Visions of Brazilians Abroad

I thought this would be a good time to discuss experiences with Brazilians outside of Brazil.

Let's begin with moi.

I studied in Argentina for six months (coming soon on "How it all began") and in that time my favorite people I met, outside of the program staff and the gringos, were Brazilians. I hung out with them instead of Argentines, rooted for Brazil instead of Argentina during the World Cup, and went to Brazilian parties and clubs. It wasn't that I didn't like Buenos Aires--it's one of my favorite cities--I just wasn't a huge fan of portenos (Buenos Aires dwellers).

My more recent experience with Brazilians abroad was here in New York. My parents took me to a Brazilian restaurant where I made friends with one of the waitresses and the owner. They were so shocked that I was a gringa who lived in Brazil AND spoke Portuguese, they couldn't stop asking me questions. The waitress in particular seemed so delighted that I was practically Brazilian. It made me very happy.

Now let's talk about Eli. Of the few Brazilians he met in Europe, he got the impression that they were very much self-involved and not interested in helping other Brazilians. He compared them to uber-rich Brazilians in Brazil, who seem to have little interest in helping anyone but themselves (from a philanthropic standpoint, this is usually the case). He says they were overly protective of their success and money and don't want to risk that by helping others. In short, he found them to have a lack of camaraderie and empathy for their fellow countrymen.

Finally, let's take a look at one of my gringa friends, who just spent half a year teaching in Argentina. She's been traveling there and this is what she said:

I'm traveling alone and I was excited but a bit nervous about it. I was also especially nervous since everyone who walked passed me spoke Portuguese. But fortunately I shared a room with a lovely Brazilian who adopted me and introduced me to all of her Brazilian friends. They've dragged me with them everywhere and it was wonderful. They are so nice, and somehow we're able to communicate through a mixture of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and sign language...

I have met so many wonderful Brazilians on this trip that I think I'm going to do one of those programs in Brazil to learn Portuguese...Now I know how you felt when you were in Argentina and met Brazilians, its like a breath of fresh air.

Comments

[Sonia]

Hi Rachel
I agree that in some places Brazilians abroad can be snobs but most of the people I know in the Washington DC metro area is great. I think it is only a matter of finding them :) Particularly for women, there are a few wonderful groups (in DC and in other places) that meet online and in person and where you can develop wonderful friendships. I don't have the links to the groups handy, but they can be found in the Brazilian Embassy's website.
Sonia

[Alexandra]

I confess I don't really care about people's ethnicity/citizenship and won't be friends with someone if the *only* thing we have in common is coming from the same city/state/country.

I met only two Brazilians during my year in Barcelona - one was a friend of a friend and the other was someone I met through my blog. We became good friends and are still in contact. But I didn't talk to every Brazilian I saw on the streets, unless they were in trouble and I felt I could help. But that had nothing to do with the fact that they were Brazilian.

But I think you and Eli would always have completely different experiences in your relations with Brazilians abroad. To most Brazilians, Eli is simply another Brazilian while you are something more exotic - an American who loves Brazil and speaks Portuguese. Brazilians - and any other people, really - LOVE meeting foreigners who can speak their language. I think Eli would have had the same experience in the US that he is having in Europe.

[Bruna]

I agree with Eli somehow. When I arrived in the US for my exchange program 4 years ago, I was 20 years-old and kept being ditched by brazilians because I wasn't 21 :) nice huh? Who cares if I couldn't go out with them to the clubs, I could still hang out with them "during the day"... anyways, that made me so mad that I started refusing talking or having any contact with any brazilians, which worked very well for my english. Not to mention that a lot of these people feel like they are the next best thing just because they live in the US. Go figure.
And in France, it's the same. I guess once people have their lives settled in another country, which is not easy and you know it, they don't want to mess it up, to be bothered with other people's problems once they've overcomed their own. It's selfish but it's true. I can't even count how many times I was ignored by brazilians in the begining because my french was crap. And guess what? No brazilians for me in Paris either. French people are not that helpful either so I just hang out with other foreigners.
It must be a matter of finding the right people... I'm sure there are nice people around... I wouldn't mind helping others, I would be glad to help someone who has the same problems that I had before get rid of them more easily than I did. But the problem is that Eli, for example, must be bumping into all the jackasses (because believe me, for some reason, those are easier to find!).

[elena]

Fico feliz em saber que vc adora Brasil e o nosso idioma.
A minha experiencia com brasileiros fora do Brasil, nao é muito feliz. Sempre que escuto portugues por aqui, me aproximo toda feliz e me apresento...mas eles parecem nao corresponder a minha alegria. Me parecem até desconfiados e assombrados. Uma vez li na Revista Veja que brasileiro que mora no exterior, sao assim mesmo. Motivo nao sei !
beijos,
me

[Camila]

I agree with Eli... At least here in LA I experience the same thing. There is a brazilian restaurant that we love going to. In the beginning, I'd be really excited, and speak portuguese with the people that work there. They'd respond IN ENGLISH!! What the hell? I don't get excited anymore when I meet brazilians here. I gave up. They're in their own little world, like Eli said, and it's almost like you're going to take something away from them... Disgusting...