9 Differences

Brazil and the U.K. are worlds apart, both geographically and culturally. Here are some of their biggest differences....

1. Kissing is polite

Whereas in the U.K. we greet with a hand-shake, or more informally a distant-hug, here you greet with a kiss on the left cheek.

2. You eat rice ever-day

Every-day is a rice day in Brazil. Literally. Producing over 11,308,900 metric tones of rice in 2010, Brazil is one of the world leading consumers of this protein providing food.

3. Commuting for an hour and half to work is common
Some people travel over 2-3 hours every-day, each way to and back to work.

4. 11pm = dinner-time

You eat late and sleep even later. It’s more than common to find restaurants at their peak at 11pm at night. This late culture follows into nightclub, with clubs opening their doors at 12:00am at earliest.

5. Women pay less

Going clubbing in Sao Paulo can be pricey, with entrance into some of the main clubs starting at very least R$40 and going up-to R$180. Interestingly, however, women pay less. Most venues offer VIP entrance for women, with men paying up-to 3 times more.

6. Travelling 6-10 hours for a bank holiday is normally

Hoping you don’t spend your bank holiday stuck in a traffic jam, embarking on a journey that will take 10 hours for a weekend is considered do-able and common.

7. Red light means Go

After midnight, that is. As a result of the high threat of crime and theft, after 12:00am and into the early hours of the morning, a red light at the traffic lights is more of an indication to ‘stop and look’ rather than ‘stop and wait’.

8. The city stops with rain 

Sao Paulo is prone to flooding and with the tropical climate, heavy rainfall is frequent. Consequently, the city suffers from blackouts and floods on a weekly basis. 

9. Trains? What Trains?

Unlike the U.K. and the majority of Europe, Brazil is still developing their railway. As such, no one travels by train.