We passed one entire month in Brazil, from the half of December til this half of January. It is always amazing to return home, though this time I think I didn't really deserve it since I am not working.
Every year we go is the same thing. At the beginning, I take a little while to get used to the cultural, political and economical differences.
From the political point of view, here in Switzerland, the people really decide what they want. Like on the last voting to decide about smoking or not, to decide if they will keep producing war weapons or if they want the minarets. I believe Swisses pay more attention to the politicians they elected. In Brazil, they offer people something for them to vote on him/her and then they forget about it. That is what we call a 'political promise' because it will never be accomplished.
From the economical point of view, I can enumerate several ones, specially compared to Switzerland. As I moved to Europe 7 years ago, I can say that life in Brazil became very expensive. I remember completely different prices of several products and services, but the salary itself didn't really increase. Even diary products like bread, milk, eggs and in some cases you pay European prices. In some cases, we can't deny, like food and work force are cheap. For a hairdresser in a nice place in Brasilia, we pay about 50 reais (about 30 CHF) for a fashionable lady haircut with all included (washing, cut, drying with a nice style). On the other hand, in Geneva, we don't pay less than 60 CHF! A Brazilian dentist asks 200 reais (in a special case!about 110 CHF) to fix your tooth decay, here one can pay 600 CHF for the same job! For a half leg wax epilation in BRazil, they pay 15 reais (almost 9CHF) and here in Geneva, they pay 30 CHF (do they really pay this???hands over your head!) And all this price difference doesn't mean that the job quality in Brazil is worse.
Now the most difficult difference to get used to is the cultural one. I mean not all of us do this, but I would say a lot of Brazilians do it.
1.Arriving on time, this is a very thorny subject. Lots of brazilians arrive at least 30 min late after the established meeting time. IT is true. Sometimes I ask, you arrive on time of Brazilian time? 2.Another thing?touching, it is quite natural to people to touch you when they are talking or want to start talking or want to pass by you and you are in the way. Nothing rude, even I have to admit I did do that, but nowadays I don't like it anymore and yes I like my distance.
3. One funny thing? Poor people mistreat other poor people when they are clerks or attendants. It is amazing!
4.Other? they don't really blow their noses when it is running like Europeans do it (on the other hand, Brazilians are nail cleaning maniacs!).
There are several ones. But one topic I think in Brazil it is ways better, the waiters. They really have sympathy and talk to you in a nice and funny way if you allow. Also they do a nice service, instead of like here in Europe where some of the waiters think you are doing them a favor of eating at their restaurant, if you know what I mean.
Well, these are just some differences. I can go on with a lot of them. Like the beach we were in northeast, Fortaleza. Advertisements were made saying we have internet, or we have that drink, or we have that meal and when we go inside they say exactly that is missing. BAD MARKETING.
After all this, I still think this is one of the best countries to live and where people's mood are the best, even if the situation is bad, they try to keep a good 'astral'.
And now, back to the cooold and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
