Some of my co-workers from India, China and Brazil are in town this week.  It has been a breath of fresh air having them around and it has reminded me how much I love learning about other cultures.  It has also reminded me that regardless of our geographic locations, we are so much more alike than different.

In a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Luciano and Vitor brought a Brazilian soda, Guaraná, to share with the group.  I ditched my La Croix and cracked open the other green can.

I was very impressed with the taste, sort of a mixture of ginger ale and apple soda.  Really tasty.  I realized I was probably drinking the equivalent caloric intake of a Coke (I looked it up later and it is 140 calories), but what I didn’t realize was that guarana plant from the Amazon, the key ingredient in the soft drink, is a stimulant twice as powerful as coffee beans.  Being a decaf drinker, I now understand some of the strange sensations I was feeling yesterday evening and into this morning.  When I woke up to go to the gym this morning my heart was still beating strangely which makes me realize I am more sensitive to caffeine than I previously realized.

Earlier in the week, Nina, our Chinese friend, who we knew during our time in Shanghai showed up on my aisle at work and I was able to say Hi.  She immediately asked about the baby and then looked at me and said, “ooh, you look pret-ty good.”  I smiled both internally and externally as it was so refreshing to hear an honest assessment.  An American would never say, “you look pretty good.”  They would either say, “you look fantastic” or they would not say anything.  After getting used to it, I love the honesty of the Chinese about physical attributes.  While it can be a little startling at times, it is yet another breath of fresh air.

Now I have reawakened my inner bug to travel and learn even more new cultures.  Can babies take malaria pills?

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