polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jan 31, 2012, 11:09 am
Anyone else here obsessed with Pinterest? Last week was São Paulo's birthday, and so I decided to create a Pinterest board as an ode to the city with pictures I and my friends have taken around the city over the past few weeks. São Paulo Photos. I am willing to open the bo...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jan 24, 2012, 8:44 am
A few months back, Sarah Von from Yes & Yes, a blog I follow religiously, e-mailed me to ask me if I would like to talk to her about my experience living in the US and moving back to Brazil, which I promptly accepted :-) She's pretty "OCD," so three months later, she scheduled the post to be p...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jan 19, 2012, 10:24 am
As a search marketer, I'm obliged to spread the word:  Also, from a short spiel I wrote for a blog post on the matter, yesterday:  Like many things in life, despite being an American law, all internet users in the world will be affected by SOPA and/or PIPA (not an exaggeration). In...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jan 16, 2012, 9:49 am
I've been reading a lot of different Brazilians blogs and columns recently, and one of my favorites is Xico Sá's blog over at Folha de São Paulo's blogs, where he wittingly talks about relationships & sex, culture, society and politics. He'll use a lot of literary references I don't know about, so...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jan 5, 2012, 7:46 am
A few months ago, I read this great article a journalist for the Economist had written in More Intelligent Life on living in São Paulo, which she entitled, São Paulo: Being There. While reading the article, I found myself nodding a lot in agreement, laughing a little thinking, “She’s such a fo...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jan 2, 2012, 12:36 pm
I know these year reflection posts can be super tacky, but I have to put into writing what 2011 brought me and share some of the experiences I had throughout the year. So here's another story in photos that I know you all love! Dear 2011, There is no way to thank you enough for the year ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Dec 19, 2011, 5:00 am
I just realized I never posted pictures from my weekend in Brasília. Shame on me =/ A few months ago, my roommate Cinthia and I took a weekend trip to our nation's capital! My old roommate Eugenia, and her husband Rafael, have been living there for over a year now and very warmly treated us t...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Dec 16, 2011, 2:02 pm
Luigi Bertolli, a Brazilian clothing brand, produced a great Christmas video with artists from all over Brazil, playing in different musical styles and rhythms and it's everything wonderful. Makes me think even more of my parents and how it'll be their first Brazilian Christmas in over 20 years!! ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Dec 6, 2011, 7:11 pm
My roommate Cinthia and I have put our extra bedroom on Airbnb for short term rental. We bought a fancy little futon for it, and have plans to paint it and turn it into a little office/guest room. Currently, we have a very fun and polite German man who's just moved to SP through his company and will...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Nov 29, 2011, 9:12 am
I'm pretty obsessed with Foreign Policy's "lists." Just this week, São Paulo was named a Top City to be Watched... and now Dilma's a Top Thinker! Of course, sometimes I think they pick people just because their country is "being talked about" or what-have-you, but I think I've said this...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Oct 25, 2011, 8:35 am
You know how we're always imitating other languages the way we think they sound? Have you ever heard anyone do that for English? Very rarely do people go around imitating English, but for those who don't know how to speak it, I imagine, many of my family members... Now I know what it sounds li...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Oct 22, 2011, 9:54 am
Until I get the time to post all the exciting stuff I've been talking about, I'm going to keep linking interesting things. :-) As some may know from reading the blog, I interned at the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, DC a few years back and think it's a great organization with fantastic...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Oct 18, 2011, 9:17 am
I have lots to tell you all and have a great profile/interview to post, but I can't tell you some of it yet, so in the meantime, I'd love to share a link with you all. A lot of people constantly ask me why I'm back in Brazil, or how I got to where I am professionally, or what my life was like ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Oct 8, 2011, 3:06 pm
Last weekend, my girl friends (+ one boyfriend), and I went to Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais, my home state! I was super excited for the weekend for 3 reasons: 1. I was spending the weekend with my ladies.  2. We were going to this place called Inhotim nobod...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Sep 30, 2011, 7:00 am
Can we say - picture of the week? This image is from the Estadão site, and when I opened it this week, I thought to myself, "Wow, this is the most powerful image I've seen in a while." To you who is reading this and live outside of Brazil, you may not get it too much, but here'...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Sep 29, 2011, 9:21 am
This is why I love my Alma Mater's state. Rhode Island has always been ahead of the game and more liberal than most states, but this is my favorite thus far. A couple of days ago, my college friend, who today works at the International Institute of Rhode Island, where I also interned my ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Sep 22, 2011, 9:27 am
Back in July when I went to Minas Gerais to visit family and friends, I proceeded to Espírito Santo, the neighboring state to the east, where I also have family and friends I hadn't visited yet. One of the places I went to, was my cousin's place in Serra, right outside thae capital, Vitória,...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Sep 19, 2011, 6:00 am
