empathetic embarrassment

Our typical "Brazilian way" of dealing with things (in Portuguese: 'jeitinho brasileiro') is known worldwide. We find a way for everything (except for ending political corruption plague in the country, among other very important issues). However, too much informality may represent us in a disgraceful light.

Protocols there are often broken because people  think it is silly, that this encumbers to make things easier, tripping them to have some faster advantage. If there is any wriggling room in a rule or law, it will be used somehow.

A good, present and actual example of our negligence is the arriving of Olympic Flag in Rio yesterday. There, many individuals, including authorities, touched it without any protection as asked by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). A huge disrespect. 

Read more here.

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Well, this is just the beginning... The future is in our hands, literally.

If everyone does their part, we can build not only a good image of our country, but another one. Otherwise, nobody will respect us, always giving us a credit for getting things for nothing.

Let's wait for more news (I hope not putting in check anymore our reputation all over the map).
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A quote by Nelson Rodrigues which illustrates exactly what I feel about:

"O brasileiro não está preparado para ser o maior do mundo em coisa nenhuma. Ser o maior do mundo em qualquer coisa, mesmo em cuspe à distância, implica uma grave, pesada e sufocante responsabilidade" (The Brazilian is not prepared to be the best in the world in anything. Being in this position, even in spitting distance, implies a serious, heavy and suffocating responsibility) 

Unfortunately, I have the impression we are not ready for that... not yet!

mona

(and ‘Lisa’ - with Portuguese meaning).

A courageous and beautiful Iranian - my “dutch” muse.

I confess I was admired at first glance. I enjoyed to know her chiefly in reason of she was not used to wear the hijab. Anything else would be unsuccessfully as so to attract me.

Her long and black hair expressed and reflected as weel all her femininity. Seeing that, I wondered myself about which motives were involved, not hidden under their kerchief anymore.

not disguised

Since I’m a leftist, I’ve been contrary of any social imposition form. Any kind of oppressiveness upsets me. With ‘gender’ it won't be different... even in another culture.

My first question to her when I knew where she was born was not about women's situation there: Did you are there during the manifestations against Ahmadinejad last year? Yes, she was in Tehran.

Not satisfied, a second: It was exactly as they have shown on television? Worse - she said, telling me more about how cruel it was. Then, we became friends.

Probably, nobody there was curious (as me) to get to know more about that.