Getting to know people in Brazil is a fast-track process. Since they don't place much stock in personal space, Brazilians have an easier time of breaking through the emotional space, too.
1. Kissing strangers is customary —
Getting to know people in Brazil is a fast-track process. Since they don't place much stock in personal space, Brazilians have an easier time of breaking through the emotional space, too.
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Not many Brazilians speak English, particularly outside Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. They've seen all the American movies and know all the Adele songs, but the premium has traditionally been on getting a good education in Portuguese.
2. English isn't spoken widely —
Not many Brazilians speak English, particularly outside Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. They've seen all the American movies and know all the Adele songs, but the premium has traditionally been on getting a good education in Portuguese.
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Brazilians revel in an outdoor culture, as befits a tropical land, and they have world-class natural environments to play in. Beaches, jungles, waterfalls (such as Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina, pictured), it's here, often on an epic scale.
3. Brazil is an outdoor world —
Brazilians revel in an outdoor culture, as befits a tropical land, and they have world-class natural environments to play in. Beaches, jungles, waterfalls (such as Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina, pictured), it's here, often on an epic scale.
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In world rankings for the gap between rich and poor, Brazil has the 11th biggest gulf, coming in after a group of impoverished African countries. Even though living standards have risen over the last decade and a number of Brazilians have entered the middle class, there's still a huge chunk of the population eking out a day-to-day existence
4. There's a massive gap between rich and poor —
In world rankings for the gap between rich and poor, Brazil has the 11th biggest gulf, coming in after a group of impoverished African countries. Even though living standards have risen over the last decade and a number of Brazilians have entered the middle class, there's still a huge chunk of the population eking out a day-to-day existence
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It's a vivacious culture that can also jack up the decibel count. Brazilians like to express themselves and don't have many restraints on how they do it.
5. There are no introverts —
It's a vivacious culture that can also jack up the decibel count. Brazilians like to express themselves and don't have many restraints on how they do it.
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Brazilians are experts in the creation of especially tasty fruit drinks, or sucos.
6. The juice bars are amazing —
Brazilians are experts in the creation of especially tasty fruit drinks, or sucos.
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Brazilians produce two of the biggest bashes the world has known in Carnival and the New Year's Reveillon celebration. But festivities continue throughout the year, thanks to an abundance of regional celebrations, cities that promote the arts and a stockpile of religious holidays.
7. Parties are important —
Brazilians produce two of the biggest bashes the world has known in Carnival and the New Year's Reveillon celebration. But festivities continue throughout the year, thanks to an abundance of regional celebrations, cities that promote the arts and a stockpile of religious holidays.
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The outside world knows bossa nova and samba. But Brazil dances to the beat of many different drummers (like these at The Clock nightclub in Sao Paulo), reflecting its diverse population.
8. Rhythm is king —
The outside world knows bossa nova and samba. But Brazil dances to the beat of many different drummers (like these at The Clock nightclub in Sao Paulo), reflecting its diverse population.
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The seventh largest city in Brazil, Manuas, sits halfway up the Amazon River. It has gleaming office buildings and modern factories and is growing faster than many other parts of the country.
9. There's a huge city in the middle of the Amazon —
The seventh largest city in Brazil, Manuas, sits halfway up the Amazon River. It has gleaming office buildings and modern factories and is growing faster than many other parts of the country.
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They do have nasty choppers that bite swimmers in rivers, but piranha don't strip them to the bone. That's a movie legend.
10. Piranha won't eat you —
They do have nasty choppers that bite swimmers in rivers, but piranha don't strip them to the bone. That's a movie legend.
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