Author: Shayna

When you live in the historical center of Salvador, sometimes you look out the window and see this: The rhythm they are playing is called maracatu – it’s a …

Photo by Paul Hart The absence of doorbells on Brazilian houses is more common than you’d expect. When you come to a house without a doorbell, you have three …

Before coming to Brazil, I thought Halls were cough drops – you know, something you only use when you’re sick, because the menthol and eucalyptus soothe your throat. A …

The Lavagem do Bonfim,  Salvador’s second-biggest street party after Carnaval, consists of an 8-kilometer procession through the lower city, up to Bonfim Church. Bahian women bring flowers and wash …

Image source One of the irritating parts about life in Brazil is the existence of carros-som (“sound-cars”), which drive around with speakers strapped to their roofs, blasting advertisements for …

I’m starting a new series called Brazil Mysteries – they are things I don’t (or didn’t used to) understand about life in this country. Some have been solved, some are …

Image source …is that is messes with your translation work. I’ve just come up for air after finishing a mega-project of about 60 pages in 4 days (which may …

Image source I am a natural resolution-maker. My inclination is to make not only resolutions, but also quarterly targets and monthly progress checks and SMART goals (see picture). The problem …

My rather melancholy Christmas had a surprise ending! Christian came home from work on Christmas evening and said, “I have the next 3 days off. Let’s go to Lençóis.” …

Inspired by Danielle’s 2011 reading list, here are 10 books I’ve really enjoyed this year: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss A heartbreakingly beautiful book about an old …