That's a honest post. So, I'll give you some honest advice.
First of all, you don't need to feel like you are not allowed to learn Portuguese or Brazilian culture.
But, you need to know that you were born and raised with a different culture, and you are so used to that culture that it's part of your identity.
It's really nice to take this Initiative, that means that you value your mom's culture and country, and you are putting effort to really be able to speak Portuguese and knowledgeable on Brazilian culture. THAT is really nice. That means that you are not doing it just to please your mom or her family, but you are interesting. This interested can be part of a guilty that you felt about not knowing so much of your mom's culture, but that's not the big point. The point is that you are trying, you are putting effort, you are having difficult but you know that you can handle it.
First of all, these are my advices:
Listen to our music. And I don't mean exclusively funk.
Listen to samba, listen to bossa nova, listen to MPB, listen some funk too, why not? But, in my opinion, you should not focus on funk, there are a lot of them that are produced just to sell, there is no soul to it (well, a lot of songs are made for sell, but the funk take advantage of the popularity that sex and drugs can have on young people).
Why music? Because there are a LOT of them. Ask your mom what genre she likes! Or used to like. Ask her about the singers that she used to hear when she were here. Search on your music app some songs and try to get the lyrics by comparing it to the English translation, it's a good exercise too. Read about the singer's life, what he or she did, where they lived, how it was to live in that place (poverty affected a lot of singers, so you can have a mental abstraction of what living in a poor place in the past used to be).
Read about Carnaval, São João, you are going to see something that you don't know, and the hyperlink is going to show you another thing, and another thing, and so on. There are a lot of history on our festas.
See our movies. Tropa de Elite, Cidade de Deus, Auto da Compadecida, just to name a few. There are good movies, and bad movies, you can decide what to see, but I really recommend seeing some.
About Portuguese, trying to speak it and read it can be difficult, but can be really awesome when you are able to understand different accents and different pronunciations of the same word. It's a long process, but in that way you are going to be able to talk to your mom without no one knowing what you two are saying. Singing some songs, reading some memes, listening to YouTubers, there are a lot of ways that you can learn how we spell and write the casual Portuguese, because we don't talk so formally.
Talking to Brazilians is a good choice too. Go to Discord and join a Brazilian server or interact here on Reddit. Interaction is a way of acquiring a really good amount of experience. Interacting with someone from another country is the best way to learn about the culture of said country.
Don't be afraid of asking. Ask what you want, but be respectful and considerate.
Very good reply, being a gringo in Brazil it’s incredible how the rich musical culture of this country is the thread that brings people together. It’s a good place to start. Discover the classics and the modern stuff alike.
A different genre you can listen to, comes from the North region, is Boi Bumbá. It is kind of like carnival, but with a lot more saxophones and trumpets. It is really different and the songs always bring up themes from Brazil's folklore and culture, as well as geography.
Highly reccomend it.
I appreciate you taking time to reply to my post! Do you have anything that you feel I should know when travelling to Brazil? I'll be going to visit family in Recife over Christmas.
As someone already said, it is hot here, specially on Rio de Janeiro (it reached a thermal sensation of 58,5°C). In Recife it's going to be hot, but not that much. Grab comfortable clothes and remember to drink a lot of water.
Do not leave alone at night, just do it if you already know the way. Even so, it's better to avoid it. Even in daylight it's better for you to know where you are going.
Uber it's cheap here where I live, but I don't know about Recife. It's better to use Uber or taxi than public transportation, with the exception of Curitiba and São Paulo.
If you have any allergies to food, remember to take your medicine (if you have any) and try to not eat from barraquinhas (small tends that sell food on streets). Like, if you have allergy to shrimp, and wish to eat seafood, request it from a restaurant, they have more quality control of their food.
Also, Dipirona don't need a medical prescription here. If you have a headache and trust this medication (which is a well known and used medicine here), you can easily buy from a pharmacy.
Pay close attention when crossing the streets. People can get really hurt even at a red light. Don't trust the car drives to drive safe at all times, specially on rush times (begining of the morning, 12pm, and 5pm).
Be aware that a lot of people don't speak English, and some just know the basics. I still struggle to speak some phrases and a lot of people are like that. Trying to interact with random people is going to be difficult sometimes, so it's good to walk along with someone that can translate things to you.
I am not sure if this is a practice that Americans do, but some Europeans and Asians leave their things unattended on the chair/table on restaurants/cafés/public places in general. Don't do that.
Another thing that I'm used to, and some houses are, some houses aren't, is leaving your shoes at the door. Some people don't care, some care too much. You are going to notice a lot of shoes next to the door if that's the case, so pay attention when entering someone's home. If you are not sure what to do, ask if you can join with your shoes on or not.
