Neymar's Game

For the uninitiated, Neymar Jr. is Brazil's current golden boy.  He is amazing.  (So is his hair, which he changes a lot.)  He is Brazil's Michael Jordan of soccer.  And just like "Mike," he has promotions coming out of his ears.  Having Neymar endorse your product is huge.

But what are you to do when you are 22 years old, preparing to represent and lead your country in the biggest soccer tournament in the world?  Who has time for all this sponsorship nonsense?!?  It appears - and this is purely speculation! - that Neymar is a genius and went the stock-photo modeling route.

Want Neymar to give your product a thumbs up?  There's a pic for that!  Want him to cross his arms next to your product with his crooked little boy smirk?  Done.  Want him to hold your product?  Problem.  He's taken the pictures already, sorry.  But here he is pointing!  You can use that! 

Neymar loves Mentos!  Yeah!  

Neymar will look up to see what a great deal Claro
will give you on your cell phone plan!

Ice cream brand Kibon got a good deal on a Neymar pic and used it well!
Here he is at a party.  Pointing his thumb at the party...

Here is Neymar pointing the other way at Kibon ice cream prices
on a vendor's cart.  He's so versatile! 

And here he is in the freezer section at the grocery.
Same direction, but look who changed his shirt color?!  Neymar!

Neymar on the side of building holding a remote!
(He may have posed for this one...)

Neymar will cheer for you as you shampoo your hair!

Neymar's head wants you to buy Heliar car batteries!

Panasonic is getting their money's worth.

Neymar points to his head because he
agrees.

It's been a fun little treasure hunt this last few months collecting these ads whenever I saw them.  These were only some of my favorites.  This guy is taking over Brazil!

Watch It!

As with most major sporting events - here's looking at you, Super Bowl - advertisers know the worth of a good soccer-themed ad for the FIFA World Cup.  Here follows my favorites* for the 2014 Brasil FIFA World Cup:

#5 - "The Game Before The Game" (Beats by Dre)
Anyone who has ever played a sport, had a pre-game ritual.  Music often plays a role in that amping-up for battle.  This ad focuses mostly on Brasil's Neymar Jr. and his conversations with his father, but highlights players from from other teams including Spain, Germany, and The Netherlands...and Lil' Wayne (?).  I like the sentiment and the crescendoing energy but, at five whole minutes, it goes a little long.

#4 - "The Last Game" (Nike)
Points to Nike for going all out and including a cast of players - Wayne Rooney (England), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Tim Howard (USA), and David Luiz (Brazil), among others - that would have tipped even their budget had they been real.  Though I like the ad, the fact that they are cartoons, keeps me from ranking this any higher.  I do give credit to the animators for giving Neymar Jr. plenty of opportunities for taking #selfies, something that becomes quite evident as a favorite activity upon visiting his Instagram account.

#3 - "Ouse Ser Brasileiro" (Nike)
"Dare to be Brazilian" in English, Nike released a series of these ads for different countries at the start of 2014.  Obviously, this one got a lot of play here in Brasil.  The ad features a number of the Brazilian team members and a caricature of their personalities: Neymar Jr. grew up in Santos playing beach soccer, Bernard is known for his short stature, and Thiago Silva is known to a dapper guy.  It's hard to watch this ad and not see why Brazil and soccer are synonymous.

#2 - "Winner Stays" (Nike)
Nike again.  But this time with actual players.  The ad embodies the internationality of soccer by taking a pick -up soccer game in a park in England (because clearly this can't happen in the US) and turning it into the All-Star game to end all All-Star games with the kids claiming different professional soccer personas.  I think anyone who ever idolized an athlete growing up can relate to this ad, regardless of the sport.  I especially love when a kid is called out for not playing like their hero (Neymar Jr.) or when two kids choose the same player at the same time (David Luiz).  The thing holding this back from being number one is that, unless you know who these players are, you never get the full emotion of the ad.

   
#1 - "Gol!" (McDonald's)
The shortest of all the ads on this list, and featuring no professional players, this ad is simple and impressive at the same time. Basically a collection of sick trick-shots backed by the old-timey "Oh By Jingo" (1919), the fact that it's a McDonald's ad doesn't even present itself until the end; there's not a burger or fry to be seen. Bonus points for featuring several women/girls with skills as well.

