Brazil

Facts
Location: Eastern South America bordering Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km Capital: Brazilia Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south Population: 201,103,330 Ethnic Make-up: 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) Government: federal republic

National Symbols
Brazilian Flag The Brazilian Flag has a large yellow shape diamond on a green background. The colors green and yellow represent the Royal Houses of Bragana (Emperor Pedro I) and Habsburg (Empress Leopoldina). The stars on the blue circle represent the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the night of November 15, 1889, which is the day the Republic of Brazil was declared. Each of the 27 stars represents a different Brazilian state and the Federal District. Coat Of Arms The Coat of Arms of the Republic originally had, on the ribbon, the name adopted for the country after the monarchy was abolished: Estados Unidos do Brazil (United States of Brazil).

National Symbols
National Flower The Ip-amarelo - (Tecoma chrysostricha) National Bird Sabi or Thrush, is known for the beauty of both its plumage and its song and is found all over Brazil, in 12 species, the best known of which is the Rufous-bellied Thrush, or Sabi-laranjeira, Brazils national bird.

Traditional Brazilian Dress

Dressed in elaborate clothing designed for religious ceremonies, these women pose in Salvador da Bahia, a city in eastern Brazil. They wear long, floral-patterned cotton skirts with white blouses. Their beaded necklaces reflect West African influence.

Traditional Folk Dance

Brazilian folk dance and folk drama are rich forms of popular artistic expression. Subject, rhythm, costume, and choreography reveal the principal components of the nation's culture in a complex interaction.

Religion in Brazil
There is no official religion, however the predominant religion is Roman Catholic (about 90 percent of the population). Some 16 percent practice Afro-Brazilian religions that combine tribal and Catholic beliefs (Spiritual Catholics) and Evangelical Catholics make up 9 percent. Protestants, Judaism, Buddhism, and other religions account for less than 9 percent. *WORLD FACTBOOK 2002

Glimpse of Cities

Brasilia
The capital of Brazil is Brasilia and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities of the world. This city was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, who was considered to be one of the best architects in the world. It has the shape of an airplane to pay homage to Santos Dumont which for many people invented the airplane instead of the Wright brothers.

Sao Paulo
So Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere, and the world's 7th largest metropolitan area. The city is the capital of the state of So Paulo, the most populous Brazilian state.

Monumental Wonder
Christ the Redeemer, the 130-feet tall statue that overlooks Rio de Janeiro, is one of the seven wonders of the contemporary times. This sculpture is the symbol and icon of Brazil

Fun Facts
The only soccer team in this world to have won the prestigious World Cup 5 times is Brazil's soccer team. Brazil is also the birthplace of one of the best soccer players of this century, Pele. The worlds best and most delicious coffee is produced in Brazil. Amazon Rainforest, which is located in Brazil, is the worlds largest rainforest and covers an area of 2.3 million square miles. In Brazil, flowers are an acceptable gift, while visiting someone on a meal, or on arrival. Another custom comprises of frequent offers of tea and coffee to the visitors. Liberdade neighborhood in So Paulo, is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. Although today most Japanese Brazilians can speak only Portuguese, some of them are still fluent in Japanese.

Dress Code
Men are best advised to wear conservative dark suits and traditionally, threepiece suits have indicated an executive position whereas two-piece suits have indicated office worker status. Conservative attire for women in business is very important. The colors of the Brazilian flag are yellow and green. Avoid wearing this combination in any fashion. Appearance is very important for both men and women. Your appearance should reflect your level of importance.

First impressions count for a lot in the early stages of the relationship building process.
Women tend to be less conservative in their dress sense at the office than women from many other countries. They dress to impress and are more flamboyant than in many other countries

Behavior
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 and middle fingers 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.

Meetings
Make appointments at least two weeks in advance. Never try to make impromptu calls at business or government offices. 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. Handshaking, often for a long time, is common. Shake hands for hello and goodbye; use good eye contact; 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.

Dining Etiquette
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.
In Brazil, restaurant entertainment prevails versus at home. Always entertain in a prestigious restaurant. Be prepared for lengthy meals (two hours or more for lunch). Do not discuss business during meals unless your host brings it up. Business may occasionally be discussed at dinner in So Paulo or Rio.

Helpful Hints
Dont assume that the "self-made" businessperson is admired in Brazil. Inherited wealth and a good family background are much more desirable. Brazilians are extremely casual about time. Being ten to fifteen minutes late in business is normal, and twenty to thirty minutes late is not unusual. Be on time for a formal meeting, but prepare to wait for your Brazilian colleagues. Soccer (football), family, Brazils beautiful beaches and the countrys rapid growth are all appropriate conversation topics. Politics, poverty, religion, Argentina (considered a rival) and the deforestation of Brazil are not. Personal topics such as age, salary and marital or job status are also unacceptable. Brazilians are expressive and passionate conversationalists. Be prepared to be interrupted.

Dont smoke in public. Federal law bans smoking in public places.

Dont refer to Brazilians as Latins.