My friend Olivier is a unique character. First, I don't know of anyone at the age of 25 getting plastic surgery...on his buttocks. It's quite a lot of money, $10,000 dollars to be exact. He says his friends get plastic surgery, and this would be an opportune time to get it in Brazil. The procedure will take a day, but he will need to heal for over a month.
Second, he became a lawyer at the age of 21 since in France, like in Brazil, you go straight to law school after you graduate H.S. His salary? Around $8,000 per month or over $100,0000 a year in Luxembourg. To make a six figure salary at 21 is very impressive. Yet, money only goes so far and if you start worrying about how small your buttocks are while making that much cash, you must be bored with work.
Overall, he is a very nice person with a good heart. He accidentally threw his Invisiline braces in the trash after we left a cafe and while we were walking he shouted, "Shoot, I forgot my teeth!" and ran back to find the braces. That made my night!
So Obama is wraping up in Turkey. I am grateful by his comment," The U.S. will never be at war with Islam." That soundbite sums up the reason why he's my president. His dovish, benign, yet pragmatic approach to Foreign Policy is going to serve the U.S. well in the years to come. The BBC is right in reporting that Obama would win any election in any country currently. He's off to a good start and I hope it continues for some time.
I'm almost done with postcards, ready to be shipped out! Even on the beach I am working: writing postcard and reading about queer spaces and the sex industry.
On that note, one state in Brazil recognizes Civil Unions--Rio Grade do Sul. There are no laws against/nor for gay marriage, but Civil Union legislation has been on the table of the legislature since 1995. I think before civil unions, which benefits a small portion of the wealthy gay population, child protection laws need to be set in place. Salvador has the largest child prostitution rink all of South and Latin America. Jin and I were walking by his apartment and we met a relatively young German guy who had come to Rio for the sex tourism. This, sadly, is very common and young boys and girls and thrust into prostituion (some young as 8 and 9) due to poverty. What's more, the beggers outside of banks and heavy tourism areas pay the local mafia as much as $2000 reals a month ($1000) to beg outside these locations. What's sadder is that young women often rent babies from the local favelas, drug them heavily, then beg with the child in her arms.
Sorry to say this, but then, the Western tourist comes along, hands over $50 reals and says that God has blessed him, so he wants to give back. This isn't to be sarcastic, I have a guilt trip every time I pass by a women with a child, but I have to be smart enough not to perpetuate the cycle of poverty for a minute of moral euphoria. It's like giving a fisherman lots of fish, but no fishing pole. Yet again, this is the case and not the exception in much of the developing world. So if you see a child who's begging, be wise enough to think that there might be a pimp not far away and if he looks hungry, have the decency to buy him some food.
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
(Matthew 25:37-40)
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