I need some info on Brazilian culture and communication standards...

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SmauleS

Brazil is a large country with different kind of people among their regions. For example, in the south you can find much more white people since a lot of European had immigrated to that cold region (italians, Germans, etc) so they are not so friendly and opened as the people from northeast. In states like Bahia a high percentage of the people are descendents from Africans, and they are much more friendly than people from south.
In SÃ£o Paulo city (the largest city of the country) you can find people from all states, which makes this city the most interesting one.
Basically Brazilians enjoy people from other countries and it is easy to make friends here.
Ah... here we like to hug and kiss each other, which is not so common in other countries. When you are introduced to someone it is normal to kiss each other in the cheek and when you find a friend the hello is said followed by a hugh and a kiss.
I hope I had helped you!

mellow1

I would say one of their primary values is relationships with others. I'm sure you've heard of their legendary inability to get anywhere on (American) time. LOL! They would much rather talk with a friend than get to an appointment. Non-verbals...do NOT make the OK sign. It is equivalent to the one finger salute. Overall, you will find Brazilians warm and open people who will forgive you any cultural errors since you are American. Have fun!

Bill H

Try BrazilMax.com

Hazelnut

first of all... the warmest reception... Brazilians love foreigners, specially Americans.
We also talk with our hands.. like Italians, we gesture almost everything we say...

zezinho

I think that the travel guide on wikipedia is very realistic. On the other hand, brazilian's behavior varies according to the state. In Rio Grande do Sul, people are blond with blue eyes and speak german. In Bahia, almost everybody is african and indian, and their religion, culture, food... everything is different. In Sao Paulo, there are 3 million japaneses, 2 million lebaneses... You walk across the city and you see koreans, jewish, angolans , chinese, bolivian... You should understand the state that you want to travel to. I think you would fell better in Sao Paulo, at the region of Paulista Avenue. Everybody is different, nobody would notice that you are a foreigner, hehehe. But brazilians HATE when you come here to take pictures of shanty-towns and make charity (they will give you a kick on the *** if you do that). The same will happen if you treat our women like prostitutes, and if you have bias against african/indian descendents.

prep for the worst

be careful, lots of termas in rio along the beach. HIV baby termas aka hookers fine @$$ ones too

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