Brazzil

This elitist perspective is so vexing. Waiters are honorable in Brasil but not so in the EUA. This is such bulls**t. NY'ers are always willing to look down their nose at someone they consider lower on the social scale than themselves. This is an Urban/Yuppie perspective, sad but true. They would never let their daughters marry a waiter no matter how honorable he was... This taints the entire column.

I had the exact same thought as the above post, except I think the writer has it wrong in that, being a waiter is only considered an honorable proffesion in Brazil for working class people. Middle class people who go to universities in Brazil, don't wait tables if they don't have to. Either way, for most of the world outside of new york any job where you can support yourself and your family is considered honorable.

i agree with the above two posts. this guy emigrated from the US and so we may assume that he was sick of his life there. that's why he likes brazil. it's different. a brazilian would say the same about new york. he completely ignored the bad parts of brazil. this is just waffle. he makes it sound like the waiters are doing their dream job by serving fat rich americans like this idiot.

To the 3 posts above


I know that may be hard to believe (J LOLLLL) but people to have a good time outside America.


The Author is just expressing his personal opinion about his life in Brazil.

A personal experience is only a view of the person life in the country

Why do make a comment about the bad time??

The author is happy with his experience and would like to have more of that cake.

Just be happy for him and stop been a “ One dimension” American that believe that the best and only good place in this world is the USA

i am the third poster. what i am basically saying is that blair's story is childish, devoid of reality and hence very annoying. i'm not against people having a good time and believe that it's possible to have fun no matter where. i'm sure the jews in the concentration camps had a laugh every now and then. but how could you take seriously a german soldier who only saw the good side of the concentration camps and forgot to mention the bad. blair's story is one-sided - either he has avoided the bad areas of brazil (impossible) or he is engaging in deceit. he knows it exists but chooses to ignore it. hence, i am justified in calling him an idiotic american.

I have also lived in Brazil, and hearing just portuguese day after day, where is the fun in that. If you don't like the cold then leave. If you don't like divirsity then leave. No one is keeping you here. I know there are millions of other people in Brazil who would love to come Os estados unidos USA. Okay so there was one word that didn't translate from portuguese to english. So what!!!!

I'm the second poster. Writing an article that only contains good reflections on Brazil, in my opinion, is fine. It's only that I think the author had it wrong about the fact that a brazilians of the same class as the author (college educated professional) would most likely not be proud of having to work as a waiter, classism is very alive and well in Brazil. I think the author made the mistake of thinking that because the waiters are proud of thier jobs therefor this is considered an honorable profession to Brazilians in general when the reality is that it is only an honorable profession to some brazilians. As to the fourth poster it's not hard to believe people have a good time outside of the US, I lived in Brazil for years and and have travelled all over the world and know that the majority of people don't want to live in the US and love living in their own country. I also know there are a lot of ignorant americans who have a hard time understanding that. But I don't think my comments nor that of the other two posters reflect a belief that america is the only good place in the world.

I believe the salient point of Mr. Lasky's diatribe is his mention of "saudade."

Unfortunately, foreigners are prevented by law from ever feeling saudade. This is a little known fact of Gringo life in Brazil. You will hear the word "saudade" twenty or thirty times a day in conversation, hear it in every second song played on the radio, and know those around you are feeling it because Brazilians cry at the drop of a hat.

But you will forever be deprived of feeling saudade.And you will constantly have to listen to Brasilians explain that it is a word of such deep and profound meaning it can't possibly be translated.

Your only revenge will be the knowledge that saudade is not exclusive to Brasilians. The Portuguese feel it too .

Heehee....previous post re. saudades was excellent! I´m going to be really harsh now.....When will people (i.e. gringos) realise that Brazilians are as loyal and faithful as stray alley cats. When you have something of value (in the case of a cat, food!) they will stand by you and love you like family. When the good times dry up........they´re outta here! Friendship in Brasil is abundant, less than skin deep, very cheap and totally superficial. Don´t be fooled by travel guide mentality "and the locals are soooo friendly, generous, kind and open.."
All that said however....I still prefer Brazilians to Gringos!

As an American gringa living in Rio these past 4 years it is a nightmare to have to return to Los Angeles. The smog, the rush traffic, the rude nasty people. Give me Rio any day. At least Brazilians do put on a show of friendship, most Americans won't even make that little effort. After putting up with their nasty scowling faces all day, I am glad to return back to Rio and see the warm smiling faces of the Carioca.

I love my life in Brazil. Would never go back to my 80 hour work weeks in the States. We gringos appreciate the Brazilian people's efforts at friendship - real or phony. It is a vast improvement over the sour and rude personalities of the average American.

When I first visited Brasil in 2002 my friends there said I would suffer from saudades when it was time to leave. "Not me!" I responded. I was an objective-minded, stable, unemotional Australian of British heritage. But when I left for Canada, and eventualy South Africa, I was suffering from so much saudades that I could not even listen to Brasilian music. I actually became sick and only started to listen to it after 3 months. Saudade is a real emotion. Call it homesickness, a yearning, a longing for someone, something, sometime in the past if you wish. But it is real! There is much to love and hate in Brasil and I get very angry with the social injustice, the apathy, the hopelesness of the poor, the frustration of the place. But the spirit of the Brasileira does not exist in any other country.

you just hitted the spot mate..............iam a Brazilian living in Australia for the past 25 years,i love this country ,but every chance i have i go back to that beautiful spirit.... that those people have.well done Mate!