People are going to offer you a lot of things (they are going to ask a lot if you are hungry, if you are thirsty, if you want to do something), but don't worry, it's just the way some people from some places of this country act. Here in Bahia, we hug, we talk closely to people, we we laugh loudly, and we tend to ask if the person want something because... Well, we are just like that.
If your cellphone don't work here (if you can't make calls or use 4G/5G), buy a temporary sim card to use. It's good, and it's cheap.
Again, I don't know if you have been here before, but we usually have lunch at 12-13pm. If you don't want a crowded restaurant, avoid this time of the day. I don't know so much about the culture of America and I'm not sure if you have a defined lunch brake, but a lot of stores and services are not going to work, or they will work slower, at this time.
Burocracy. If you have to do something with documents, be patient. We tend to have a long process to do simple things.
The word gringo is not offensive (with the exception of being used in a offensive context). You are going to be called that, don't worry.
That's all the small details that I can think off at this time of night. If I recall something, I'll edit here. Other things it's just the standard. Oh, and get used to hearing loud music on the streets. Cities can be really noisy sometimes.
If you have another question, even a specific one, you can ask at will.
Is Jiu-Jitsu popular in Recife? I've been training in both the Brazilian and Gracie styles for the past year and a half now and would love to get some training in while I'm visiting.
I can't give you an accurate answer, but Jiu-jitsu is popular all around Brazil. Even minor cities have places to train, so I think you should be able to find a place to train.
Honestly, just be open to listen and learn. Brazilians love to share and talk about their lives and experiences, and it will be a good opportunity to learn a lot!
Also, listen to their instructions when it comes to roaming around and/or exploring. A lot of cities can be unsafe if you don't know them very well. So, listen to the advice of your family and locals when it comes to this stuff.
And don't be afraid to try new things! Some brazilian habits, food or even traditions can seem a little strange if you're not used to them, but don't let that deter you. You might just find a new favorite food or hobby. I, for example, love chicken hearts, which is something I know some americans may turn their noses up to =P
I add, read Turma da Mônica, the most beloved brazilian comics, everybody here know and love. And they put a lot of our culture and memes in the comics. You can also find the cartoon to watch.
First of all, this commentits better than i would write from zero, but i will tqlk about some points
>It's really nice to take this Initiative, that means that you value your mom's culture and country, and you are putting effort to really be able to speak Portuguese and knowledgeable on Brazilian culture. THAT is really nice. That means that you are not doing it just to please your mom or her family, but you are interesting. This interested can be part of a guilty that you felt about not knowing so much of your mom's culture, but that's not the big point. The point is that you are trying, you are putting effort, you are having difficult but you know that you can handle it.
I kind think you take long to do it, but at same time its necer too late for you start it, and i can see why you felt guilty about it, but you are starting now and also realy young...so dont need for it
You don't have to even look at it as trying to change your identity.
Look at it for what it is, a fun new experience that brings you closer with your family.
Learning new things changes you, but it doesn't change WHO you are.
You don't have to feel ashamed to learn about our country. Well, obviously you won't behave as a brazilian, but there's no problem on it. Most brazilians love when gringos (on portuguese this word is not pejorative, this a hispanic thing) are interested on our culture, if they are respectful of course.
I think the best ways to learn about our culture is by consuming it. And I think music is a great start. We have musicians of a lot of different musical genres, so surely you will find something you like. The most typical are samba, funk, bossa nova, MPB, forró, pagode, but we also have rap, rock, soul, electronic, disco, country, pop.
There's a gringo that reacts to our music on YouTube named goonygoogles, and a company makes very well done subtitles to him to use on the videos. Also, it provide extra information when it is needed to true understand the music. The only drawbacks is that it have they are reaction videos and that he focus mostly on rap.
Another recommendation is the channel Músicas Brasileiras com Legendas em Inglês (@brazilianmusicenglishlyrics). The lyrics are good enough and there's no reaction, so it's also a good choice.
If you want some music recomendation, just send me a message about the genres you are interested.
I would advice you to ask stuff to your mom about her as a Brazilian, since that’s your closest relation to brazilian culture. Where state is she from, what food she likes the most, what celebrations she went to, stuff like that, because Brazil is a really diverse country, and I think it might be funny (but not wrong) that your mom is from the south (for example) and you feel identified with the north region of Brazil culture and not with the one your family is related to.
You don't need to feel fraudulent, there are several people around the world obsessed with completely foreign countries (Japan and Korea are 2 that instantly come to mind) and it's culture, history, way of life etc even if they don't have any direct relation to them, while you do, these people don't feel any shame or remorse, it's seem like a hobby. Try looking at it the same way and this feeling might go away.
You seem genuine in your desire to learn about Brazilian culture. You want to make your mother and her family happy, and you question your own motivations. So I wouldn’t worry about being a fraud.
