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Brazil Through Foreign Eyes
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April 5, 2008
Meet Alison McGowan from the UK who first stayed in Brazil 30 years ago and returned more recently. Read the following interview in which she tells us about some of her most memorable experiences from Brazil and gives some useful advice to newcomers.
1. Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, what do you do etc.?
I´m British, but "carioca de coração", and I run my own business, Florence Associates, from a beautiful home/office in Rio. For the past 20 years I have been working in the field of "intercambio" representing language schools in the UK, US, Australia and Ireland. I am now moving sideways into tourism, working with the best hidden pousadas in Brazil.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
I first arrived in Brazil in 1979 and was here until 1984, establishing and managing the Oxford University Press office. I decided to come back to Rio for good in 2002 when I realised it was just as easy (and a lot cheaper) to run my own business from here, rather than the UK. The original reason for coming was actually nothing to do with a job though; I came here because I fell in love with Brazilian music whilst living in Paris back in 1974.
3. What were you first impressions of Brazil?
Terrible! I arrived in February, in the pouring rain, and took an immediate (and very unusual) dislike to the person who met me at the airport! The apartment I was given was noisy, full of plastic flowers and crucifixes, and smelt of prescription drugs! Fortunately I met one of my closest friends that first day in Copacabana, so I knew all would be OK.
4. What do you miss most about home?
I have a theory about "missing", that you only really miss things you can´t have, and I am fortunate in being able to travel whenever I want. I would like to see more of friends outside Brazil, but "home" is Rio now.
5. What has been your most frustrating experience in Brazil?
Bureaucracy, without a doubt. Getting permanent residence was a nightmare.
6. What has been your most memorable experience in Brazil (specific incident)?
Meeting Tom Jobim in 1982 in the churrascaria he always used to go to (now the Bar do Tom).
7. What do you most like about Brazil (in general)?
I love the music, the climate and most of all the energy,spirit and hospitality of the people.
8. What is your favorite restaurant/place to hang out here?
Wednesday nights at ProsperJam, downstairs in Armazem Digital, Rio Design Leblon. The very best Brazilian and mainstream jazz - and it´s totally free. Absolutely incredible.
9. Do you have any funny stories/incidents to tell about your time in Brazil?
Back in 1979 one of the young (and now rather well-known) musicians I knew in Paris decided I couldn´t possibly live alone in a penthouse apartment. It all ended badly when he "borrowed" a lot of money and walked out on me, but I got the last laugh as he forgot his false teeth and I was able to quietly spread the news to all his friends.
10. What difference between your homeland and Brazil do you find most striking?
Apart from the obvious differences in climate, the attitude to time, although I find that has improved markedly over the last 25 years, and now the Brazilians are the first to turn up at my parties!
11. How is your Portuguese coming along? What words do you find most difficult to pronounce/remember or are there any words that you regularly confuse?
I speak fluent Portuguese, learnt originally through watching soap operas! However I still go to private Portuguese classes with a brilliant teacher, where we discuss culture, politics, music - whatever I choose.
12. What advice do you have for newcomers to Brazil?
Definitely learn Portuguese, take things as they come, and try to integrate as much as possible. Most Brazilians are wonderful people, and they respond best to those who also love their country.
13. What are some things that you would recommend for a visitor to do in São Paulo (or anywhere else in Brazil)?
I would recommend anyone to do the trip we have just done researching hidden pousadas between Salvador and Natal. Sheer paradise!
Are you a foreigner who has lived in, or is living or travelling in Brazil? Are you a Brazilian who has a lot of contact with foreigners and/or lived outside of Brazil? Are you interested in telling your story? If you would like to volunteer for our interview series, or if you would like to recommend someone, please send a blank email to gringoes@gringoes.com with "Interview" in the subject. We will send you the interview questions by return email.
