Some years ago, in the old Gamespy Round Table, I started a thread regarding Cultural Moments, as to people state the name of their country and some insight of their culture, history. I'm a rather curious person.
After reading some interviews of foreigners that came to Brazil do watch the World Cup, I learned that there are so many simple things we do here daily, you foreigners thing so strange, different, inspiring, annoying.
I'd like to discuss simple information of our culture and compare how it works in your country, if you'd like to share some experience and culture. It might be important someday if we happen to visit a country we don't know much about yet.
Anyone can make a question or tell the others about some common habit you have and see how it fares on other lands.
Then, to start, I'll speak a bit about some things foreigners pinpointed in their interviews.
MEETING PEOPLE AND PUNCTUALITY
When you meet new people in Brazil (for the first time or not), from the opposite sex, you usually kiss their cheeks, one time each side. In some Brazilian states, there might happen a third kiss or only one (if that person is new and accompanied). If you know people for long, it's common hugging too after kissing once. Hugs happen amongst people of any gender of friends you have, male or female. The more you're close to them, the more likely you might hug them. But there can have some places in this country that hugging is less common, specially in cities where European culture is strong, although I'm not sure if in Europe itself hugging is not common either. When I lived at north of this country, near Amazon rainforest, hugging was somehow rare. Kissing was common. But here, in the south, in Florianópolis, hugging is almost as common as breathing. So I had to learn to feel comfortable at doing so. Handshake is a more formal thing you use to older people you don't know much or people of the same sex as you, OR you use it before hugging your buddy (mainly a male-to-male thing). Women are not used to handshake themselves or men, unless they are completely strangers, accompanied by their man or if they don't feel ok in being hugged. If a woman shows you the hand to shake (if you're a man), you'll understand that she vouches for a more respectful meeting. But they might kiss once the cheek of another woman they don't know. In Brazil, men don't kiss the cheeks of the other, unless they are drunk or when they are really close to each other, life friends or else - or if they are homosexual.
But to meet people here, you might be patient. Although we are spontaneous (we might simply WhatsApp others and settle a meeting to hang out and drink out of the blue, with no previous planning - and that includes wives and husbands to tag along), we are terrible with punctuality. Brazilian, in their great majority, usually get late to their appointments. It's common saying: "I'll be there at 10!" And then, they arrive 11 or even 12. I don't like getting late, so there are some Brazilians, like me, that respect this sort of thing, although we are aware and understand those who don't. Still, amongst all of us, our Government is the less punctual thing there will ever be in this country.
What about your country?
Simple Culture From Our Country
Simple Culture From Our Country
"There’s nothing to fear but fear itself and maybe some mild to moderate jellification of bones." Cave Johnson, Portal 2.
Hugging and kissing, suprisingly delicate topic. And I wouldn't believe that I would be writing about this.
In Czech Republic uknown people don't hug/expect hugging from you. Also not kiss just because they casually meet you. When there is a special ocassion and many things may qualify like one, then it's ok for opposite sexes. It's a little wild hunt but usually safe. Not expected but not against rules.
Family and friends may do both. Sorry for jumping this so shortly over but it's, as I observed, custom of the region where you live, which give imprint of your behaving. Most people here will probably thing about it like ok for opposite sexes.
Handshake is common practice here, dictated for company meetings and other business negoations - like probably all around the world. Males, females. Lady may get a gentle kiss in addition to handshake from you. expecting you're classical male.
We relatively keep our dates times, plus minus fifteen minutes. We have also a term "Academical quarter-hour", which indicate that someone is coming very late, cause this academical time is measured in hours. :p
In Czech Republic uknown people don't hug/expect hugging from you. Also not kiss just because they casually meet you. When there is a special ocassion and many things may qualify like one, then it's ok for opposite sexes. It's a little wild hunt but usually safe. Not expected but not against rules.
Family and friends may do both. Sorry for jumping this so shortly over but it's, as I observed, custom of the region where you live, which give imprint of your behaving. Most people here will probably thing about it like ok for opposite sexes.
Handshake is common practice here, dictated for company meetings and other business negoations - like probably all around the world. Males, females. Lady may get a gentle kiss in addition to handshake from you. expecting you're classical male.
We relatively keep our dates times, plus minus fifteen minutes. We have also a term "Academical quarter-hour", which indicate that someone is coming very late, cause this academical time is measured in hours. :p
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Sometimes we meet foreigners here, specially during the summer. German women usually felt only too much comfortable with the kissing and hugging. That felt odd (but not unpleasant, of course), because we expected Germans to be more reserved.
"There’s nothing to fear but fear itself and maybe some mild to moderate jellification of bones." Cave Johnson, Portal 2.
- GreatEmerald
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We're very reserved here. No kissing or hugging of any kind unless you're a couple, or parents and children. Hugging does happen between very close woman friends, though (I'm not really sure why). Handshakes are the norm between men acquaintances, and sometimes women. In all other cases (so by default), a nod is sufficient.
In fact, that's reflected in our clothing, too. In the streets you'll mainly see people wearing different shades of grey, or at least muted colours. Saturated colours pretty much mean that you are actively trying to attract attention.
We are fairly punctual here, although it does depend on the person. It's unusual to have to wait for someone more than 15 minutes, unless that person is known to be late everywhere. Mostly people try to get where they need to be on time, not too early and not too late.
In fact, that's reflected in our clothing, too. In the streets you'll mainly see people wearing different shades of grey, or at least muted colours. Saturated colours pretty much mean that you are actively trying to attract attention.
We are fairly punctual here, although it does depend on the person. It's unusual to have to wait for someone more than 15 minutes, unless that person is known to be late everywhere. Mostly people try to get where they need to be on time, not too early and not too late.
Well, that would explain a lot about people here too, hohoho. Our government is always telling people who travel abroad how to behave in certain countries, not showing too much butt, I mean, bodies, keeping 2 feet distance from other people etc.GreatEmerald wrote: In fact, that's reflected in our clothing, too. In the streets you'll mainly see people wearing different shades of grey, or at least muted colours. Saturated colours pretty much mean that you are actively trying to attract attention.
Regarding nods, we usually nod to people when they're too far or when they're just acquaintances (or even people you don't like that much you'd rather not touch them anyway hoho).
"There’s nothing to fear but fear itself and maybe some mild to moderate jellification of bones." Cave Johnson, Portal 2.
Something I heard recently was how people deal with their bathroom trash. I mean, when you go make a 2 (cr@p), you'll clean the house by using toilet paper or water. By using the paper, what do you guys do in your country with said paper?
In Brazil, people throw it in a can. But I heard that it's common elsewhere flushing the paper along with everything else. Some USAians that were visiting my country during the Cup asked if by throwing in a can, if it wouldn't stink too much. Funny thing is that it doesn't.
In Brazil, people throw it in a can. But I heard that it's common elsewhere flushing the paper along with everything else. Some USAians that were visiting my country during the Cup asked if by throwing in a can, if it wouldn't stink too much. Funny thing is that it doesn't.
"There’s nothing to fear but fear itself and maybe some mild to moderate jellification of bones." Cave Johnson, Portal 2.
- GreatEmerald
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