First Proposal

So I posted recently about my colleagues trying to find me a Brazilian husband. On Friday this quest heated up and I could have potentially sealed a deal, if I was so inclined. As you all know, this is not really at the top of my current priority list. Despite my lack of interest in this, I have one colleague that is particularly motivated on this singular mission to keep me in Brazil by marrying me off. She frequently describes potential candidates she wants to introduce me to, and brings up the topic to anyone who will listen. On Friday, she managed to weave this into the conversation in a meeting with a vendor. You know, in case they also knew of any quality candidates. Okay. UAU. (wow in portuguese). To her credit, she is very specific in her criteria for potential husbands for me and did spell out to our vendor contacts that only quality, established candidates need apply. It's like I have my own personal broker here in Brazil.

So, funnily enough, this same night, I received my first proposal. The girls and I were out for the evening watching some local band do covers of every classic rock song you can think of. This band was actually quite good (lots of great live music here, more on that later) and so we were watching and not really paying attention to anyone around us. Eventually I realized I had an admirer, as this more uh, "mature" gentleman approached me and started talking a mile a minute to me in portguese. I eventually responded to him in the first sentence I mastered when I got here: "Eu não falo português" (I don't speak portuguese). Though he did not speak a word of English, he was not deterred. He got one of my Brazilian friends and explained to her at length that he was asking to marry me. That he could provide me a very nice lifestyle (as he was quite wealthy - he describe the details and credentials of such) and that I could stay here in Brazil and be very happy. My translating friend looked at me and said, he is VERY serious about this and now, well, what do you think? Should I tell him Yes or No?

UM....NO. Seriously dude. What are you smoking? Besides being closer to my parent's age bracket than mine, you cannot even exchange 2 sentences with me. What do you think the answer is?!. But, great fodder for me to laugh/write about. And, I can't wait to tell my colleague on Monday that her quest could have been successful, had I not put in an emphatic veto vote.

Somehow, I have a feeling this will not be my last marriage proposal while in Brazil. It's just that kind of place.