Brazilian Folklore, Personal Journeys, and Language Insights
The Legend of Saci-Pererê
Saci-Pererê is a well-known character in Brazilian folklore. He is a mischievous, one-legged Black boy who smokes a pipe and wears a red cap that grants him magical powers. He appears like a whirlwind and enjoys playing pranks on animals and people. His favorite tricks include making objects disappear and disrupting cooks’ work by swapping salt and sugar containers or causing food to burn. Additionally, he is the guardian of herbs and medicinal plants, skilled in preparing them as remedies. It is said that to capture Saci-Pererê, one must throw a sieve into a whirlwind. Once captured, his cap must be removed to trap him in a bottle.
Reflecting on Life’s Regrets
I believe we all have regrets in our lives. Life is lived only once, and no one has control over everything that can happen. Moreover, some daily decisions are influenced by various factors, demanding our best effort. We may even experience conflicting regrets. For example, I regret not having studied harder when I was younger. Perhaps I could be graduating from college now, fluent in three languages. But at the same time, I regret not living life outside of studies, enjoying time with those I love, and pursuing my passions. Seven years ago, I lost my grandmother, and I often wish we had spent more time together. However, we shouldn’t let regret paralyze us, dwelling on what could have been different. We must interpret it as a learning experience and always strive to grow from our mistakes.
Achieving My University Dream: UFRGS Admission
My parents always worked to provide me with the best education they could, which instilled in me the belief that I could gain admission to one of the best universities in the country. Beyond that, it was important to prove that my parents’ efforts had paid off. However, passing the UFRGS entrance exam was a significant challenge because the tests were difficult, and I needed to achieve a very high score to secure a spot in the Production Engineering course. During high school, I attempted the UFRGS entrance exam but was unsuccessful. I then enrolled in a preparatory course for the next two years and retook the exam. To make the challenge even worse, I faced personal problems that weighed me down. When I thought I wouldn’t be approved, my friend called me to tell me that I was on the UFRGS acceptance list. Three days later, I went to UFRGS, and the admissions officer called out the names, one by one, of those who had been accepted. Surprisingly, the last name to be called was mine. I was very happy! When I left the room, I found my friends and my mom, and we all cried tears of joy over my acceptance. I couldn’t believe that I had finally achieved my dream of entering the university I wanted. It was an incredibly emotional and exciting day.
Modal Verbs for Speculation: Practice Scenarios
- A: Your classmate seemed very forgetful today.
B: My classmate might have been thinking about her personal problems and forgotten other things. - A: Your friend is fluent in Russian after only three months of study.
B: My friend couldn’t have just had basic study; she must have taken an intensive course to learn Russian so quickly. - A: Your friend used to be very careless, but suddenly you can depend on her for anything.
B: My friend must have dedicated more time to organizing her tasks. - A: Your cousin used to be afraid of animals, but now he is fearless.
B: My cousin must have met a little dog or cat, fallen in love, and lost his fear.
Hypothetical Scenarios & Personal Reflections
- If you could have one superpower, what would it be? If I could have one superpower, it would be to fly.
- What song title best describes your feelings about life? The song title that best describes my feelings about life is “O tempo é agora” by Anavitória.