One of my favorite TV travel shows is Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. He is often cynical and sometimes crude but he always impresses me with his great insight. He is able to go beyond the typical glitz of a location and find the reason places are meaningful – ordinary(ish) people and their stories. We have downloaded a few of his episodes on itunes. It was very nostalgic to see his piece on Colombia, even though I had not visited any of the places he showed on the program. His analysis of the country proved to me again why I love Colombia. We also downloaded an episode on Brazil, in which he focused on Sao Paulo and parts of the Sao Paulo state. He said that the first time he visited Sao Paulo he hated it. He even mentioned that sometimes people describe Sao Paulo as “LA throwing up on NY”. He then went on to describe that he now loves it. The reason is simple – the people. He goes on to explain all the wonderful people he has met and why he loves them. I do not have a television show but I would say the same thing if I were to have one. Sao Paulo is really about the people. It is not news to anyone that regularly reads this blog that I have had trouble adjusting to Sao Paulo. The adjustment is still difficult but has been made much easier by the people I have met. Already, there are people I will miss desperately when we move in two years. Their openness and acceptance has made me feel at home. Their patience and love has touched my heart in a profound way. I agree with Anthony Bourdain, while Sao Paulo has as much to offer as any big city, it is easy to get lost in its massive concrete polluted shell and miss out on the people which are its heart.
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