MONEY AND CURRENCY: Their currency is the Brazilian Real (pronounced: hey-al).  As of 12/4/08, the current exchange rate is:  This is really easy to calculate, whatever you see in Brazilian Reais, just divide by two and a half and you know how much it costs in dollars. ** I’ve found the best way to handle money abroad is to bring your ATM card and use it at local ATM machines.  The exchange rate doing that is much better than exchanging cash at the airport.  I usually bring about $100 cash to exchange at the airport, and whatever else I need I take out at an ATM.  Many urban stores, restaurants and hotels except MC and VISA, but I would definitely pull out cash to spend since many places still won’t accept cards.   *It’s really important to call your bank before you leave to let them know you’ll be traveling abroad, and using your cards abroad, otherwise they will freeze your account and you won’t be able to access the ATMs. This is no fun… it’s happened to me before L 

CULTURAL INFORMATION:  I find the people of Brazil to be extremely warm, hospitable and overall happy.  You will meet wonderful people on this trip. You’ll have amazing food, hear the most beautiful music, and see breathtaking sights. My favorite way to get introduced to a culture is watching movies about that region, and listening to their music.   

*I personally recommend renting a couple of movies that were set in Brazil.  These all have subtitles, so watch them when you have time to concentrate! 
-Blame it on Rio (1984 romantic comedy with Demi Moore and Michael Caine, about two men who bring their teen daughters on vacation to Rio, and one father falls in love with his friend’s daughter)
-The City of God (won Oscar for best foreign film a few years ago- violent but very good.  It’s about what’s going on in the slums of Rio.  Many of the girls in the orphanage we’re visiting are from the City of God, a slum outside of Rio)
-Central Station (This film shows how both poverty and hope play a role in the lives of some Brazilian people)
-Four Days in September (about the kidnapping of an Ambassador during the military dictatorship) 

* Amazing music comes from Brazil: Samba, Pagode, Axe, Forro, Bossa Nova… check out on YouTube or iTunes.
Some of my favorite artists are: -Gilberto Gil-Zeca Pagodinho -Jorge Aragao -Tom Jobim-Marissa Monte-Sergio Mendes 

*I also suggest checking out these sites about Brazilian culture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Brazil and http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/brazil/  and http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/brazil/rio-de-janeiro/ *

* The LANGUAGE in Brazil is Portuguese, not Spanish as many assume.  Although it is similar to Spanish and French and Italian! 

CLIMATE: In April the weather will be tropical and warm to hot, with possible rainy days.  Perfect weather for the beach and coconut drinking.