Apologies for My Grand Disappearing Act

I was accepted into a program at my university to go live in Cuba for 4 months. Through said 4 months, my laptop was resuscitated from the blue screen of death twice, before eventually succumbing into a speed coma (that is, it works enough to remove one or two files before freaking out and shutting down). All my documents are (slowly) being retrieved from its hard-drive little by little.

Colloquialisms, sayings, & Slang

Nem aqui nem lá na China! - Neither here nor in China!

A way of saying something is ridiculous or untrue. Eg. Someone offers you a food you've never tried.  You ask them what it tastes like and they say it's kinda sweet, but when you try it it's extremely bitter. Then you would say “isso não é doce nem aqui nem lá na China!” (this isn't sweet neither here nor in China!).

Nem que a vaca tussa (em Alemão)! - Not even if the cow coughs (in German)!

A somewhat equivalent exclamation to “in your dreams”. Can also mean “never ever in a million years” depending on the situation. 

Colloquialisms, Sayings, Slang

Vai catá coquinho! – Go gather little coconuts!

A playful/friendly way of saying “stop bothering me” and/or “f*** you”.

Vai plantar batata! – Go plant potatoes!

A playful/friendly way of saying “stop bothering me” and/or “f*** you”.

Vai chupá prego! – Go suck on a nail!

A playful/friendly way of saying “stop bothering me” and/or “f*** you”.

Vai caçar sapo com bodoque! – Go hunt frogs with a slingshot!

A playful/friendly way of saying “stop bothering me” and/or “f*** you”. I assume the idea is that hunting frogs with a slingshot takes a long time...?

Vai ver se eu tô lá na esquina! - Go see if I'm on the corner of the street!

A playful/friendly way of saying “stop bothering me” and/or “f*** you”.

                                                          Beijinho (Little Kiss)

The most traditional version of the sweet (the one I'm posting the recepie for)

Another popular version of the sweet, where they rolled the sweet in coconut shreds instead.

Another common staple sweet at birthday parties. In my state they are also  known as "doce de leite Ninho" (Leite Ninho sweet), after the name of the brand of milk powder we often use.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of powdered milk
  
• 1 cup of sugar
  
• About 1/2 a small container of coconut milk
  
• Cloves
  
  

Preparation:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients and slowly add the coconut milk until it has a soft but still firm consistency (you'll need to roll them).
   
2. Roll the “dough” into balls. I usually scoop out a tablespoon but you can make them smaller or bigger if you want. Depends on your own preference.
   
3. Roll the “dough” in sugar
   
4. Stick in a clove on top of each ball so that only the little “flower” part sticks out.
   NOTE: You're not supposed to eat the clove – they're decorational pieces that give a touch of flavour to the sweet!
   
   You can add food colouring to the "dough in order to give the sweet funky colours, and mould the sweets into pretty much any shape you want. Here are some examples:
   
   
   
   
   

   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Colloquialisms, sayings, Slang

Quem tem boca vai à Roma – Anyone with a mouth [can] go to Rome

The Brazilian equivalent of “he who asks shall receive” - NOT “all roads lead to Rome”. The idea is that anyone whith a mouth can ask for directions.

O que não mata engorda – That which doesn't kill you makes you fatter

The Brazilian version of “what doesn't kill you makes you stronger”.

Nós quem, cara-pálida? – Who's “we”, paleface?

A way of saying “Don't put me in the middle of this!”

Calma que o Brasil é nosso! - Calm [down], Brazil is ours [already]!

Somewhat equivalent to “Hold your horses!” and “Where's the fire?”. Used when anyone is rushing for no reason.

Money, Moolah, Cash

Notas (Notes)

                           R$10

The "old" R$10

Like with all the bank notes, this is in an intermediate state of getting changed. Theis is the new R$10:

All bank notes have the statue representation of the Republic shown in the the front.The animal in the back side of the note is an arara (macaw).

Colloquialisms, sayings, & Slang

Se correr o bicho pega, se ficar o bicho come – If you run the animal/creature will catch you, if you stay [still] the animal/creature will eat you

More or less the Brazilian equivalent of “stuck between a rock and a hard place” or “damned if you do, damned if you don't”. The idea is that either choice is equally bad.

No dia de São Nunca (de tarde) – On the day of Saint Never (in the afternoon)

A way of saying something is never gonna happen. It's usually used as a reply to a question (eg. “So, mom, when am I gonna be allowed to drive your car?”). Brazil is primarily Christian, so this is referring to saint days, which are the days each saint is officially supposed to be celebrated.

Bater ponto - Literally, "to hit the point/dot"

Originally this was a term that meant “to get your time-card punched in” back when you logged in your time at work by getting the time stamped on a paper card. Nowadays it tends to mean “to keep someone informed”, as in letting your parents know where you are if you're going to be out late. (eg. "Lembra de bater ponto se você for atrasar, viu?" - Remember to check in/let me know if you''re going to be late, alright?)