Conspicuously absent from this list is soccer mainstay Adidas, who seem to be putting a lot of their World Cup advertising into focusing on their officially sanctioned ball, the Brazuca, with "meh" ads like "House Match" and "The Dream".  And let's not even talk about this trying-way-too-hard Galaxy 11 spot.

*I am not an advertiser, nor do I know the slightest thing about marketing or commercial design.  Neither, coincidentally, am I a consumer of any of the top five ads' products.

We Are One (Part I)

Meet Fuleco. Armadillos like soccer.

The lead up to the world's biggest single sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, has not been an easy one.  Stadiums aren't totally as finished as they should be.  There have been accusations of corruption (both by the Brazilian government and FIFA itself).  On top of all that, the Pitbull-Jennifer Lopez-Cláudia Leitte official anthem is terrible.

Nevertheless, the show must go on and the world is ready!

My friends from university, Dan and Alissa of This World Rocks fame, are traveling with me throughout the next few weeks.  We started the celebration off here in Campinas at Seu Vidotti, a bar holding a special viewing party for the inaugural Brazil vs. Coatia match.  Thankfully the home country emerged victorious and the party continued on a positive note!

We had our iPhones, but the photos from the bar tell a better story:

Curtindo a Copa com amigos velhos e novos!
Enjoying the Cup with old and new friends!

We're keeping a tally of the number of times Alissa (center) gets mistaken
for being Brazilian.  We may lose count...

Soccer and Symphony

While at times I feel I am lacking in general activities of any and all type, this week was an indulgence by comparison.  On Tuesday, I attended my first Brazilian futebol (soccer) match and on Thursday I visited the Sala São Paulo to hear the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP) play.

The soccer game was hosted by one of Campinas' two professional teams, Ponte Preta.  Brazil has several leagues which move after each season, depending on the teams' standings.  (The worst two teams go down a league and the best two move up.)  While Ponte Preta holds the honor of being one of the oldest clubs in Brazil, they have never won a championship and, historically, have resided in the lowest league.  Recently, however, they have had some successes and are busting out of their "loser" reputation.

"The most loved monkey in all Brazil"

Lovingly called the "macacas" (monkeys), their fans are loyal and animated. With fans dressed in the requisite black and white, the stadium was decently full for a Tuesday night game, which the home team won, 1-0.

_____________

The Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo (OSESP) plays in the beautiful Sala São Paulo, which was once a train depot.  One of the world's best orchestras, we had seats in the "choir" which was a uniquely situated section directly behind the musicians, prime seating to watch the conductor.

Norwegian conductor, Eivind Gullberg Jensen, leads the ensemble.

The orchestra frequently brings in top international talent, both as conductors and musicians.  This night the orchestra was conducted by Norwegian Eivind Gullberg Jensen, and performed Mozart's "The Magic Flute" (featuring Soprano, and fellow Norwegian, Mari Eriksmoen) and Sibelius' Symphony No 5 in E flat Major.

My friend and colleague, Raquel, and me took advantage of our prime seats
 with a little #selfie action before the musicians take the stage.

Having played violin in orchestras for several years, I am used to seeing the conductor, albeit with a left side profile.  It was interesting to be back in the POV of the musicians, but with different vantage and nothing to do other than listen and enjoy.

Waiting for Heidi

Charming in the daylight and evening, alike.

When one thinks of rolling green hills, pine trees, knit sweaters, cheese fondue, chocolate shops, and chair lifts, imagines of Germany and Switzerland undoubtable come to mind.  But Brazil?  How do these objects fit into the stereotype of endless beaches, palm tree-hopping monkeys, and icy caipirinhas?  In the rural mountain town of Campos do Jordão, they do!

Situated in the Mantiqueira Mountains in the state of São Paulo near the Minas Gerais border, the highest city in Brazil at over 5,300 ft, is known for its identity crisis.  Visiting in early May, adds to the experience as the temperature hovers within the 50's (Fº) and the leaves on many of the maple trees are turing yellow and orange in anticipation of the coming Brazilian "winter."