To read previous interviews in the Brazil Through Foreign Eyes series click below:
Brent Gregory - USA
R Dub - USA
R Dub - USA
Tara Bianca - USA
Jack Hurley - USA
James Woodward - Canada
Tony O‘Sullivan - Ireland
Anna Belavina - Russia
Jim Kirby - USA
Linda Halverstadt - USA
Michelle Monteiro - USA
Chris Mensah - UK
David Sundin - USA
Stephanie Glennon - USA
Julien Porisse - France
Hans Keeling - USA
Jim Adams - USA
Richard Murison - USA
Will Periam - UK
Jan Sandbert - Sweden
Jim Jones - USA
Mike Stricklin - USA
Edward Gowing - Australia
Adrian Woods - USA
Kevin Raub - USA
Pierpaolo Ciarcianelli - Italy
Zachary Heilman - USA
David Johnson - Bermuda
Cipriana Leme - Argentina
Timothy Bell - USA
Patti Beckert - USA
Timothy Bell - USA
Paul James - USA
David McLoughlin - Ireland
Pat Moraes - USA
Richard Dougherty - USA
James Weeds - USA
Tom Sluberski - USA
Peter Kefalas - USA
Sylvie Campbell - UK
Kathleen Haynes - USA
Matt Bowlby - USA
Alan Longbottom - UK
Eric Karukin - USA
Eddie Soto - USA
Kieran Gartlan - Ireland
Bryan Thomas Scmidt - USA
Emile Myburgh - South Africa
Bob Chapman - USA
David Barnes - USA
John Milan - USA
Chris Coates - UK
Matthew Ward - UK
Allison Glick - USA
Drake Smith - USA
Jim Jones - USA
Philip Wigan - UK
Atlanta Foresyth - USA
Lee Gordon - USA
Carmen Naidoo - South Africa
Lee Safian - USA
Laurie Carneiro - USA
Dana De Lise - USA
Richard Gant - USA
Robin Hoffman - USA
Wayne Wright - UK
Walt Kirspel - USA
Priya Guyadeen - Guyana
Caitlin McQuilling - USA
Nicole Rombach - Holland
Steven Engler - Canada
Richard Conti - USA
Zak Burkons - USA
Ann White - USA
Monde Ngqumeya - South Africa
Johnny Sweeney - USA
David Harty - Canada
Bill McCrossen - USA
Peter Berner - Switzerland/Brazil
Ethan Munson - USA
Solveig Skadhauge - Denmark
Sean McGown - USA
Condrad Downes - UK
Jennifer Silva - Australian
Justin Mounts - USA
Elliott Zussman - USA
Jonathan Abernathy - USA
Steve Koenig - USA
Kyron Gibbs - USA
Stephanie Early - USA
Martin Raw - UK
Sean Coady - UK
Hugo Delgado - Mexico
Sean Terrillon - Canada
Jessie Simon - USA
Michael Meehan - USA
Thales Panagides - Cyprus
Tammy Montagna - USA
Samantha Tennant - England
Ron Finely - United States
Bob Duprez - United States
Peter Baines - England
Youssef Bouguerra - Tunisia
Van Wallach - USA
Lesley Cushing - England
Alexander von Brincken - Germany
Hank Avellar - USA
Ed Catchpole - England
Penny Freeland - England
Yasemin de Pinto - Turkey
Amy Williams Lima - USA
John Naumann - England
Marsye Schouella - Eygpt
Rita Shannon Koeser - USA
John Fitzpatrick - Scotland
Liam Gallagher - Northern Ireland
Lorelei Jones - England
Adam Glensy - England
Tommie C.B. DeAssis - Japan
Aaron Day - Canada
Graham Debney - New Zealand
Silke Tina Tischendorf - Germany
Tanya Keshavjee Macedo - Canada
Frank de Meijer - Holland
Carl Emberson - Australia
Kim Buarque - Wales
Damiano Pak - South Korea
Jonas Helding - Denmark
Pari Seeber - Iran
John Milton - England
Ken Marshall - Australia
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