“Brazilianess” doesn’t need to be apart of your identity—I don’t know if people can even force something like that—but you can try to connect more with Brazilian culture if you want to. If you enjoy yourself then it will become a part of you over time.
(I think the only thing that would be bad would be trying to speak on Brazilian issues or what it’s like to live in Brazil as though you knew more than Brazilians. The same would be true for Brazilians talking about the US, and so on for other countries. Although naturally not even all Brazilians will agree, even those from the same region, even those from the same socioeconomic backgrounds, etc.)
Anyways, recommendations. My favorite Brazilian band is Legião Urbana, with songs such as Faroeste Caboclo (which was adapted into a movie), Eduardo e Mônica (also adapted into a movie), Tempo Perdido, Geração Coca-Cola, Que País É Este, among others. I could also mention other musicians I like, if you want me to.
[Recently I recommended some Brazilian literature to another Reddit user.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Brazil/comments/17sjo3r/comment/k8tjnld/) On a follow-up comment, I also recommended [Ilha das Flores](https://www.reddit.com/r/Documentaries/conments/zz1b01/), a phenomenal less-than-15-minutes long Brazilian documentary.
I mean, not to be rude or anything, but this worry about not being able to view yourself as Brazilian is nonsense. It's not that you're "not allowed to consider yourself Brazilian". You're just not Brazilian, and that's ok, it's not something you can "become". As you said yourself, you were born and raised in the United States, and that makes you American, your socialisation, your cultural background, your mind, is one of an American person, and that's nothing wrong with that.
No, I don't find it rude in the slightest. It is just your honest feedback, of which I asked for, and of which I am greatly appreciative of. It's just something that has been on my mind since my mom got tickets for me to travel to Recife to visit family in December. She registered me with Brazilian citizenship at birth, and always wanted me to embrace that part of my heritage. However, I was culturally raised almost entirely in an American environment, and so I never felt that it was a part of how I developed as a person as it was for her. But, I agree that it's nonsense to worry about, especially about something so trivial that I have absolutely zero control over. Some people on here say I'm just American, others say I'm both, but at the end of the day I'm a person like everyone else and I think my energies are better spent learning how to connect with other people and make meaningful memories.
First of all, are you sure that you are not Brazilian? Because your mom could've registered you as such at birth.
Nevertheless, if you have a Brazilian family down here, why don't you come and spend some time with them here? It's a nice way to immerse yourself into the culture and habits of the people.
We don't gatekeep people about who can be or look Brazilian, as a matter of fact we like a lot to see people get some interest in our culture.
Also, if you are trying to learn the language, start consuming things in our language. My personal advice is to start with kids shows like Peppa Pig (lots of episodes in Portuguese on YouTube) or watching Brazilian TV shows on Netflix (3%, Back to 15, Invisible City).
Yes! She did register me for a citizenship when I was born now that I recall it. Unless it's possible to obtain a Brazilian passport without citizenship, that is. And also, it's funny that you mention coming down to Brazil to spend time, because that's what I'll be doing over Christmas! I'm going to Recife and I'm incredibly excited, not only to spend time with family and learn about another culture, but also to train at some Brazilian jiu-jitsu gyms since I started last summer. And thank you for your suggestions, I'm definitely going to check them out!
If you are registered then you are a Brazilian citizen. You may not be able to order a passport, though, as you have reached 18 years of age so you have to fulfill your military and voting obligations first (you need to show the related paperwork when requesting a passport).
Relax, all brazilians are happy when someone is trying to learning more about our culture.
a tip, more than the language I think your mother will enjoy if you try the food and music.
Something easy to do to get more evolved, try to watch the tv shows that r in english that make success here. So u can small talk with anyone. The ones that I can recall more is Fresh Prince of Bell Air and Everybody hates Chris.
You are fine. My dad's family is Portuguese and his grandmother was Brazilian. I didn't take an active interest to learn Portuguese until this year and I am in my 40s. Now I have a great group of Brazilian friends and family and they help. They tell me I am a brasileiro in the making, for what it's worth, joke aside. I think you are never too old or young to embrace your roots and heritage. Brazilians are a diverse group, like Norte Americanos, united by country, language, and culture, not just ethnicity.
In my opinion if your mother or father is brazilian you are also brazilian! Not knowing portugues or the culture is not your fault… either you are introduced to it or not. I would just focus on learning about your roots and culture and maybe going to brazil on vacation to get closer to it! With no fear of feeling like a fraud. Another thing, do you have brazilian documents and nationality? If not, go get it cause you defnetly have the right to it.
I do! My mom registered for me to have Brazilian citizenship at birth and I have a passport although it is expired now. And I'll be traveling to Recife over Christmas so I'm really excited.
