Robin Sparks

An American woman’s global search for a new country

MY DINNER WITH ANDRE

Movies come and go, mostly unseen when you are on the road. You don’t feel like you’ve missed anything until you begin to hear and read references to films which have changed the collective consciousness of those who stay at home. At some point, it’s...

BRAZIL COMES TO BERKELEY

When the curtain rose on the Bale Folclorico da Bahia at the Zellerbach Auditorium in Berkeley last night, the sparse crowd applauded politely. Sandra and I were amazed that so few people had shown up. Two intermission-less hours later, the oh so cool Berkeleyites...

GATED COMMUNITIES AND HOMELESS DINNERS

An old friend from my Tahoe days, visits me in San Francisco. We haven’t spoken in over four months, pre-Brazil. “Natasha” has a new condo in the East Bay with a private lake, a tennis court, AND she adds proudly, “It’s in a gated...

STUFF SHOCK

Left Coast Writers Meeting. Larkspur, California. Four days after my return to the US. Fellow writer: “Wow Robin, just back from Brazil! How does it feel?” “I don’t know. I’m still processing it.” I wasn’t back. Not all of me....

THE THING ABOUT BRAZIL

A list of 49 things the author (who doesn’t believe in stereotypical lists) now knows about Brazil. 1. Brazilians sing, all of the time, not always on key, but always with heart. 2. Brazilians know all of the words to all the Brazilian songs. And Brazil is one...