I would like to start out by saying that Brazilians are some of the nicest, most open, and welcoming people on this Earth...or at least compared to the people on this Earth that I've met. There are a billion things about their culture that I love. Adore even. One thing that I can't stand, however, is the flaky Brazilian.
What happens with Brazilians is this: you meet at a bar, at a party, at school, wherever and for that night/day you are best friends. You talk about your life, you exchange phone numbers, you talk about the things you will do in the future. And then, like any normal person, you call the next day to follow through on the plans that you previously made. Or possibly just try to set some plans with your new found friend. They answer, they sound excited, and they say yes. Good to go, right? No.
Besides the Brazilian's seemingly innate tendency to be late (a fairly contagious habit, by the way), the one thing you must realize about them is that until the Brazilian is actually sitting in front of you for said meeting, do not expect them to show. Brazilians are damn flaky.
It's not the fact that they don't like you or don't want to meet you. It's just...who they are. It's ingrained in them to be nice and accept an invitation even if they know that they won't or even can't make it.
Tonight, for example, I had plans to go to a bar to watch the USA-Brasil jogo de futebol with a friend that I met a few weeks ago. We have been talking online for the past few weeks, and a soccer game seemed like a nice neutral time to hang out. So we made plans. Set a time. Set a place to meet. The whole nine yards. And an hour and a half before, he called and said that he had to cancel. Something about work...não sei mas não importa.
The important thing here is not the fact that I got blown-off, but rather that it didn't bother me...mostly because after 7 months of living here you truly don't expect people to follow through with things. And you know that it's not personal.
It's just culture.
I was in a relationship with a brasileiro for nearly five years, & have dated a few since. This correlates completely with my experience, the experience of a good friend, others....
ReplyDeleteI lived in Brazil for 10 years and had carry around a crystal ball. They cry and wonder why the economy is so fucked and cant even make it to a business meeting on time. About one generation more China and the rest of the world will eventually eat their lunch while they wank off with one hand and a banana in the other. Off the scale flaky! No need for a watch here.
ReplyDeletehaha i am chinese who lives in brazil now. spot on. gonna leave this hopeless country soon.
DeleteIve lived in Brazil for almost 20 years. You just can't take the majority here serious. Thus, l don't invest with my heart and do little business as possible. Just enjoy what time l have left. When l first arrived a wise Brazilian told me ...only two things that Brazil does well soccer and lying. l never forgot this and it's served me well. I feel sorry for the clueless here but if you don't know you don't know your suffering.
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