I had to go to the Brazilian Consulate and submit a visa application, but when I arrived, I discovered I had somehow somewhere lost my official 2×2 passport photos. But an enterprising photographer has a shop just across the street, so across I go, up three flights of stairs, and smile for the camera.
While we are waiting for the photos to develop, the cheesy photographer chats me up about where I’m going and he says “Be careful in Brazil” (everyone says this) “I had a seven thousand dollar camera stolen in Rio.”
“Wow” says I, “That’s terrible.”
He continues, “I only put it down on the beach for four or five minutes, and it was gone. The insurance company only paid $5,000. I lost $2,000.”
And I thought “You left a seven thousand dollar camera on the beach? In Rio? What did you expect?” I didn’t say these things, but I thought them.
I suck.
I got attacked in Brazil! Of course. I was alone, at night, during Carnival, on a cell phone, and very Obviously a Gringa. . .but I beat the crap outa them and they ran away! So there. and. Be Careful!
Oh my Gods! That’s terrible (being attacked) and COOL (chasing them away).
I won’t be alone at all. I’ll be with my Brazilian hosts the whole time. And I can say “Quero um chicaro de café” like a native.
Blame the victim. Idiot left a $7000 camera on the beach. Please. Blame away.
This is not the same as wearing a too-revealing outfit. Please.
If they’d left their kid unsupervised, who would you blame? (in addition to the ‘napper.)
Yeah, true, but I should still not have gone there.
But geez louise, $7000 camera on the beach. (And not for nothing, but you should have SEEN the crap art he created in his studio. The pic of me was good, though.)
You don’t suck. We have common sense for a reason. It’s not a flaw to be trusting but that’s just careless if you ask me.