Or shall I say... Good Bye Brasil!!! For now...

People always asked me... "Why Brasil?"<br><br>I come from a metropolitan city in a first world country. I'm used to running water twenty four seven hot and cold, taking a bus that runs on time and on schedule, having food delivered at 5am in the morning, air conditioning and heating in every house, a functioning democracy with a strong social safety net, schools that teach people to think for themselves and question the status quo, and last but not least, honest police that don't "shake you down".<br><br>And whatever perception you have of Brasil, Brasil is not that... So why?<br><br>I came to Brasil for the first time eleven years ago. I was supposed to stay for two months. It was supposed to be a stop on a journey around South America. I was young. At the time I was a very idealistic.<br><br>I was young and stupid. I took a bus from Rio into the middle of no where Goias with a back pack and a guitar. And there I stayed in a small village. I lived with a family. I learned a little Portuguese. I played a lot of soccer. I had a lot of sex. And I completely fell in love with Brasil. I had no idea that Brasil is the way it is, because there is no money. So everything must be the way it is... But now I understand.<br><br>Fast forward a few years, and I returned to Brasil, and then I came again, and again, and again. I met a girl. She was very beautiful. It was a very passionate and romantic love. The type of love that you only hear about in fairy tales. We would dance in the streets. Make love on the beach. We would do everything together. That was long long time ago. That was before I knew Brasil. At the time I was blinded by my passion and ignorance. She was from the favela. I didn't understand the class differences here. I didn't know anything about Brasil.<br><br>Fast forward a few more years, and I decided to move to Brasil. She was gone, and I moved on. But Brasil was always in my heart. Then I moved here. I never looked back. I decided to stay indefinitely. I was twenty three. Now I am thirty four.<br><br>Over the last ten years I have learned a lot about Brasil. I learned that Brasil is a very fucked up country in many ways. I learned that nothing works properly. I learned that the Government is corrupt. I learned that the banks are designed to keep people in debt. I learned that the super class don't care for the poor. I learned that the cops are crooked. I learned that the courts are for sale. I learned that nobody cares.<br><br>I learned that people in Brasil are lazy and have no work ethic. I learned that most people in Brasil don't have any class. I learned that most people in Brasil don't know how to be nice. I learned that people in Brasil don't recycle. I learned that people in Brasil don't care for the environment. I learned that they kill monkeys. I learned that they kill birds. I learned that they kill everything. I learned that Brasil is a very very sick fucking country. I learned that Brasil is in a deep crisis. I learned that Brasil is going backwards.<br><br>Over the last ten years I have learned a lot about Brasil... But I also had some amazing experiences. I met hundreds of thousands of people. I made a lot of friends. I got married. I had children. And I completely fell in love with my children. I learned how to speak Portuguese. I learned how to Samba. I learned how to cook rice and beans. I learned how to do Capoeira. I learned a lot about the culture.<br><br>I learned that Brasil is a very beautiful country. I learned that Brasil is very fucking big. I learned that Brasil has a lot of potential. I learned that Brasil is a paradise. I learned to love Brasil. I learned to love the people. I learned to love the food. I learned to love the music. I learned to love everything.<br><br>So now, I'm leaving. And I don't know if I will ever come back. I'm leaving Brasil indefinitely. I'm leaving for a super long time. I'm leaving because I have to. I'm leaving because I have no choice. I'm leaving for my family. I'm leaving for my kids. I'm leaving because I love them more than anything.<br><br>I'm leaving Brasil because I don't want my children to grow up in a country that is rotting away. I don't want my children to grow up in a country in complete crisis. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where nothing works. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where people don't know class. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where people are lazy. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where people don't care about the environment. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where people are mean. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where people don't know how to be nice. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where people are rude. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where people only care about themselves. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where people don't care for each other. I don't want my children to grow up in a country where people don't care for anything. I don't want my children to grow up in a country that doesn't work. I don't want my children to grow up in Brasil. Fuck you Brasil. The fucking bitch that I loved for so long...<br><br>Perhaps one day Brasil will be a functioning democracy. Perhaps one day Brasil will be a proper country. Perhaps one day Brasil will have class. Perhaps one day Brasil will be honest. Perhaps one day the police in Brasil won't be crooked. Perhaps one day the courts in Brasil will be fair. Perhaps one day the schools in Brasil will teach people to think for themselves. Perhaps one day people in Brasil will care for the environment. Perhaps one day people in Brasil will be honest. Perhaps one day people in Brasil will look out for each other. Perhaps one day. But that's a long long way...<br><br>Brasil taught me a lot about life. Brasil taught me a lot about myself. Brasil taught me a lot about my strength. Brasil taught me a lot about my resilience. Brasil taught me a lot about my capacity to adapt. Brasil taught me a lot about my capacity to love. I am a better person because of Brasil. I am a stronger person because of Brasil. I am a wiser person because of Brasil. I am a more discerning person because of Brasil. I learned a lot...<br><br>So thank you Brasil. Thank you for all the bad. Thank you for all the good. Thank you for all the lessons. Thank you for everything. I love you Brasil. I love you even though you are a bitch. I love you even though you treat me bad. I love you even though you are a complete and utter fucking mess. Good Bye Brasil...<br><br>For now...<br><br>Edit:<br><br>For everyone that is DMing asking for advice on whether they should come to Brasil or not. My advice is no. No no no no no! For me Brasil was a once in a lifetime experience. And I would never do it again.