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Brazil Through Foreign Eyes
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January 7, 2010
Meet Jessica Mullins who first visited Brazil 2 years ago, and recently moved here. Read the following interview in which she tells us about some of her most memorable experiences and gives some useful advice to newcomers.
1. Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, what do you do etc.?
I was born in Switzerland, grew up there until I was 13, then moved to Madrid, Spain (which is where my mother is from), went to school there for five years, and then took off to Boston, USA for university (I attended Boston College), and my father is American, quite the world citizen. For the time being, I just graduated from university (this past May 2009) and now I am looking for a job. My degrees are in Communications and Human Development.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
Two years ago, when I was in my third year of university in Boston, I did an exchange program for 6 months in Rio de Janeiro at PUC. I fell in love with the place, and now that I'm finished with my studies I've come back to look for a job here. This time around I have been here for 2.5 months. So in total I've been in Rio for about 8 months.
3. What were you first impressions of Brazil?
My first impressions were wow this is REALLY different from Europe and the United States! Particularly in terms of scenery and then other details like the buses (very old and run down), things like people distributing ice and groceries by bike-carts, or like you always see markets of fruit or food somewhere on the street, things like that were the things that marked the biggest difference. Also the warmth of the people here struck me, almost everyone is willing to help you, or to chat with you, very friendly. I guess also the security factor is a big difference, but upon first impressions I didn't think it was as dangerous or unsafe as people outside of Brazil made it seem like. I remember the first day I walked on the street, I was super scared and self-conscious of myself and what I was carrying on me, thinking that at any moment I would be robbed. Little by little I realized that that behavior was exaggerated and unnecessary.
4. What do you miss most about home?
Nothing, I didn't miss home.
5. What has been your most frustrating experience in Brazil?
Bureacracy, it's so difficult to get things done here. Everything is such a long and tedious process.
6. What has been your most memorable experience in Brazil (specific incident)?
There are too many... But I suppose the most valuable has been working on the beach in Rio de Janeiro as a 'barraqueira'. I am the only girl who works on the beach, or at least in the barracas in my area, and on top of that I'm foreign, I'm white, I'm young... it apparently seems to draw a lot of attention, so it's been interesting dealing with only men, and people all around commenting on the fact that I work on the beach, renting out chairs and umbrellas, and beer, etc. and men commenting on the fact that they are going to start coming to my barraca so that they can chat with me, and so on. It's unusual to see a young girl in 40 degree sun carrying drinks, and cases of beer, etc. When people hear that I work on the beach, they think it's simple, stress-free and easy, but one thing I've learned is that it's definitely not! It's really hard and strenuous work. Aside from that, and working in a totally masculine environment with people chit-chatting left and right, I've definitely learned a lot! More than I had ever imagined I would, but I LOVE working on the beach despite all that.
7. What do you most like about Brazil (in general)?
The people, the culture, the lifestyle, the mentality of people here, the weather, the scenery, everything!
8. What is your favorite restaurant/place to hang out here?
Ipanema, Posto 9 watching the sunset. My favorite restaurant is between Sushi Leblon or Bar da Praia or Capriciosa in Rio de Janeiro.
9. Do you have any funny stories/incidents to tell about your time in Brazil?
Again, far too many... innumerable
10. What difference between your homeland and Brazil do you find most striking?
The visible existence of poverty and favelas as well as the corruption of the police. Also, the prevalence of sex, drugs, and weapons is very noticeable, far more than in the countries I have lived in.
11. How is your Portuguese coming along? What words do you find most difficult to pronounce/remember or are there any words that you regularly confuse?
My Portuguese, according to people here is fluent, such that people don't realize that I'm not Brazilian. But I always make this one mistake; instead of saying "vou pra aí" when I'm talking to someone that I'm going to meet up with, I say "vou pra lá" and everyone always responds, "pra onde??". When I got here the first time, when I came on the exchange program, I spoke NO Portuguese at all, I didn't even know how to say 'Hi, my name is Jessica', but I did a 3-week intensive course as soon as I got here. Then I had about a month and a half vacation before classes started at the university, so everything that I had learned I put into practice during that month and a half of vacation, such that once the actual school year started at the university I was almost fluent. I had no choice but to learn because all my classes were in Portuguese. But what happened was that I learned a lot of street jargon because I didn't hang out with the other kids on my program, instead I went out and met a ton of locals and so I started picking up the slang so when I had to speak in class it was difficult to leave out all the slang. But it was definitely fun!
12. What advice do you have for newcomers to Brazil?
Just be cautious, don't walk on the street with a worried look on your face as if something bad is going to happen, just be normal, but keep an eye out for what's going on around you. Don't draw attention to yourself by wearing ostentatious clothing or jewellery, or if you're at tourist, try not to look like one with the camera hung around your neck, with a hat and sunglasses and absolutely don't carry large sums of money with you. Try and blend in with locals, observe their habits and what they do and you should be all set.
13. What are some things that you would recommend for a visitor to do in São Paulo (or anywhere else in Brazil)?
I don't know São Paulo, but I would absolutely recommend going to Buzios and renting a buggy, I recommend going to Belo Horizonte and hopping from boteco to boteco trying each place's special petiscos, I recommend hand gliding off the Pedra da Gavea in Rio de Janeiro, I HIGHLY recommend visiting Foz de Iguaçu, I also recommend visiting Ilha Grande and doing the trek to the Pico do Papagaio, I recommend Carnaval both in Rio de Janeiro and in Salvador and in Ouro Preto. I recommend a Baile Funk in one of the favelas (pra quém não parece gringo, né).
