Some words

It can be very difficult to live in a foreign country and share you’re your thoughts in a language that is new to you with someone who comes from a different culture. But we all move around the World and has story or two to tell.. When you are sad or angry you don´t want to share your feelings with someone in your own language.

Brazilians often resent what they perceive as the "coldness" of Americans, who are not accustomed to touching each other all the time or to getting physically close to other people. Just observe two Americans trying to hug each other: they're standing so far apart that the only way they can do it is by leaning forwards from the waist up.

Advice: get used to that, it's not going to change. Make sure you surround yourself with other Brazilian expats...

On the other hand, the friendliness and warmth Americans encounter when they first arrive in Brazil may trick them into thinking that it's going to be easy to make friends there. Some may be disappointed, if they can't distinguish between genuine interest and casual socializing, which is several degrees warmer than in the US. Both men and women will stand closer to you and may touch you lightly during a conversation; when greeting you or saying good-bye, they will shake your hand or hug you, and both men and women will kiss you on both cheeks.

These behaviors do not constitute sexual advances and are one of the main reasons, actually, why some Americans decide to stay in Brazil. I confess that if I couldn't go to Brazil often, I would shrivel and die from human warmth deprivation. The downside of all this seems to be that I always get sick more often in Brazil...more colds, sore throats, etc...You can't win, can you?

Brazilians should not be too sensitive to the fact that Americans call themselves, well, Americans. Remember that the country's name is The United States of America (not North-America). Try finding a good word to describe the citizen of such a country! They tried early on and could not come up with anything better. So give them a break, will you?