We've learned a couple things about adapting to another culture. The first is, it takes time. You can't rush the process. There are no Cliff's Notes version of cultural learning. So it can be a discouraging proposition, especially to us task-oriented, results-expecting type of people.
But that leads me to the next thing we've learned about adapting to culture. It's a difficult thing to measure, so you don't always know how well you are blending (conversely, there always seems to be a very distinct awareness when you are sticking out like a sore thumb). From time to time, however, we catch glimpses of ourselves doing things very "Brazilian".
Where we are from, a bicycle is a very inefficient mode of transportation owing mainly to it's carrying capacity: 1 person + 1 water bottle. Here, the bicycle can carry entire families as well as many household items. Ella was excited the other day when she and Mia (it takes talent from both participants) had mastered the art of the "front bar position" (there are several other positions for carrying a passenger which we will not go into detail here).
But that leads me to the next thing we've learned about adapting to culture. It's a difficult thing to measure, so you don't always know how well you are blending (conversely, there always seems to be a very distinct awareness when you are sticking out like a sore thumb). From time to time, however, we catch glimpses of ourselves doing things very "Brazilian".
Where we are from, a bicycle is a very inefficient mode of transportation owing mainly to it's carrying capacity: 1 person + 1 water bottle. Here, the bicycle can carry entire families as well as many household items. Ella was excited the other day when she and Mia (it takes talent from both participants) had mastered the art of the "front bar position" (there are several other positions for carrying a passenger which we will not go into detail here).
Our new furniture is delivered by the local delivery man. I realize this is not much of an accomplishment by us, and probably the fact that we stopped and took a picture of the event disqualifies us for any blending that was taking place. but cut us a little slack.-JTP
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