As I hone in on the three-month mark of my stay in Brazil , I continue my sweeping generalizations about an entire country, an entire culture based on nothing more than a few folks in a small city. And I do it from a place of righteous judgment. Sometimes it just feels good to be an American. Here is my Top Ten Things I Love About Brazil list:
1) FREEDOM
You may agree, in the past decade it feels more & more
like we Americans are living in a police state. The amount of rules, regulations, law enforcement surrounding what really amounts to trying to stop people form making stupid choices are multiplying. Just think about all the things you can (and often do) get ticketed for while driving. Here, people are still free to make terrible decisions without legal ramifications. Sure, if you want to give it a try & cross the 8 lane highway on a horse good luck to you. God knows the Police won’t stop you. If it feels good to walk down the middle of the street blindly inebriated and causing some damage along the way – well, enjoy yourself. Of course we will sell beer & cigarettes to your 5 year old. If the 40 ounce is too heavy for him and it splatters on the sidewalk just send one of his older brothers back. There is something refreshing about having the absolute freedom to completely fuck yourself up during your pursuit of hedonism. I mean that sincerely. On the flip side the police seem to have just as much freedom when it comes to your civil liberties.
You may agree, in the past decade it feels more & more
like we Americans are living in a police state. The amount of rules, regulations, law enforcement surrounding what really amounts to trying to stop people form making stupid choices are multiplying. Just think about all the things you can (and often do) get ticketed for while driving. Here, people are still free to make terrible decisions without legal ramifications. Sure, if you want to give it a try & cross the 8 lane highway on a horse good luck to you. God knows the Police won’t stop you. If it feels good to walk down the middle of the street blindly inebriated and causing some damage along the way – well, enjoy yourself. Of course we will sell beer & cigarettes to your 5 year old. If the 40 ounce is too heavy for him and it splatters on the sidewalk just send one of his older brothers back. There is something refreshing about having the absolute freedom to completely fuck yourself up during your pursuit of hedonism. I mean that sincerely. On the flip side the police seem to have just as much freedom when it comes to your civil liberties.
2) THE BEACHES, THE MUSIC, THE DANCING
When you think of Brazil do you think of beautiful beaches, lush greenery, fresh coconut beverages & lively music surrounded by an entire population that loves to dance? Then you got it right. A bit different from NYC or MA.
When you think of Brazil do you think of beautiful beaches, lush greenery, fresh coconut beverages & lively music surrounded by an entire population that loves to dance? Then you got it right. A bit different from NYC or MA.
3) VIGILANTISM
Brazilians take things into their own hands. I’ve never been in a traffic jam that lasts more than 10 minutes here. 10 minutes seems to be the unspoken limit a Brazilian will wait in a stand-still line of other cars. Contradictory, considering they are an amazingly patient people. After ten minutes, people begin driving on sidewalks, making u-turns in the direction of on coming traffic (often beeping at police cars to get out of the way) and by utilizing common sense like: my car is bigger than you, my car is bigger than your motorcycle so you are the one who has to move – or should because getting hit is a reality.
Brazilians take things into their own hands. I’ve never been in a traffic jam that lasts more than 10 minutes here. 10 minutes seems to be the unspoken limit a Brazilian will wait in a stand-still line of other cars. Contradictory, considering they are an amazingly patient people. After ten minutes, people begin driving on sidewalks, making u-turns in the direction of on coming traffic (often beeping at police cars to get out of the way) and by utilizing common sense like: my car is bigger than you, my car is bigger than your motorcycle so you are the one who has to move – or should because getting hit is a reality.
In the area we live, 60 buses were taken out of commission for not passing inspection. 60 buses means a LOT of delays, a LOT of inconvenience and a LOT of anger. When the locals found out said buses came from an unreliable company and their city was trying to negotiate repair payments instead of purchasing new buses…well, they methodically started destroying said buses. Taking the bus home, Marcos was often delayed by mobs breaking the bus windows, setting the bus on fire…you get the point. Saw on the news that new buses should be expected soon.
One day, over cocktails, I’ll share how Marcos took matters into his own hands when a man hurt his sister.
Okay, these examples may seem extreme BUT for a country that was ruled by a dictator until the 1940s….maybe not so much.
4) SIESTAS
No further explanation needed.
No further explanation needed.
5) MACHISMO
There’s a fierce, visceral protective gene these men posses. Their job is to protect you – their women. Girlfriends….stop cringing for a minute and let’s put aside just how fierce, visceral we can be when it comes to taking care of ourselves and maintaining our independence. Because, I assure you (as embarrassing as it is to admit) there is something very comforting about the fact that even young boys automatically put themselves between you & something that may bother you. Marcos’ 16 year old nephew literally jumped in front of me when he saw a drunk guy staggering in my direction. Marcos’ brother wedged himself between me and an enormous man who thought I might like to dance. Marcos has a more subtle style: he points to the offending man and then shakes his finger no. And guess what? It works. You can go to a party, a street festival and know you will be surrounded by a wall of testosterone. Is it bad that that is beginning to comfort me instead of enrage me?
