INTERVIEW
I guess itīs all ready now! Hope I could help! :c)
My name is Mariana de Paula Maia, Iīm 22 years old, brazilian I live in Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais.
1. What are some stereotypes that you have heard about Brazil and it's people?
When I was living in the US, I guess most people knew I was an international student, but Iīm sure that none of them thought I was from Brazil. They were probably wondering how a girl with light fair skin could be brazilian. I guess people think there are only black people and mulattos here in Brazil.
2. Have you ever experienced prejudice because of where you are from?
I had in a way, when I was trying to get my visa at the american consulate here in Brazil. I was treated as if I were a criminal. But in the US, I was never treated in a bad way, maybe because it would take at least some time of conversation for them to notice that I am latin, that I am brazilian. I donīt have the typical latin look, suntanned... so, I guess thatīs why no one ever discriminated against me in the states. They did at the consulate, they knew I was a brazilian trying to get an american visa.
3. How was living in America different from Belo Horizonte? Likes and dislikes.
I loved living in the US. I lived in a small town in Virginia, and it was quiet and nice. I LOVE the winter, the snow... I hate hot weather... which is weird, I know, as Iīm brazilian... I missed the brazilian nightlife though. In the US people go out early and get back home early. Here in Brazil we never leave home before 10:00pm.
4. In Belo Horizonte do you feel that peoples values are placed on society as a whole or on the individual?
- AVAILABLE NOW
5. Do you find ties among people to take longer to form that they did in America?
- AVAILABLE NOW
6. Do you feel that a lot of people in Belo Horizonte feel that they are defined by their job?
- AVAILABLE NOW
7. When people decided to get together to meet is it by an exact time or just whenever people show up?
- AVAILABLE NOW
8. How close to people stand next to each other when they are talking to each other?
Very close! Friends kiss and hug each other when they meet, itīs a very warm relationship.
9. Are there different roles in Brazilian society for men and women, or is it equal?
Itīs never equal, unfortunately, but itīs been changing and getting better, and I guess now women are being considered extremely capable professionals, and many women earn a better salary than men here in Brazil, Iīm sure.
10. What kind of custom's or rituals do you participate in? (Carnival for example)
We have many holidays, and most of them are related to the Catholic Religion. We have "Semana Santa" which is the holy week, 40 days after Carnival. Thatīs when we have Easter. We also have some Saintīs days, and Carnival is the biggest holiday here in Brazil. It lasts at least five days, and all the country celebrates it. Not only Rio, as some people might think.
11. How many difference social classes are there in Belo Horizonte? And are the people comfortable with those differences?
I donīt know how many different social classes we have, but I know we have people living on the streets, with nothing to eat, and people who have enough money to end starvation in Brazil. Social equality doesnīt exist here.
12. What kind of values do you hold towards the : political and economic sytems, religious beliefs, and interpersonal relationships, and the environment. (Dont have to answer for all of these if you dont want too)
- not available yet
Other questions:
1. Do you find that when you go to different parts of Brazil that people speak portuguese differently?
Yes, they do. The slangs are different, and the accents are different too. There are even immigrant communities where no Portuguese is spoken.
2. Do you see a lot of violence where you live? If so how do you cope with it?
I donīt SEE a lot of violence, but I know there IS violence, so I try to be careful, I donīt walk on the streets at night, or keep the car window open, I watch my purse all the time...
3. What are some of your favorite places to go in Belo Horizonte or other cities in Brazil?
I like to go out at night, to bars, meet friends. I sometimes go to night clubs, but usually me and my friends go to bars, pubs, cafes, and sometimes have dinner at a Japanese or Mexican restaurant. Another thing I love to do is to go to my parentsī farm. Itīs about 2 hours away by car from Belo Horizonte (where I live). There I can see my dogs, just relax... we have a sauna and swimming pool there, and lots of fruit trees, specially mango trees. We have corn, rice and sugar cane plantations. It is a dairy farm, but we also have pigs, hens, ducks, lakes with fish... itīs a great place.
4. How do people of Brazil view Americans? Some good? Some bad?
Some good... some bad... The nationalists donīt like all the American influence here in Brazil, but the others think different. These people keep comparing Brazil and US... some find only negative things about Brazil... some find only positive things about it... I think thereīs a little of the good and the bad in both countries.
5. In one of my latin american studies classes I learned that if you have enough money you can pay the government to change your race? Is that true? If so how do you feel about that? My example is Pele, the soccer player, i read that he paid the goverment to consider him white.
This is not true, we, brazilians have never heard of such thing, and Iīm sure this canīt happen here at all! No one can change races here, specially because no one has a race really... we are all a mixture of many races.
6. I also heard that the Brazilian government was thinking about knocking parts of the Amazon forest to make homes for the poor. Is that true? And how do you feel about that?
This is not true either. We are all trying to end the Rain Forestīs deforestation, and thereīs enough room in brazil for the poor, thereīs no need to destroy the forest for that purpose.
7. What do you do for fun that might be different from something Americans might do?
We brazilians go out late, and we come back home late. We do all you americans do, but itīs different. We have fun in a different way, I donīt really know how to explain.
8. What are some of your favorite things about carnival?
My favorite thing about Carnival is to travel to a small town with friends, and go to the streets, dance, have fun. Itīs a long holiday, which is great!
9. Who are some of our favorite Brazilian Musicians and Actors/Actresses?
My kind of music is rock, brazilian rock is great, but there are also great brazilian musicians, who sing popular songs, and they are the ones who can represent Brazilian music. They are Tom Jobim who had died unfortunately, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil... they are more than musicians, they are poets. My favorite actress now is probably Fernanda Montenegro from Central Station. She was close to getting the Oscar for best actress! That would have made me proud!
10. What are some of your favorite stores to shop at in brazil and what kinds of things do they sell?
Well, I usually shop for clothes only, and what we have here in pretty much the same you have in the US.
11. What are some of your favorite Brazilian foods?
My favorite brazilian foods are feijoada which is very typical. Itīs black beans with pork meat, very spicy, and heavy food, but it tastes so good! Itīs usually served with rice. I like the brazilian barbecue, and my favorite food is a mixture of rice, brown beans, ground meat and okra. The beans here in Brazil are very different from the beans you cook in America. Ours is not cooked with any sugar.
12. Was it hard to learn English? What age did you start?
No, it wansīt! I have always liked languages, and English is quite easy to learn if you compare to Portuguese. It was very easy for me. I started taking English classes when I was 10 years old.
13. How is your family doing? (this one is not for my project, I was just curious to know how your parents and brother are doing)
My family is doing good. Our financial situations hasnīt been great due to Brazilīs economical problems. Hopefully it will get better.