They talk about the time they came, or how much they want to come here. Also one time a gringo asked where it was and we said Central America and he thought we were saying like in the center of the USA
it’s generally a very positive surprise. i like to joke that english has a slur for every possible ethnicities but for Brazilians, because we’re too cool, and so far i have not suffered any sort of xenophobia.
i’m currently studying in canada, and whenever people ask where i’m from i let them take a guess. maybe it’s because i’m in quebec but they always say i look french (I have no french ancestry)
It’s just a conversation starter, like a national team match, something neutral and easy to bring up. I’ve never been anywhere where Brazilians are rare, but I guess there aren’t still places like that, lol.
Jk. Usually it’s incredulity because I am super pale and fat so I look like a standard American. Then they hear me speak Spanish and it clicks that Peruvian is a nationality and not a race or skin color.
A brief summary of multiple times I’ve had this conversation:
Me: “I’m from Colombia”
Them: “Oh you came all the way down from Canada? Is the weather really bad up there?”
Me: “No, I mean Colombia with an O. As in the country of Colombia”
Them: “Oh, you mean the Narco’s place? That’s such a good Netflix show! Love the aesthetic. It must have been hard for you over there. Were you safe? Did you have to deal with the cartels?”
Me: “Colombia is as safe as one would expect. It has problems like any other country.”
Them: “But wait, your english is so good! It’s amazing! Where in Mexico is Colombia? Is it close to the border?”
Me: “No. It’s in South America”
Them: “Oh, yeah, that’s what I meant. Like, close to America.”
I’ve never had i long interaction with a foreigner in person, which i would expect to play out quite differently from my regular interactions with foreigners on the internet.
But if i were to guess how it would all unfold, i presume their reaction would differ depending on the continent they are from.
Another latinoamerican’s reaction would probably range from indifference to outright disrespect, mean-spirited treatment and deliberate attempts to socially exclude me. All due of course to the political tension regarding the mass immigration.
The average european, african or asian person would probably feel indifferent upon learning i’m venezuelan.
An american’s reaction definitely depends on whether they are a republican or democrat.
“You’re Part Hawaii?” (Paraguay can sound vaguely like Par’awai in English if I’m saying it normally, so then I’m Usually just like ‘nooooo peh-reh-guey in English”)
“I’ve never heard of it!”
“Oh! I lived there for 6 months once for a mission/habitats for humanity/peace corps/volunteer work!”
ETA: at least nobody knows enough about us to bring up the Nazis. 😬 sorry, Argentina! Yall get to catch all the flack.
“oh so your a remote worker?” Everyone seems to think I’m a remote worker
“why did you leave the UK to live in Brazil/Paraguay/Colombia” had them over the years, especially from American tourists who think they are descendents of Sir Francis drake with their backpack…
But most people in south America don’t care, BUT when I lived in Paraguay, I got some very weird reactions, especially from the men. (and I speak fluent Spanish)
I’m British but Brazilian by marriage and have lived in Brazil, Paraguay and Colombia in the past 16 years and a short stint in La Serena, Chile.
They ask me why I’m white. I’m not, I’m just much more “””European””” looking than they expect. More than other stereotypes, I think this is possibly the most narrow view people have of the people here; that everyone is brown and mestizo. Granted, that is the largest group in the country, but Mexican is just a nationality, so you could be any skin tone or have any ethnic background and still be Mexican.
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Messi Messi Maradona Messi Tango CARNE Che Boludo SHO ME SHAMO SHAMILA
What foreigners? They barely interact with people like me when they come to this country.
Try to make better questions, please.
They talk about the time they came, or how much they want to come here. Also one time a gringo asked where it was and we said Central America and he thought we were saying like in the center of the USA
“Pinochet!”
When traveling in Asia:
“You don’t look latina”
“I thought all people there were darker”
“Where is that? Is it in the US?”
it’s generally a very positive surprise. i like to joke that english has a slur for every possible ethnicities but for Brazilians, because we’re too cool, and so far i have not suffered any sort of xenophobia.
i’m currently studying in canada, and whenever people ask where i’m from i let them take a guess. maybe it’s because i’m in quebec but they always say i look french (I have no french ancestry)
It’s just a conversation starter, like a national team match, something neutral and easy to bring up. I’ve never been anywhere where Brazilians are rare, but I guess there aren’t still places like that, lol.
“Holy shit, you’re Mexican?”
