New Page: Top Ten Misconceptions about Brazil

Gringos, in particular Americans, often know very little about Latin America and maintain grossly stereotypical misconceptions of Latin American countries, especially Brazil.

Here we go:

10. Brazil is one big rainforest! I can't wait to travel to Rio to see the leopards and anacondas.
Though about 60% of the Amazon is in Brazil, most of the major cities are in fact quite far from the rainforest. Though there are other forests, Brazil's cities are not in fact in the middle of the jungle.

9. Brazil is a tropical country, so no matter where I go, it will be hot and sunny!
Brazil is quite hot in the summer, but in the winter, the Southern states, like Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and even Sao Paulo can get quite cold. When it rains in the winter in Rio, it gets really cold because very few buildings have insulation. And as for the sun, it rains a LOT in the summer.

8. Brazilian women are all gorgeous! It's a pure schmorgasboard of ladies over there!
This is an age-old excuse used by gringos who drunkenly hook up with ugly Brazilian women. Well, Brazil is a major exporter of models, and there are lots of beautiful people, but I gotta tell you, there are just as many ugly people here as in any other country.

7. It's one big Carnival all over Brazil, year-round! PARTAY!
Carnival actually happens for a week each year in February, though you can see some samba school rehearsals during other parts of the year. Brazilians do value their leisure time and there's lots of nightlife in all the cities, but the actual Carnival revelry, complete with bands, parties, and costumes starts in late January and runs for a week or two after the real Carnival.

6. Brazil is in Latin America, where people don't care much about the law. It's totally legal -- or at least, acceptable, to do drugs. I hear coke is really cheap there, so it must be cool to buy it!
Drugs are in fact illegal here, despite their availability. Buying drugs in Brazil helps fuel the violence that plagues its major cities, so actually it's VERY unacceptable to drugs. And even being a gringo, you can get some jail time for getting caught with controlled substances.

5. I speak a little Spanish. Brazilians speak Spanish. I will totally be OK to communicate!
For the love of god, this kills me every time. Brazilians. speak. Portuguese. And though you can get by with a little Spanish, Brazilians really hate when you speak to them in another language assuming they will understand it, even if they do.

4. Most Brazilians are poor, so I'm not really expecting the same level of comfort and culture that I'm used to.
Though Brazil has a higher poverty rate than the U.S. or the U.K., it has a rapidly growing and significant middle class and a small but very, very wealthy upper class. Shopping malls are now a million-dollar business in Brazil, and major cities have five-star hotels and restaurants, as well as museums and concert halls. People don't live like Indians in most of Brazil.

3. Brazilians are so sensual. They're all nymphomaniacs, and all the women must be easy.
Prostitution is a problem here, partially due to its legality, partially due to the demand. HOWEVER, Brazilian women are not sluts, despite the fact that people here are much more comfortable making out with strangers than gringos may be. In fact, generally speaking, Brazilian women are a lot less sexually liberal than American women. Don't go to Brazil expecting to get laid, because you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

2. Brazil is in the "Third World," therefore everything must be cheap!
Then you are in for a big shock. Especially now that the dollar is so weak, Brazil is incredibly expensive, for everything: food, hotels, transportation, clothes, books, electronics, gasoline...shall I go on? If you want to go somewhere cheap, go to Argentina.

1. Brazil is a country where anything goes, and the law doesn't really matter. I can do whatever I want, even if it's something I wouldn't normally do in my own country. I have more money than most people here anyway, so I get special treatment.

I'm shocked at how many people have this attitude, even if they don't think about it consciously. Though unfortunately, gringos are often seen as being "special" outsiders, that doesn't mean you have the right to break the law, do immoral things, or take advantage of Brazilians, and in one way or another, you will pay for your actions. This includes but is not limited to: destroying the environment to run a business, engaging in child prostitution, and smuggling, buying, or selling drugs.

Comments

[jeanne]

Excellent post!
It's unbelievable how Canadians view Brazil just like Americans do. but you know what? I lived in Bolivia for 4 years and all you said they think it's true!
I don't know why the WORLD sees Brazil as a place full of sluts, drugs and monkeys everywhere!
Here in Toronto the temperature is around 41°C this week. When I say that I hate this weather people look at me and say "But you're from Brazil, you should be used to high temperatures".
Come on! Please read Adventures of Gringa in Rio! PLEASE!

[jeanne]

Excellent post!
It's unbelievable how Canadians view Brazil just like Americans do. but you know what? I lived in Bolivia for 4 years and all you said they think it's true!
I don't know why the WORLD sees Brazil as a place full of sluts, drugs and monkeys everywhere!
Here in Toronto the temperature is around 41°C this week. When I say that I hate this weather people look at me and say "But you're from Brazil, you should be used to high temperatures".
Come on! Please read Adventures of Gringa in Rio! PLEASE!

[Vivian]

THANK YOU! Seriously.

[Priyanka]

I definitely agree. Foreigners from every country have these stereotypes sadly.

[ali la loca]

Yes, there are many people that maintain these misperceptions about Brasil. But, to be fair, there are also plenty of Americans, Canadians, Europeans, etc. who take the time to learn about Brasil before traveling there, who flee from stereotypes, and who make it a priority not to be the ugly tourist! I've been pleasantly surprised at the level of general knowledge and awareness from the "gringos" who will be attending our wedding in Rio next month.

I think it's worth mentioning that the problem of stereotypes is definitely not a one-way road. It's just as frustrating to hear people in Brasil talk about how in the US everyone eats hamburgers and junk food for every meal, how the schools are all terrible, how nobody knows geography or cares about world events, etc!

The more we travel and interact with people from different cultures and countries, the less these misperceptions will prevail. Blogs are a great tool in reducing stereotypes, so good on you for publishing this.

[Fernando Mafra]

Congratulations on your post. I'm from São Paulo and have had the pleasure of meeting several interesting and interested (in Brazil) gringos. I hear all the time about the stereotypes and it allways makes me glad to see a gringo who knows what they're talking about.
Keep up the good work and spread the word!

[Gabriela]

As a Peruvian, I definitely agree with all you say in this post. There are lots of miconceptions and prejudgements when it comes to this part of the world.
The last Indiana Jones movie, for instance, is full of mistakes of all kinds.
All the best from Lima, Peru.