Friday, October 31, 2008

Question for the questioners

What do alls y'alls (I'm practicing for when we move to Utah) want to know about Brazil? I've gotten a few questions here and there, but is there anything in particular you'd like to know? What they eat, electoral practices, common house layouts, educational system, mating customs?

Okay, scratch that last one, my mom reads this thing.

Though I WILL tell you that dating here is super different. BYU rituals - a Tonka truck left on your doorstep filled with hot dog buns and a note with "Can I haul your buns to the homecoming dance?" - are completely alien in this country. Well, frankly, they're alien outside of Happy Valley. But here it's just plain weird. Nope, here they kiss FIRST - before they even start dating. Before they even know each other. See, Brazilians feel that you gotta have a good make out session to find out if you like each other.

NCMO is a way of life. Most of my friends don't even know how many guys they've macked on.

They cannot believe it when I tell the story of our first kiss. My Man and I had been dating casually for three months or so - I was "waiting" for a missionary and all. Though admittedly forgetting him rather quickly. So one night we went for a moonlit walk. This wasn't so much for romantic reasons as because we were dirt poor. We had to save up for Frosties. Anyway, it started to get cold so we decided to continue the conversation in the car. (I know, I know. You're not supposed to park. Don't tell my bishop. Wait, My Man is my bishop.)

So we talked and talked until 3-in-the-morning came and went. By now I'm rather sleepy and wanting to go home. But My Man REFUSED to drive us back. He had been working up the courage to kiss me for hours and had told himself he would not go home without some action. Finally, with the moves of a jungle cat, he swung over and planted one on me. Scared me half to death. Though it did wake me up. *grins*
But this concept of 'working up to' a first kiss is completely foreign in Brazil.

So - whaddya wanna know?

27 comments:

heidizinha said...

i want to know when you're moving to utah.

Erin said...

What is traditional Brazilian food, and do you eat it for dinner regularly? Or do you make "Americanized" stuff?

Are there any weird foods you have tried? Did you like them?

Yes, I am obsessed with food.

Randi said...

See I love your blog because it's interesting AND educational!!

When you go out for American food do you recognize it? Or is it like Chinese food here, where real Chinese people turn up their noses and go "wha????"

Randi said...

What do you think was your biggest surprise?

And I may be late to the party, but why are you in Brazil to start with?

Kristina P. said...

Oooooh, I love asking questions. When are you moving back to the States?

kristi said...

I want to know WHY you are moving to Utah?

Aquaspce said...

Okay, here's my list:

A.) Are there really spider so big, you have to kill them with squeegees?

B.) Can you break a banana in half without peeling it?

C.) Have you been to the jungle and swung on vines like Tarzan?

D. Have you ever been driving and bought peanuts, or popcorn from a street vendor while stopped at a light?

E.) Have you eaten alligator?

Okay, those are my questions, my brother served in Brazil and came back with all these stories. I believe the banana one, because I've seen him do it, and I've seen pictures of him swinging from vines... so... MYTHBUSTER the heck out of the rest...

Whitney R said...

Thanks for coming by my blog!!

I'll be coming back to yours as well. :)

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I've had three first kisses and they were all on the first date. Not a single one of them was my idea though. Goodness.

I'm with Erin, I want to hear about the food!

lizzy-loo said...

i could go for a little beans and rice, yum, but those brasilian cakes, yuck.

Rocketgirl said...

I am laughing and telling all my friends the story of the kiss. Awesome!!

Mommadj5 said...

Yeah - I'm with Kristi....I already know the answers to all the other stuff!!!

Heather of the EO said...

Hi!
What do the Brazilian folk think of Americans in general. Many people think we're total losers, and many think we hung the moon? Do Brazilians think mostly one way or the other or more apathetically of Americans?
Just curious, because I really like it if everyone totally loves me. :)

Lara Neves said...

My husband first kissed me when he was trying to break up with me. :)

Hmmm...what do I want to know about Brazil? What is the shopping like? Is it pretty Americanized nowadays, or do you still have to do market daily?

Jan said...

What are some of their traditions for Christmas. Is it the tree and presents and all that good stuff?

You are so funny. The kiss thing and all. I would never survive there because of my daughter and dating. No way.

Elizabeth said...

Yeah, our first kiss was in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. A couple of sisters brought in a handful of visitors in the middle of things. And yeah, typical us, we had been discussing it for a while first. He told me he was nervous because it had been a while since he'd kissed a girl (this from the guy who had at least one date every weekend) and he finally kissed me right AFTER I said I'd be okay with waiting if he didn't feel ready. *grin* Ahhhhh, sweet innocence.

But most of the guys I dated I actually did kiss first. ^^;;; They just would never ask me out, and then ... well, I'm impulsive and I'd let them, and THEN we'd start "dating." *rolls eyes* Shame on me. I've reformed now. :P

Aquaspce said...

So um, are you okay? I'm just checking... not like I'm stalking you like I stalk others, I'm just making sure no aboriginals attacked or anything... do they do that? probably not. I'm aboriginal and I don't attack people....

Stephanie said...

I went to Argentina on my mission and was always fascinated by the things that "EVERYONE" does there that are just not done here. Like mate, for example, or every living, breathing person watching soccer on TV. Any things like that you've noticed in Brazil that seem to be UNIVERSALLY practiced by Brazilians?

Stephanie said...

Necessary clarification: When I said mate, I meant the herbal hot drink pronounced Mah-tay, not actual mating. Hello, I think Americans have a grasp on that one!

Lorie said...

Cute!

What is your favorite thing in Brazil?

West Family said...

ok - so are you really comming back? I sent you an email - did you get it?

Sweating in the endless heat said...

I need your email. I went private! If Pam has it, then I will get it from her, but if not will you put it on here so I can invite you to my blog:-)

Randi said...

Hey girl! Haven't heard from you for awhile and I wanted to make sure you were ok!
Let us know what you're up to!

Lara Neves said...

Missing your blog! Hope all is well in Brazil!

Kristina P. said...

Where has my favorite girl in Brazil been?

Aquaspce said...

Okay, so now, I'm really going to admit that I'm stalking you.
Are you guys okay?
Did you really get kidnapped by the natives?
Please be okay.
Miss you!

lizzy-loo said...

we are all thinking of you and hoping you're well. really we just miss your witty posts.