Perks & Quirks of Being Gringos

The title of this post is meant to cue your memory of a semi-recent popular book-then-made-into-movie called The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I liked the Urban Dictionary's definition of a wallflower: "a type of loner. seemingly shy folks who no one really knows. often some of the most interesting people if one actually talks to them. cute." The image that comes to my mind is a cabbage patch kid's cute little head growing out of a wall and a calm grin on his face surrounded by green shrubbery, barely visible. 

The four gringos, on top of Rio de Janeiro

That is not what my brothers, sister and I were when they came to visit last month. We were quite the opposite of wallflowers, as much as we tried to not be obnoxious in public. One ginger in Brazil is rare enough. Imagine four gingers waltzing around Rio de Janeiro. During the World Cup, people just assumed we were German. Fortunately, I was clearly sporting a Brazilian jersey on the day of the Unspeakable Match. Attitudes changed quickly as Argentina and Germany faced each other in the final... Brazilians don't really like their Argentinian neighbors.

Overall, the perks of us siblings being exotic here in Brazil made for some laughs, good conversations, and pleasant treatment from the Brazilians who are ever so eager to make you feel at home in their country.

Back in Viçosa, where I have come to call home here in Brazil, I have found some more perks. Public speaking is easier because I am either speaking in my native tongue to a group of non-natives, or I am speaking in Portuguese and expectations are way lower for me. When I speak well, I am rewarded by a compliment, or a subtle look of surprise. Another perk- ignorance is bliss as they say. At the beginning of my time here, I didn't know what was going on so looking back I realize I got away with some cultural faux pas such as: being barefoot around the house; not offering my food to everyone in sight as means of being polite; taking people's food when they politely yet half-heartedly offer it. The greatest perk is the direct cultural exchange I have with every conversation, as every interaction presents a new opportunity for me to learn, and to share something about my culture. Brazilians love to talk and they make great teachers, too.

Being American in Viçosa, Brazil for the Fourth.

Plenty of quirks exist as well: Walking in the streets and speaking English gets strange looks, but even more uncomfortable is when I am speaking Portuguese and I get a strange look. Being asked where I am from after just saying hello. Being asked where I am from even before saying hello. Using the wrong word, in some cases a phallic slang word, and getting a good laugh out of a Brazilian friend. People asking me for directions: as I begin to speak, they get a slightly fading-away look as they become less confident if they should believe this girl or not. Those times when I don't feel like asking someone to repeat when I didn't understand, only to find they are waiting for an answer from me. Just to name a few...

Sure there are perks and quirks of being a gringa but at times I wish to be a wallflower, as sometimes the attention that comes with being exotic is suffocating. Can I just get my beer in peace? I'll have to wait to get back to the Palmer house for that. For now I'll keep afloat by embracing the perks because after this experience in Brazil and all I'm learning about myself, life as I know it will never be the same. Tchau!