What's up everyone? I recently got back from Brazil after 6 months of study and I do admit that I have felt those "saudades" that you ll have talked about.
But there seems to be over-romantization of Brazil. Brazil is a beautiful country but it's got alot of problems too.
I lived in Fortaleza mainly so I can say that I missed the openess of the people but I will not miss some of the racially discriminatory treatment I recieved being a Black male there, such as getting followed around by security in the malls and lots of other things.
It is important for those of us who have come to know Brazil first-hand, to describe the real Brazil and cut down on the over-romantization stuff because it gives a very false representation of Brazil to others. Peace

Hi everyone..I'm a brazilian girl from Fortaleza living in NJ-US for a year now...Certainly Brazil has your good and bad things..like all countries...America is a great country..though i have had a hard time this last year...but that's another story..People, specially the brazilian people living out of their home country..used to be very dramatic and over romantic about brazil..I agree with the last comment..sometimes people give a false representaion about brazil because they speak about it too emotionally...but that's understandable! Brazil has lots of defects...but no one can say that my people aren't friendly and all heart!! When I use to live there I was like: "oh my god, these people are so rude..." but i was proven wrong since I came to America..I'm sorry americans...We know that it's not everybody and I know you will say: If you don't like it here then leave us! But I do like it here...I've find a lot of good friends here...but what I don't like here the most is the way we are treated at stores and customer services in general!! they look like they don't wanna attend the customer at all!! they are really rude!! whatever...but we can find people like that everywhere...Brazil and America will be my home countries forever! I used to say: "The good parts I cant find in Brazil I can find in America...and the good parts of I can't find in America I can find in Brazil!" Isn't that great! P.S. : Racism in Brazil comes from the white people...here in America it comes from the Black people..

After 20 years of the corporate treadmill I decided to take 2 years off and live in Rio with my Brazilian wife (Carioca) and 15 & 8 year old sons (both whom now speak fluent Portuguese). I returned to the US last year and jumped right back on the treadmill and I think about going back everyday! The biggest difference is perspective; now I admit we had enough money to live well in Ipanema, but in Brazil the focus is not on work but on friends and family. It is a place where you will met friends for lunch and leave the cafe at 2:00am. It is impossible to be blind to Brazil's social and economic problems and Brasilians sense of nationalistic pride is often over the the top...but I found Brasil and Brasilians to be friendly and intoxicating. I disagree with the above poster; indeed racism in the US has to do with your color...but Brasil discriminates based on economic standing. Still, to be on the beaches of Rio in the summer is a spectacular experience where the rich kids of Zona Sul and the poor from the local favelas come together in a remarkable display of tolerance. Yes, I can see why the author wishes to return to Brasil; I will one day soon as well.

I'm tired of the American treadmill way of life too. Family comes LAST in America. It's all about making money for your employer here and if you have to sacrifice family and a social life to do so then so be it.

I will not overly romanticize Brazil. I am a black American who has experienced my share of racism in Brazil just like the gentleman who lived in Fortaleza. Some of the experiences were rather humorous. I love Bahia, despite some of her flaws and I will take the good with the bad.

Few black Americans are "racist" most are just ignorant of other cultures due to lack of travel opportunities and exposure outside of the ghetto. Many Africans and blacks from other countries say the same thing. If you meet those who have traveled extensively they are nice friendly people.
New Yorkers are rude and very aggressive. Being from California the people are a little bit friendlier though you will meet some rude people here too.

I agree with you about Brazilians being very family- oriented. Definetly a plus. I do however need to ask you this in relation to your views on discrimination in Brazil: Isn't it quite ironic how the majority of lower income people have darker skin and are either Black, Mulato or Indian? So in talking about discrimination being based upon economic standing you really can't look over the fact of a person's race in Brazil.
I figured you living in Rio (which has a very high Black population as i'm sure you know) would've allowed you to see this irony but it seems as though your good life on Ipanema has clouded your vision. I hope that you will pay better attention in the future.

a poster said that he loved Brazil because they made an effort to be friendly, even if it was a superficial and self-interested effort. Isn't that the definition of "deception"? Does he like being smiled at in the street and laughed at behind his back? Americans may be rude but at least they're more honest than that. It's a feature of Brazil and other Mediterranean countries that they can never express what they really feel. Sure, they love waving their hands around the place but they do that subconsciously, just like Americans dont move their hands. I'm afraid to say it but I think America and England are more honest in terms of relations between people. Brazil and the Med are too in love with formalities - how do you address someone and show them respect with words, even if you hate the person. The English language does not have the two "you's" . Everybody is accorded equal respect in the language. As for that person who says the word "saudade" is untranslatable - I say to you that you are arrogant and simple.