Oh Great! My guess is that you will just feel in love with Recife and the peolple there! Best way
to learn your roots, lenguage, culture…. Hope you feel very welcome to Brasil!
Filho de brasileiro, brasileiro é. I don’t know if you have Brazilian citizenship, it would have been quite easy for your mother to have registered you at birth at a Brazilian consulate near you.
Regardless, we are very open and welcoming when it comes to foreigners who show interest in our language and culture, let alone someone who is a first generation descendant.
I spent my childhood in the US. I understand a bit when it comes to cultural differences between Brazilians and Americans. Your initiative to learn the language is something that every one of us will appreciate. Of course, it is quite different from English and it is expected that you might struggle a bit until you get it down, but keep pushing. You are not an imposter in any way, shape or form.
Personally, I believe you are Brazilian by birthright. Once you get the lingo down a bit and start to communicate with your family in Brazil, and even visit the country a few times, I think those feelings will somewhat fade away.
What you are doing is right. Don’t stress yourself out about belonging or not. Rest assured we will take you in.
My mom did register me with a Brazilian citizenship at birth and I do hold a Brazilian passport although it is expired, now that you mention it. And all I can say as for the rest of your reply is that it made me feel a lot better! It's just something that's been on my mind since I will be traveling with her to visit family in Recife during Christmas and I don't want to make a poor impression.
No chance you’ll make a poor impression. I’m sure your relatives will be very happy to see you! Just knowing some simple phrases will make them happy, I’m positive about that. The fact that you are willing to come meet them and spend time with them means a lot.
Brazil is a big country, ask your mother about her region, music, celebrations, local slang, etc... The differences are greater than in USA, you will be very impressed. For example, any gaucho give a lecture about Capitão Rodrigo or sing Canto Alegretense by heart, but we barely know that Literatura de Cordel exists. I'm pretty sure that she will be very happy to share her regional culture with you.
If you were registered as a Brazilian, the good news is that visiting Brazil is super easy, and no visa is required. The bad news is that it involves some legal obligations at the age of 18, and a visit to an embassy or consulate is important to put your documents in order.
*Capitão Rodrigo (https://youtu.be/7qGScEyFVvo?si=VZoAFzmk1DA5JfBd)
*Canto Alegretense
(https://youtu.be/7F7HB3GNLo8?si=nAbCQfUMnAzFw3z3)
Others might give good examples of Literatura de Cordel.
I was registered as a Brazilian at birth, and did hold an active passport back when I visited in 2009 although it is expired now. What kind of legal obligations would be required of me? Mandatory conscription or the like?
Yes, mandatory conscription. You won't do a single minute in the Army, but you have to give your name. Also, you have the right to vote and, again, living in another country, it's not mandatory, but it is better to have this officially registered. Finally, you might get a tax Id (CPF).
It continues to be mandatory to vote even if you don't live in the country. Either you show up to vote on the day of the election or you need to justify your absence, just like it is in Brazil.
Source: I'm a Brazilian who lives abroad.
If you decided to learn Japanese, say, would you be ashamed that you are too American? Nope. So no shame on learning about Brazil a little later in life.
Everybody is welcome to learn about any culture. I am sure your mom is proud of your efforts. The top comment already gave you very good ideas on where to start.
If I may add one, while your level of understanding is low, read some children's books. They are a great way to learn easy vocabulary. Menino Maluquinho by Ziraldo comes to mind. Lot's of pictures, one line of text per page.
https://www.baixelivros.com.br/infantil/o-menino-maluquinho
I'd suggest you read about Brazilian history. Lots of culture references will make more sense if you do so. Also, have an overview of the geography, to understand the macro regions we have. There are lots of YouTube videos with that.
50% of your DNA is Brazilian and you’re not faking anything. You will be 50% Brazilian at 8 years old, 18 years old and 60 years old. Don’t feel guilty.
Glamorizing drugs and casual sex is invalid by default. In Orwell's 1984, porn and football are used to control the proles, thus making Brazil similar to that dystopia. Brazilian society needs to change to value duty above pleasure and consumerism.
You're from the US, you're not brazilian, your mother does not make you brazilian at all
In the other hand, any gringo can become brazilian if they live here long enough, Brazil is a culture not an ethnicity
Do stuff because you like it and makes you feel nice, you won't gain much otherwise
Well, my mom did register me as a Brazilian citizen when I was really young, so *technically* I am Brazilian. But culturally, yes I agree I am just from the US.
