Exchange student from Brazil, hints on how to make her feel more welcome?

Question

Hi, I will be hosting a 17 year old from the very south of Brazil for a school year. I'd like to know things about what kinds of things we can do with her for evenings and weekends that Brazilian teens enjoy.

Also, are there any cultural things I should know about like certain ways of celebrating holidays, special meals or parties, etc?

I'm going to send her a box with newspapers from our city and a few american magazines, what is something else useful for before she gets here?

Any tips at all would be helpful, we want this to be as fun for her as possible.

Thank you!!

Answer 1

I think sending some photos along of your home, inside and out, and also the city in which you live is always helpful. Brazilian people are great, and I'm sure it will be a great learning experience for you both!

Answer 2

Don't try to show her what's from her country... show her your country... us brazilians just love the culture, the movies, the language, the fun of other countries...

she'll have a great time there... whatever you do...

be sure to have a computer, because brazilians are fanatic for internet..

Answer 3

Wear a thong around the house.  They like to show off their butts alot

Answer 4

Do a barbecue...American barbecue it´s completely different from the South Brazilian´s ones, but anyway, I think she will enjoy it a lot.

PS: Barbecues are very popular in Brazil...especially in South Brazil.

Answer 5

It all depends.

     Here in Brazil it's let's say fashionable for teenagers to go to dance parties on Saturday evenings but she could be a different type of teen who likes to stay home or simply go to the movies.

     During the week, if she is an active type, she could go to a gym and play volleyball or basket ball but of course you would have to know about her in advance.  I would play it by year and try to give her what I would like to give myself if I were in the US.  I'm sure that she will be much more interested to know about how things go in the US life than to have a continuation of what she already has in Brazil; although it's very nice of you to think this way.

     Holidays: Carnaval when people dance samba on the streets(you could take her to a Brazilian club and learn more about the culture); Easter(Páscoa), if she is catholic, she would probably eat fish but you could learn it from her;September 7th, Brazil's independence day and in October Our Lady of Aparecida the protector of Brazil's.

     Something really useful will be a map of her whereabouts in the States.

     Take care and have fun with your guest!

Answer 6

I agree with Paul, internet access is a must to keep contact with family in friends back home.  I'm from Sao Paulo, have lived here for over 15 years and I talk to my cousins daily on orkut!  

As to food...  I think the student may want to have the "American experience" so just cook what you usually have for dinner.  

Great idea about sending the magazines, maybe Seventeen and Glamour.  Also you can send some photos of you and your friends around town and school, so she can have an idea of what it's like.  If you live in a cold state, also send some warm gloves or a scarf.  

Definitely take her shopping bc that's all my family wants to do when they're here bc things are so much cheaper here!  

I'm sure it'll be a great experience for the both of you!

Answer 7

I agree that you should focus more on providing your Brazilian exchange student with an authentic American experience as opposed to trying to recreate a Brazilian one. That said, I'm sure he/she will enjoy staying with you as it's already apparent you are a gracious host who cares about your guests.

One thing I would suggest is to make sure you have lots of fresh fruit and vegtables on hand. Brazilians are used to eating home cooked meals and might miss the fresh veggies/fruits they eat on a regular basis in Brazil.

Answer 8

hi i'm a 18 year old braziliam

and i'm from the south of  brazil

i think the best think you shold do is teach her about you culture as much as you can.. show her around you city

and about the magazines and news papers this was a very good idea congratulations!!!

i think you don't need to worry about

by the way another good idea is to go to the movie theater with her i think she would like it

good luck

=D

and thanks for beeing hosting somebody from brazil =D

Answer 9

i hosted people from japan.

try showing him/her more about your country...

just treat him like normal citizen treat him as your friend

treat him with your normal daily meals

bringing him to your musuem is also a good way

Answer 10

I'm South-Brazilian, from Rio Grande do Sul. We have our own culture, but it's not too different from other Brazilian places. We Brazilian love to learn as much as possible about different cultures.

When I was in Argentina with my family for a week, I missed too much Brazilian music (samba, to sum up) and food (we have foods from all around the world coz Brazilian culture is a great mix-up, but we can't live without fruits and vegetables!!! heheheh) another thing I missed there is something I don't know the translation for English - but if you google "chimarrão" or "mate" I think you'll find out something about (all South Brazilian people are addicted to it! heheheh I'm joking ^^ but we do miss things like that)

I hope it helps :D

Answer 11

Hi, I owned a language school and I brought in about 10,000 Brazilians over a 12 year period. They will miss their own country very much. If they have access to the internet, MSN, Schype, etc, they will be fine. They have great food in Brazil, so I would ask them their preferences. They will enjoy the cultural and social aspects of your city. Most important thing I would say is the internet.

You will love your Brazilan.

Paul