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Brazilian hospitality became apparent when our group of 22 Americans, members of the organization, Friendship Force, arrived in Sao Paulo on the red-eye from Miami. In the crowd were people carrying cards with our names. We soon connected with our hosts, and clusters of two and three were chatting animatedly, a remarkable feat considering the hour of the morning and the language barrier. A week later, arriving in the small town of Sao Miguel do Iguacu, we were greeted by a school band. Brazilians are extremely warm and outgoing. Men shake hands upon meeting, while women touch cheeks and kiss the air to greet each other and to say goodbye, They touch a lot, too, and stand closer to each other than North Americans. Don't be surprised if they reveal personal details about themselves and expect you to do the same. Be careful of subjects where controversy is likely; Brazilians aren't among those who relish argument. Their hospitality is boundless. Tell them what you wish for and they'll arrange it. Admire something and they may give it to you. Brazilians love to give presents. When selecting items to give, avoid things that are black or purple, the colors of mourning. Knives symbolize cutting off friendship and handkerchiefs symbolize grief. When invited to a home, flowers, candy or champagne is appropriate. It's also a good idea to bring something for the children. The main meal of the day is at about 1:00 PM. The evening meal may also have several courses, and won't begin until about 9:00 or 10:00 PM or even later. Brazilians throw a party at the slightest excuse. It's not unusual for a social event to start at midnight, and go on until the wee hours of the morning even during the work week. How do Brazilians manage? For one thing, there's the coffee. Another question is how can they ingest such scrumptious but calorie-ridden food yet stay slender? I'm still wondering. Beauty is worshiped here, as much if not more than in Southern California. On the flight to Sao Paulo I sat with a Brazilian plastic surgeon who practices in Italy. Why? Brazil has too many plastic surgeons, he explained, adding that prices are low enough to attract patients from other parts of the world. Brazilians can trace their ancestry not only to Portugal, but to European countries such as Italy, Germany, France and Poland. Sao Paulo has the largest settlement of Japanese people outside of Japan. A great many people in Brazil have some African ancestry. Even so, some racial prejudice and discrimination exists. No matter where theirs ancestors came from, however, they see themselves first and foremost as Brazilians. They genuinely like the people and the customs of the U.S. Their ad copy, signs and billboards are sprinkled with English words. Brazilians who can afford it take their children to Disney world. The family is of primary importance, even more so than in most other Latin American countries. Machismo is present, but it not as strong as with their Spanish speaking neighbors. Brazilians live in the present, and don't take schedules very seriously. They'll get to the airport early to allow for farewells and contingencies. Contingencies are a way of life. Brazilians put off decisions until the last minute (who knows what may happen in the meantime?) and can easily change plans; they're masters of rapid decision-making. They're also masters of the jeito, which means the "way around" or the "quick fix." Brazil has a whole class of professionals or despachantes who can dar um jeito or find a solution to a situation for others who lack the time or know-how. The jeito often provides a way of cutting through the bureaucracy. When the mayor of Curitiba decided to turn the main thoroughfare of the city into a pedestrian mall, he knew if the process dragged out over several weeks, objections would arise. So he called on all civil servants to work over a single weekend, erecting barricades and planters. By Monday morning the pedestrian mall was finished, and traffic was diverted to other streets. BUSINESS IN BRAZIL Old style hierarchies still exist, and breaking the chain of hierarchy is disrespectful. Brazilians operate through personal connections, and they want to know the individuals they're dealing with. A "cut to the chase" attitude won't work here; things are discussed thoroughly. Expect negotiations to cover many details, which will take time. It's wise to make appointments two weeks or more in advance. Don't make impromptu calls and don't try to do business around Carnival time. Foreigners need to hire a Brazilian contact or despechante. If you need an accountant or attorney, find one locally. People may be suspicious of outside experts. Brazilians don't take siestas (and chuckle at their neighbors who do), but they may take two hour lunches. At a business lunch, wait until coffee is served before bringing up business matters. Titles such as Senior and Senhora are used to address business acquaintances. Often, though, people ask you to call them by their first names. Business attire, and dress in general, varies. When in doubt, ask or dress conservatively. CITIES OF BRAZIL Sao Paulo This is a mega-city
of almost 20 million, and is very cosmopolitan. People here look at those
from other parts of Brazil, even Rio, as country cousins. Ethnic restaurants,
musical and theatrical productions, fine shopping, bargain hunting -- it's
all here. The city has 70 museums, and over 200 cinemas. It also has some
fine parks, and even the less affluent
It is an enormous, sprawling place with its tangle of streets that confuse even the local people. The question expats need to ask, when considering a job here is, how long is the commute? There are subways, buses and even helicopter taxis, but most people drive cars. The pollution is noticeable. Traffic is bumper to bumper, but not start and stop; it moves. Cars all travel at about the same speed, gracefully changing lanes and missing each other by inches in a way that seems choreographed. Most drivers listen to music, and even if it's not the same music, their cars all seem to move to the same relaxed rhythm. Living in Sao Paulo Many expats live in the zona sul, or southern part of the city. The Jardims is a popular and convenient area, with good shopping, galleries and restaurants. Higienopolis and Morumbi offer both luxury apartments and single-family houses. Alphaville and Tambore, about 20 km west of the city, have American-style communities, but the commute is long and stressful. Rooms are typically smaller than in the U.S., and space is used efficiently New houses may not come equipped with light fixtures or appliances. Kitchens are modest (they're the maid's domain) while bathrooms often have nice tiles and even marble. Children's bedrooms and guest rooms may have their own private baths. Stores sell huge large pieces of furniture that look like built-ins, taking the places of chests and dressers. Central air conditioning is rarely available, and usually isn't necessary. Expect to pay one month's rent in advance, plus another month's rent as a security deposit. Note: Renters also pay property taxes, utilities, and, in condominiums or apartments, share a common expense fee that covers the maintenance of the lobby, elevators and garbage disposal. Find out how much such fees are likely to be. Leases run from two to three years and normally provide for an annual rent increases. Leases are signed by a guarantor in addition to the property owner and tenant. One's employer can act as guarantor. Go to page two of this article - C L I C K H E R E - |