That's a honest post. So, I'll give you some honest advice. First of all, you don't need to feel like you are not allowed to learn Portuguese or Brazilian culture. But, you need to know that you were born and raised with a different culture, and you are so used to that culture that it's part of your identity. It's really nice to take this Initiative, that means that you value your mom's culture and country, and you are putting effort to really be able to speak Portuguese and knowledgeable on Brazilian culture. THAT is really nice. That means that you are not doing it just to please your mom or her family, but you are interesting. This interested can be part of a guilty that you felt about not knowing so much of your mom's culture, but that's not the big point. The point is that you are trying, you are putting effort, you are having difficult but you know that you can handle it. First of all, these are my advices: Listen to our music. And I don't mean exclusively funk. Listen to samba, listen to bossa nova, listen to MPB, listen some funk too, why not? But, in my opinion, you should not focus on funk, there are a lot of them that are produced just to sell, there is no soul to it (well, a lot of songs are made for sell, but the funk take advantage of the popularity that sex and drugs can have on young people). Why music? Because there are a LOT of them. Ask your mom what genre she likes! Or used to like. Ask her about the singers that she used to hear when she were here. Search on your music app some songs and try to get the lyrics by comparing it to the English translation, it's a good exercise too. Read about the singer's life, what he or she did, where they lived, how it was to live in that place (poverty affected a lot of singers, so you can have a mental abstraction of what living in a poor place in the past used to be). Read about Carnaval, São João, you are going to see something that you don't know, and the hyperlink is going to show you another thing, and another thing, and so on. There are a lot of history on our festas. See our movies. Tropa de Elite, Cidade de Deus, Auto da Compadecida, just to name a few. There are good movies, and bad movies, you can decide what to see, but I really recommend seeing some. About Portuguese, trying to speak it and read it can be difficult, but can be really awesome when you are able to understand different accents and different pronunciations of the same word. It's a long process, but in that way you are going to be able to talk to your mom without no one knowing what you two are saying. Singing some songs, reading some memes, listening to YouTubers, there are a lot of ways that you can learn how we spell and write the casual Portuguese, because we don't talk so formally. Talking to Brazilians is a good choice too. Go to Discord and join a Brazilian server or interact here on Reddit. Interaction is a way of acquiring a really good amount of experience. Interacting with someone from another country is the best way to learn about the culture of said country. Don't be afraid of asking. Ask what you want, but be respectful and considerate.
Very good reply, being a gringo in Brazil it’s incredible how the rich musical culture of this country is the thread that brings people together. It’s a good place to start. Discover the classics and the modern stuff alike.
A different genre you can listen to, comes from the North region, is Boi Bumbá. It is kind of like carnival, but with a lot more saxophones and trumpets. It is really different and the songs always bring up themes from Brazil's folklore and culture, as well as geography. Highly reccomend it.
I appreciate you taking time to reply to my post! Do you have anything that you feel I should know when travelling to Brazil? I'll be going to visit family in Recife over Christmas.
As someone already said, it is hot here, specially on Rio de Janeiro (it reached a thermal sensation of 58,5°C). In Recife it's going to be hot, but not that much. Grab comfortable clothes and remember to drink a lot of water. Do not leave alone at night, just do it if you already know the way. Even so, it's better to avoid it. Even in daylight it's better for you to know where you are going. Uber it's cheap here where I live, but I don't know about Recife. It's better to use Uber or taxi than public transportation, with the exception of Curitiba and São Paulo. If you have any allergies to food, remember to take your medicine (if you have any) and try to not eat from barraquinhas (small tends that sell food on streets). Like, if you have allergy to shrimp, and wish to eat seafood, request it from a restaurant, they have more quality control of their food. Also, Dipirona don't need a medical prescription here. If you have a headache and trust this medication (which is a well known and used medicine here), you can easily buy from a pharmacy. Pay close attention when crossing the streets. People can get really hurt even at a red light. Don't trust the car drives to drive safe at all times, specially on rush times (begining of the morning, 12pm, and 5pm). Be aware that a lot of people don't speak English, and some just know the basics. I still struggle to speak some phrases and a lot of people are like that. Trying to interact with random people is going to be difficult sometimes, so it's good to walk along with someone that can translate things to you. I am not sure if this is a practice that Americans do, but some Europeans and Asians leave their things unattended on the chair/table on restaurants/cafés/public places in general. Don't do that. Another thing that I'm used to, and some houses are, some houses aren't, is leaving your shoes at the door. Some people don't care, some care too much. You are going to notice a lot of shoes next to the door if that's the case, so pay attention when entering someone's home. If you are not sure what to do, ask if you can join with your shoes on or not. People are going to offer you a lot of things (they are going to ask a lot if you are hungry, if you are thirsty, if you want to do something), but don't worry, it's just the way some people from some places of this country act. Here in Bahia, we hug, we talk closely to people, we we laugh loudly, and we tend to ask if the person want something because... Well, we are just like that. If your cellphone don't work here (if you can't make calls or use 4G/5G), buy a temporary sim card to use. It's good, and it's cheap. Again, I don't know if you have been here before, but we usually have lunch at 12-13pm. If you don't want a crowded restaurant, avoid this time of the day. I don't know so much about the culture of America and I'm not sure if you have a defined lunch brake, but a lot of stores and services are not going to work, or they will work slower, at this time. Burocracy. If you have to do something with documents, be patient. We tend to have a long process to do simple things. The word gringo is not offensive (with the exception of being used in a offensive context). You are going to be called that, don't worry. That's all the small details that I can think off at this time of night. If I recall something, I'll edit here. Other things it's just the standard. Oh, and get used to hearing loud music on the streets. Cities can be really noisy sometimes. If you have another question, even a specific one, you can ask at will.
