tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post2004137174908653040..comments2023-10-02T05:57:38.915-04:00Comments on American Heart, Brazilian Soul: CORRUPTION in BRAZIL X CORRUPTION in the USA!American Heart Brazilian Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-50723551720428109392011-06-09T22:26:46.539-04:002011-06-09T22:26:46.539-04:00Dear Danielle,
You look and sound too smart,...Dear Danielle,<br /><br /> You look and sound too smart, I don't think any Brazilian crook would even dare to mess with you! ;)<br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-46584126587751009722011-06-09T18:41:57.865-04:002011-06-09T18:41:57.865-04:00Cont. from last comment:
I have many other simila...Cont. from last comment:<br /><br />I have many other similar stories that made me feel like everyone was out to get me when I moved here, but it was nothing but my lack of experience with life in the US and the "traps" we need to avoid.<br /><br /> Not today, today I feel completely comfortable in the US, I know how to defend myself and I no longer feel like everyone is out to get me.<br /> On the other hand, I remember feeling like a tourist the last time I went to Rio and the "WHITE" taxi company at the Airport told me to avoid the "YELLOW" taxis in Rio because they were not trustworthy, I got nervous.<br /> I remember having the very feeling you described, this time, in my own country, the feeling that everyone was out to get me.<br /> American Airlines had lost all of our luggage and we had expensive electronics in our luggage that we were going to need for our presentation with the clients in Rio. I thought for sure, the delivery guys would try to still the valuables before they got to me with the luggage.<br /> Until I met my brother for dinner that night and he realized how "jacked up" I was about every one trying to get me and gave me a reality check. He said I was behaving like a fresh off the boat "gringo"!!!! :)<br /> He reminded me that we had used the yellow cab in Rio for years and never had a problem. He also reminded me that Airlines had lost my luggage before and they delivered it with no problems what so ever.<br /> Thanks to my brother's wake up call, I was finally able to relax and enjoy the rest of my trip. The delivery guys did bring my luggage with ALL the valuable electronics intact, we used the yellow taxi all over the city and had the same good experience as we always had in the past.<br /> Maybe I am wrong, but this has been my perception, as we feel more comfortable with our surroundings, we tend to learn how to filter the exaggerated "drama" from the reality and we can relax a bit and enjoy our time in the new country.<br /> Keep one thing in mind, Brazilians are DRAMATIC, people tend to over complain and over react to certain events, in my experience and that gives a perception that the situation is worse than the reality.<br /><br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-2118042107650292022011-06-09T18:41:26.564-04:002011-06-09T18:41:26.564-04:00Danielle,
I have to agree with you that if...Danielle,<br /><br /> I have to agree with you that if you compare both societies side by side, the US is much more strict on following laws and regulations and Brazil is much more relaxed.<br /> Regarding your perception that the average citizen in Brazil is more likely to screw over his fellow citizen, I have a different impression and I will explain why.<br /> I also had the feeling that "everyone" was out to get me when I moved here in 1998. <br /> In Brazil a "Clausula Leonina" is against the law and in the US is part of daily life. "Clausula Leonina" is a legal term for those small letters at the bottom of a contract or at the back or at the end of a 80 pages contract, in the US it is simply called a "disclaimer". <br /> They also say the disclaimers very quickly at the end of a radio or TV promotion or sale, they say it so fast you can hardly understand it.<br /> So, when I arrived here, I was under the impression that I didn't have to worry about "clausulas leoninas" in contracts, and that got me in a lot of trouble.<br /> I also felt like any company out there was out to get me. Cell phone companies that had tricky little details, my first AT&T Cell phone bill in 1998 was U$790,00, because the sales person at the AT&T store told me the contract I was signing had free long distance, but he failed to inform me that I would still pay for "ROAMING" fees!!!!!<br /> I was told I needed a credit card to build my credit in the US, so when a company called me offering a "credit card", they failed to tell me that with their specific credit card, I had to make a deposit of U$250.00 which I could only use to purchase products from THEIR catalog, needless to say, everything in their catalog was SUPER EXPENSIVE and I got screwed.<br />I have had experience with contractors, plumbers, electricians both in Brazil and in the US and I will tell this category is EXACTLY THE SAME, they tell you they will show up at 9am and they might be on time and they might be late, they give you a budget and when the job is done tell you it is actually more money than originally thought, if they screw up on a job, good luck getting them back to make it right by you, same in both countries.<br /><br /> The cable guy who tells you he will show up between 9am and 6pm, THE SAME in BRAZIL and in the US, and I have had experience with it in both countries when they don't even show up and don't bother to call you and let you know.<br /> <br />To be continued<br /> <br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.com