tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896759817841295579.post902740692227488726..comments2011-10-11T08:45:06.742-07:00Comments on Cam in South America: Brazil and I celebrate our two-month anniversary: reflections on our relationshipCamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069792246763601288noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896759817841295579.post-73798275340577287712011-10-11T08:45:06.742-07:002011-10-11T08:45:06.742-07:00Hello there. I ended up finding your blog here by ...Hello there. I ended up finding your blog here by searching the words "hang loose", I am brazilian from São Paulo. Nice reading such a different experience, it's usually the opposite what we hear lol, people leaving Brazil and telling how good they feel abroad.<br />I would like to wish u a very nice stay in my country, and that you enjoy every single moment here.<br />nontheless, I would like to make some comments related to the brazilian habits you mentioned, in order to help you study brazilian culture:<br /> Brazil is AS juge as the US, what means it's very difficult, or better, it's just IMPOSSIBLE to describe the culture as one, for instance I never cow-milked in my life, lol there are no farms in São Paulo, which is the economical center of the country. Also, the hangloose symble is never used in SP, maybe, very specifically the real surfers that live in coast cities. The usual standard greeting is a 'thumbs-up'.<br />The airkissing is also something very peculiar:<br />- In RIO DE JANEIRO they ALWAYS kiss twice. <br />- In SÃO PAULO we ALWAYS kiss just once.<br />Don't feel embarassed if you do not know how many kisses, but the average is ONE. If u don't know, just ask someone born there, it's ok to ask. Here in SP we also kiss male friends and relatives. The close friends, I mean. No embarassement at all.<br />btw, we from são paulo always leave people from Rio hanging because they kiss 2x and we just 1x.. it's embarassing, as you said, but we don't do it on purpose. It's just our culture.<br />I know just a few states in which people kiss 2x.<br />Hugging is also very common and considered friendly and warm. I myself kiss and hug my closest male friends and relatives, and this is the average standard in Brazil (not much the kissin between male friends - in SP yes -, but relatives it's just ok)<br />You must have realized our personal space is also smaller than in most european countries AND the US, which can cause impact at first, but you will understand there is no sexual connotation in having a female friend close to you or huggin you harder than in the US, it's just the way we were raised.<br />And YES, we love misto quente, lol, but as we love many other types of snacks. the deal with the misto quente is that it is quick and easy to prepare. As we are not much into eating fattening food as you guys are, it's also a way to avoid fried things all the time. The average breackfast here is composed of fruits, bread and cheese, ham etc. Lunch is eaten as salad, and a main dish as pasta or rice/ beans. Normally followed by a nice delicious steak (hmmm I'm gettin hungry) or chicken or fish. French fries or potato dishes are also welcome as side dishes, but we don't vary much from this. <br />Unfortunately, some people have heard about the amazon story, so YES, some more people will ask you that again.<br />Well, I was supposed to just send you a note and I ended up writing all this, lol.<br />I hope you have a great time and, whenever you can, pass by SP, it's just a great city, apart from the traffic lol.<br />If you want to add my email, feel free to do it, we can keep up.<br />See you later pal, luck here in Brazil!<br /><br />Fabio "Skubba" (skubbinha@hotmail.com)Skubbahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01904743017783852351noreply@blogger.com