18 Things “Gringos” who Moved to Brazil Would Like to Tell You

By Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Being a fresh gringo to Brazil has given many some insights on the cultural differences between Brazil, the U.S. and Europe. Here are some lessons many have learned during their time in Brazil.

1. “In Brazil it is cheaper to buy fruits and vegetables at the market than industrialized goods, which is exactly the opposite in the United States!”

2. “Entering a bank is unbelievably hard. You have to nearly take off all your clothes to go through the metal detector.”

3. “In Brazil, you have to supply your Individual Register Number (CPF) several times a day, which is strange for Europeans because they’re used to walking around with no ID.”

4. “For us it’s really strange to dispose of toilet paper in the bin rather than in the toilet! Sorry, it’s just hard to remember to do it right every time.”

5. “When Brazilians say they’re almost there, they mean that they have just left the house. As far as I’m concerned that’s fine, but at the beginning, I didn’t understand why they took so long if they were almost there!”

6. “The National Registry of Foreigners (RNE) is issued only in Brasilia and it takes about six months for the card to arrive.”

7. “Why do Brazilians eat everything with a knife and fork, even food you’re meant to hold in your hands, like a pizza slice or a hamburger?”

8. “I found it curious to have two people working on the bus: the driver and the collector. In Spain the driver does everything.”

9. “There are many employees and service personnel everywhere, doormen in buildings, day laborers … In Europe only the very rich have that! ”

10. “The wide variety of juices you can find anywhere is cool. Being able to have a freshly squeezed fruit juice anywhere is a luxury!”

11. “Why do you only have electric showers? Choosing between too little hot water or too much cold water is difficult.”

12. “Only naturalized foreigners are allowed to vote in Brazil.”

13. “Those born in Portuguese-speaking countries only need to live in Brazil for an uninterrupted year to become Brazilian citizens.”

14. “Brazilians love to show their thumbs up. It means ‘okay’, ‘hi’, ‘forgive me for messing up’ and more.”

15. “There’s always someone blocking people’s way because they stopped to chat or smoke in the middle of the street or in front of some door.”

16. “In Brazilian restaurants, people are shocked when we ask to take whatever food is left on our plate! In the United States, if there’s only one french fry left, the waiter will ask if you want to take it.”

17. “Brazilians are the kings of the munchies! They’ll mix delicious things like milk jam with cheese bread, panettone on the plate with curd … yummy!”

18. “Everybody asks ‘what are you doing here, why did you come from Europe/U.S. to the back of beyond?’ Guys, you do not know how wonderful your country is.”