You read that title correctly. Although it wasn't my green card that was approved and in hands. But it might as well be. After many many many many years of patiently waiting, my parents received this week, their green cards. And I hear they're actually green! Last Monday, for some...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Aug 17, 2011, 6:06 am
So since I thought you'd had enough of my "Here's what I did this weekend," and "Why I hate US Immigration Policy So Much," I thought I'd sign up for a "blog sway" on a great blogger network I'm on, 20SB, or 20 Something Bloggers. Basically, we get partnered up with some other blogger and tell each ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jul 31, 2011, 6:11 pm
Over my two week break, I had very limited internet access, so I'll be updating you all on happenings over the next couple of weeks. One of the exciting happenings was my cousin's wedding! She and her fiancé were married last Saturday and the wedding was not only beautiful, but tons of great family...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jul 20, 2011, 5:20 pm
So I had legit, 24 hours in Ouro Preto after getting up at 2:30 AM to travel. This is a prelude saying that I clearly didn't have enough time, and plan on going back!! But I was able to spend some great QT with my college buddy, Gui, and then after Ouro Preto, fattened up at his family's in Luz, a ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jul 13, 2011, 5:02 pm
Hey hey hey! So I am very excited to report that starting Saturday and throug the end of July I will not be in São Paulo working or studying or facing traffic and pollution. Férias bitchesssss. But I WILL be in Brazil. I'll be doing a mini tour of the southeast, I guess :-) That being said, I wo...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jul 11, 2011, 7:52 am
So I realized over the past few weeks that I have been giving friends, friends of friends, Couchsurfers, etc. directions from São Paulo's Int'l Airport in Guarulhos (a town right outside the city of SP)... and writing it out over and over each time and figured I'd keep these directions somewhere! ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jun 24, 2011, 8:01 am
For those of you who read the New York Times online, as I do, you may or may not have seen the emotional, sincere, and beautifully written essay by Philippino born journalist Jose Antonio Vargas entitled "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant," published Wednesday and which will be featured in print ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jun 16, 2011, 4:10 pm
I just discovered the funniest tumblr blog and had to share! It's called "Yes, but No." They have images of affirmations and negations of stereotypes And I'm not gonna lie, I got a kick out of the #Brazil themed ones!! Happy dispelling stereot...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jun 14, 2011, 7:26 am
Last night, on Jornal Nacional, the evening news on Globo, they talked about Brazilians living in the US who are moving back to Brazil, mostly because they're lacking job opportunities in the US. Here's the video for yous who understand Portuguese, and some of my comments on it below: When I came...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jun 10, 2011, 7:16 am
One of my favorite "past times" growing up in a Brazilian community in the US is Festa Junina! It's pretty much "June Fest," a celebration of Saints John the Baptist, Anthony & Peter. The Festa Junina festivities are also called Festa de São João and held around his 'birthday' (how we know when h...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jun 3, 2011, 8:07 am
Okay, Okay, I'll admit São Paulo's not the best place to visit in the world, but it's definitely up there!! Last year, AskMen invited me to write a piece for their Top 29 Cities, on São Paulo (thanks Rachel!), and in 2010, we came in at 16! This year, they invited me again to write a piece and i...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - May 30, 2011, 8:00 am
A few weeks ago, Tricia Chaves, an American ex-pat in Brazil who reads this blog and has a few of her own (also a freelance writer for those who need one!), asked me for my advice on wearing jeans in São Paulo... since I love fashion, I got a little excited about it all and sent in a full fledged, ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - May 24, 2011, 10:47 pm
One of my favorite travel blogs is Seth Kugel's "The Frugal Traveler," a NY Times blog. Mostly because I can be pretty cheap, especially when travelling. I'm one of those people who wants to live the local scene, and I don't want to be ripped off by touristy travel 'deals'. I study maps so I don't w...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - May 19, 2011, 7:00 am
Here's number 2 in my "So You Wanna Move to Brazil?" series, where I interview real people who have moved to Brazil, from numerous other nationalities or even Brazilians like myself who lived abroad for a long time. If you're interested in sharing your story, contact me! polyana's contact info. Tod...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - May 17, 2011, 7:48 am
How awesome/funny/creative is this campaign in the UK? (coincidentally, I was listening to Sweet Disposition, by The Temper Trap as I was watching this video. It makes for great background music, just so you know...) If you want more information, here's the site: No One Is Illegal, where they clai...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - May 13, 2011, 4:12 pm
This past week has been a crazy one for me and in São Paulo or Brazil in general. Last weekend I went to a Rodeo and ran in a 5k in less than 24 hours (not the best idea in the world). My Cruzeiro lost (boo). Homosexual marriages are recognized in Brazil legally (yayee!). Palmeiras beat Coritiba. ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - May 3, 2011, 9:04 am
Disclosure - If you get easily offended with the war in Iraq, 9/11, etc. I suggest you steer away from this post and read Fox News or something. If you are an open minded individual, I suggest you continue. ---------------- Osama's Dead. Big f*&@in' whoop. Yeah I said it. For all of you who are chee...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Apr 28, 2011, 7:08 pm
