which truths and lies about the Britishers' behaviour and ideas about the foreign students?

Question

hi, I'm from Brazil and i wanna spend a time abroad in Britain to improve my english. i'd like to stay there with a hostfamily. But i heard that people there are cold, and its hard to the foreign students make close friends. It's easier make friends with the others foreign students. truth or lie?

The Britishes know almost nothing about Brazil. nothing more about the soccer team, Ronaldinho etc. Everybody thinks that al the brazilians are indians or blacks and wherever you go you find forest. truth or lie?
*if your question is lie, tell me waht people really know about Brazil.

Britishes are afraid of foreign who looks like arabian. truth or lie?

Answer 1

What is generally true of any "culture" is that the more Northern the culture the more "cold" it is perceived to be.

This is a bit of a generalisation and possibly a misconception of each other's culture but there you are.

For example- the Italians are said to be fiery tempered and the British to be stiff upper-lipped. This is true and not.

Nothing is ever that simple. You will find friendly and unfriendly people in Britain. Just like ANYWHERE else.

:-)

I think that you cannot generalise and say that the British don't know anything about Brazil, just like you cannot say that the Brazilians know a lot about the British. It just depends.

I don't know enough about Brazilians but that is because for me to claim I "know" about another culture I like to have been there. I know a lot about India, Germany, France, Spain, Egypt and Britain because I have spent time in those countries. But as I have never been to Brazil I won't pretend I know a lot. I DO know that I live your food though! There is an ace Brazilian restaurant in Edinburgh (run by a Brazilian lady and her Australian husband) which ROCKS my socks. You guys sure have COOL food!

No- the British are no more "afraid" of foreign looking people than any other slightly water-bound culture (Britain has one disadvantage- it is a small island with no direct contact with other cultures... unless you class Scotland and Wales as completely separate cultures).

Whoever told you all of the above is probably at least as guilty of misconceptions and stereo-typing as the British are about, say, the Brazilians. And erm- football players who are famous are cool WHATEVER their nationality! Pele is an International HERO! OK so we have David Beckham here but that doesn't mean we don't appreciate other good players!

Answer 2

Yes we are cold - it is winter and the weather isn't great right now. Anybody can make friends, but if you are a student who only mixes with other students they will be the people you make friends with - if you stray a little further afield, join a club, visit a pub, join in with sports, or whatever you will make other friends.

Depends who you speak to - I don't think I know very much about Brazil and that others here know a lot more - some know a lot less. I know you speak Portuguese (or that is the official first language), Brazil is huge and does contain a lot of rain forest, the Amazon River etc. I know that McDonalds have cleared a lot of forest to use the land for cattle. I know that there is a wide mix of races and ethnicity in Brazil and people of all colours and creeds. I know you have a carnival every year and that there is a great deal of rivalry between the many different groups who take part. I know there are some very rich and some very poor people in Brazil. I know the capital city is Brasilia and that you have other cities like Rio De Janeiro. I know the Brazilian flag is green and yellow. I know the Brazilain football fans are the best to watch on TV during the world cup (you take loads of totty along). I know that motor racing (F1) is very popular in Brazil and that you had one of the best drivers (Ayrton Senna) and other good ones like Emerson Fittipaldi, Rubens, Nelson Piquet etc. I know I'm bored and tired of listing things I know about Brazil now.
I know that whoever told you what you know about the British doesn't know much about the British.

The British are not afraid of foreigners who look Arabic - however, as somebody else already said, there is a degree of hysteria that has arisen because of some bombing and other terrorist threats ... those threats do not always come from foreigners or people who have an Arabic appearance.

I hope you know a little more about the British now at least ...

Answer 3

In Britain you can get as many bad people as good people. There are those who can be classed as cold and unfeeling but at the same time there are those people who go out of their way to make people feel comfortable and included.

I may not know a lot about Brazil (I hear they have a fantastic carnival and that there is a beautiful cross on the top of a hill (I think) but then I don't know that much about many countries - not through ignorance but because I have never had the opportunity to experience them - I would love to one day but it depends on money etc.

Regarding skin colour - I would assume that there is a mix of colour as there is in this country. And if there are forests there I bet they are beautiful. I have also heard that there are the bad parts of Brazil - the children of the slums for example so does that make you any worse or better than us? I don't think so - just different.

And there is a little fear of Arabian looking people at the moment but that is down to a touch of hysteria following a spate of bob and terrorist threats rather than any type of anti-Arabian thing. Personally I wouldn't care if someone was white, oriental, Asian, Arabian or any other race as long as they treat me with a little respect a dignity I will happily do the same back.

Answer 4

If you don't like us why do you want to come to our country and learn our language? you can learn another language instead like Spanish, you like southern Europeans, so go and learn Spanish and you may understand their culture better than ours.
The reason why British don't know so much about your country or you think they don't know so much, is because it isn't so important for us to learn Portuguese, and it isn't seen as such an important country as far as influence on us is concerned, it isn't one of the G8 countries.
Their are friendly and unfriendly people everywhere in the world in equal amounts, the only difference is in hot climates people are out more, and so it is maybe easier to meet more people quickly. I have lived abroad in a number of countries and in Morocco you do seem to meet people quickly, it is more of a cultural thing and they don't have many tourist so they are interested in meeting them, however Britain has nearly 60 million people and the country isn't that large, we also have a lot of tourists. I work one day a week in the tourist industry, and people come to work in Britain from over seas. Northern and Eastern Europeans take longer to get to know them, but then they could become more of a friend once you know them.

Answer 5

The British are cool people... I know that Brazilians are descendants of Portugal, and that they speak Portuguese & yes they do have a good soccer team, better the Englands team anyway... I'm Scottish and my wife is Portuguese that is how I know this... so I think that if you want to go then go and have a good time...

Answer 6

Brazilians are coloured the way they are because in the 1700's, over 8 million native Africans were shipped from East Africa to Brazil by the Portugese for the slave trade.

That's why they speak Portugese too.

Answer 7

British people are different all over.
almost every community in the world is wary of "outsiders".
the smaller the community, the more close knit they are.
I move from the south of England to the north and was surprised at how friendly people were.
as for your foreign look.. don't worry, you will not stand out.
smile at people...they will smile back at you..

Answer 8

Hey! I don't know where you heard that! I've been to Brazil, Nice people, (well some of them weren't, the ones who mugged my mate) but Hell you get good and bad in ALL races, Yeah, good and bad! Same with the UK!

Answer 9

Most British people aer open to people from different cultures. We're not called "Britishers".

Answer 10

Well, make your mind up pal - do you want to come here or just moan about it. Personally, I don't care what you do. You won't be missed.