Brazilian and American cultures

Brazil and the USA: a cultural contrast

Countries in the world are very different in many ways, mainly what concerns culture. This essay, specifically, is about the differences between Brazilian and American cultures and it will focus on three topics: food, sports and music.

Brazilian food is more healthy and nutritious than American food. In Brazil people eat more salad and vegetables and also more fruits. Besides, these kinds of food are cheaper in Brazil than the US. On the other hand, American people eat more unhealthy food such as sandwiches, fried and fatty food and they drink soft drink a lot. As a consequence, some diseases like diabetes, obesity, high pressure are increasing among American adult and child population. 

 The second different topic between Brazil and the US culture is sport. Although people in these two counties love sports, spend many hours in front of TV watching a match and cheering; and in spite of they have their sport’s idol, the sports aren’t the same. Brazilian people are “addicted” to soccer. This is the most important and famous sport in the country. However, American people are very interested in basketball, baseball, golf and rugby. Moreover, American sports team have a mascot and a cheerleader in the stadium on the day of the match.

The third difference is about music. Even tough Brazil and the US are cradles of many kinds of music, and they receive influences one of the other, their music is different. The typical Brazilian music are more agitated and dancing such as axé, samba, forró, bossa nova, sertanejo and MPB. The typical American music is, for example, jazz, blues, soul, hip hop, rock and roll, heavy metal, country, gospel music and American popular music. In fact, we know that there is an exchange of these kinds of music between these two countries due to globalization. In other words, nowadays, this music segregation isn’t strict. However, in contrast with Brazilian musical industry, American musical industry always launches a pop star or a rock star with international success.

As a final point Brazil and the US can share some similarities, but they have strong cultural differences, which are common among countries around the world since cultural issue is related to specific country history and traditions.

Live on the edge

Passing over your own limits is the recipe to live your best live

To live is to take risks in every area and in every moment. Since we aren’t sure about anything, we make choices with a certain risk level. The big question is: Don’t we take more risks when we make nothing, be stuck in our self-indulgence?

Living on the edge is like continuously living like it is your last day on earth. Risk-takers live life like they never have before. They do something awesome and invigorating, do an extreme sport etc. For them life is too short and everyone should live their life the way they want to live it. Everyone should remember the phrase "Carpe Diem". People should live their life to the fullest. To live this way you'll need: yourself, passion and motivation. You’ll also need to face your fears, confront them and follow excitement. In other words, to live their best life, risk-takers get out of their comfort zone, do something out of the ordinary and then rediscover themselves.  Risk-takers, as mountain bikers, race pilots, diver, or skater many times take risk their lives for amusement, other times to expand the horizon.They risk their lives--sometimes for fun, sometimes to broaden the entire species' horizons. Ask any mountain biker, racecar driver, high-board diver, or extreme skateboarder why they take part in their respective sports, and most of them willmention the word "fun."Another reason to take risks is the meeting with others who do the same sport and consequently have the same ideas.

Taking-risk behavior has been object of many speculations. In general, we think this kind of behavior includes surfing, skate boarding, bungee jumping, parachuting, climbing, rappelling, snow boarding, motocross, rafting etc. Actually, taking risks also includes acts like unprotected sexual relationships, games, drugs, alcohol and breaking laws. The reasons for these behaviors are complex and it can be different for different people – some of them are: colleagues’ pressure, to call attention, to deal with problems or to escape from unhappy situations, to prove for yourself or others that you are responsible for your own actions.

It has been more and more common we see people who take risk in an intentional way, seeking financial income. The idea of investments is connected to risk. There are investors with great fascination for this kind of danger, who are always searching for good results.

Many people who like to take risk are defined by a strong desire to control their own fate. They are avid defenders to live life to the fullest. Risk-takers aren’t interested in dangerous activities by itself, but to live the danger that they can control. They have a strong necessity to control every area or their lives.

Some people can consider more risky to give up a job or to try a new career, or to break up a marriage and other relationships than parachuting and climbing. These people think this way because these kinds of behavior can lead to dependence and cause personal and financial failure.

A person with a personality searching for emotion, many times looks for a job that involves a high level of risk. There are jobs that demand extraordinary courage or taking risk such as firefighter, police officer, and soldier. The stress and emotion to rescue someone inside a car in fire or persecute a criminal or participate on a dangerous mission are other examples. In other word, there are some jobs that offer the same pleasure and excitement of an extreme sport.

Risk-takers make their life an exciting adventure after another. When you experiment a new behavior you are taking a risk. It can be healthy and a positive way to: test your limits, learn new abilities and experiment new things (inclusively in your work, studies and relationships), increase your self-esteem, assume more independence in your life; in other words, to experiment life to the fullest. Take risks can be funny and give you an adrenaline discharge, but sometimes these risks can affect your well-being and hurt you. Living is to take risks. It’s to assume an attitude of challenging your own limits. The point is that you can’t live with an illusion that we don’t take risks. After all, to live your best life is necessary take little risks. 

