Valores objeto de operaciones TTV

One of the most distinguishing aspects of Brazilians is their friendly nature and penchant for relationships. Harrison cites a Brazilian friend who relates: ―‗Friend‘ likewise means something different in Brazil. ‗A friend is like a brother or sister. You share things, be honest with them. They will accept you as you are. They will question you, argue with you. It leads to growth.‘‖650

That said, like Arabs, Brazilians are certainly not friends with everyone in society. In light of DaMatta‘s home and street paradigm, it should be noted that friendship in Brazil is necessarily exclusive and that relationships can be observed on different levels.651 Many Brazilians remain strangers to one another, while others, such as those who work together, are regarded as

648 _{See Patai, 239-43; also Nydell, 25-26. For more discussion on the role of a mediator, see Duane}

Elmer, Cross-Cultural Conflict: Building Relationships for Effective Ministry (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1993), 65-79.

649

See Patai, 252-60.

650 _{See Harrison, 10.} 651 _{See Page, 229-58.}

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colleagues (colegas). After some time, a colleague may become a friend (amigo), which as indicated in the description above, means that the friend has in a sense become a part of the family.652

Given these levels of relationship within Brazil and the process of going from stranger to colleague and possibly to friend, how do Brazilians meet one another? First, Brazilians often become friends through their work. It is not unusual for businessmen working on a deal to strike up a friendship because, as Harrison notes, ―Brazilians often approach business as a particular kind of social interaction.‖653

Also, it is common for co-workers in a company to go out for drinks after work, even for many years, before consecrating their friendship by inviting one another to their homes.654 Second, Brazilians also meet in otherwise public places. Friendships have been started on buses, in the market, and of course, at the beach. The latter is a key public place in Brazilian society and it‘s often where young people, including young men and women with romantic interests, become acquainted and strike up a

friendship.655 Finally, in both work and public places, Brazilians have been known for their warmth, charm, and friendship toward foreigners. Page correctly asserts:

―Cordiality is a defining characteristic of their behavior. They radiate an irresistible pleasantness, abundant hospitality, and unfailing politeness, especially to

foreigners.‖656

Not unlike Arabs, Brazilian friendships seem to thrive on the favor system. While some colleagues may ask for a favor, such requests happen more often among friends. Sometimes the request, generally communicated in an indirect manner, is actually made to test the friendship. Indeed, if it is within one‘s power to act, a

652 _{See Harrison, 10-11; also Finley, 113.} 653 _{See Harrison, 72.}

654

See Vincent, 83; also Harrison, 77.

655 _{See Harrison, 63-67; also Vincent, 89.} 656 _{See Page, 9.}

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friend‘s request for a favor cannot be refused. Even when Brazilians are not able to help, they will rarely communicate this directly.657

Also like Arabs, Brazilians build friendships within the context of a largely communal culture. Harrison writes that ―The general concern for the group rather than the individual, and an appreciation for the human world around them, all create

situations in which Brazilians are rarely alone.‖658

A by-product of the traditional Brazilian extended family, the communal nature of Brazilian society can be observed on a number of fronts. Though certainly apparent in the life and business of small towns, the group orientation can also be observed in the cities, for instance, when employees take their coffee breaks.659 Vincent writes, ―[Brazilians] stop their work, come together at the coffee bar or around the coffee server, drink, converse, and then return to previous duties.‖660

Outside of work, Brazilians of all races and classes meet and interact on public transportation, at the beach, and of course at soccer (futebol) matches. Describing the soccer match as a community gathering, Page vividly writes:

Crowds attending major matches are not mere onlookers; they are participants in an ecstatic rite that begins when teams take the field. Waving banners, setting off firecrackers, tossing talcum powder, and chanting cheers, the fans enter into a symbiotic relationship with the players, who feed off the energy that comes from the stands.661

Another venue in which Brazilians demonstrate a collective spirit is at Carnival, the pre-Lenten celebration which officially marks the end of the summer. Page adds:

For five nights and four days, a marathon of merrymaking convulses the city, as delirious celebrants shed all their inhibitions (along with most of their outer garments) and respond to the ubiquitous, nonstop pulsing of drums conveying the infectious beat of the samba.662

657

See Harrison, 14-15; also Finley, 114-15.

658 _{See Harrison, 12.}

659 _{See Rosanne Prado‘s very insightful study in Prado, ―Small Town, Brazil: Heaven and Hell of}

Personalism,‖ in Hess and DaMatta, 59-82.

660

See Vincent, 85.

661 _{See Page, 392.} 662 _{See Page, 469.}

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Finally, Brazilians achieve a form of community through popular religion. Though the practices and underlying beliefs of Brazilian Spiritism will be addressed shortly, it is sufficient here to conclude with Wiebe that ―Spiritism in Brazil is primarily a group activity.‖663

Some may object to the assertion that Brazil is predominantly a communal culture, arguing for a certain Brazilian individualism. However, Finley helpfully distinguishes Brazilian individualism from that which is observed in North America or Europe. He writes:

Brazilians have a different kind of individualism. Brazil is still a relational culture, and people always sense that they need others. Brazilian individualism consists, therefore, not of isolationism, but of efforts to assert oneself within a group.664

Finally, how do Brazilians generally go about resolving conflict? There is a Brazilian proverb that says, ―When one doesn‘t want, two don‘t quarrel.‖665 This saying serves as a reminder that Brazilians are high context people who tend to prefer indirect communication and therefore do not prefer direct, verbal confrontation. Rodriques adds:

The basic Luso-Brazilian personality has a horror of violence and always seeks a way of smoothing things over, a path of moderation that avoids definite breaks. Cleverness, prudence in shunning

extremes, an ability to forget, a rich sense of humor, a cool head and a warm heart get the Brazilians through difficult moments.666

In short, Brazilians continue to value cordiality even in conflicts and will pursue a solution for the problem in a diplomatic and indirect manner. A key value in Brazilian culture, which will be discussed more shortly, is finding a solution (jeito) to problems or challenges. Rather than confronting the issue directly, Brazilians will lean on

663 _{See James P. Wiebe, ―Persistence of Spiritism in Brazil,‖ (DMiss dissertation, Fuller Theological}

Seminary, 1979), 10.

664

See Finley, 192.

665 _{Cited in Moreau, Corwin, and McGee, 276.} 666 _{Cited in Harrison, 18.}

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relationships or appeal to favors to resolve it. This approach certainly applies to resolving a conflict with friends.