Cultural Capsule

If you're planning to travel to the US, plan way in advance to book for your Visa interview at the American Embassy and Consulate.

When you pack and are ready to go, be sure to dress appropriately for your trip. It might seem strange to be talking about that, but remember that after 9/11, security issues are an issue in every single airport in the US.

So, consider the following:

• Wear comfy shoes that can be easily taken off at the Security Check when you enter the US.
• Don't overload yourself with accessories. Guards will ask you to take off belts, accessories, everything!
• Act naturally at the security check point.
• Have your passport ready to show the guards. There will be two stages: First, you'll show your passport and boarding pass, the guards will check them. Then, you'll put all your belongings in a tray to go through the x-ray and you'll also be checked. Hold your boarding pass.
• If you are carrying your laptop, be sure to take it out of the case and put it in a separate tray.
• Remember that you can only take liquids that can fit in a ziploc bag. Don't take perfumes, shampoos with you. You might have to leave them behind!
• You cannot have any kind of bottles with you, not even water. Hold your thirst for later. Once you go through the security check, there are places to buy food and drinks.

While planning your trip, don't forget to have at least 3 hours apart from one flight to the other. Flights are delayed all the time, and if you have to go throught the security check, it will take some time to get to your gate for the next flight.

I promise I'll take more notes during my trip back to Key West to keep you informed about other procedures during the trip.

Any questions about planning your trip abroad?

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This week I was really attentive to the kinds of questions and situations that you might face at the counter.

Some more questions cashiers might ask you:

- How are you doing today?
- Did you find everything OK/all right?

And the best one of the week:

- Do you want a paper receipt or the receipt sent to your email?

Of course, this hapened at the Apple Store and I loved the paperless check out with my purchase getting to my email inbox!

I'm at the airport heading to Brazil. Wait for more next week.

Sent from my iPhone

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When you're ready to pay for your groceries in the supermarket or if you're buying in a store, you'll be the one SWIPING your card. You'll be first prompted to instructions in English or Spanish. Choose whatever you feel more confident. You need to add your pin number (your password) if you're using a debit card. If it's credit, either the cashier will give the receipt for you to sign or you'll have a screen in front of you to add your digital signature.

Sometimes, the cashiers will SWIPE(slide)  the card and they might come with an unexpected question for foreigners:

"What's your ZIP CODE?"

If you're just a tourist and not a resident in the US, just say you don't live in the US.

Another common question is "need some cash back?" or "any cash back?", if the machine hasn't already asked that while you're going through the steps after swiping your card. You can cash some money in department stores, supermarkets, and post office, for example, with the limit of $25 to $50 depending on the store policy.

Oh, just one more unexpected question: "do you want the receipt in your bag?"

Questions or comments? Feel free to write. I'd love to keep interacting with you.

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One night,one intense day going from town to town. It seemed home, for we could hear everywhere the familiar sound so dear to our ears, a common code for every Brazilian, Portuguese. I learned that Martha is the land of more than two thousand Brazilians who probably make a living of tourism in the hot months of summer.

Though it is enchanting and the sounds seem familiar, we can feel that it feels like home, but yet so different.

Sent from my iPhone

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They seem to be part of a book with smiley old ladies saying hi to you, but in Oak Bluffs they are true, for real, with colorful facades and elegant white-haired ladies on rocking chairs as part of the scene.

Sent from my iPhone

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I felt like in a beach in Brazil, but it totally lacks the Tiki Bars with the catch of the day and caipirinhas!

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A bucolic trip to unexpected places with friendly people. By bus, by bike, on foot, you can appreciate it all savoring a homemade ice cream and enjoying a leisurely moment with family and friends.

Sent from my iPhone

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Sent from my iPhone

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