Who Is Brazil?

When I first came to Sao Paulo I thought it seemed very similar to Boston and I was slightly disappointed. However, the longer I stayed I noticed the subtle differences in the culture that made it stand out as something entirely different than what I am used to. I think it is very hard to put in to words just how Sao Paulo has been so different to me but in comparing it to what I know a picture can be formed.

Surroundings:

The first thing I noticed that really stood out to me was how tall all of the buildings were. Now this isn’t necessarily a big deal, but it’s something that I really spent a lot of time staring at. I have been to Boston, New York, and Hartford all of which have skylines that can be seen from a distance. However, I have to strain my neck to see the top of buildings here. Not only that but this was the case everywhere we visited, not just in the city of Sao Paulo.  

When we went to Paca da Se I noticed that this stood out as a much more historical location than Sao Paulo. When I think of the business or financial district of a city I think of the fanciest, cleanest, and wealthiest part of the city. However, this downtown area for Sao Paulo contains old architecture and history. While this is where all of the banks are and during the work week it is crowded, it also has a higher volume of homeless people. One thing I noticed about the homeless people in here was that there was a sense of community between them. Maybe this is just how I was perceiving them but I saw rows of blankets and tents set up so that they were all together which is something I would never see in Boston. Of course this is also incredibly sad that there are just so many people in poverty that there are communities in tents but it also spoke to me that they didn’t seem as alone.

On top of the large population of homeless people, there are also Favelas throughout the cities full of low income families and individuals. Favelas are something I never knew existed before this trip and I think their concept is so hard to wrap my head around. While favelas provide an enormous sense of security it also appalling all of the drugs and corruption that surround the favelas. The community aspect comes from the self-sustaining environment of the favelas in that you can get everything you need without leaving. The drugs on the other hand bring violence to the area from police as well as competing drug businesses. I have a hard time believing the things we saw in the movie “The City of God” actually happen but I know that such violence can be real in the favelas. Favelas are such a big part of Brazil yet at the same time, they are very separated from the cities they are near. They are very poverty stricken and but all efforts surrounding them seem to be towards containment and not support. I hear a lot of people say that the favelas are what represents Brazil the most and I am conflicted by what that means. I don’t consider Brazil to be a high-violence and poverty stricken place but at the same time I am always told while I am here to be aware and hide my belongings.

Alternatively, the locals here have the best representation of who Brazil is. Everyone we meet whether it be part of CIEE, hostel workers, waiters, or strangers are all so welcoming to us and also want to do everything they can to ensure we get to experience Brazil properly. We are always getting suggestions for places to eat and go out and everyone we meet wants to friend us on Facebook. For example, while this may just be the way CIEE operates, I thought it was interesting that our bus driver always did the activities with us and ate meals with us while in the US, I don’t think that would happen. On top of that every tour guide we have had has wanted to be in pictures with us and find us on Facebook. Thinking back to people in Boston, this concept seems crazy to me since so many people just stick to themselves. I feel like my experiences back home view people as being there to get a job done and return back to their lives. Here in Brazil, it’s the opposite. Everyone wants to share their lives and stories and make as many connections as possible no matter how short of a time they may know you for. Overall, everyone here is so inclusive and welcoming which is the opposite I would expect from a big city.

Food:

On a different note, before I came here I was told that Brazil’s cuisine is highly rated but I had no idea what to expect. We have continued to go to many buffet styled restaurants and barbeques. The common foods I have noticed are rice, beans, meat, pao de quejo, some sort of potato salad/salad, and fried bananas. The barbeques are something totally different in that entire slabs of meats are brought and cut in front of you. While I know this is high quality meat, I had a very hard time with the fat and salt content of almost every meat that was brought to me. I did find it interesting the concept of bringing all of the food to the table because it reinforced the idea that they just want to share all they have to offer with you. The hardest part of adapting to the food here would definitely be getting used to the amount of salt and cheese that each meal has. I had no idea what Pao de quejo was before Brazil but now it is part of almost every meal. I personally don’t enjoy the cheese here but have grown to love the rice and beans here as many Brazilians do.

Entertainment:

One thing I really connected with on this trip was the dancing here. I went to samba and salsa clubs and had an amazing time at both. Everyone was so happy and dancing with each other but not in a way that I am used to. I have said this in previous blogs before but it really stands out to me so I want to reiterate it. The dancing I am used to is all of a competitive nature and to songs that are there more for a beat than anything else. The samba here represents so much more as it is part of the history of Brazil. The music tells stories while the moves are used to celebrate life through dance. Furthermore, everyone is included in the event as it can be a solo dance as well which I think is very important.

In addition, the futebol here is like a religion for the locals. Their teams are part of their livelihoods and if someone is on an opposing team it could end in an argument. We were able to go to a game while in Curitiba and it was nothing like what I have experienced before. The “fan” section is the entire stadium with just a small section set aside for people rooting for the away team. From start to finish the fans are chanting with full hand motions and jumping up and down while wearing nothing but their teams’ colors. Everyone has enormous pride for their team as well as commitment. For example, the game we were at were stronger fans than I have ever seen and the team was only ranked 16/20.

Conclusion:

So what does all of this mean for who Brazil is? I remember at a lot of the museums we visited we saw what the first impressions of Brazil were in forms of different paintings as well as the history that represented Brazil. All of the interpretations seemed so different to me and also incorrect and now I know why. It is a hard thing to summarize who Brazil is but I think one thing that shines though is the pride everyone has for their country. Their food, sports, music, dancing, and even their personalities are all part of who Brazil is and everyone is eager to share that with the rest of the world. The inclusive nature everyone has speaks to how much they love Brazil because they just want everyone to experience it for themselves.  I think the sense of community I get from everyone as well as the inclusive nature of the locals can be found everywhere I go and everything I see. When I remember Brazil, these are the main factor that will stand out with all of the memories I have.