Mistakes People Make When Visiting My Country
I am writing this as an expat who has lived in Brazil for the past year and now considers it my permanent home. These are simply my observations as an outsider, along with some things I have heard from Brazilian family and friends.
One of the most common mistakes visitors make is assuming that Brazil is a Spanish-speaking country. Brazil’s official language is Portuguese, which is one of the things that makes the country culturally distinct from most of its South American neighbors.
Another thing I have noticed is that many visitors arrive expecting everything to function exactly as it does back home. In my case, my point of reference is the United States, so that is naturally the comparison I make. Whether it is customer service, government processes, building maintenance, public transportation, or even something as simple as waiting for an elevator, things may operate differently than what visitors are used to.
I think the biggest mistake people make is assuming that different cultures should work the same way as their own. Brazil has its own pace, customs, priorities, and way of doing things. The more a visitor tries to compare everything to home, the more frustrated they are likely to become.
The people who seem to enjoy Brazil the most are those who arrive with an open mind and a willingness to adapt. Rather than asking, “Why isn’t this done the way we do it?” they ask, “Why is it done this way here?” That small shift in perspective can make a huge difference in the experience.
Brazil is not better or worse than where I came from—just different. Understanding and appreciating those differences is probably the most important thing any visitor can do.
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