Differently from most Brazilians, I am not a “sun person”. I hide from it, always walking on the side of the street where there is a shadow and constantly checking the weather app to see when the next cold front will arrive in São Paulo.

But when I wash my hair, at least 30 minutes under the sun must be spent to let the hair strands soft as a baby’s butt - who needs an expensive hair conditioner, right?

I don’t like to wake up every day with a blue sky without clouds, and I don’t like having to walk with an umbrella open all the time to protect me from the sun (although I’m already used to it, so the judgmental looks I receive from people no longer affect me).

But let’s face it: I don’t like the sun because I have it, 365 days a year.

One of the most common complaints that people (and I am not talking about Brazilians) who used to live in Brazil make once they are gone is how much they miss our sun and our early sunrise and late sunset - 6 am here in São Paulo is as bright as it would be at noon. Maybe this could say too much about what your opinion might be once you arrive in Brazil, but hey, don’t let me put words in your head.

Anne Rios

amodafala@gmail.com