Posted by Rachel
Today we’re going to look at the jaca, known in English as the jackfruit. 
Jackfruit originally comes from India and Southeast Asia, where it was cultivated up to 6,000 years ago. Now it is commonly found in tropical climates throughout the world, including tropical regions of Brazil.
This fruit grows on a jaqueira, a jackfruit tree, which can reach up to twenty meters in height. The interesting thing about jaca trees is that they produce both male and female flowers.
The jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the word. The fruits grow from the trunk and can weigh up to thirty-six kilograms.
The inside of the jackfruit is edible, which has a sweet, slimy taste. Breadfruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is also used to make jam, syrup, chips and pastries. Jackfruit seeds are high in starch and Vitamins B1 and B2.
Posted by Rachel
The International Humor Festival began this week in Rio de Janeiro and will run until November 23rd. The festival features expositions at two venues, Centro Cultural Correios and Espaço Cultural Oi Futuro, as well as debates and theater productions. The festival will also honor several Brazilian cartoonists, including Luís Fernando Veríssimo, Laerte and Angeli (cartoon featured below).
The expositions will feature thousands of cartoons from Brazilian artists, as well as an international section from artists abroad. Entry is free at both venues, though the doors only open in the afternoon. They are recommended for adults and for teenagers aged 14 and older.
For more information, see the official site.
Posted by Rachel
Expat American engineer Hunter Hagewood lives in Brazil where he works for a major IT company, Nevoa Networks. But you won’t find him in Rio or São Paulo, but rather in a more unlikely place: Campina Grande, Paraíba, in the sertão (desert) region of the Northeast.
At only 33 years old, Hunter helps run a five year-old data software company, operated by Indians, French, Americans and Brazilians. The company aims to create software databases used in police investigations by organizations like Interpol.
Because of the presence of the company, Campina Grande has the highest proportion of Ph.Ds per inhabitant in all of Brazil: one for every 669 residents, which is five times higher than the national average. There are also other technology centers in Campina Grande, including the major electricity provider Light Infocon and the Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, one of the best public universities for information technology.
Hunter is happy with is choice of a home in Brazil. In his town, he has the chance to experience the “real” Brazil, learning how to dance forró and trying new food.
Posted by Rachel
There are a lot of words to express affection for others in Portuguese, so let’s take a look at some of them:
mamãe: this means mommy, or mom.
papai: this means daddy, or dad.
fofinho: this means “cute,” or “cutie pie.”
bonitinho: this means “pretty” or “cute.”
amorzinho: this literally means “little love,” used to express a person you adore.
anjinho: this means “little angel.”
baixinho: this literally means “little small person,” used to describe a short person or a young child. Even though it’s not politically correct in English, it’s valid and endearing in Portuguese.
meu filho/minha filha: even though parents use these expressions to refer to their kids (my son/daughter), they are also used amongst close friends to express endearment.
Posted by Rachel
In Brazil, the most used social networking site on the Internet, which has become wildly popular nationwide, is known as Orkut (pronounced Or-coo-chee). It was created in 2004 by a Turkish Google employee and originally was marketed in the United States. Gradually, though, its two largest markets became Brazil and India, which make up 55% and 16% of total users, respectively.
Brazilians use Orkut to stay in touch with friends, post photos, and share information about themselves. Like Facebook, there is a wall, called “scraps,” used to leave messages on each person’s profile, and also an area to join groups, which on Orkut are called communities. You can also send private messages, post videos, and leave “depoimentos,” telling your friends how you feel about them.
If you’re looking to make friends while living or traveling in Brazil, or even if you’re looking to do business here, it’s a good idea to set up an Orkut account!
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