School Vacation in Brazil

Since the seasons are opposites in Brazil and the United States, the school year
there is also in a different order.

The long Summer vacation takes place from December to February, when a new
school year starts. Winter break is usually two-weeks long in July.

Brazilian schools usually offer a foreign language in their curriculum. English is
generally taught as a second language, and when a young professional looks for
a job, the companies expect that the candidate can speak at least English as a
second language.

Other languages that might be offered as a second language in schools are
French, Spanish, and German.

Brazilian holidays...we have a big list!!! It is normal if nobody answers the phone during Carnaval!!!

Brazil has a long list of Holidays. And if a Holiday comes to a Tuesday or Thursday, probably there will not be work on Monday or Friday. This is very common!

And Carnaval is a huge deal in Brazil! At least four days of incredible events everywhere: Samba in Rio and Sao Paulo, Axe Music in Bahia, Frevo in Pernambuco and much more!

Brazilians say that "the year begins after Carnaval". That's because events begin in the end of the year with Christmas and New Year's Eve and this "party spirit" will calm down only after Carnaval.

If you try to call an office, a company, an industry during Carnaval, and nobody answers the phone, that is completely normal...it is Carnaval!!!

Brazilian Holidays 2012

January 1, Confraternização Universal (national holiday);
February 20, Carnaval (optional);
February 21, Carnaval (optional);
February 22, quarta-feira de Cinzas (optional until 2 pm);
April 6, Paixão de Cristo (optional);
April 21, Tiradentes (national holiday);
May 1, Dia Mundial do Trabalho (national holiday);
June 7, Corpus Christi (optional);
September 7, Independência do Brasil (national holiday);
October 12, Nossa Senhora Aparecida (national holiday);
October 28, Dia do Servidor Público - art. 236 da Lei nº 8.112, de 11 de dezembro de 1990;
November 2, Finados (national holiday);
November 15, Proclamação da República (national holiday);
December 24 de dezembro, véspera do Natal (optional);
December 25, Natal (national holiday); e
December 31, véspera de Ano Novo (optional).

Source: http://www.mp.gov.br/noticia.asp?p=not&cod=7960&cat=26&sec=11

Voce sabe quais sao os feriados oficiais nos Estados Unidos em 2012?

Os Estados Unidos nao possuem muitos feriados. A lista abaixo eh a oficial do pais, mas todos esses feriados sao tirados em escolas e em orgaos publicos. As empresas privadas tem uma lista muito menor que essa!!!

2* de Janeiro	New Year's Day - Ano Novo
16 de Janeiro	Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. - Aniversario do Martin Luther King Jr.
20** de Fevereiro	Washington's Birthday - Dia do Presidente
28 de Maio	Memorial Day - Homenagem aos mortos da Guerra Civil
4 de Julho	Independence Day - Declaracao da Independencia dos EUA
3 de Setembro	Labor Day - Dia do Trabalho
8 de Outubro	Columbus Day - Homenagem a Cristovao Colombo, descobridor das Americas.
12*** de Novembro	Veterans Day - Homenagem aos Veteranos de Guerra dos Estados Unidos
22 de Novembro	Thanksgiving Day - Acao de Gracas
25 de Novembro	Christmas Day - Natal

* January 1, 2012 (the legal public holiday for New Year's Day), falls on a Sunday. For most Federal employees, Monday, January 2, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See section 3(a) of Executive order 11582, February 11, 1971.)
** This holiday is designated as "Washington's Birthday" in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.
*** November 11, 2012 (the legal public holiday for Veterans Day), falls on a Sunday. For most Federal employees, Monday, November 12, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See section 3(a) of Executive order 11582, February 11, 1971.)

Fonte: http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedhol/2012.asp

Black Friday

O dia seguinte ao feriado de Thanksgiving eh chamado Black Friday. Eh o famoso dia de ir as compras.

Tudo comeca no proprio feriado, quando os jornais vem recheados de anuncios de lojas com super promocoes, de carros a roupas, passando por eletroeletronicos, brinquedos, movies e por ai vai.

