I spent two and a half weeks in Brazil dancing Samba and Funk, drinking coconut juice out of coconuts (not as good as I thought it would be, actually) and bettering my Portuguese. I spent the 17 days with my step Sister and her extended family, including her crazy rich grandfather who, pardon my language, is the biggest conniving asshole I have ever met. But I did my best to ignore him and was decently successful. But my stepsister’s uncle, aunts, and cousins were humble, great people. They welcomed me with all they had and open arms accepting me as their new niece and cousin. My step sister and I bonded as she tried to find her real Father. She hadn’t seen him since she was 7 years old. She cried to me. She wanted to know her past, her own father. And I felt for her. It was a very hard time for her. Her father is not a nice person and is not someone who wants to be found. Unfortunately she did find him. However, I digress. I did indeed meet some beautiful people, inside and out. Brazilians are so friendly and very warm people. And physically beautiful. The women had the curves of Beyonce, but in all tones of skin. Women flaunt all that god gave them. The men were how I imagined Greek gods but in board shorts. I also helped plan my stepsister’s 18th birthday bash. 200 guests. Delicious food. And a great Hall. Performers of all types. Paid all by her “lovely” grandfather. My sister did a small performance herself. She belly danced to a well known Arabic song. I watched her rehearse it so many times that even I knew the steps. Then there were all the waltz practices that I would go to with my sister and her grandfather at the nearby dance studio. This is the dance that is suppose to be danced by the birthday girl and her father. Naturally, the grandfather took the spot of my stepsister's father who wanted nothing to do with the celebration. While they danced, I would watch and I suppose I must have looked like I wanted to dance because one of the instructors started teaching me the steps too. The instructor was talented, hilarious and very cute. The main performance, which I had a small part in, was a break dance/hip hop/choreographed dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller. The news was taken very badly, even in Brazil, when Michael died. I really couldn’t believe it. I vividly remember I was sitting with my sister eating lunch and watching a Brazilian soap opera that takes place in India, when it happened. It was the featured news on every channel. It’s still hard to believe it. He was and still is the king of pop. Even though I have my doubts of his true character, I love his music and was hoping to go to one of his performances some day. I guess you really can’t leave things for later. You never know if there will be a later.