Racism exists in Brazil! They just won't acknowledge it. It's part of the "deception" of the culture. Americans call a spade a spade. Brazilians will NEVER admit that the low condition of blacks is due to racism. They will always say people are discriminated on because of their class not their race. But in a racist society it amounts to the same thing. Or they will point out the presence of white supremacist hate groups in America (as if they don't exist in Brazil) the history of lynching and violence towards black Americans although Brazil has it's own history of racial violence too.

I will admit Brazilians are more cordial and friendly and Americans much more rude and direct but when all else is said and done the results are all the same. Cariocas pretend there is no racism. That theres is a racial democracy and hold up the States as the boogeyman of all racism but when you point out why are all the favela residents black or brown they will tell you it's not race but class. Go figure.

I find words of truth in every post here. All in all, I still love Brazil and it's people.

You are a moron !!!!

I'm sorry to inform you, senhor, no matter how long you live in Brazil to us you will always be a gringo. We may smile at you when you see us, but we laugh at you behind your back. You're not Brazilian, and you will never be Brazilian. This love and view of Brazil is unnatural; perhaps the reality of our country has not yet sunk in.

Prev. Post.........Read it - Here´s the evidence that all Brazilians are two faced, back stabbing, f**kwits. Thanks for posting you´re a credit to your country.

Not all Brazilians are two faced, back stabbing, f**kwits. This is an incredibly foolish and dumb thing to say. Unless you have personally met and known all 200 million of them, you simply cannot put everyone in the same `bag`.

Also, it is ridiculous to say that Brazilians laugh at you behind your back. Perhaps if you are a complete idiot, they may laugh at you. However, please remember, no matter what language you speak, action speaks a thousand words......and actions can breed respect. Fools breed disrespct and laughter, so go figure.

Sure Brazil has many problems, all due to white man`s greed, going back 500 years and more. Blame the white conquistadors from Portugal. They are responsible for all of the country`s problems........however, it is not likely that any political party will ever fix the country.....until it is a 50% black make up.

Do not be fooled by tolerance or skin colour. In Brazil, they have over 200 names for skni colours. It is probably the most racinst country in the World......still the people are mellow and friendly and are generally not all killing each other.

The problem with Brazil is the poor wealth distribution. The inequality of distribution causes much of the violence, assaults, murders. The white top 5% of the population hold onto 95% of the wealth of the country. It is time the fat, rich, white man divided up his wealth amongst his poor black brethen......However, this is not going toi happen any time soon, if ever.

Buff da Buffalo.

Haha.......thanks so much for your comments......you´ve totally confirmed what I said in my prev. postings. Brazilians always blame others for their misfortunes and will never ever change. Think about it, you´re still blaming todays problems on events 500 years ago! How many more decades will you continue to milk this one? Once again I repeat, Brazilians are two faced, back stabbing, f**kwits.

Its interesting to hear everyones opinions on Brasil and the Brazilian people. It's easy to judge a society on one persons actions or comments. I lived in Brasil for two years as an LDS missionary. My perspective I think is unique in that I was there for one purpose. I didn't have anything to gain financially and I was there to help people. Every country has its problems without a doubt, but what' s wrong with pointing out the good? My experience was one that I wouldn't trade for anything. Brazilians in general are very kind, outgoing, and family oriented. I made a lot of friends and I wish I could afford to go back. Being a student with a wife and a kid sometimes money's tight. Anyway, all I have to say is I love Brasil and the people! Call me ignorant or blind, I don't care, all I know is my experience was incredible, although not always easy. Falou!

"Buddy", you accuse others of stereotyping then say "...in general..." and reel of a list of what you feel are the principal charateristics of Brazilians. How charming. Anyway, your comments are noted. BTW I know several people that have undertaken missionary work in Brazil so maybe your perspective is not as unique as you thought.

I think that's great that you know others that have done missionary work there. I don't quite understand what your saying about me saying.."in general". The reason I said that is not every Brazilian is nice or friendly, just like not every American or European is friendly. All I was trying to say is that the positive experiences I had in Brazil out weigh the negative ones by far. Also there are all kinds of missionary work, and all kinds of situations that are very different, so I think I did have a unique experience. If you want to know more about what I'm talking about just ask and I'll tell you.

I think you´ve said enough thanks.

my wife and family are all Brasilaros and when we go to visit it is like we never left. live in New York and you will always want to return to the ways of the Brazilians.IF the education system was better my wife and I would bring our kids to live there.

Thinking positive. What's wrong with this? Yes ok so it was pretty ignorant at some points. Like he showed how America masks it's class elitism and how Brazil masks its racial one. In the restaurant with that waiter, has this writer ever bothered to count the number of nonwhite faces? On the flip side, why would being a waiter in the US be a shameful thing? But who cares about people being friendly or not, that's a cake walk.

& you know it is possible to live in another country and not see anything negative about it i mean i've been to ontario, canada and didn't see anything negative about it even if i had heard it's not that great(they don't really like french people)

It is very simple, if u bitch and complain about where u are living and talk so proud of ur country, then GO BACK.. the only one that is forcing you to stay is urself.

Excuse me, as a start, may I have a request to keep this as civilized conversation? Everybody is going to be baised to some extend, but common courtesy would be helpful.