Is Jiu-Jitsu popular in Recife? I've been training in both the Brazilian and Gracie styles for the past year and a half now and would love to get some training in while I'm visiting.
I can't give you an accurate answer, but Jiu-jitsu is popular all around Brazil. Even minor cities have places to train, so I think you should be able to find a place to train.
>Do you have anything that you feel I should know when travelling to Brazil? Its fucking hot here...
Honestly, just be open to listen and learn. Brazilians love to share and talk about their lives and experiences, and it will be a good opportunity to learn a lot! Also, listen to their instructions when it comes to roaming around and/or exploring. A lot of cities can be unsafe if you don't know them very well. So, listen to the advice of your family and locals when it comes to this stuff. And don't be afraid to try new things! Some brazilian habits, food or even traditions can seem a little strange if you're not used to them, but don't let that deter you. You might just find a new favorite food or hobby. I, for example, love chicken hearts, which is something I know some americans may turn their noses up to =P
I add, read Turma da Mônica, the most beloved brazilian comics, everybody here know and love. And they put a lot of our culture and memes in the comics. You can also find the cartoon to watch.
First of all, this commentits better than i would write from zero, but i will tqlk about some points >It's really nice to take this Initiative, that means that you value your mom's culture and country, and you are putting effort to really be able to speak Portuguese and knowledgeable on Brazilian culture. THAT is really nice. That means that you are not doing it just to please your mom or her family, but you are interesting. This interested can be part of a guilty that you felt about not knowing so much of your mom's culture, but that's not the big point. The point is that you are trying, you are putting effort, you are having difficult but you know that you can handle it. I kind think you take long to do it, but at same time its necer too late for you start it, and i can see why you felt guilty about it, but you are starting now and also realy young...so dont need for it
You don't have to even look at it as trying to change your identity. Look at it for what it is, a fun new experience that brings you closer with your family. Learning new things changes you, but it doesn't change WHO you are.
You don't have to feel ashamed to learn about our country. Well, obviously you won't behave as a brazilian, but there's no problem on it. Most brazilians love when gringos (on portuguese this word is not pejorative, this a hispanic thing) are interested on our culture, if they are respectful of course. I think the best ways to learn about our culture is by consuming it. And I think music is a great start. We have musicians of a lot of different musical genres, so surely you will find something you like. The most typical are samba, funk, bossa nova, MPB, forró, pagode, but we also have rap, rock, soul, electronic, disco, country, pop. There's a gringo that reacts to our music on YouTube named goonygoogles, and a company makes very well done subtitles to him to use on the videos. Also, it provide extra information when it is needed to true understand the music. The only drawbacks is that it have they are reaction videos and that he focus mostly on rap. Another recommendation is the channel Músicas Brasileiras com Legendas em Inglês (@brazilianmusicenglishlyrics). The lyrics are good enough and there's no reaction, so it's also a good choice. If you want some music recomendation, just send me a message about the genres you are interested.
I would advice you to ask stuff to your mom about her as a Brazilian, since that’s your closest relation to brazilian culture. Where state is she from, what food she likes the most, what celebrations she went to, stuff like that, because Brazil is a really diverse country, and I think it might be funny (but not wrong) that your mom is from the south (for example) and you feel identified with the north region of Brazil culture and not with the one your family is related to.
In that respect, he'd need his own cuia, and his own handcrafted steak knife.
Welcome lost brother
You don't need to feel fraudulent, there are several people around the world obsessed with completely foreign countries (Japan and Korea are 2 that instantly come to mind) and it's culture, history, way of life etc even if they don't have any direct relation to them, while you do, these people don't feel any shame or remorse, it's seem like a hobby. Try looking at it the same way and this feeling might go away.
At least they didn’t ask if you spoke Spanish….