Jk. Usually it’s incredulity because I am super pale and fat so I look like a standard American. Then they hear me speak Spanish and it clicks that Peruvian is a nationality and not a race or skin color.
They smile and get excited
There is one funny reaction most people have:
“Messiiiii! Maradonaaaa!” – just the names, no context, no sentence. I always laugh when this happens.
Occasionally they’ll try to speak to me in Spanish, one time it was someone who actually spoke decent Spanish.
Then disputing the third place are “is it true about the nazis?” and “do you have a big nose?”
They always mention their trip to Punta Cana
In my encounters it was always a VERY JOYFUL SURPRISE. Like… “OMG you are from Brazil?? I love Brazil”
They warm up to me quickly and associate me with parties, samba, carnival lol.
Panama Florida?! Oh like Panama Papers? Oh there’s a canal too? Last one was usually from Americans and prior to Trump.
A white man in bolivia?? what kind of sorcery is this?
A brief summary of multiple times I’ve had this conversation:
Me: “I’m from Colombia”
Them: “Oh you came all the way down from Canada? Is the weather really bad up there?”
Me: “No, I mean Colombia with an O. As in the country of Colombia”
Them: “Oh, you mean the Narco’s place? That’s such a good Netflix show! Love the aesthetic. It must have been hard for you over there. Were you safe? Did you have to deal with the cartels?”
Me: “Colombia is as safe as one would expect. It has problems like any other country.”
Them: “But wait, your english is so good! It’s amazing! Where in Mexico is Colombia? Is it close to the border?”
Me: “No. It’s in South America”
Them: “Oh, yeah, that’s what I meant. Like, close to America.”
Me: dies inside
I’ve never had i long interaction with a foreigner in person, which i would expect to play out quite differently from my regular interactions with foreigners on the internet.
But if i were to guess how it would all unfold, i presume their reaction would differ depending on the continent they are from.
Another latinoamerican’s reaction would probably range from indifference to outright disrespect, mean-spirited treatment and deliberate attempts to socially exclude me. All due of course to the political tension regarding the mass immigration.
The average european, african or asian person would probably feel indifferent upon learning i’m venezuelan.
An american’s reaction definitely depends on whether they are a republican or democrat.
Actual answers i have gotten:
“Oh! That’s a city in Venezuela/Mexico, right?”
“… you mean Urugay?”
“You’re Part Hawaii?” (Paraguay can sound vaguely like Par’awai in English if I’m saying it normally, so then I’m Usually just like ‘nooooo peh-reh-guey in English”)
“I’ve never heard of it!”
“Oh! I lived there for 6 months once for a mission/habitats for humanity/peace corps/volunteer work!”
ETA: at least nobody knows enough about us to bring up the Nazis. 😬 sorry, Argentina! Yall get to catch all the flack.
“Brazil? [List the few words they know of portuguese, normally they are] Brasileiro, cachaça, obrigado, Ronaldinho…”
Depends, if they are “woke” full xenophobia lol
If they are anti-woke, they think Im on their side
Mostly, (from Americans) they go “Oh you guys have Kangaroos, right?”…Im like “yeah, like Australia” smh
something about tacos or drug violence
Europeans have a lot of questions, North Americans could not care less.
“where is that?”
Meanwhile their current fav song is from Puerto Rico
“Oh, so that’s why you have so many curves”, “Brazilian women are the hottest…”
“Corea del Sur? Asi que, eres chino or japonese? Todo de ustedes son iguales, no?”
or
“Ah Corea del Sur!!! me encanta tu cultura, veo muchas k-dramas y escucho mucho k-pop y tu cultura parece muy respetuosa y ustedes trabajan muy duro!”
don’t know which I’m more tired of hearing
“oh so your a remote worker?” Everyone seems to think I’m a remote worker
“why did you leave the UK to live in Brazil/Paraguay/Colombia” had them over the years, especially from American tourists who think they are descendents of Sir Francis drake with their backpack…
But most people in south America don’t care, BUT when I lived in Paraguay, I got some very weird reactions, especially from the men. (and I speak fluent Spanish)
I’m British but Brazilian by marriage and have lived in Brazil, Paraguay and Colombia in the past 16 years and a short stint in La Serena, Chile.
They ask me why I’m white. I’m not, I’m just much more “””European””” looking than they expect. More than other stereotypes, I think this is possibly the most narrow view people have of the people here; that everyone is brown and mestizo. Granted, that is the largest group in the country, but Mexican is just a nationality, so you could be any skin tone or have any ethnic background and still be Mexican.