Was asked to Joe and 11 other foreigners who visited Brazil during the World Cup 2014 what they found most interesting or different here compared to their home countries. The answers were varied, but a point was repeated in almost all the interviews: a positive surprise to the cheerful people and their receptive way. Check out below what tourists said:
 |
(Photo: Chilean Richard, American Joe, Estonian Elsa and Swiss Lukas Bärtschi - their personal archive)
|
The american Joe Bauman found it strange to see everyone put something that looked like sand in their food. That's how he discovered the “farofa” and turned a fan of it (he said it tasted like bacon). - "I started putting farofa on everything" he said.
- Brazilians drink a lot. All social engagements involve friends and beer.
- I found it strange to see that many middle class families have maids. In the U.S., only the rich have. I was a little uncomfortable to see that a stranger was going to make my bed, wash my clothes or prepare my breakfast.
- Brazilians love to give food to the visitors. It's the way they take care of you.
- I was impressed to know that adults are required to vote. In the United States, have shamefully low rates of turnout in elections.
- I was amazed at the natural beauty. The mountains, beaches, vegetation, everything is different from where I live. I could not believe there was a park the size of the Tijuca in a big city like Rio.
- I was impressed to know that so many constitutions were created in the country and that the current version received so many amendments. It is very different from the U.S. Constitution, which is very old and has been modified a few times.
- I found kind of gross to see that here they toss the toilet paper in the trash [and not in the toilet]. Isn't there a bad smell?
- There are many American TV shows, but all of the 1990's. I found it funny to see that Brazilians love the show "Friends", which isn't broadcast in the U.S. for over ten years.
- Brazilian women seem to love the "gringos". Weird, huh? But I found it great. Incidentally, my favorite part of Brazil, of course, were the Brazilian girls. I fell in love. More than once. I'll definitely return one day to Brazil to meet my future wife.
- The heart and soul of this wonderful country are Brazilian. They wanted to show me everything and make sure I had a good experience - and I certainly did!
Florent Garnerot, Canada
- On the beach, Brazilians are facing the sun, and not the sea. I found it interesting!
- Brazilians meet friends, drink together and share the bill. In Canada, each pays what consumes.
- Here, couples kiss and show affection in public, which it does not happen in Canada.
- Women always wear jewelry, makeup ... They are very fashionable
- When I want to meet friends in Canada, need to plan at least a week in advance. They need to talk to their wives, etc.. In Brazil, it is much more spontaneous
Jesih Luka, Slovenia
- Brazilians speak loudly, almost shouting, and very fast.
- You eat A LOT. Very much. I spent a week with a Brazilian family and always had some food or fruit on the table.
- In Europe, everything is calmer. In Brazil, when people sing the anthem, they cry, sing loudly and with great emotion.
Richard Diaz, Chile
- I was surprised to see how quickly you make friends here, both in the slum and in the most exclusive condominiums.
- I realized that men are very macho. They treat their partners as employees, especially in relation to household chores.
Adam Burns, Pete Johnston and David Bewick, England
- We found it strange to see that here you eat chicken hearts.
- Brazilians are very alive and full of energy. They are always moving.
- They also smile a lot.
Mohamed Moulkaf, Argeria
- In Algeria, there are no women who drive motorcycles.
- Almost all the shops here parcel your purchases in several times without interest. I like that. You can pay the same price parceled up into ten months.
- The bank guards are armed in here. There, it's not like that!
Kyle Dreher, Canada
- When you meet someone, give two kisses on the cheek. This is very different from the handshake that we do in Canada.
- Loved the "coalho" cheese with oregano on the beach! And corn too! Every day I ate.
- In Brazil, people enjoy life and live the present more than in Canada. There, everyone is very focused on work, money and status.
- In the shantytown near where I was staying, fireworks was set off every hour, day and night. At first, I thought they were gunshots, but then discovered that it was a sign that the drugs were coming through there. I got used to.
Rodrigo Escobar Rebolledo, Chile
- Kindness, the way to welcome people, the joy and simplicity of the Brazilian people were what caught my attention. We were so well welcomed in Cuiabá, that this struck me. You ask something and they show you everything , also they invite you to barbecues
- They always have a smile to show. We also Chileans are cozy, but we are more serious, formal, quiet.
- The girls are beautiful, affectionate and friendly. I want to one day have a Brazilian wife.
- Brazilians are very relaxed, even more than it should sometimes. Friends ask for gathering "tomorrow at 10 am" and no one appears.
- The bad part was finding much work unfinished, at least in Cuiabá.
Elsa Saks, Estonia
- It was strange eat rice and beans. At first I thought: "Is it serious?". But I ended up finding it super delicious.
- I liked the cheese bread. So good! Loved it.
- Musicians are not paid by the bar where they play, but by the cover charge that customers pay.
- Brazilians eat dinner late. It is normal to eat at 22 hours. (10 pm)
- Brazilians are not good in punctuality.
Lukas Bärtschi, Switzerland
- It was great to see everyone on the street wearing yellow clothes, from an elderly lady with hat of Brazil to a child wearing a Brazilian selection shirt.
- We were surprised to see how everything was well organized. The bus to the stadium, the information for the airport, everything worked fine.
- A lot of people struggled to speak English. When I was in Brazil before, six years ago, no one spoke a word.
- It was very special to see that each stadium served typical food of the region. And all were very tasty.
- People are all glad and receive you with open arms.
Daniel Lane, England
- Brazilians often wear very tight clothes.
- People arrive late for everything.
- They hug much more.
-They say "Good beach!" to people. - People are more religious - usually we're just very religious when we want one thing: for example, that our team advance in the World Cup.
George Woolley, U.S.
- People applaud the sunset on the beach in Rio. That would never happen in the United States.
- Be able to drink beer in public is also something that does not happen in the U.S., except in places like New Orleans.
- The fact that people are so happy to be alive is something very different and palpable.
article written by Flávia Mantovani
No comments:
Post a Comment