Plastic Surgery

A great transformation

            Is plastic surgery a modern trend? It came up a long time ago. It was a technique developed by ancient medicine. In ancient civilizations, a tissue or a nose could be reconstructed through it, for instance. In other words, it appeared with medical and repaired intentions. However, the society and its values have been changing and the intention for seeking plastic surgery has also changed. Not a long time ago, this kind of surgery ended up having a new intention – a cosmetic one, which has been increasing a lot. Some factors contributed for this raise. Nowadays it has become more secure and less aggressive surgical intervention because of advanced technology in medicine. Further, this surgery is cheaper and the kinds of payments are several. As a result any man or woman can undergo a cosmetic surgery and see a new person reflected on the mirror – not only someone more beautiful but also a person who is more self-confident. 

            From some years up we have had many facilities to make our dreams come true, and one of them is the several ways of payments for a plastic surgery. Nowadays, health insurances offer some plans that include reimbursement. On the other hand, if you want to pay a private plastic surgeon, you can pay him for it on installments or even obtain a good discount. Lately, as the demand for cosmetic surgery has been increasing, the prices tend to decrease, so it is more accessible for any person, not only for rich one.

            Besides the price, many people undergo a plastic surgery because medical procedures are more secure. The technology in medicine has advanced a lot during the years. Therefore, the durability of a silicone breast implants, for instance, is longer. Some years ago, a woman who had a breast augmentation had to change the silicone breast implants in a short period of time. However, nowadays, they last for a long time (almost one decade and a half) and are more comfortable. Another consequence of the advanced technology in medicine is the medical equipment is smaller and better. As a result, some surgical intervention are almost painfulness and the post operatory is fast, so you can go under the knife in the morning and go back home on the same day in the noon. In other words, you remain a short period of time in the hospital. 

            Depending on the kind of cosmetic surgery a person wants to undergo, she can see herself on the mirror few days after the surgery and feel proud of herself because when you put money on yourself it is an investment. You can have the body that you have always dreamed of or eliminate a burned skin or improve your health and quality of life indeed – in the case of people who have cleft lip, for instance. A cosmetic surgery transforms a person not only physically but also emotionally. Society imposes standards of beauty and there are some prejudice against those ones who have a different physical feature, so after changing the way they look like – mainly for esthetical reasons, people become more self-confident, they increase their self-esteem and change their way to see life. Thus, plastic surgery brings benefits for a person, mainly the psychological one. Through a plastic surgery people can remove a scar not only on their body but also, many times, in their souls. 

All in all, plastic surgery is a good and an important procedure invented by medicine to help people. And, nowadays, regardless of the reason for physical changes, more and more people can reach it easily and feel happier with the deep and superficial transformation in them.

Rites of Passage

A long path to feel free

         One of the most important rites of passage of my life happened when I took my drive’s license. I think it’s important because before that I saw myself too dependent on someone who would drive to take me wherever I wanted. Sometimes I needed my parent’s time availability or their good mood to ask them to take me to my friends’ houses, or to the shopping mall and even to a doctor. My parents always had time to take me to school or any educational course (such as, English course, swimming course, private classes etc). Other times it was necessary to ask for some friends to give a ride to go to a party, a concert – but I never liked to ask for a ride, so if my friends didn’t offer it and my parents couldn’t take me, I missed my appointment.

         To not depend too much on a ride I used to take bus or subway, and sometimes I took a taxi to go or leave some places. And for me, this was terrible because the buses are not so good and delay so much. The subway, as buses, are crowded, not comfortable and you spend much time when you use these kinds of transportation – you need to leave your house very early to take a bus to arrive on time in your destination, for instance.   

         I started to be browned off with this situation when I was about 18 years old because I had some friends that were already driving and I saw them as independent people. I felt the urge to start driving; however, my parents didn’t let me try to get my drive’s license since I had to study to pass Vestibular. At that time I was a teenager and I felt down in the dumps with it. Besides, I was very angry with my parents. No sooner I passed Vestibular than I went searching for my drive’s license. At that moment I thought it would be easy to take it, but it was a long way until I started to drive.

         Six months after I started my classes at College, I signed up for a drivers course where I learnt about car mechanic, traffic signs, first help and defensive car conduction. Then I made a test and passed this test, so I received a certificate of this course. Afterwards, I did a test at the Traffic Department of São Paulo and I passed too. So I could start my practical driving classes and it brought a smile to my face. I was very anxious to drive a car even as a learner.

         I did many driving classes and my mother agreed to take me to the driving school. Nowadays, I realize that she was very dedicated and patient with me. After many classes I did the practical driving test and I was very nervous and just a little self-confident but I got my approval – this fact made my day and I got psyched!

         However, my happiness lasted just a few. I was informed that I mustn’t have any kind of penalty with my new drive's license during one year; otherwise, I would lose it and have to go through process to get it again. After this notice, my parents and I decided to wait one year, so I don’t drive during this period. I confess that I felt sorry for myself and a little sad at the first moment, but I knew that it was not the end of the world.

         The time went fast and one year later – when I was almost 21 years old – I got my definitive drive's license. Once more, I signed up for driving classes to get practice on drive – it lasted almost three months. I gave up these classes when I felt self-confident in front of a steering wheel and among lots of cars. Then I gained a car from my parents and felt like a bird – I was free to go wherever I wanted – it was downright wonderful!

         Nowadays, the roles are inverted because I give and offer a ride. And now my parents ask me if I have available time to take them where they want to go, and I always have time for them.