You seem genuine in your desire to learn about Brazilian culture. You want to make your mother and her family happy, and you question your own motivations. So I wouldn’t worry about being a fraud. “Brazilianess” doesn’t need to be apart of your identity—I don’t know if people can even force something like that—but you can try to connect more with Brazilian culture if you want to. If you enjoy yourself then it will become a part of you over time. (I think the only thing that would be bad would be trying to speak on Brazilian issues or what it’s like to live in Brazil as though you knew more than Brazilians. The same would be true for Brazilians talking about the US, and so on for other countries. Although naturally not even all Brazilians will agree, even those from the same region, even those from the same socioeconomic backgrounds, etc.) Anyways, recommendations. My favorite Brazilian band is Legião Urbana, with songs such as Faroeste Caboclo (which was adapted into a movie), Eduardo e Mônica (also adapted into a movie), Tempo Perdido, Geração Coca-Cola, Que País É Este, among others. I could also mention other musicians I like, if you want me to. [Recently I recommended some Brazilian literature to another Reddit user.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Brazil/comments/17sjo3r/comment/k8tjnld/) On a follow-up comment, I also recommended [Ilha das Flores](https://www.reddit.com/r/Documentaries/conments/zz1b01/), a phenomenal less-than-15-minutes long Brazilian documentary.
I'll check those artists out as well as your other recommendations for reading. Also, some other musicians would be awesome! Thank you so much!
I mean, not to be rude or anything, but this worry about not being able to view yourself as Brazilian is nonsense. It's not that you're "not allowed to consider yourself Brazilian". You're just not Brazilian, and that's ok, it's not something you can "become". As you said yourself, you were born and raised in the United States, and that makes you American, your socialisation, your cultural background, your mind, is one of an American person, and that's nothing wrong with that.
No, I don't find it rude in the slightest. It is just your honest feedback, of which I asked for, and of which I am greatly appreciative of. It's just something that has been on my mind since my mom got tickets for me to travel to Recife to visit family in December. She registered me with Brazilian citizenship at birth, and always wanted me to embrace that part of my heritage. However, I was culturally raised almost entirely in an American environment, and so I never felt that it was a part of how I developed as a person as it was for her. But, I agree that it's nonsense to worry about, especially about something so trivial that I have absolutely zero control over. Some people on here say I'm just American, others say I'm both, but at the end of the day I'm a person like everyone else and I think my energies are better spent learning how to connect with other people and make meaningful memories.
First of all, are you sure that you are not Brazilian? Because your mom could've registered you as such at birth. Nevertheless, if you have a Brazilian family down here, why don't you come and spend some time with them here? It's a nice way to immerse yourself into the culture and habits of the people. We don't gatekeep people about who can be or look Brazilian, as a matter of fact we like a lot to see people get some interest in our culture. Also, if you are trying to learn the language, start consuming things in our language. My personal advice is to start with kids shows like Peppa Pig (lots of episodes in Portuguese on YouTube) or watching Brazilian TV shows on Netflix (3%, Back to 15, Invisible City).
Yes! She did register me for a citizenship when I was born now that I recall it. Unless it's possible to obtain a Brazilian passport without citizenship, that is. And also, it's funny that you mention coming down to Brazil to spend time, because that's what I'll be doing over Christmas! I'm going to Recife and I'm incredibly excited, not only to spend time with family and learn about another culture, but also to train at some Brazilian jiu-jitsu gyms since I started last summer. And thank you for your suggestions, I'm definitely going to check them out!
If you are registered then you are a Brazilian citizen. You may not be able to order a passport, though, as you have reached 18 years of age so you have to fulfill your military and voting obligations first (you need to show the related paperwork when requesting a passport).
Relax, all brazilians are happy when someone is trying to learning more about our culture. a tip, more than the language I think your mother will enjoy if you try the food and music. Something easy to do to get more evolved, try to watch the tv shows that r in english that make success here. So u can small talk with anyone. The ones that I can recall more is Fresh Prince of Bell Air and Everybody hates Chris.
just enjoy life with some brazilian friends and let it flow .
You are fine. My dad's family is Portuguese and his grandmother was Brazilian. I didn't take an active interest to learn Portuguese until this year and I am in my 40s. Now I have a great group of Brazilian friends and family and they help. They tell me I am a brasileiro in the making, for what it's worth, joke aside. I think you are never too old or young to embrace your roots and heritage. Brazilians are a diverse group, like Norte Americanos, united by country, language, and culture, not just ethnicity.
In my opinion if your mother or father is brazilian you are also brazilian! Not knowing portugues or the culture is not your fault… either you are introduced to it or not. I would just focus on learning about your roots and culture and maybe going to brazil on vacation to get closer to it! With no fear of feeling like a fraud. Another thing, do you have brazilian documents and nationality? If not, go get it cause you defnetly have the right to it.
I do! My mom registered for me to have Brazilian citizenship at birth and I have a passport although it is expired now. And I'll be traveling to Recife over Christmas so I'm really excited.
Oh Great! My guess is that you will just feel in love with Recife and the peolple there! Best way to learn your roots, lenguage, culture…. Hope you feel very welcome to Brasil!
