GA Days 64 - 68 (Feb 5 - 9, 2024). Before setting out on my great adventure I was asked if I was concerned about my safety in Brazil, and then asked once here how advanced is their society, is poverty a real problem, and “how hot are Brazilian men?” 🤦♂️ Ironically, I was also asked by someone from Floripa if the stereotype of Canadians is true - are they always polite? Ah, yes…how the power of urban myths, social media, fake news, and rumors drives and reinforces stereotypes. Of course, I have had some (mis)perceptions about Brazil based on media coverage over the years but I have taken the opportunity to check out stories and learn some of the history of Brazil to gain a better appreciation of the country. As well, I have been blessed with the chance to meet some pretty incredible people from Brazil over the last 10 years to know there are more similarities than differences with Canada. As I previously blogged, both countries have a shared history of colonialism, albeit different powers, and both have had a pretty appalling record on how Indigenous peoples have been treated. Both countries are huge (Canada #2 and Brazil #5 in the world) and have large rural and remote geographies. And the people are diverse in both countries - racially, ethnically, socially, physically (stature), level of politeness, and so forth. So let me see if I can address some of the questions I have been asked…
Is Brazil safe? While Brazil has, historically, had high rates of homicide and violent crimes, the trend has been dropping over the past decade. But while the rates may be high in comparison to Canada, it is important to recognize that rates vary across the country and is more problematic in some areas than others. I imagine that high rates are likely linked to many similar factors as in Canada - gangs, drug factions, entrenched modeled behaviours, and the like. In Florianópolis, the rate in 2023 was quite low at 2 deaths per 100,000 people. Compare that to Winnipeg in 2023 where the rate was about 5.7 per 100,000. So where should one feel safer when out and about? Personally, now that I am pretty familiar with the lay of the land here, I feel safer walking the neighborhoods here than many places in Winnipeg - even the Osborne neighborhood can be kind of sketchy at times.
I have always been quite cautious and risk adverse when it comes to personal safety - I think the origin to this was growing up on the farm and being hypersensitive to the potential dangers around me…machinery, animals, and intruders (yup - had those from time to time). But my alertness and habitual scanning of the environment became much more refined working in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver where, to work as healthcare provider, one had to be attuned to dynamics and anticipate potential situations. And the basic underlying motivation for me has always been fear of pain and a desire to maintain fully functioning parts 😌 So, while I do feel safe walking the streets of Floripa, I still use common sense and be preventative: a) walk with confidence and a sense of purpose (try not to look like a hapless tourist); b) continually scan the environment for potential trouble(makers); c) steer clear of known problematic neighborhoods; d) don’t be out alone after dark; e) always face the door, never sit with my back to it; and f) constantly re-evaluate the surroundings for points of safe exit.
An interesting observation I made when I first arrived here was, what seems, intense security measures - every home is fenced and gated, every building (condo, apartment, and office) has a fence and often controlled entry, and many places have security guards. Earlier I blogged about there being both municipal and military police with a visible presence. I am sure all these strategies play a part in decreasing crime and creating a sense of security here in Florianópolis. However, I was intrigued about why it was that all detached homes have fences and gates (some with an additional layer of electric wire around the perimeter)…and I had to ask why this is. For the most part, apparently the fencing and gating is somewhat cultural - security is important but privacy is something people value. It occurred to me that in Mexico many of the home structures had walls built out to the street with one or two thick doors for entry and high windows that all framed an inner sanctuary, often an open courtyard. Perhaps this is a similar phenomenon here but so different from home, pretty much across Canada, where there are lawns and open yards. I was also told that, where there was electrical wire along the top, it probably meant that the place had been burgled.
Brazil - a “Developing” Country? This is an interesting phenomenon to unpack, mainly because there are so many angles to consider. First, and foremost, the label “developing country” is somewhat an arbitrary one for which there is no consensus, and is based on comparisons to highly industrialized nations related to the economic indicator of gross national income and the human development index (life expectancy, education levels, etc.). Brazil has a fairly high capacity of industrialization and well-developed infrastructure; they have power, water, transportation, a healthcare system, and really all the amenities we have at home. Yes, they have poverty, homelessness, and under-serviced rural and remote areas but so do we in Canada. From what I have seen in Floripa there is a pretty good quality of life for most people and those I have met are well-educated, well-spoken, community-minded, and generally very happy and positive. One might think my view could be biased in that the company I keep and the reason I am here puts me in connection with academics and their circle. But as I type most of my blogs in the food court of Spotmarkt or Crunch Mama coffee shop I mingle with many different people. It is part of my intended experience here to connect with the people and culture of Brazil.
