Culture shock brazil ebook

Brazilian locals tend to be incredibly welcoming and friendly, and the local population always seems to be happy and smiling. Expats who have a positive attitude and are keen to learn about the local culture will have a smoother transition into life in Brazil. Expats should be prepared for lots of physical contact in Brazil. Brazilians will often greet with a kiss or a hug. It is also common for both men and women to either pat someone on the shoulder or place their hand on one's hand or arm to make a point.

Even in crowds, Brazilians maintain much less physical distance than expats from Western countries normally find comfortable. Learning the correct way to greet and address people is a vital part of living in Brazil. A stereotypical Brazilian greeting is the 'air kiss' — a kiss hello on each cheek.

While this is a fun way to greet people, be sure to learn the appropriate contexts for this greeting. Brazilians are very body-conscious. As such, expats often need to adjust to what may seem like overly forward or brutally honest comments about their health, weight and even hairstyle.

Perhaps the biggest factor contributing to culture shock in Brazil is social inequality. Brazil may be a world economic powerhouse, but the disparity between rich and poor is blatantly obvious. Huge slums, or favelas , are visible in most large cities.

Expats in Brazil can generally afford to live comfortably. Domestic help is easily obtained, and overseas and regional trips are the norm. Private healthcare is easily accessible for expats, as are private schools. Learning basic Portuguese before leaving for Brazil will ease a new arrival's transition. Limited English is spoken in the larger cities, but those living in rural areas are unlikely to encounter locals who speak English. However, as Brazil has so many enclaves filled with expats from a multitude of cultures, Portuguese also often becomes the easiest way to communicate in a social setting.

As with many other South American destinations, locals in Brazil take a particularly relaxed attitude towards time. It's not unusual for Brazilians to show up anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes late to social events. At the same time, while being late for social occasions is fairly common, punctuality is expected in formal situations.

Taking time out to enjoy a siesta or spending hours at a social dinner are also important aspects of life in Brazil. Brazil is home to one of the largest Roman Catholic communities in the world. Many locals combine their Catholic faith with the spiritual practices of local Amerindian origin.

As such, expats may find themselves unfamiliar with specific aspects of local religion and have trouble adapting. Despite its sizeable Catholic community, the country is also home to a range of other faiths. Expats in Brazil will find that they are able to practice their religions freely.

Many male expats have reported that Brazil is a very easy country to adjust to, while female expats often find it considerably more difficult. Like many Latin American countries, Brazil is dominated by a 'machismo ' culture and Catholicism also plays an important social and cultural role. These factors tend to dictate that women take on quite traditional roles within society and even in business situations. That said, things are changing. Don't miss out! When we talk about Brazil, remember that not only is this country the size of a continent, but it is also one of them most ethnically and culturally diverse countries on the planet.

Brazilian diversity is deeply rooted in the ethnic origins of the people, primarily European, African and Amerindians. The cultures, religions and customs of these ethnic groups have assimilated over time to create the rich tapestry making up Brazilian culture. For example, individuals may live in rich areas, poor areas or even slums and ghettos. Photo by Vinicius "amnx" Amano on Unsplash.

Did you know the yellow on the Brazilian flag represents gold? The green represents Brazil's natural splendor! Although English is commonly spoken in the business world and in the big cities such as Rio de Janeiro and San Paulo, very few Brazilians speak English outside of this. A frustration vented by many foreigners, however, is that Brazilians tend to speak quite quickly and that they have to be reminded to slow down. A common culture shock for foreigners from countries where traffic rules are closely followed, is that the roads in Brazil can seem quite dangerous.

The fluid approach to time takes a lot of getting used to for foreigners from time sensitive cultures. They also tend to prioritise relationships over time. As such, if someone needs something, then this need might take precedence over being on time for a pre-arranged meeting.

Brazilians are a very relationship-orientated people. If you really want to make an impact, you have to invest time in building relationships, which means plenty of eating and drinking!