A Black Friday comeca a 0 hora da sexta-feira, logo apos a 5a. feira de Thanksgiving. Filas enormes comecam a se formar dias antes na frente de algumas lojas – principalmente as de eletroeletronicos - para garantir que os que ali estiverem serao os primeiros a aproveitar as super ofertas anunciadas. 

Curioso saber de onde vem esse nome, “Black Friday”. No passado, quando os livros de contabilidade (livros-caixa) eram feitos a mao, os contadores usavam caneta preta para lancar os creditos e caneta vermelha para lancar os debitos e as contas “negativas”.

Devido as otimas promocoes de vendas no dia seguinte ao Thanksgiving, as lojas normalmente “fechavam” as contas com saldo positivo. Ou seja, os livros-caixa estavam todos com anotacoes em canetas pretas. Por isso, o BLACK Friday.

Ferias Escolares nos Estados Unidos

Assim como as estacoes do ano, as ferias escolares americanas sao opostas as ferias das escolas brasileiras.

A exemplo do Brasil, as ferias mais longas nas escolas americanas sao no periodo de verao e duram aproximadamente 3 meses. Em alguns estados, elas vao de maio a agosto e em outros, de junho a setembro.

Em compensacao, no final do ano (inverno nos Estados Unidos), as criancas tem somente 2 semanas de folga, no periodo entre Natal e Ano Novo.

Outra diferenca do sistema escolar americano para o brasileiro e que o ano letivo comeca no final do verao, ou seja, em agosto ou setembro, dependendo de quando cada estado volta as aulas, apos as longas ferias de verao.

Opposite Seasons

Did you know that the seasons are opposite in Brazil and in the US? Curiously, when people is at the beach in the southern hemisphere, the inhabitants of the northern hemisphere are bundled up, enjoying a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate.

Remember to check the calendar when planning a trip down south:

December – March: Summer

March – June: Fall

June – September: Winter

September – December: Spring

28 million young people consume about US$ 15 billions per year in Brazil

According to IBGE - Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, 28 million young people consume about R$ 30 billions (US$ 15 billions) per year, have influence on their parents consumption decisions, and can purchase using their own money. 

Young Brazilians from the multimedia generation are the most consumerists. Among their favorite products, we can find: cinema, trips, clothes, sports clothes, and electronics.

 
Source: http://www.sebrae.com.br/customizado/acesso-a-mercados/conheca-seu-mercado/consumidor-1/perfil-de-consumidores/integra_bia/ident_unico/19302

Brazil keeps 1st place in the highest rate of recycling of cans in the world

In 2011, Brazil achieved a new record of recycling aluminum cans. According to the Brazilian Aluminum Association (Abal) and the Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of Highly Recyclable Cans (Abralatas) were reused 98.3% of cans produced in Brazil in the past year. In all, 250,000 tons of aluminum cans were recycled. 

Brazil stays in first place in the highest rate of recycling of cans in the world. That's wonderful for the environment!

Congratulations Brazil! Keep going green!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brasil bate novo recorde de reciclagem de latinhas

Palmas para os catadores de latinha de alumínio. O Brasil bateu o recorde de reciclagem de latas em 2011.

A reciclagem ajuda não só a tirar a lata dos aterros sanitários (estamos sem espaço para tanto lixo!), ele também ajuda na questão da mudança do clima. Ainda de acordo com o relatório divulgado pela Abralatas e a Abal, o processo de reciclagem libera apenas 5% das emissões de gás de efeito estufa, se comparado com a produção do alumínio primário. As entidades dizem ainda que para cada quilo de alumínio reciclado, cinco quilos de bauxita (minério que gera o alumínio) deixam de ser extraídas.

Então já sabe, quando aquele tiozinho vir pedir a sua lata para reciclar, não negue se já estiver terminando. Dê o último gole com gosto, sabendo que o trabalho dele é um grande favor para todos nós.

http://blogs.estadao.com.br/seja-sustentavel/brasil-bate-novo-recorde-de-reciclagem-de-latinhas/

Have you ever been to Cataratas do Iguaçu?