You can contact Jessica at jessicasaramullins@gmail.com.
Are you a foreigner who has lived in, or is living or travelling in Brazil? Are you a Brazilian who has a lot of contact with foreigners and/or lived outside of Brazil? Are you interested in telling your story? If you would like to volunteer for our interview series, or if you would like to recommend someone, please send a blank email to gringoes@gringoes.com with "Interview" in the subject. We will send you the interview questions by return email.
To read previous interviews in the Brazil Through Foreign Eyes series click below:
Evan Soroka - USA
Mary de Camargo - USA
Brendan Fryer - UK
Aaron Sundquist - USA
Jay Bauman - USA
Alan Williams - USA
Derek Booth - UK
Jim Shattuck - USA
Ruby Souza - Hawaii
Stephan Hughes - Trinidad and Tobago
Louis van der Wiele - Holland
Drew Glaser - USA
Barry Elliott - Canada
Joel Barsky - USA
David Drummond - Canada
Liam Porisse - France
Jim Kelley - USA
Max Ray - USA
Jeremy Clark - Canada
Don Fredrick - USA
Jase Ramsey - USA
Ben Pearce - UK
Nitai Panchmatia - India
Johnnie Kashat - USA
Jeni Bonorino - USA
Eric Jones - USA
Bill Martin - UK
Bernard Morris - USA
John Graves - USA
Deepak Sapra - India
Alison McGowan - UK
Brent Gregory - USA
R Dub - USA
Tara Bianca - USA
Jack Hurley - USA
James Woodward - Canada
Tony O‘Sullivan - Ireland
Anna Belavina - Russia
Jim Kirby - USA
Linda Halverstadt - USA
Michelle Monteiro - USA
Chris Mensah - UK
David Sundin - USA
Stephanie Glennon - USA
Julien Porisse - France
Hans Keeling - USA
Jim Adams - USA
Richard Murison - USA
Will Periam - UK
Jan Sandbert - Sweden
Jim Jones - USA
Mike Stricklin - USA
Edward Gowing - Australia
Adrian Woods - USA
Kevin Raub - USA
Pierpaolo Ciarcianelli - Italy
Zachary Heilman - USA
David Johnson - Bermuda
Cipriana Leme - Argentina
Timothy Bell - USA
Patti Beckert - USA
Timothy Bell - USA
Paul James - USA
David McLoughlin - Ireland
Pat Moraes - USA
Richard Dougherty - USA
James Weeds - USA
Tom Sluberski - USA
Peter Kefalas - USA
Sylvie Campbell - UK
Kathleen Haynes - USA
Matt Bowlby - USA
Alan Longbottom - UK
Eric Karukin - USA
Eddie Soto - USA
Kieran Gartlan - Ireland
Bryan Thomas Scmidt - USA
Emile Myburgh - South Africa
Bob Chapman - USA
David Barnes - USA
John Milan - USA
Chris Coates - UK
Matthew Ward - UK
Allison Glick - USA
Drake Smith - USA
Jim Jones - USA
Philip Wigan - UK
Atlanta Foresyth - USA
Lee Gordon - USA
Carmen Naidoo - South Africa
Lee Safian - USA
Laurie Carneiro - USA
Dana De Lise - USA
Richard Gant - USA
Robin Hoffman - USA
Wayne Wright - UK
Walt Kirspel - USA
Priya Guyadeen - Guyana
Caitlin McQuilling - USA
Nicole Rombach - Holland
Steven Engler - Canada
Richard Conti - USA
Zak Burkons - USA
Ann White - USA
Monde Ngqumeya - South Africa
Johnny Sweeney - USA
David Harty - Canada
Bill McCrossen - USA
Peter Berner - Switzerland/Brazil
Ethan Munson - USA
Solveig Skadhauge - Denmark
Sean McGown - USA
Condrad Downes - UK
Jennifer Silva - Australian
Justin Mounts - USA
Elliott Zussman - USA
Jonathan Abernathy - USA
Steve Koenig - USA
Kyron Gibbs - USA
Stephanie Early - USA
Martin Raw - UK
Sean Coady - UK
Hugo Delgado - Mexico
Sean Terrillon - Canada
Jessie Simon - USA
Michael Meehan - USA
Thales Panagides - Cyprus
Tammy Montagna - USA
Samantha Tennant - England
Ron Finely - United States
Bob Duprez - United States
Peter Baines - England
Youssef Bouguerra - Tunisia
Van Wallach - USA
Lesley Cushing - England
Alexander von Brincken - Germany
Hank Avellar - USA
Ed Catchpole - England
Penny Freeland - England
Yasemin de Pinto - Turkey
Amy Williams Lima - USA
John Naumann - England
Marsye Schouella - Eygpt
Rita Shannon Koeser - USA
John Fitzpatrick - Scotland
Liam Gallagher - Northern Ireland
Lorelei Jones - England
Adam Glensy - England
Tommie C.B. DeAssis - Japan
Aaron Day - Canada
Graham Debney - New Zealand
Silke Tina Tischendorf - Germany
Tanya Keshavjee Macedo - Canada
Frank de Meijer - Holland
Carl Emberson - Australia
Kim Buarque - Wales
Damiano Pak - South Korea
Jonas Helding - Denmark
Pari Seeber - Iran
John Milton - England
Ken Marshall - Australia
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1/7/2010
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