The supreme advantage a desi person has, across South America is the ability to blend in with the help of some basic Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish (all other countries). Besides that, use these nifty tricks and hygiene tips to make your visit a memorable one, for all the right reasons… 1. Greeting: In São Paulo, you greet the ladies with one air kiss on the cheek, usually on the left side. But when in Rio De Janeiro, do this on either side (both cheeks). They’d shudder if you do it the other way round. It’s almost sacrosanct! 2. Remember: All cars in Brazil are left hand drive, so if you’re driving or calling Shotgun, do not mix up your sides or you’ll freak them out. 3. Not all of Brazil is sultry hot. Pack warm clothing for metropolitan cities like São Paulo. People dress really sharp here. Think New Delhi sharp. 4. Brazilians are very LGBT friendly, and if you’re homophobic like my pal Rahul – stay away from Posto 9 in Rio. If you are part of the clan, you’ll feel welcome! 5. When someone sneezes, use “Saude” instead of “bless you”. Use “obrigado” (thank you) liberally when dealing with people. 6. … Continue reading Dealing with Culture Shock in Brazil: How to blend in!