!)

The birthday party invitation said that the party started at 9:45pm but Antonio, the birthday boy and of 46 years, admitted that most people wouldn't start showing up until around 10:30 or 11:00.  I should pause here to remind you that Sean works at the classiest and most exclusive English teaching school in the city (the main requirement being that you must be a native speaker - a rarity here in Belém) which attracts a certain elite and wealthy clientele.  A birthday party in the upper echelon of Belém society is essentially like going to a wedding; there was going to be a live band, an open bar, dinner and plenty of partying until the wee hours.

 
I enjoy living in Brazil but one of the hardest parts of the culture to get used to and understand is the need to stay out so late.  It's common for Brazilian parties to start after midnight and go until 5 or 6 in the morning.  I don't know how they are able to do it as I start fading at around 10pm.  I love and cherish a good night's sleep and it doesn't even bother me if that statement makes me seem old.

We dutifully arrived at the party at 11:30pm just in time for canapes and finger foods and the live samba band.  The party had just gotten started and Antonio greeted us with hugs saying, "I was worried you weren't coming because I thought all Americans were early and when you didn't get here at 9:30 I thought you weren't coming."  Antonio has done plenty of his homework on cultural differences.  He's a very successful lawyer who has lived for a little while in the U.S.  Later on in the evening, as he saw me yawn he would say, "I think it's so great that in the U.S. people usually go home from a party before midnight so everyone has time to sleep.  But right now we are in Brazil so we have to stay up very late."  I told myself we were in for a long night and tried to stay positive.



The party, naturally, was fantastic.  There were all-you-could-consume fancy tropical drinks, a fully catered array of snacks and desserts, and waiters who walked around with bottles of whiskey and ice.

11:30 - We arrive
12:00 - Canapes
12:30 - First course (salad)
12:45- - Second course (potatoes and cod in cream sauce)
1:00 - Third course (seafood medley)
1:15 - Fourth course (grilled beef cuts)
1:30 - Speeches and Happy Birthday song
1:45 - Desserts (strawberry tarts and chocolate mousse)
2:15 - I call for taxi
3:00 - Taxi arrives
3:30 - Arrive at home
? : ? - Party ends

The party was tasty, interesting and beautiful but through all of it I was pretty tired.   I'm tired and a little grumpy now while I write this on Sunday afternoon, the day after the festivities as I cringe at how a long nap is going to eat into all the things I wanted to do today.  But like Antonio reminded me last night, I'm currently living in Brazil- a country that values the moment, seeks constant social interaction and above all loves a good time.  It's like I'm living in one giant No Grump Zone and I hope it rubs off on me a little more the last two months I'm here.

1 Comment

1. Unknown on September 14, 2014 at 10:24 PM

   It's good to know that you are enjoying ur time living here! And yeah, we like to stay up till late