There’s a fierce, visceral protective gene these men posses. Their job is to protect you – their women. Girlfriends….stop cringing for a minute and let’s put aside just how fierce, visceral we can be when it comes to taking care of ourselves and maintaining our independence. Because, I assure you (as embarrassing as it is to admit) there is something very comforting about the fact that even young boys automatically put themselves between you & something that may bother you. Marcos’ 16 year old nephew literally jumped in front of me when he saw a drunk guy staggering in my direction. Marcos’ brother wedged himself between me and an enormous man who thought I might like to dance. Marcos has a more subtle style: he points to the offending man and then shakes his finger no. And guess what? It works. You can go to a party, a street festival and know you will be surrounded by a wall of testosterone. Is it bad that that is beginning to comfort me instead of enrage me?
6) LACK OF TECHNOLOGY (can you believe this made the list?)
Frustrating as an adult, the fact these kids don’t have the technology American kids do, they are forced to grow up the old-fashioned way, the way I did…they play actual, physical games with other actual, physical kids. Okay, maybe they are learning how to be drug dealers or rob a local bank (an old friend of Marcos' was just arrested for attempting this) but at least they are getting some exercise. God, how the f did I get so old?
Frustrating as an adult, the fact these kids don’t have the technology American kids do, they are forced to grow up the old-fashioned way, the way I did…they play actual, physical games with other actual, physical kids. Okay, maybe they are learning how to be drug dealers or rob a local bank (an old friend of Marcos' was just arrested for attempting this) but at least they are getting some exercise. God, how the f did I get so old?
7) COSMETIC SURGERY IS DIRT CHEAP
I have not investigated this one yet. Might be worth it, though, huh? Considering I had the cheapest & best teeth cleaning I ever got here there may be some truth to this. Or is that too big of a leap in logic? If I look REALLY GOOD the next time you see me, you'll know I've been looking into this.
I have not investigated this one yet. Might be worth it, though, huh? Considering I had the cheapest & best teeth cleaning I ever got here there may be some truth to this. Or is that too big of a leap in logic? If I look REALLY GOOD the next time you see me, you'll know I've been looking into this.
8) EVEN THEIR JUNK FOOD HAS NO JUNK
On the beach, on the side of the road, at to-go restaurants there is a wide selection of real food: cheeses & meats (both on sticks), fruits & fresh juices, nuts & popcorn, yogurts, etc. No one is eating potato chips or candy bars. Now I am not saying that is the only reason Brazilians are thin. But, combine no junk food + heat + no transportation (walking/biking everywhere) + no disposable income…well, it’s kind of like a Fat Camp.
On the beach, on the side of the road, at to-go restaurants there is a wide selection of real food: cheeses & meats (both on sticks), fruits & fresh juices, nuts & popcorn, yogurts, etc. No one is eating potato chips or candy bars. Now I am not saying that is the only reason Brazilians are thin. But, combine no junk food + heat + no transportation (walking/biking everywhere) + no disposable income…well, it’s kind of like a Fat Camp.
9) SO, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR WORK? WHO GIVES A SHIT?
No one has asked me, NOT ONCE, what I did for a living. No one has volunteered what they do for a paycheck. No one talks about work. Whether you are a nurse or a contractor or a doctor or a salesgirl…no one cares. Everybody goes to work. Everybody needs money. But no one wants to think about it in their free time. Perfect for me since I think I have become allergic to even the thought of employment.
No one has asked me, NOT ONCE, what I did for a living. No one has volunteered what they do for a paycheck. No one talks about work. Whether you are a nurse or a contractor or a doctor or a salesgirl…no one cares. Everybody goes to work. Everybody needs money. But no one wants to think about it in their free time. Perfect for me since I think I have become allergic to even the thought of employment.
10) “IT WILL ALL BE ALL RIGHT IN THE END. IF IT’S NOT YET ALRIGHT, IT’S NOT YET THE END”.
A Brazilian proverb. Considering they are a very religiously devout people the “end” could, ya know…mean THE END (like dead). Either way, it’s a more refreshing approach than my personal go-to motto in times of crisis “Let’s ruin today while envisioning worse for tomorrow.”
A Brazilian proverb. Considering they are a very religiously devout people the “end” could, ya know…mean THE END (like dead). Either way, it’s a more refreshing approach than my personal go-to motto in times of crisis “Let’s ruin today while envisioning worse for tomorrow.”
Obrigada Brasilaidos! (Thank you Brazilians!)