The word Iguassu means “large water” in the Tupi-Guarani etymology. The cascades are formed by the falls of the Iguassu River. Eighteen kilometers before joining the Parana River, the Iguassu River gains altitude and then plunges 80 meters down. It can reach up to 2,780 meters wide. Its geographical formation dates from about 150 millions years, but the formation of the waterfall’s geographic characteristics began approximately 200,000 years ago.


There are 19 main falls. Five of them are on the Brazilian side (Floriano, Deodoro, Benjamin Constant, Santa Maria and União). The rest are on the Argentinean side. Since most of the falls are on the Argentinean side and facing Brazil, the best views are for those who observe the scene from the Brazilian side.

On November 11 of 2011, Iguassu Falls was announced as one of the seven winners of the New Seven Wonders of Nature by the New Seven Wonders of the World Foundation.

Iguassu National Park

The Iguassu National Park was established in 1934. It represents an immense area of subtropical forest with magnificent waterfalls located north of the Misiones province. It has great natural importance and ecological wealth.

The Park is directed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), a federal organ responsible for managing the Conservation Areas of Brazil. Iguassu is an example of the integration between conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.

The significant biological variability plus the unique landscape with rare scenic beauty of the Iguassu Falls made the Iguassu National Park the first conservation area in Brazil to be established as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.

Source: www.cataratasdoiguacu.com.br and Wikipedia

Guarana, a Rainforest fruit and a refreshing soft drink

Guarana is a fruit found in the Rainforest of Amazon in Brazil. The word Guarana comes from the Guarani (one of the Native Brazilian Indians Tribes) and it means "fruit like the eyes of the people". It is red and looks like a coffee bean, but its seeds contain about twice the concentration of caffeine found in coffee beans. 

Guarana began to become famous in Brazil a long time ago (about 1920) when a soft drink was introduced in the market, the Guarana Champagne Antarctica. This brand and soft drink is still a great success in Brazil and in other countries in the world. That is so popular in Brazil, that Coca-Cola created its own Guarana brand: Guarana Kuat. Nowadays, there are other important beverage brands in Brazil that have its Guarana drink.

Visiting Brazil, you must try it! It is a little bit sweet, but refreshing! Guarana Kuat is sweeter than the original one, Guarana Antarctica. 

The Capital of Brazil is...

Brasília!!!!

People often say that Sao Paulo is the capital of Brazil or that Rio de Janeiro is the capital of Brazil. They belong to a list of the most important cities in Brazil, but they are not the Capital, Brasília is the one. 

If you say that, it is not too bad! 

Please, never ask (or say) to a Brazilian if the capital of Brazil is Buenos Aires. That's too much!!! Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, another country located in South America. 

And do you want to know why not to do that? Argentina is the major rival of the Brazilian Soccer Team. That's why!!

Fork, Knife, and Napkins

When it comes to food, Brazilians use utensils to dig in. It’s considered impolite to eat with your bare hands.

Pizza, sandwiches, even hamburgers: you have to eat with fork and knife, or at least use a napkin to hold the food.

French fries may be the only exception to that rule, and only when eating at a fast food place. If you are eating at a restaurant, utensils are the way to go!

Brazilian Soap Operas - Much More than Entertainment for Housewives

Soap operas started being produced in Brazil in the 50s for the radio. Since then, its importance has only gotten bigger.  Over the years, it evolved from being an ordinary entertainment to public service to a powerful marketing weapon.

At the beginning, it used to portrait the Brazilian way of life from the point of view of the middle class. Romantic stories would get the attention of entire families when TV wasn’t even around. With time, soap operas started getting more and more important and started changing its focus to other broad, more important subjects.

Nowadays, soap operas not only tell romantic stories, but also bring current social problems  to light, enticing discussions in the society. Some of the topics depicted in soap operas in the recent years include pedophilia, human trafficking, people with disabilities life, human cloning, etc. It is an efficient way to bring awareness about difficult problems to the society.

MARKETING WEAPON – soap operas are also a very powerful Marketing tool. Throughout the years, some soap operas became so popular that they become a “TV blockbuster”, they were a trend setter in slang, behavior, fashion. Some companies invest in merchandising inside a soap opera story to launch or establish different types of products, such as lipstick, perfume, shoes, cars, beverage, and so on.

