Report From Brazil

      Our minister of Lain American Affairs gave a long report today on conditions in the southern hemisphere.  It seems that things are going well in his world-the world of international relations.  As Brazil ramps up for the Olympics(saw the first ad for the games during Sunday night football), locals are working hard to put their best foot forward in about 9 months(our summer, their winter).  Thier summer begins in about a month.  He expects really hot temps around Rio de Janiero.
      He's been giving us tips on the geography of Brazil:  just the size is hard to acknowledge: from north of the equator to Argentina, from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean.  That's a lot of real estate.  We have a standing invitation just in case we want to make a junket down south.  It could be a great learning experience.   He told us that there are 106,000 Americans living in Sao Paolo.   Many are expats, many are duals, and many have extensive family connections here and in the States.  It's amazing that so many Americans have set up households so far away.  What's the attraction?
     It's not just the beaches.   We'll have to find out in the next few years.