5 Things I Learnt In Brazil

I travelled across 4 Brazilian states. Find out my regrets, failures, triumphs and how I was redeemed.

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1) Spanish is like Portugese

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Wrong. I was told Portugese was very similar to Spanish, this isn't true. However agua, (which is spanish for water) remains the same. 1 point for me :) Otherwise all I could say was Obrigado. It got me far. Please take note.

2) It's so hot you won't need a jacket

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Lies. First day it poured down with rain, and I mean the heavy rain not that pathetic stuff you get over here in England. I was devastated when Sao Paulo decided to have its temper tantrum torrent as my wardrobe only consisted on my precious primark dresses ;) Loss.

3) Faith in Humanity restored

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So I enjoyed my hotel suite a little too much, so I spent a little too long dancing in the shower, so my phone was a little too close to water, so my stopped phone working. Noooooo I'm on a photography trip, it's day 2 in Brazil and I have no camera. Never fear to my rescue comes a cute little Brazilian staff member who fortunately communicated enough english to know that he needed to put my phone in rice and have it back in my room when I come back. Long story short Brazilian people are kind, they help you put your phones in rice :)

4) British presumptions

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Everyone can speak English right? Wrong! So call me ignorant for thinking that everyone in Brazil would be able to speak at least basic English. I can count on 1 hand how many people I came across that didn't speak a lick of English. Bare in mind I was in Brazil for 2 weeks and traveled across 4 states. I was in completely and utter shock. So close yet so far. All of a sudden I was a *gulp* 'foreigner'. They laughed at me when I gave them incorrect cash, laughed when I stared at them blankly in hopes they would repeat it slower. Yes it was humiliating, I vowed to be even kinder to non english speakers when I got back home. You won't get far around Brazil without a translator so please don't bother going. Yes even in the tourist areas people rarely speak any English . I know it's ridiculous, lets move on.

5) Brazil is Mixed

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Yes Brazilians have a mixed blood line which is apparent from a first glance at them but the people are also very segregated. Just like America (oooh she went there!). I was told by "lighter" Brazilians it was not like America but you can't lie to me, I have an eye, 2 in fact. And it was plain to see. So let me tell you how it goes, in Sao Paulo the women look closer to Alessandra Ambrosio, Adrian Lima,and Gisele Bundchen. Then BOOOOM theres this explosion and in Salvador you get Vanessa Williams, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, with green eyes, blue eyes, indian hair. It's true, the people are diverse, in fact gorgeous. No one looks alike. Brazil is every bit as picturesque and stunning as the photos you see on postcards, Brazil is breathtaking. But when you look deeper you can't help but notice the unfair treatment and drastic change in living conditions that only affect people with a darker skins tone. Ok let's not. Bye lol