- Fifth Cultural Post: Reflect upon what you have learned about the culture(s) you have been studying.
I have learned so much about Brazilian culture during this semester, that I feel as though I have opened my eyes to a new way of life. First, I want to start off by saying I was not that interested in Brazilian culture to begin with. Like I have said in my earlier posts, I was more interested in learning Portuguese from Portugal as well learning about its customs, food, and music. This was primarily because I always saw Brazil as a huge country that seemed complicated to travel in, unsafe, and very expensive to get to. I saw Portugal as a cheaper flight destination, easier to travel in, more safe, and more English speakers which makes it more comfortable for me. I thought that realistically I would visit Portugal more than I would Brazil. However, having a language partner from Brazil changed my viewpoint. I now see Brazil not as complicated, but as unique and vibrant.It might be unsafe, but that just calls for more precautions and safety measures to be taken in advanced. Brazil is a wonderful and beautiful country sprawling with diversity and funk, and has a laid-back, relaxed lifestyle that it is known for around the world. Brazil is so huge that if you live in the Northern part of the country, it would be faster to take a plane from that area to Miami, then it would be to take a plane from the North to the South of Brazil. It is facts like this that constantly fascinate me about Brazil.
I have also learned that Portuguese is not only in Brazil and Portugal, but spread out in many other countries due to colonization. It is fascinating to know that there are pockets of Portuguese speakers in India, Indonesia, China, and even Malaysia!
Lastly, I learned how similar Portuguese is to Spanish, and I believe that I could get around Brazil and Portugal just because of the knowledge that I have acquired through this course, and my previous knowledge of Spanish. As this was my main reason for taking this course, I am glad that I have accomplished my ultimate goal!
I want to continue on this journey of discovering Portuguese culture, and I want to start by learning some recipes that I can make at home this summer. Using the cooking website my partner and I found earlier this semester, I will work on making simple recipes to experience a taste of Brazil. I hope in the near future I can experience Portuguese up-close with a trip to Brazil or Portugal!
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