The Accidental President - São Paulo

Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Brazil president 1995-2002

One of the things I will miss most about Brazil when we move later this year is the friendships I have made here. Not only with Brazilians, but with the vibrant and interesting ex-patriate community. The true joy of being based in a country not your own is who you find in a similar situation. The club I belong to, the International Newcomers Club, is diverse, and fun, and not what you think. We don't all stand around and complain about traffic and expensive toys while sipping Earl Grey. But I will talk about that club another day.

The main point is that through this club I have made one of my closest friendships here. Erica is a smart, funny, and incredibly sympathetic American-Brazilian. She is more American than Brazilian--her Portuguese is as accented as mine--but she is the daughter of a Brazilian mom and an American dad. Our kids play soccer together, and I treasure the hour a week where we sit around the soccer field and chat.

After knowing Erica for a while, I discovered that I "knew" her husband. Her husband is a Reuters journalist, probably the best-known one here, and also works as a ghost writer. His most recent book will be released next week and was written with Pele. His one before that was with Uribe, the former president of Colombia, and the best-known one is The Accidental President written with former Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso. And that was a book I had read just prior to my move to Brazil.

I didn't meet Brian for almost six months after meeting Erica--I used to call him the Imaginary Husband. Erica would talk about him, but we had never met. I will tell you this: he writes beautifully. I can see why all these folks want to hire him.  Not only that but he is smart and funny just the same as his wife, though the sympathy is more objective. All the best journalists have that.

Last night, we were invited to a small cocktail hour to celebrate Mr. Cardoso. It was held in a nice apartment in the chic Jardins area, and hosted by someone that I never actually saw at the party. And by our friends. Probably 30-40 people were there--many of them in their 30s and most non-Brazilians. I arrived around 7:30 for a 7 pm start--the place was hopping. Mr. Cardoso was expected at 8 pm.

Fortunately (as I am not a good cocktail party conversationalist), I knew several people there and was chatting as best as I could with my current laryngitis. And then a friend pointed out that Mr. Cardoso had arrived--quietly and without fanfare. I had expected him taller (he must be only 5'10" or so) and louder. He's more reserved that I expected. I am not one to take photos with the famous so I stood back for most of the party. (okay, I admit I did take a photo with him near the end--not a selfie like Obama, though)

Brian and FHC. I wanted to turn around and get a selfie with them but I do have some shame

 Brian gave a wonderful speech about working with Mr. Cardoso and then the former president spoke (in Portuguese--I had not realized his English was not great--see, Brian is a great writer as that does not come out in the book) glowingly about working with Brian. I admit to a tear in my eye. After the speeches, I managed to overcome my own shyness and told Mr. Cardoso that his book was the very best history lesson I'd had about Brazil. And it's true.

If you haven't read it, and you don't mind the marketing message here, I highly recommend The Accidental President by Fernando Henrique Cardoso with Brian Winter.  I'm going to be first in line for Pele's book next week, too.

Thanks for the invitation, friends. 

The Brazilian version, released recently

American version, published 2006