The land of milk and honey.

Pixabay

Have you heard that expression before?

If so, from where? My parents say it in Portuguese all the time. It is how most Brazilians in Brazil view us Americans. For a while, they joked about money trees growing in our backyards. They dreamed of coming here. Many tried and failed, some discovered it isn't as easy as they imagined, and others don't dare to dream so big.

Fun facts about Brazil. Documents are extremely difficult to obtain. Long lines to start the process is just the beginning. There are so many challenging steps from documents needing to be signed, payments made for various random none related process, and the list continues. This is often the case because of the amount of corruption. Whenever someone process change, as soon as they are elected they only survive by making the process worse.

Civil unrest. A strike is very common in Brazil. It is the only way in a small way to create the change they need. Recently trust drives have gone on strike and many cities have run out of food, gasoline, and the people are waiting. The only vehicles being escorted by the police are ambulances. Most people have stocked up on food as it is running low. The government's reaction. They will wait to see how long the truck drives will cause the people to suffer. The people will wait it out and we shall see who comes out ahead.

My frustration.

My grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousin all live in Brazil. The only one with a visa to escape refuses too. What is the point of living in the land of milk and honey if my grandmother is vegan? She isn't, but she refuses to escape. My parents' pastor was stuck at the airport for over a week because there was no gas for the flights.

Her points for not coming are as follows:

• The fear of living in a foreign country where she can't speak the language.
• She strongly argues the fear of losing her independence

All valid points, which are true. She would be coming into a country in her late sixties. Not speaking the language, losing her doctor, and ability to live alone would change when she moves here. She doesn't see her situation in Brazil as that bad. Of course, outside looking in everyone paints a much uglier picture.

What’s the point of living in the land of milk and honey when your grandmother is vegan?

I just wonder, what happens when it is worse? What will we do then? Do you have an elder that is stubborn? How do you deal with them? My grandmother isn’t actually vegan, but I hope you get what I mean.