So, in my humble estimation, Brazil is quite well-developed. Through much political turmoil and the same global impacts we all face, I am sure Brazil and its people have had challenges but are certainly working hard to improve the country. President Lula and his socialist left have committed to enhancing the health and well-being of the Indigenous peoples here and to better meet the needs of the remote and rural areas. And I can think of some “advanced” and “developed” countries that could do much better improving the lot of its peoples. From that perspective, are not all countries evolving and developing?
On the Issue of Politeness. So my answer to “Are all Canadians polite?” was…well, when abroad or receiving visitors, it is generally true - as is the constant need to apologize. However, I shared that there are many Canadians who are not polite to each other or, in particular, to certain groups of people within Canada. I also said that, since coming to Brazil, everyone who I have met through social connections or have received service from have been as polite, if not more so, than many Canadians I have interacted with. I say that without an apology, even though I imagine some people will read this and be completely appalled. There was a time when I think Canadians could take pride in being genuinely known for politeness and for being good people, but the level of incivility across our society seems to have steadily increased - one only has to look at the shenanigans in our parliament (such great role models we have there…) or some of the general attitudes towards Truth and Reconciliation to know we are far from the stereotype we would like to believe in.
After four weeks in Floripa I have yet to see anyone raise a “one-finger salute” - I am serious! I have heard heated and passionate discussions, and the rarest of arguments. But I have not heard the f-word or any strings of profanity. Even when people cut each other off (car versus motorcycle interactions are frequent) there will be some yelling , a lot of 👋 and 🤌 and 🫷🫸 and 🤷♂️ but no 🖕. The interaction is usually brief and each party carries on their merry little way. In Canada there more often than not would be profanity, prolonged haranguing, blaring horns, 🖕, and acts of road rage. And there is hardly any honking or blaring of horns here. In fact, you will often hear a polite “toot” “toot” as a friendly warning. Someone (who shall remain nameless) told me that the maniacal honking in Montreal is “very Latin”. I am pretty sure Brazilians can claim closer degrees of separation to Latiness than Montrealers 🙄
Hotness of Brazilian Men. The temperature here has consistently been with a humidex in the high 30s - that not only makes most Brazilian men hot, but me as well 🙈. And most of the women, too. In truth, there are some very beautiful people here and I cannot help but think that the rich racial diversity of the country has had a huge influence in that. But beauty and “hotness” is relative and truly in the eye of the beholder. But since I have been asked about this specific stereotype (you can likely surmise the question has arisen from members of my other community), here is my take on it. I blogged earlier that the society here, in general, does not get fixated on the perfect body - just go to the beach and you will see all shapes, sizes, different modes of (un)dress, and physical characteristics, and no one bats an eye. There does not seem to be an overt culture of body shaming and, surprisingly, not the culture of overt cruising or ogling; in fact, direct eye contact is a very rare thing (usually if you get that the person is looking through you, not at you).
But there is this subculture of men and women that are focused on fitness and the body beautiful. There are, literally, three gyms within about 5 blocks of where I am staying with a steady stream of patrons parading in and out. Now, about those gym-body “hot” men…in spite of a supposed hyper-masculine culture, most of them are shaved, waxed, and plucked to a prepubescent state. In no way do I find that remotely attractive or hot. I imagine it would be like cuddling with an Egyptian hairless cat. Eeeewww! The great thing is that, with the general indifference, I feel much more comfortable in my skin here as a bigger older guy than I ever have in Canada. Having said that, I am still not inclined to go to Praia Mole (the gay beach) where I am sure there would be cruising. Not that there would be a risk of stink-eye…without eyebrows, who can tell?
Here I am experiencing the sights, sounds, culture, and delights of Brazil; discovering the beauty of the country and its peoples. This whole adventure was an unexpected opportunity, to be sure, but my goal while here is to live the experience and learn as much as I can about Brazil. Carnavale starts today, so I am sure I will see and experience a lot more in the five days 🎭
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