EXPORTING PRODUCT – An average of 120 countries broadcast a Brazilian soap opera nowadays. The exported stories are edited to accommodate length and topics that may not be so popular in other countries, but without compromising the story being told.

FAMOUS SOAP OPERAS - The most popular soap operas in Brazil, and exported to other countries, were produced by Rede Globo, the Brazilian TV network that invests the most on soap operas productions. Among them, are:

*Da Cor do Pecado (Joao Emanuel Carneiro, 2004) – 100 countries

*Terra Nostra (Benedito Ruy Barbosa, 1999) – 95 countries

*O Clone (Gloria Perez, 2001) – 90 countries

*Escrava Isaura (1976) – over 80 countries, became a major success in China

Be careful with the "OK" sign!!!

In Brazil, the inverted American “OK” sign is an obscene gesture!

The World Meets in Brazil (by Artplan)

"Cafezinho" time!

Brazilians don’t “do” siesta.

In the past, the lunch break would last 2 hours, and the majority of people would go home to a homemade cooked meal. Throughout the years, this habit changed to a modern life, 1-hour long lunchtime, usually nearby or at the office.

But one thing hasn’t changed, even with the ever demanding modern life. The “cafezinho” time: after meals, especially at lunch time.

Cafezinho (diminutive of coffee) is a much-needed break that Brazilians take throughout the day. It’s a way to boost people’s energy due to its caffeine. It is also a way of socializing at work. Business meetings are usually accompanied by cafezinho breaks.

Next time you go to Brazil, make sure you take some time to enjoy our cafezinho.

Burping is impolite in Brazil

Please do not burp when you are with Brazilians. It is very impolite!

Please do not burp when you are eating with a Brazilian family, Brazilian friends or if you are in a Brazilian business lunch or dinner. It is very impolite too!

It is not that Brazilians do not burp at all. We try not to do it. However, when it is impossible to keep it "inside us" after, for example, drinking a soda, a polite Brazilian will hold back the burp and release the air slowly, without any noise.

Brazilians speak Portuguese!

When I tell people that we, Brazilians, speak Portuguese, it is normal to see a ? or a ! on their faces. 
It is very common that people think we speak Spanish, as our neighbors in South America. 
Brazil was a colony from Portugal, that's why we do speak Portuguese.
Also, Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in the Americas. 

 

Real, The Brazilian Currency

Real (pl. Reais) is the present-day currency of Brazil. It is represented by the symbol R$.

Real was introduced on July 1, 1994, during the presidency of Itamar Franco, when Fernando Henrique Cardoso was the Minister of Finance, as part of a broader plan to stabilize the Brazilian economy, known as the Plano Real.

This monetary reform aimed to put an end to three decades of rampant inflation. At the time it was meant to have approximately fixed 1:1 exchange rate with the United States dollar. The current exchange rate is approximately R$ 2.00 to U$1.00.

Source: Wikipedia

Greeting a Brazilian in a Business Meeting

MEN:

It is usual that men shake hands when greeting one another, while keeping eye contact. 
Backslapping can come with the shaking hands. Men do not kiss each other in Brazil.

At the same time, he can say:
- Bom dia (Good morning)/ Boa tarde (Good afternoon)/ Boa noite (Good evening)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-lo (Nice to meet you) or Prazer em reve-lo (Nice to see you)!
- Oi (Hi) or Ola (Hi)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-lo (Nice to meet you) or Prazer em reve-lo (Nice to see you)!
- Oi (Hi) or Ola (Hi)! Tudo bem? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-lo (Nice to meet you) or Prazer em reve-lo (Nice to see you)!

Or he can answer:
-  Bom dia (Good morning)/ Boa tarde (Good afternoon)/ Boa noite (Good evening)! Tudo bem (I am fine)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-lo tambem (Nice to meet you too) or Prazer em reve-lo (Nice to see you)!


WOMEN:

Women can kiss each other or shake hands. Nowadays, it is more common that they shake hands, in the same way men do.

