Vancouver is such a captivating city, full of opportunities, that in recent years it has become a focal point for many nationalities seeking a better life. Today, Canada in general is a completely multicultural country; you can meet people from all over the world in just one place.

Today I wanted to show you a little bit about how my culture, that of the Brazilian people, is part of, at least a little, the Canadian culture. The first thing is that it doesn’t matter if you are Canadian or not, I can be sure that at least once in your life you have met a Brazilian, you are friends with a Brazilian, or if you have never met one, you will not die without meeting one. We are everywhere, and I know we have our flaws, but one thing I can say with certainty is that we’d like to be friends with you. We are great listeners and we love meeting new people.

Brazilian culture is one of the fastest growing here, and we love Vancouver. Here, we know that the culture is diverse, welcoming, and open to receiving us. So yes, you will find Brazilians everywhere.

I know, we are noisy, we laugh loudly, we hug with emotion and we will treat you like our best friend from the first day I see you, but I swear it’s just our special way of occupying spaces, bringing spontaneity, conversation, music. And honestly, I think that’s why so many Canadians connect so easily with Brazilians, it’s like that phrase “opposites attract”.

And in the same way that Brazilians are gradually introducing themselves to Canadian life and culture, Canadians are also gradually introducing themselves to Brazilian culture. Nowadays, in downtown Vancouver you will find bars with specific days just for Brazilian parties, restaurants with typical dishes or drinks, like the Cactus Cafe Club restaurant with the famous “De Nada Limonada”. Besides, I, a Brazilian, go to Brazilian events and often find more people of other nationalities than Brazilians themselves.

Finally, for Canadian culture, having a Brazilian nearby means hearing completely unimaginable music, learning expressions that make no sense in English, being invited to the next friends’ get-together even if you met them 10 minutes ago, and discovering Brazilian cuisine.

(leandroconexao/Pixabay)

And for Brazilians, Vancouver is the place where we found warmth, fun, and the perfect place to live. The cultures intertwine, and I love knowing that today I have a little bit of both.