Torero Diaries

There are many cultural differences between Brazil and the United States, some of which I was not familiar with when I first arrived here. I knew simple things, like food and clothing styles, would be different, but I was lucky to have teammates that were able to teach me the customs of America and, in return, I was able to teach them about Brazil. This carried over to my time at USD. I have learned a lot from my teammates and hope they have learned a few things from me as well.
One of the most obvious things I have taught my teammates is how to say some words and phrases in Portuguese. Simple phrases like, “Hi, how are you?” which in Portuguese is said, “Oi, tudo bem?” Something else that is very different in these two cultures is how to greet one another. In Brazil we kiss on each cheek, but in America people wave, say hi or sometimes hug; I think this is one example of the individualism present in American culture. 
Another concept I have discussed is the differences in basketball. The major sport in Brazil is soccer, so basketball is not valued at the level it is in America. That’s one major reason why I wanted to play basketball here, because I knew I would be able to play a sport that is highly valued.
I have taught my teammates about Samba, which is a type of music and dance that is very well-known in Brazil; songs like Samba de Arere are popular. One movie that depicts the favela, or slum, in Rio de Janeiro is “City of God,” which my teammates seem to like. I also explained what Carnival is, and the importance of it to Brazilian culture. Carnival is the largest party in the planet and takes place in February. Basically it is a party celebrating Brazilian culture and takes place in the streets of the cities. 

My teammates have also had an impact in teaching me things about America. I am constantly learning new words and phrases in English. One movie I remember them recommending to me was “American Gangster,” which I ended up watching and really enjoyed.
Like I said before, Samba is a very popular type of music listened to in Brazil and we do not listen to hip hop very much. Therefore, my teammates had a big impact in influencing me to listen to other kinds of music here.  Artists like Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and T.I. are not very popular in Brazil, and listening to them here has helped me to learn more about American culture.
So far my time in America has allowed me to broaden my cultural experiences. I have learned a lot of new things and continue to do so every day. I feel I have been very lucky to have teammates who are willing to teach me new things and also learn things about my culture. I have enjoyed my time in America playing basketball, getting an education and learning about the culture here.