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Brazil Through Foreign Eyes
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November 19, 2008
Meet Barry Elliott who first moved to Brazil from Canada as a teenager, and then returned a few years later. Read the following interview in which he tells us about some of his most memorable experiences 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 originally from Grand Bank, Newfoundland, Canada. I like sports, mainly basketball and soccer. I enjoy movies, not to be critical but for the entertainment. I work as a Technical Support analyst. I love going to the feira, sampling the fresh fruit and having a few pasties.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
I arrived for the first time in Brazil in 1990 as a teenager. My parents were missionaries and I actually did not want to come to Brazil at first. (just getting used to my new school and friends) I finished high school and then went back to Canada. I was back and forth between the two countries (because I met my wife in SP) and finally arrived to settle down in 1998
3. What were you first impressions of Brazil?
My first impressions of Brazil were that there were a lot of people and that Sao Paulo was a bit grey. I was used to open spaces and lots of green and hardly anyone around.
4. What do you miss most about home?
My family, I have some nephews that are funny kids. If you are talking about food or things, I could say I miss watching NHL playoffs and Mary Browns. (something like KFC)
5. What has been your most frustrating experience in Brazil?
The most frustrating experience has been with a bank. Other than that everything is "tranquilo".
6. What has been your most memorable experience in Brazil (specific incident)?
Most memorable, is a hotel I stayed in, in Florianopolis, that had a view of the bridge and ocean, the sun came up and was shining off it and I thought to my self this is paradise. When so many Brazilians think "viajar pra fora" is the thing to do, Brazil has so many places that are worth it.
7. What do you most like about Brazil (in general)?
I love the people, the ease you have to start up a conversation, I wouldn't trade that for anything, and the fact that even if everything is going bad, you can always get a smile from someone.
8. What is your favorite restaurant/place to hang out here?
I like Frans Café, nice to sit down and have a chat. Ibirapuera is the best place to be for me because I like to stay active, early Saturday morning basketball is the greatest.
9. Do you have any funny stories/incidents to tell about your time in Brazil?
One day I was visiting some friends at work at there was a passeata on the street, we were trying to get across the street through the people but couldn't so we just joined in. I don't even now what we were protesting about, we just needed to get back to work and they were going in that direction...
10. What difference between your homeland and Brazil do you find most striking?
The way people look at life. Enough said
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'm sorry to say that I'm fluent in Portuguese now, because I lived 6 years in Portugal when I was younger. Because I had watched novelas in Portugal all I had to do was change the accent and watch out for some words that are not the same.
12. What advice do you have for newcomers to Brazil?
The same advice I was given. Do what the people do so you won't look out of place. Don't be afraid to speak Portuguese either, people will help.
13. What are some things that you would recommend for a visitor to do in São Paulo (or anywhere else in Brazil)?
In Sao Paulo, walk Av. Paulista at night and stop off at a Frans and have a Pão de Batata com requeijão. Visit Ibirapuera and relax. Go to Florianopolis!! Go visit the amazing beaches they have. Visit as much of Brazil as you can.
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:
Joel Barsky - USA
David Drummond - Canada
Liam Porisse - France
Jim Kelley - USA
Max Ray - USA
Jeremy Clark - Canada
Don Fredrick - USA
Jase Ramsey - USA
Ben Pearce - UK
Nitai Panchmatia - India
Johnnie Kashat - USA
Jeni Bonorino - USA
Eric Jones - USA
Bill Martin - UK
Bernard Morris - USA
John Graves - USA
Deepak Sapra - India
Alison McGowan - UK
Brent Gregory - 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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11/19/2010
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