Brazil is a very open culture. There are boobs and butts shown on TV. The ads in magazines and billboards are eye-catching to say the least. There are Playboys, and worse, sold at the checkout counters in the grocery stores. And as I have said in the past, the bathing suits here are small. This is normal. I am okay with most of it. My boys are probably okay with all of it. It is good in a way though. Brazilians are very comfortable with their bodies, no matter the shape or size, and they are comfortable with expressing themselves. I am still learning.
The daily life of a Brazilian is very, lets say interpersonal. The average Brazilian probably gives and receives over 100 kisses in a day. Not to mention the hugs and simple touches. This is okay with me, up to a point. Since I have been married into the Latin culture for some time, bussing cheeks is normal. But, I am still a puritanical, "my personal space" American in some respects. I have a problem with being crowded in line at the store. I have issues when I am trying to find things in Wal-Mart and another person is almost on top of me trying to get something off the shelf. Just because they are 2 feet away does not mean anything. They are still too close. And I still have a hard time when I first meet someone to give them a kiss on the cheek. Handshakes are fine for me. But a kiss is more personal. Now if I met them before no problem. Apparently, I gave a kiss on the cheek to an Exec at my husband's company who I thought I met before, but I didn't and I freaked him out. My husband got a good laugh at that one. My youngest son is learning about kissing. The girls at school call him cute, pinch his cheeks, and give him a kiss. He is enjoying this attention. Who wouldn't right? Well he is 9, so I think I need to reintroduce him to the definition of personal space.
I also have issues with public displays of affection. Holding hands, no problem, light kisses no problem. But extreme PDA is still a little much for me. For example, today I went to Starbucks for a very delicious Chocolate Cappuccino. I happen to glance up into the balcony of the store when I see two, I hope, teenagers making out. Not kissing. No this was the backseat of a Pontiac kissing session. And this is not the first place I have seen this. We have been standing in line at the movie theater candy stand and old people, like in their 50s, were playing tonsil tennis. We have been in restaurants, in bars, in the park. You name it. I am guessing it is a culture thing? In the States you would probably be charged with exhibitionism or lewd and lascivious behavior. I am glad my boys were not with me today. All I need is for them to get ideas, or tips, and take them back to the States with us.
Maybe I should keep this. Then when they are dating age, or younger in the case of my youngest, print it out and give it to the parents of the girls in their classes. That would ensure they do not date till college right?
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