Hey, beautiful souls!

It’s time for another Q&A post on the blog. If you haven’t read the first one, click here to check it out.

Today, I’m excited to answer some interesting questions from Simon.

So, let’s get down to business!

🔗 HOW BRAZILIANS CONNECT – THE PROS AND CONS.

1. Can you talk about connecting with people? From your culture and how you do it, what does it mean to be connected to you?

First off, keep in mind that Brazil is huge, like a whole continent, and each region has its own vibe, but I’ll be speaking from my experience in the Southeast, mainly Rio and São Paulo.

So, when it comes to connecting, we really thrive on topics and rituals that hold emotional value for us, often preferring informal and intimate settings.

It’s less about reason and more about feeling, which is why we tend to:

• Get close when we talk and always make eye contact.

• Greet people with kisses and hugs (in São Paulo, it’s one kiss; in Rio, it’s two, and in Minas Gerais, it’s THREE 😁).

• Love sharing personal stories and revealing certain intimacies without much hesitation, even with strangers.

🤭 I’ve lost count of how many incredibly personal stories I’ve heard from someone sitting next to me on the subway or from an Uber driver.

✅ The warmth of this approach has its advantages, as we learn from a young age how to forge relationships and have our emotional needs met easily, enriching our lives and providing a strong sense of community wherever we go.

But these intense connections also come with downsides, including:

⚠️ Less privacy – there’s a lot of pressure to be an open book, especially with family or super close friends.

⚠️Difficulty in setting boundaries and saying No – It’s common for Brazilians end up stuck in tough situations just because we feel guilty about saying no.

🧠 So that’s why we often come up with a million excuses rather than just being honest.

2. How other parts of the world do better? 

While I generally prefer the warmth of Brazilians (with the right boundaries, of course), I also appreciate the more reserved and gradual approach found in other cultures.

If I could mix it all up, I would take:

• The warmness of Brazilians

• The soberness of Europeans

• The take-charge attitude you find in North Americans

Just to name a few.

That’s it for today, folks.

Aline Oliveira 💖💖

💞 Let’s Connect!

🔁 If you want to send me a question too, just clicke here. You can stay anonymous if you prefer; just let me know.

💕 I’d love to get to know you!

🎯  Check the related posts:

Q&A #1 – How Do I Start Healing?

How to Connect Like a Brazilian

Explore Rio de Janeiro: A Local’s Guide to The Best of The City