Brazil 6d3023

Cross Culture Factor

Group : •Aditee Thale •Abhishek Jain •Vishal Gupta •Vivek Ganatra •Prachi Ranjan •Satyajeet Sahu

Index

History •Almost three centuries under Portuguese rule •Brazil peacefully gained its independence in 1822 •Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. •By far the largest and most populous country in South America •Brazil underwent more than half a century of populist and military government until 1985 •Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. •Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. •Highly unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing

Geograph y •Location- Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean •Area- Slightly smaller than the US •Climate- Mostly tropical, but temperate in south •Natural Resources- Bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber •Natural hazards- Recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

People and religion in Brazil Ethnic groups:

white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2000 census)

Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)

Languages: Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); note less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages

Business Etiquettes: Three-piece suits carry an "executive" connotation, whereas two-piece suits are associated with office workers.

Conservative attire for women in business is very important. Make sure your nails are manicured The colours of the Brazilian flag are yellow and green. Avoid wearing this combination in any fashion Touching arms and elbows and backs very common The O. K. hand signal a rude gesture in Brazil To express appreciation, a Brazilian may appear to pinch his earlobe between thumb and forefinger To invoke good luck, place your thumb between your index an middle finders while making a fist. This is also known as the "fig”

Flicking the fingertips underneath the chin indicates that you do not know the answer to a question Make appointments at least two weeks in advance. Never try to make impromptu calls at business or government offices Be prepared to commit long term resources (both in time and money) toward establishing strong relationships in Brazil. This is the key to business success Some regions have a casualness about both time and work. However San Paulo is not one of those, and in Rio casual refers to the personal and social events, not business. In these two cities, business meetings tend to start on time Never start into business discussions before your host does. Business meetings normally begin with casual 'chatting' first Midday the normal time for the main meal. A light meal is common at night, unless entertaining formally American coffee is a mere shadow of Brazilian coffee. Expect to be served small cups of very strong coffee

Social Etiquettes: Handshaking, often for a long time, is common. Shake hands for hello

and goodbye; use good eye ; when leaving a small group, be sure to shake hands with everyone present When women meet, they exchange kisses by placing their cheeks together and kissing the air First names used often, but titles important Music and long, animated conversation are favourite Brazilian habits. When conversing, interruptions viewed as enthusiasm. Brazilians enjoy joking, informality, and friendships. Portuguese is the language of Brazil Good conversation topics: soccer, family, and children Bad conversation topics: Argentina, politics, poverty, religion, and the Rain Forest Stay away from phases such as, "Is it true that everyone in Brazil is either very rich or very poor?" It is very likely you will be talking with someone that isn't either one

Gift giving practices: If entertained in the home, it is polite to send flowers to the hostess the next day, with a thank-you note Giving a gift is not required at a first business meeting; instead buy lunch or dinner Purple flowers are extensively used at funerals, so be cautious when giving someone purple flowers. Violets are OK to give Tipping is typically 10% in Brazil

Brazilian Beaches •White sands, year-round sunshine, samba, parties, and all at very affordable prices all make Brazil's beaches some of the best in the world. •The beaches in and around Rio de Janeiro are probably some of the most famous in the world today •Way to go to if you want to see the girls parading the latest designs in tropical swimwear. •White sand and cool blue water make these beaches very popular for those wishing to do a little swimming with their sunbathing

Brazilian Carnival Annual festival in Brazil held four days before Ash Christians Traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry— hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove (literally, "raise") meat. Wednesday. Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to sex in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ's death and resurrection.

amba (Brazilian dance) Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin, danced under the Samba music. However, there are three steps to every bar, making the Samba feel like a timed dance. The Samba music rhythm has been danced in Brazil since its inception in the late 19th century. There is actually a set of dances, rather than a single dance, that define the Samba dancing scene in Brazil; thus, no one dance can be claimed with certainty as the "original" Samba style. Another major stream of the Samba dance besides the Brazilian Samba dancing styles is Ballroom Samba which differs significantly.

Fun Facts •Nearly 50 percent of the population is under twenty years of age. •Despite massive economic problems, Brazil is often regarded as a potentially rich country with a strong industrial sector, large agricultural production, and rich natural resources. •An example of its potential for efficient utilization of resources is its processing of sugarcane into ethyl alcohol for fuelling 1.5 Million Brazilian cars. •Bikini wax is also known as Brazilian wax.