"oi...esta gostando do brazil? " - a comment from Nitim.

This has to be the most asked question to me here. I think just about every Brasilian I meet who figures out I am not a native born Bahiana (go figure) asks me this question. I have no idea what kind of an answer to give, other than "yes." It's like "how are you doing?" and you automatically answer "fine." I remember during high school I wasn't always fine and I hated that I automatically answered with that reply, so I made a consciouse effort to change it to "tired" because that was usually true. It was really starting to get on my nerves until I started working at PanAm and found myself asking the newly arrived gringos the same thing.

So what does one say to this type of comment?

"I lived here in a past life, so I had to return."
"Fine thanks, are you liking it as well?"
"Culture shock still hasn't worn off."
"Huh? Yeah, duh?"
"No, but I got married and had a baby, so I'm kinda stuck now."
"Yes." (unimaginative, but sometimes I just am tired of the other answers)

Semantics of the context in English don't always allow for these to make sense, but in Brasil we seem to change topics like we change position, so no one ever has done a double take.

So Nitim, yes, I am liking Brasil. It's a great country, and the longer I live here the more I realize it's like the States and the more I miss the States. Damned if you do, and damned if you don't.