I've been following a Tumblog called "Metrophones," which is basically neat photos of people listening to music on the São Paulo metro, and there's a description of what they're listening to and the person's hobbies, etc. It's in English and Portuguese, so I recommend it to all my readers! :-) I a...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Apr 25, 2011, 7:42 pm
Happy Easter my lovelies!! This past weekend was a long weekend for us (Thursday was "Dia do Tiradentes" and Friday was Good Friday, both national holidays in Brazil), and a bunch of my friends and I went to my friend's family's farm in Pirajuí, a tiny town about 70 km away from Bauru... about 400 ...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Apr 19, 2011, 8:08 am
Hey Kids! As promised, I'm going to start my, "So You Wanna Move to Brazil?" series with foreigners and Brazilians alike. Our first guest, is Jason Hall, who's kind of a big deal in the online marketing business, so it was an honor for me to have him take precious time to talk to me about his reas...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Apr 2, 2011, 2:07 pm
So a lot of people ask me about moving to Brazil. Brazilians and Americans alike. Sometimes I feel like my situation was much easier than most because a. I'm Brazilian, and b. I speak fluent Portuguese. Those two things help a lot in being able to work legally and just becoming accustomed to the wa...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Mar 27, 2011, 7:33 pm
Here they are!! After a lovely day at the beach... lovely cold coconut water... Is there anything more fun than cartwheels and pretend capoeira on the beach? I don't think so.. We were sooo ballin' on our rooftop pool goofing around! bonecos gigantes!!! probably one of the most fun parades in olind...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Mar 14, 2011, 7:11 pm
This blog started in February 2008 when I moved from the U.S. to Brazil. I was born in Brazil, and raised in the U.S. After 20 years of never stepping foot in my mothaland, I "returned," so to speak, for myriad reasons. Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada (They Say I Have Returned Americanized),...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Mar 13, 2011, 8:41 pm
I don't have any pictures from my Carnaval in Pernambuco yet, but just so I don't leave you all SUPER anxious, here are a few videos I found from Carnaval in Olinda and blocos I could have been found to be in at some point... My friends and I, on Saturday afternoon, were at this esquenta, or pre-ga...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Mar 10, 2011, 2:42 pm
Last night I saw a couple of my high school friends who were visiting family in São Paulo and whom I hadn't seen in years! One of them, Rachel, and I went to a bar before getting dinner with their family, and we have a lot of the same opinions when it comes to politics, culture, society, etc. and w...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Mar 4, 2011, 6:00 am
Ok, so 3 things. 1. Carnaval weekend starts... NOW! Well, tonight. I'm going to Recife and Olinda, one of the biggest Carnaval spots in Brazil (just behind Rio & Salvador... don't know which is first) with 4 of my girl friends and meeting up with a bunch of people there, so I'm super excited and w...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Feb 16, 2011, 5:00 am
I know, can you believe it? I almost feel like I can't call myself americanizada anymore I've been here so long! In keeping tradition of the past two years, I've decided to recap this 3rd year of mine here in Brazil, living in the wonderful city of São Paulo. And for those who would like to go dow...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Feb 10, 2011, 6:25 am
For, oooh... 50 years, 'experts,' have said Brazil is the country of the future. Well folks, as 60 minutes put it, "We may just be in the future." Did you see that now even the Financial Times has a bi-weekly insert on Brazil (thanks Adam!)? When I was in college, a little over 3 years ago, it was...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Feb 2, 2011, 6:36 am
I'm not even going to apologize for taking long to write because that's gotten old :-P I know I'm a little late on this, but I needed to get this on "paper," before I completely lose my timing. Last week's State of the Union speech made by Barack Obama was full of great inspirational quotes, insigh...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jan 5, 2011, 6:42 pm
Where I work now, since all my clients are internal, I don't have a business card... and not having a card when going out and networking without one doesn't help at all! So I decided to make a card, just a "polyana," card, not an "seo," card - based on the theme of the blog!! My friend PH is a gre...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Jan 3, 2011, 2:00 am
Happy New Year!! How did you all spend your new year's eve? I had a small get together at my apartment with a few friends that was laid back, but also tons of fun :-) Here's a picture of the whole gang! Last year, I talked about Brazilian New Year's traditions, so I didn't think that'd b...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Dec 23, 2010, 8:16 am
Hey kids!! Just thought I'd shoot a quick hello to say Feliz Natal! and Merry Christmas!! I'll be posting next week, so the Happy 2011 post will be here then ;-) I have the day off tomorrow and even though it's only a 3 day weekend, I feel the need to make the 1,000 km trek to my homet...
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polyana d. posted an article on Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada - Dec 19, 2010, 8:55 pm
A friend of mine sent me this via Facebook, and, for someone who works in the internet industry like me, this is hysterical and makes oh-so-much sense, so I had to share it with you all in this quick post! It's the story of Christmas, if it were to happen today... So if Jesus was born in 2010, this ...
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