"So all you need is my passport with your fees?" I asked the consular agent in Chicago? "Yes, that is correct sir. Anything else? "Yes, if you were going back to Brasil, what would you buy as a souvenir?"
"Well. If it were me I would buy gold jewelry and leather goods. Buy shoes. We make great leather shoes in Brasil. That's what I would do. "
I was enthralled. I had worked as an US History teacher with little success. The students were completely disinterested in learning about anything except how to buy the next pair of Nike shoes or Pelle Pelle outfits in between gun fights and court visits.
I wanted to see Amanda, my ex-Brasilian namorada, for love or friendship. After a year of educational insanity, I had decided to begin a new life in Brasil if necessary. So after spending about $600 for a passport and ticket, I boarded the first flight I could out of Motown to Sao Paulo, Brasil. It was a journey unlike any other. As I arrived into Houston, TX all the familiar sounds of English vanished into the melodious harmony of Portugues; a tongue which is the definition of passion. Spanish on the other hand I define as the language of love; however, Portugues, for me is the most passionate language my ears have heard. But perhaps it was due to having two Brasilian girlfriends as amazing teachers. As I collected my luggage, my ex- Amanda greeted me with open arms and I was whisked away in a duel fuel VW to the urban jungle of Sao Paulo. Freeways that crossed in multiple directions with underground intersections, buses jammed like sardine tins, and everyone having somewhere to go but home. I instantly fell in love with the insanity. Being raised in Detroit, insanity had become the reality; but not anymore. Sao Paulo and Brasil was just like the US, except turned on its back and covered in graffiti.
I took a walk with the palm trees as the daylight fell Sangria in a canteen, talking to my self This tattoo on my left hand is turning purple-ish blue Daydreams of a romance, daydreams of you Pretty woman in a ball gown, I'm Richard Gere in a tux Getting married in a courthouse, writing vows in a rush Making out before the judge with my teenage wife Got a wedding band done that I just might die with It's an American wedding They don't mean too much, they don't last enough We had an American wedding Now what's mine is yours, that's American law M-R-S dot Kennedy, she signed her name in pen In a fancy fancy cursive, then turned her term papers in A thesis on Islamic virgin brides and arranged marriage Hijabs and polygamist husbands, those poor unamerican girls After school she ran to me, jumped in my 5.0, this is the Home of the brave, land of the free, but your parents still didn't know She said "I had a hell of a summer so baby don't take this hard But maybe we should get an annulment, before this goes way too far." It's an American wedding They don't mean too much, they don't last enough We had an American wedding Now what's mine is yours, American divorce Well you can have my Mustang, that's all I've got in my name But Jesus Christ don't break my heart, this wedding ring won't ever wipe off But if you stay, oh if you stay You'll probably leave later anyway, it's love made in the USA.
Credit to Frank Ocean for my entire blurb.