Reality of Cultural Differences

     As I pass the two month mark of being in Brazil for the second time, I see the reality of cultural differences with a little more clarity. A simple definition of culture is the beliefs and behaviors of a group of people. ( Society) Some examples follow. I live in a very cold part of the US. The ocean is never warm enough for swimming even in the middle of summer. As a Christian I don't want to expose myself to the temptation of seeing half naked women. And I sun burn very easily. Most brazilians live close to the ocean. The climate is warm most of the time. Going to the beach is something that almost everyone does. Perhaps seeing practical nudity is different if you have grown up with it.
     A second example is the level of agreement that is sought when speaking. In the US we have an expresson, uh hunh, which is not a word. The sound can be made very softly in the throat without opening the mouth. This indicates that the listener acknowledges what the speaker is saying. Portuguese speaking Brazilians need a much more forceful expression of acknowledgement. They say "entendeo" which is probably a mis-spelling that means "do you understand?" I think this is their favorite word. But they have a still more forceful word that sounds like "tah," This word is meant to force you to respond preferably in the affirmative.
    A third example is an insistence on one's welfare which can become quite intrusive for someone from north american culture. They want you to be almost deliriously happy and to express this in a very strong way. Personal space is not a cultural concept.
    Yesterday i went to a birthday party for a new friend. He had invited his relatives and a few friends about twenty-five adults. Many Brazilians live in tall apartment/condominium buildings with function rooms on the lower floor. He had a catered barbecue meal. There was one man cooking and one woman serving. She was probably about my age and worked very hard. Tipping does not seem to be part of the culture. I do this on a regular basis and find that people are surprised and appreciative.
    Last night the same friend invited me to a service in a regular church. They had a nice building, pews, several different choral groups, and a band of about a dozen with woodwinds, drums, and horns. The leaders sat on throne like chairs facing the congregation who were mostly women. I thought i was supposed to teach so had prepared a half hour message. After i was seated on my "throne' I was told ten minutes maximum, don't teach but share a little about what i am doing in Brazil. Constant flexibility is required here.