It’s been nearly a month since my last Life & Lingo post, and I want to take a few minutes to first and foremost check in and acknowledge that L&L hasn’t gone anywhere.
I’m still here, despite the absence.
An absence that has existed because as I indicated in my previous writing, I have been in Brazil for almost three weeks.
I’m not sure how I plan to synthesize my experience yet. Whether it will be a structured “Aaron’s Learnings” document or a colorful thematic extrapolation of all that I’ve observed while being here is up for determination.
But I’m currently sitting on a balcony in Salvador overlooking the Atlantic, and I feel inspired to begin.
Unlike my normal writing, this is unedited. It’s simply a collection of unprocessed thoughts that are on my mind.
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Brazil has my heart. Perhaps there was unknowingly a reason it was the country I spontaneously selected as my first “serious” travel destination last May.
I head to Argentina on Sunday, and already I am trying to consider how I go with an open mind and don’t, by default, view it as inferior to Brazil.
There’s many layers to my appreciation for the country that I’m still working to parse through.
It’s beautiful. It’s gritty. It’s colorful. It’s imperfect. It’s culturally spirited and dynamic.
It’s also “not for amateurs” as the saying goes. It requires a degree of open mindedness and perspective that is congruent with that of Brazilians.
One that prioritizes warmth and joy sourced from simplicity. From things looking and feeling different than you’re familiar with.
It’s the manifestation of a uniquely passionate and vivacious culture that perpetually orients towards optimism and the beauty in life, which is often found in simple, unassuming things.
Prior to my trip, I told a good friend of mine I wanted to use the time down here to better learn “how to have fun.” To shed my worries, anxieties, uptightness that I often carry. I wanted to “let my hair down,” as he eloquently identified.
Brazil culturally embodies this desire. Visiting four, and soon to be five, major cities, and creating interactions across diverse socioeconomic brackets has been a supreme instructor.
Through conversation and observation, the country - and its people - have served as paragons for how to just chill out. To choose positivity over tenseness.
This is not to be misconstrued as Brazilians having poor “work ethics” or living “vacation lives.” A narrative I’ve heard numerous times (partially) given the country's stunning and populous coastal cities.
Because the truth is, the scale and nature of poverty here - among other social and political issues - is in many ways incomparable to the United States. I’ve acquired several mental images of displays of daily activities that you simply cannot find in the States.
Displays that project a work ethic and resilience that goes inconceivably beyond any white collar New Yorker grinding long hours, or my “grit” working on challenging problems in a cushy job in tech.
They are observations that have made me begin to question the statement “if there’s a will, there’s a way.” One that I’ve believed for much of my life, but that I am now beginning to view as largely American, privileged commentary that is ignorant to the levels of troubled conditions individuals enter this world into across the globe.
Yet amidst such hardship, individuals here still embrace an authentic spirit. It’s hard to explain, but it’s nothing short of beautiful.
I hope you all put Brazil on your list of destinations for the future and are able to see it firsthand.
Until then, a few more rapid fire thoughts:
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I’ve never heard anyone talk about how much they “love English” except for my Grandma, who I probably get my infatuation with words from.
But while in Brazil, I’ve already had three distinct conversations in which someone mentioned how much they love Portuguese. The way the language enables expression. Enunciation. A perfect complement to the culture.
Unshockingly, I agree with the sentiment. The number of times a nearby “boa tarde” or a simple “tudo bem?” has put a slight grin on my face are too many to count. It’s a beautiful language.
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I met a Brazilian girl last summer who was visiting New York. She lives in a small town down here about an hour outside of Vitoria, and I had the privilege of staying in touch with her and visiting last weekend.
It was an incredible experience on so many fronts, some of which included getting glimpses of Brazil I otherwise would never have gotten. Seeing her small town, driving through indigenous neighborhoods, buying my first Havaianas, and trying moqueca - also a first.
