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!

forrobodó

Avoiding my twisted roots.

I’m impressed with the quantity of Brazilians in Amsterdam. Actually, sometimes some of them simply don’t seem as us (or ‘Am I an E.T.?’). I know that our country is too huge and our culture is so vast… So, is understandable that I am not like most of them (or they aren‘t like me). However, it doesn’t mean that I'm proud or agree with their behaviour.

Their limited music preferences (sertanejo, forró and pagode - the popular ones, not the classic and 'old school'), alongside the wrong way to talk (I’m sure that I can speak English better than they the correct Portuguese!) leave me upset! Not only that, but some (dispensable) little lies and excuses, as the mania to be in vantage of others, besides the excessive sexuality etc, defame and also defile our reputation abroad.

I would like to be now in touch with another people, practicing my English or trying to speak Dutch or other language, learning (about) another culture, getting its new background… I need this break and not to be living this lack (a typical “samba do crioulo doido”) .

I wish for novelty (and respect!).