At the same time, she can say:
- Bom dia (Good morning)/ Boa tarde (Good afternoon)/ Boa noite (Good evening)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-la (Nice to meet you) or Prazer em reve-la (Nice to see you)!
- Oi (Hi)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-la (Nice to meet you) or Prazer em reve-la (Nice to see you)!
- Ola (Hi)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-la (Nice to meet you) or Prazer em reve-la (Nice to see you)!

Or she can answer:
-  Bom dia (Good morning)/ Boa tarde (Good afternoon)/ Boa noite (Good evening)! Tudo bem (I am fine)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-la (Nice to meet you too) or Prazer em reve-la (Nice to see you)!



MAN & WOMAN:

They can shake hands, or kiss each other. In a first contact, it is more usual to shake hands.
Anyways, in a Business Meeting, when a man is introduced to a woman, I suggest shaking hands.

Also, if a Brazilian woman wants to shake hands with a man, she will extend her hand first.


At the same time, he or she can say:
- Bom dia (Good morning)/ Boa tarde (Good afternoon)/ Boa noite (Good evening)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-lo or Prazer em conhece-la (Nice to meet you)! or
- Oi (Hi)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-lo or Prazer em conhece-la (Nice to meet you) or Prazer em reve-lo (Nice to see you)! or or Prazer em reve-la (Nice to see you)!
- Ola (Hi)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-lo or Prazer em conhece-la (Nice to meet you) or Prazer em reve-lo (Nice to see you) or Prazer em reve-la (Nice to see you)!

Or he can answer:
-  Bom dia (Good morning)/ Boa tarde (Good afternoon)/ Boa noite (Good evening)! Tudo bem (I am fine)! Como vai? (How are you?) Prazer em conhece-lo or Prazer em conhece-la (Nice to meet you) or Prazer em reve-lo (Nice to see you)  or Prazer em reve-la (Nice to see you)!

Important Notes:

Tudo bem

- Tudo bem? as question and Tudo bem! as answer is very often used in Brazilian conversations. You can ask Tudo bem? for a person, thing or situation.
Tudo bem? or Tudo bem com voce? - How are you?
Tudo bem! - I am fine!

Tudo bem com o carro do Mateus? - Is everything ok with Mateus' car? (Maybe it was broken)
Tudo bem! - Everything is ok.

Tudo bem com o processo do seu divorcio? - Is everything ok with your divorce's process?
Tudo bem! - Everything is ok. 



Prazer em conhece-lo x Prazer em conhece-la - Nice to MEET you

- Prazer em conhece-lo - used when you direct your speech to a man or boy

- Prazer em conhece-la - used when you direct your speech to a woman or girl


Prazer em reve-lo x Prazer em reve-la - Nice to SEE you

- Prazer em reve-lo - used when you direct your speech to a man or boy

- Prazer em reve-la - used when you direct your speech to a woman or girl 

A Brazilian Way

We are Brazilians and friends, and we are passionate about culture differences around the world.

We lived in several countries, in different moments, including Brazil, France, Germany. We all had academics and professional experiences in important corporations and nonprofit organizations in Brazil and other countries.

We all grew up in Brazil. Nowadays, Adriana Oliveira lives in Savannah, Georgia, USA; Renata Schumman lives in Orange County, California, USA; and Renata Aragao lives in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.


We would like to share our academics, professional, and practical knowledge about how things are and happen in Brazil. We would like to share with you the closest portrait we could have.

However, Brazil is a continental country (almost 200 million people living in the fifth largest country in the world) with lots of peculiarities. You can ask one, two, ten, one thousand Brazilians about the same topic, and you will receive different answers and opinions. That is completely normal! Each region, each state, each city, each family can have a different approach of a subject.

So that's why we will share with you A Brazilian Way of thinking, talking, acting, feeling. All posts will be based on our academics, professional, and practical knowledge about Brazilian Culture and Brazilian Etiquette.

If you are a businesswoman, a businessman, a tourist, a student, an employee, a contractor in Brazil, we would love to have you participating in our blog, sending questions and posting comments!

Abracos,

Adriana Oliveira, Renata Schumman & Renata Aragao