Interestingly, despite a non-trivial language barrier (hats off to her for learning English on her own without English-speaking parents or any formal language education) we kind of hit it off, and it’s a shame we live on different continents. Not sure what to make of it yet but the journey of us meeting up, in Brazil, approaching a year after our first meeting is low-key storybook.
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For most of the trip I haven’t really felt alone, but I’m beginning to. It’s not a result of not having encounters with strangers or meeting people, but rather the product of my inadequate Portuguese.
The result is me now approaching five days without a lengthy, cognitively stimulating conversation in English. While in Rio, people I knew from the States came and went and there are generally more English speakers. While in Vitoria, I was with Gabriela. In Salvador there are far fewer English speakers, and I don’t anticipate it being any different in my next stop, Recife.
I don’t say this as a bad thing. I kind of love this shit. Out here alone just figuring things out and seeing what happens. But on multiple occasions I’ve wished there were others here to share the experience with. To talk about the sights and scenes with. And of course, to use my voice a bit more. It’s been a lot of time in my own head.
Brazilian culture helps in that I never feel alienated, but rather always welcomed with a smile if I have a question or wish to strike up conversation.
***
Another objective of this trip was determining where I want to be geographically following my lease expiration in April. New York, Miami, international…
Paradoxically I think this trip has only made that decision more complicated. I do enjoy New York, but the third of the year being marred by cold temperatures, extremely short days, and gloomy weather take a toll. I suppose it’s just the Florida man in me.
And, if I enjoy it down here, why not spend a year? After all, for the majority of the year there’s only a one-hour time zone difference from the East Coast, and it’s not an insanely far flight to get to family in Florida.
It would obviously be bold and a new level to this whole adventuring thing, but the flexibility to do so is a heavy consideration as I consider my next career plan. Which, by the way, I left Clarify, my old company, one week before the trip started. Don’t think I’d mentioned that.
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During Carnival, I spent two total days with groups of Brazilians I met at some of the block parties that I went to solo, who welcomed me, brought me out to lunch, took me to the beach, and invited me into their experience of Carnival, in addition to meeting several other people and having many other beautiful interactions.
I would argue you just do not see this degree of social flexibility and openness in the United States with the same frequency. Particularly, people in my age bracket are generally so tight ass socially, fixed in their friend groups, and all-talk (i.e., may say "let's do something!' but only out of formality and not care to actually do so).
The special thing is, Brazilians are generally this way outside of an event like Carnival as well, which is culturally even more rare in the states.
Not trying to just shit on parts of American culture comparatively but if it happens it happens.
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Speaking of Carnival, the collective energy is something I’ve never seen before. I’m not even a “party person” and it was a spectacle. Singing, dancing, meeting, kissing too.
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Bossa Nova is beautiful, and if you’ve never listened to it, I encourage you to check it out.
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Thumbs up is the thing here to thank someone through gestures. Not the little hand wave and nod I’m accustomed to. Might bring it back to NYC.
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I’m not sure many people know or assume this, but Brazil is incredibly diverse, close to being on the same level as the United States. But, if you are Brazilian you are Brazilian. There is no “African-Brazilian,” “Asian-Brazilian,” “Italian-Brazilian.”
I asked someone what they thought my ethnicity was - which is a question I get all the time in the States - and they didn’t understand the question because of this. There’s significant ethnic unification. (However, I’m learning racism is an issue here as well, so I’m still trying to understand how far that unification goes and in what settings.)
***
Lots of beautiful people.
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Generally more acknowledgement of historical roots. Pelourinho, the main historical district here in Salvador, is Portuguese for “pillory” because it was where slaves would be publicly beaten during the colonial period.
There’s been other instances I’ve encountered where I’ve felt an organic, explicit acknowledgement and understanding of Brazil’s past - including outside of its history with the slave trade.
***
So much more, but that’s enough for now. I need to figure out how to condense a month productively.
****
Stay well, friends and family.
Boa noite,
Aaron
A beautiful glimpse into your experience!! I will be adding Brazil to my bucket list.
Loved reading your stream of consciousness. You’ve got such beautiful thoughts. Enjoy your trip :)