Living in Brazil
Living in Brazil will certainly be a bit of an adjustment, especially in the beginning. There is an essential difference between our two countries, which means that the customs and way of life will differ greatly from day to day. It is important to read up on this well before your move so that you can anticipate these differences. For example, you can expect that Brazilians do not have the punctuality of the Dutch, that bureaucracy stands in the way of many social issues and that it is a chaotic country that makes processes take a long time to the point of annoyance. If you do not prepare yourself for these kinds of things, you can start to get irritated and you may not be able to cope with living in Brazil. Our tip is to anticipate this and accept it, so that it does not get in the way. Read more below about important cultural and national differences that will be insurmountable when you move to Brazil, so that you will be prepared for the changes that will take place.
Residents of Brazil
The culture in Brazil is very diverse, because the population is a fusion of people with different backgrounds. There are still elements from the Indian and African culture, but the culture is mainly very westernized. More than 50% of the population comes from Southern Europe. There is also a huge group from Asia, such as the Japanese and Chinese population. The indigenous population of Brazil, also called ‘Indians’, also lives in the Amazon Rainforest. They inhabit about 12% of the protected Brazilian land area. Unfortunately, security from the government is needed to let the indigenous population live safely here, because there are money-hungry groups that would like to get their hands on this land.
Why do so many Dutch people emigrate to Brazil?
After the Second World War, many fortune seekers moved to far-flung overseas countries, including Brazil. The Dutch had been left homeless and without loved ones, and the Netherlands was in total disarray with housing shortages and unemployment. Due to this crisis, many people chose to seek their fortune elsewhere, which led to group migrations. People boarded gigantic boats en masse that promised a better future in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, but also Brazil. The Dutch government promoted the migration processes through propaganda and by covering the costs of the passage. As a result, some 3,618 Dutch people migrated to Brazil during this period, mainly with an agricultural background. Later, in the twentieth century, many Dutch people migrated to Brazil again. Because of these Dutch migrants, there are now several overseas colonies in Brazil, such as Holambra 1 and 2, Carambeí, Arapotí, Castrolanda and Unaí. In addition, there are also many Dutch communities in the country. This is one of the reasons why many Dutch people move to Brazil, we like to go to special and warm countries, but still like to seek the familiar environment of other Dutch people. And with so many Dutch colonies and communities to be found in Brazil, this attracts other Dutch people.
Brazilian Carnival
In Brazil, carnival is celebrated on a grand scale before the Catholic population enters a period of fasting. Carnival is seen as a last moment to party before a longer period of moderation is required. Carnival is always dominated by the Samba, a typical Brazilian music style that is danced to exuberantly. Carnival is celebrated on a massive and grand scale, especially in the capital Rio de Janeiro, with the highlight being the parade. For this parade, a special parade ground has even been built with a capacity of 90,000 spectators, right in the centre of Rio de Janeiro: the Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapucaí.
The Sambódromo parades
The Brazilian carnival parades are seen as a kind of competition between the different districts of Rio de Janeiro. All 24 districts are represented by one samba school that is allowed to walk in the parade. Beautiful dancers, cheerful musicians and exuberant floats parade in front of the 700 meter long street that runs through the Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapucaí. Each samba school represents a different theme, and the competition is taken very seriously. On the last day of carnival, the winning samba school is announced by a professional jury, which is seen as a great honor for the samba school and is celebrated throughout the year by the district in question until the next carnival.
If you have any questions about your move to Brazil, please feel free to contact us.
