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Dear Friends,

In fear of dropping out of touch with so many of you I'm finally writing this "life
update" email. I've been wanting to do it for so long, but so many events just kept
getting in the way. I've got to pretty much type it one handed, but I didn't want to
wait any longer. For those of you that don't know, I'm still in Rio. Hard to believe
it's been 7.5 months now and it's been quite a "novela" (brazilian soap-opera). I'll
try to summarize.

The first 4 months were spent filming for my pandeiro documentary and trying to
continue to treat my tendonitis so I could return to playing (pandeiro). I returned
very briefly, but then it just got worse. At the end of July I started working for
globo.com (a brazilian web portal) which abruptly ended a couple of weeks ago. It
just wasn't working out, but what really changed things on my end was the herniated
disc in my neck relapsed and sent me into a lot of pain. Around the same time, Globo
told me they weren't going through with my visa process - one day before I was
supposed to fly to NY to get it! Quite an eventful time to say the least. Anyway, I´m
trying to put all of this behind me and move forward. At least I saved some money
while I was working there.

Complete left turn. I had wanted to write about the experience of the WTC attacks as
seen from afar, but never got to it. I'm sure everyone has had enough of the topic,
but yet I feel compelled to share. I actually watched the attacks live. In Sept. the
time difference for me was one hour later than in NY, so I was already at work when
it happened. The globo.com offices are filled with huge TVs and just after the first
plane hit a friend called me over to see what was happening in my city. When the
first tower collapsed I practically fell to my knees with it. Then I started thinking
about all of my friends in NY, luckily none of them were working there. When I
realized I didn't know where my sister was working panic hit. It was quite a scene.
I'm sure most of this doesn't sound much different that the experience most of you
might have had back in the US.

The part I wanted to share was how bizarre it was to watch all of this surrounded by
non-Americans. Of course, most people where shocked and saddened. Many had visited
NYC, some had even lived there for a while. But there were some who seemed to be
watching a movie. Some who seemed to be enjoying it. Some even joked. I've never felt
so far away in all of my life. I was supposed to feel lucky to be safe and sound in
Brasil, and yet I wanted to be back home in the weeks that followed. To be closer to
all of you and not to be anywhere near a human being that would laugh at what had
happened. Luckily all friends and family are ok. A couple of friends were too damn
close and an acquaintance was on one of the planes. It's still very weird to watch
all of this from afar, but I guess I'm adjusting to it. The most annoying part is
having to listen to so many options about the situation. People here seem to jump at
the opportunity to debate all of this with an actual American, no less a New Yorker.
It got to a point where it was just fucking ponderous. I´m worried about friends and
family and people are asking me why Americans like war so much or what I think of
Bush! However, in all fairness, there were plenty of considerate, sympathetic and
intelligent people around.

OK, time to change the topic! I'm sure you all want to hear something positive from
your friend in Brasil. The guy who's supposed to be dancing samba on the beach with
mulatas with a caipirinha in his hand. Yes, of course I've had good times over the
last 7 months. I've met lots of musicians down here and heard plenty of good music.
After a brief pause I'm back together with my girlfriend Rita, who's been very
supportive during these rocky moments. I haven't done much traveling outside of Rio,
but I've taken a few nice short trips. I've been to Ilha Grande (Big Island) where I
stayed in a little pousada and hiked to the most beautiful, pure beach I've ever been
to. I arrived at 9am and had the whole place to myself for a few hours! I've been to
Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais where Rita´s family is from - very different from Rio.
Also, her ex-stepmother has an amazing house in the mountains about an hour from Rio
and we´ve been there a few times as well. Here in the city I´ve adapted to many of
the carioca ways of life including walking around in flip-flops, taking buses (quite
an adventure) everywhere, and I´ve even developed a taste for watching soccer
(futebol). Last night I watched Brasil kick Venezuela´s ass (and make it into the
World Cup) with some friends. Thanks to cable TV I can even watch Seinfeld in
English!

So, what´s next? Good question. I´m now illegal, unemployed and with a pretty messed
up neck/arm. Basically I´m going to concentrate on physical therapy, etc.. I´ve got
to get healthy before I can do anything else. I´m trying to avoid having them operate
on me! It´s not easy to be dealing with all of this in a foreign country, but it
makes more sense to stay here for at least the next few months. Summer is starting
and I live 3 blocks from the beach - much better for neck rehabilitation than a
winter in New York! I also would like to finish my film which has been stagnant ever
since I started the job at globo. I teamed up with a guy to make a demo-trailer for
the film back in July. He´s a talented young filmmaker and is going to be my partner
for the rest of the project. I should have a copy of the trailer up on the web soon.
Unfortunately, returning to playing the pandeiro is starting to look like a distant
dream.

Sorry if this wasn´t the most positive of emails, but it´s what going on in my life
right now. It feels so strange to be out of touch with so many of you, so I wanted to
write regardless. Hopefully the next email will be full of good stories and I promise
I´ll try to write a bit more about daily life here, etc. I´ll also try to get some
photos scanned as well. I probably won´t be doing a lot of writing, but I love
getting your emails and check regularly. As I always say, please forgive the mass
emailing, but it´s the best I can do right now.

Abraços,
Scott