Adjusting To Culture Part II

If you visit Brasil...
Have a "Salgado!" Trust me!

We have now lived in Brazil for a little more than 3 months and we are loving every second. We have enjoyed getting to know the people here at the church as well as many others in the community. Some of the questions that people often ask us both here and back in the states regard the food. "How is the food?" "What is the food like?" "Do you have a favorite food yet?" "How about a restaurant?" The answer to all of those questions is something similar to..."I like food, so yes." The food here is very good. However, it has taken some getting used to (I'm sure that anytime you almost completely change your diet and the things you eat...it takes some getting used to).

"Por Kilo" restaurants here are very common, maybe the most common of any type of restaurant here but I won't say that with certainty. It is a buffet style of restaurant but totally different at the same time. There is a buffet bar, however, instead of paying one price and being able to eat as much as you want for virtually as long as you want, you grab a plate and get what you want and put it on a scale to see how much it will be. So, you can have a small amount or get things that are on the lighter side and spend little or you can get a lot and spend a lot. All depends on what you want. There are also many differently priced restaurants like this. These types of restaurants make for good opportunities to try many different new types of food. However, it would help to know what we are reading on the name plaques next to each dish. We ARE getting better at this!

Found these import gems...but they were a bit too pricey.
None of them were important enough for us to buy.

One thing that is still a bit difficult is the price of many of the foods. Some things seem to be relatively close in price as to what we are used to. Some things seem cheaper (fruits and veggies especially...which is awesome). However, many things are more expensive. We expected this, but it might take a little more time for us to be used to it. I am used to paying $1 or a $1.50 for a 2-liter of coke, however, I am getting used to spending closer to $2 or $2.50. There are just a few items like this and with some of them (like coke) it's not a big deal. With others though (like ice cream), it's taking us a little more time to get used to. But we all gotta eat and sometimes we even need a little ice cream!

Eating with a napkin...I will master this art!

The other thing that has taken some getting used to is the difference in the way people eat here. Kelci does a lot better than me with this. I still often forget. People rarely eat using only their hands. If they are eating a hamburger, it is with a napkin around it. If they are eating a subway sandwich, they hold it with the paper. Many things that we are used to eating with our hands, they use toothpicks or napkins. Honestly, when you think about eating this way, it makes a lot of sense because our hands are very dirty. But if you did not grow up that way, it can be difficult to do and difficult to remember to do. The first time I tried eating a hamburger with a napkin, it was an utter failure. I often joke that we americans eat like cave men, but in reality it is just another different thing about each culture.

I would be lying if I said that I did not miss some of the food back in the states. We for sure miss some things. However, I know that there will be day when we are very old that we miss the food here too. Both places have great food, in my opinion. And like culture and like everything else with culture, it is just a little different! We are having a blast trying new foods and restaurants and everything. We welcome new things and know there will be many more to come.

- Kelly and Kelci