Despite Brazil's mix of European settlers, there is no logical explanation for the Alpine architectural "look" of the town beyond the clever tourism marketing and the fact that it just "works." Nevertheless, it's a great place to escape the heat enjoy some reasonably priced and delicious specialty microbrews, cheeses, and chocolates.

The teleférico is a bit unnerving on the way down, but offers an unbeatable
 view of the city and the countryside.

Almost makes you want to bust out some Euros!

Meet Castello.
In between cheese fondues and hot chocolate, a trail ride
through the woods to a waterfall fits right with the day.

Or Chocolate Beer from the local Baden Baden brewery.
Only available in Campos do Jordão - not distributed anywhere.

Once more, how is this Brazil?!?

The South Will Rise Again (Part II)

Today I walked through a cemetery decorated with Confederate flags, tucked under a grove of pine and palm trees in the middle of a sugar cane field.  Patsy Cline was singing "Walkin' After Midnight" and people in antebellum dresses were sitting in the shade, eating fried chicken and biscuits.  "Where am I and what is happening?!?" I kept thinking. 

Several weeks ago a few friends and I visited the Museu da Imigração in the town of Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, a museum dedicated to the small but concentrated group of immigrants from the southern part of the United States who came to Brazil just after the end of the American Civil War.  Though small in number compared to settlers from other parts of the world, the Confederados influence on the area - non-Catholic churches, certain fried foods - remains to this day.

As does the divisive Confederate Flag.  However, where this is often seen as a symbol of racism and ignorance in the US, Brazilian descendants of the original Confederados see it simply as the representation of the land their ancestors came from, much like a third generation Italian may still feel pride hoisting an Italian flag.  When the Confederados left home for the last time, in their minds they were leaving this country; despite the fact that they lost the war, they carried the symbol with them to represent where they came from.

Many generations later the Fraternidade Descendência Americana (Fraternity of American Descendants) hosts an annual Festa Confederada (Confederate Party) as a fundraiser for their organization's community projects.  The kicker is that the the event is held in a cemetery where the original Confederados are buried.  (At the time, the Catholic church wouldn't allow these non-Catholics to use the Catholic cemetery so they started one on a piece of land outside of town on a farm.)

Becca and Jason model the theme of the festival.  I feel it needs a hashtag.

A group of us Gringos - some southerners, a couple Yanks, a Brit, and a few Canucks - ventured out to the cemetery to see what this was all about.  I went in with no expectations.  I left feeling like I had stepped through some Twilighty Zone where nothing bad happened.  I may be being dramatic but I still have the initial gut reaction of discomfort when I see a Confederate flag, half expecting to see a sea of pillow case headdresses and flaming torches, so the shear abundance of them was disconcerting.  In the end, it was strangely just part of the decor.  I couldn't complain about the people-watching either!

Festival paraphernalia.
Even the "tickets" used to buy food were faux-Confederate dollars.

Yeah, I don't think I'll be running for public office with this photo
floating around the interwebs...

The presentation of the old Confederate states' flags.
Please note the stage floor...as if it could be missed!

The oldest tombstones dated back to the late 1860's. 

Great people watching; I became unapologetically paparazzi-esque.

And what Confederate festival wouldn't be complete without some southern rock?

Sticky Obsession

Every four years when the World Cup rolls around, FIFA puts out a booklet that fans are supposed to fill with stickers of the players, teams, stadiums, and other related images.  Think baseball cards with less stats and more adhesive.

While the booklets are available around the world, the excitement to collect and trade them in the host country is at a fever pitch.  As a teacher this can be the worst distraction possible...unless you find a way to use it to your advantage: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!  And then confiscate stickers for yourself when the situation arises.

As I will be attending two matches in June the book serves the dual purpose as a sort of Official Programme, displaying all the rounds, locations, dates, etc. in addition to the primary function of a who's who of the Cup.

O que você tem? 
Stickers and albums can be purchased at most places that magazines and
newspapers are sold.  It is not uncommon to see collectors of all ages
mingling outside newsstands, trading and dealing their "repetidas" (duplicates).
This is serious stuff, folks.

Paulinho?  Check!
There are multiple ways to document the over 600 stickers needed to
complete the album.  I chose to use the app wherein you simply scan each
sticker and it catalogues it for you, even helping you to manage your trading.