Brazil and its everlasting party

I said on my last post that, very soon, I would write my first post in English on this blog. Well, I guess it took me longer than I expected to convince myself to do it. And guess what, today's subject is Brazil.

Whenever I answer the question "where is your accent from?", reactions tend to vary from legitimate surprise to awkward disappointment. The first reaction is not rarely followed by comments on my skin colour, or on my blond hair. It is quite sad to see that that well-know stereotype makes people ask, a bit embarrassed, if my native language is Spanish, or if I know how to dance samba, or whether or not everyone in Brazil should be "tanned".

Please, don't get me wrong, I am not upset by that, I guess I could be, or maybe, depending on my patriotism, I should be. But I am not.

I remember when I first moved here. I used to think Poland was a big field of potatoes and pigs where all nation lived on farming; I used to think all Italians were part of the Italian Mafia and all French people stank. Nice, huh? And I do not dare say more about what I thought of other nations - it goes beyond the limits for rudeness. All those stereotypes I created, or was led to create, by having the information I had and not having the slightest curiosity to find out if any of that was true.

After a while living here I understand that second reaction too, disappointment. Some people expect me to be, due to my being very white and having a weak american accent, from America, Canada, or somewhere in Northern or Eastern Europe. And some other people, a little more educated, know that Brazil is not exactly an exotic paradise, and that Brazilians need a visa to be here. So, usually, that reaction in followed by questions such as "what brings you to England", "are you studying here", or "how long have you been here". It is then when it finally hurts to be struck by the stereotype, because for that I should thank all Brazilians that lived illegally here for so long.

I remember once, long time ago, a guy said, "so, basically, you are working here; then you plan to study here; then finally, with a couple of thousand pounds and an English degree, you will return to Brazil and build a life there. Long story short, you are using us." I thought if I said I plan on living here - until further notice - it would look like a better scenario. I was wrong.

It does not hurt me to see people caring about who comes to live in their country, I'm actually jealous. Maybe, if we were more like that in Brazil, we would be protesting against corruption. Protesting, not merely posting angry texts on facebook. I can hear some say "but it is a beginning." Is it? I honestly think we, the exotic people of Brazil, are not doing more than throw bananas at politicians and get those bananas back. In the end, we can't complain if people think Brazil is some sort of giant Ibiza. But come, by all means, you are all invited to our big party! I just hope, one day, this party will end.