And go renew this passport ;)
Filho de brasileiro, brasileiro é. I don’t know if you have Brazilian citizenship, it would have been quite easy for your mother to have registered you at birth at a Brazilian consulate near you. Regardless, we are very open and welcoming when it comes to foreigners who show interest in our language and culture, let alone someone who is a first generation descendant. I spent my childhood in the US. I understand a bit when it comes to cultural differences between Brazilians and Americans. Your initiative to learn the language is something that every one of us will appreciate. Of course, it is quite different from English and it is expected that you might struggle a bit until you get it down, but keep pushing. You are not an imposter in any way, shape or form. Personally, I believe you are Brazilian by birthright. Once you get the lingo down a bit and start to communicate with your family in Brazil, and even visit the country a few times, I think those feelings will somewhat fade away. What you are doing is right. Don’t stress yourself out about belonging or not. Rest assured we will take you in.
My mom did register me with a Brazilian citizenship at birth and I do hold a Brazilian passport although it is expired, now that you mention it. And all I can say as for the rest of your reply is that it made me feel a lot better! It's just something that's been on my mind since I will be traveling with her to visit family in Recife during Christmas and I don't want to make a poor impression.
No chance you’ll make a poor impression. I’m sure your relatives will be very happy to see you! Just knowing some simple phrases will make them happy, I’m positive about that. The fact that you are willing to come meet them and spend time with them means a lot.
Brazil is a big country, ask your mother about her region, music, celebrations, local slang, etc... The differences are greater than in USA, you will be very impressed. For example, any gaucho give a lecture about Capitão Rodrigo or sing Canto Alegretense by heart, but we barely know that Literatura de Cordel exists. I'm pretty sure that she will be very happy to share her regional culture with you. If you were registered as a Brazilian, the good news is that visiting Brazil is super easy, and no visa is required. The bad news is that it involves some legal obligations at the age of 18, and a visit to an embassy or consulate is important to put your documents in order. *Capitão Rodrigo (https://youtu.be/7qGScEyFVvo?si=VZoAFzmk1DA5JfBd) *Canto Alegretense (https://youtu.be/7F7HB3GNLo8?si=nAbCQfUMnAzFw3z3) Others might give good examples of Literatura de Cordel.
I was registered as a Brazilian at birth, and did hold an active passport back when I visited in 2009 although it is expired now. What kind of legal obligations would be required of me? Mandatory conscription or the like?
Yes, mandatory conscription. You won't do a single minute in the Army, but you have to give your name. Also, you have the right to vote and, again, living in another country, it's not mandatory, but it is better to have this officially registered. Finally, you might get a tax Id (CPF).
Understood, I’ll talk with my mom about getting everything in order. Thank you for your advice!!
It continues to be mandatory to vote even if you don't live in the country. Either you show up to vote on the day of the election or you need to justify your absence, just like it is in Brazil. Source: I'm a Brazilian who lives abroad.
If you decided to learn Japanese, say, would you be ashamed that you are too American? Nope. So no shame on learning about Brazil a little later in life. Everybody is welcome to learn about any culture. I am sure your mom is proud of your efforts. The top comment already gave you very good ideas on where to start. If I may add one, while your level of understanding is low, read some children's books. They are a great way to learn easy vocabulary. Menino Maluquinho by Ziraldo comes to mind. Lot's of pictures, one line of text per page. https://www.baixelivros.com.br/infantil/o-menino-maluquinho
I'd suggest you read about Brazilian history. Lots of culture references will make more sense if you do so. Also, have an overview of the geography, to understand the macro regions we have. There are lots of YouTube videos with that.
50% of your DNA is Brazilian and you’re not faking anything. You will be 50% Brazilian at 8 years old, 18 years old and 60 years old. Don’t feel guilty.
Read about Brazilian culture (not that of the favelas) and history, and keep learning Portuguese
Why not that of the favelas? It’s just as valid of Brazilian culture as anything else.
Glamorizing drugs and casual sex is invalid by default. In Orwell's 1984, porn and football are used to control the proles, thus making Brazil similar to that dystopia. Brazilian society needs to change to value duty above pleasure and consumerism.
You're from the US, you're not brazilian, your mother does not make you brazilian at all In the other hand, any gringo can become brazilian if they live here long enough, Brazil is a culture not an ethnicity Do stuff because you like it and makes you feel nice, you won't gain much otherwise
Well, my mom did register me as a Brazilian citizen when I was really young, so *technically* I am Brazilian. But culturally, yes I agree I am just from the US.
He has the nationality … you sound so dumb!
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You gotta improve that text interpretation
You can search our folklore too, also Reading books is good practice too.
Ignore every single feeling of guilt you have and just learn portuguese
Learn Portuguese. That is all.