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Living abroad changes the self-image of any Brazilian.
After a couple of years of living and working in Asia, I found myself super connected to my country. And, for the first time, the bond with Latin America grew strong. By being exposed to different cultures, I knew exactly where I belonged and who I was representing there.
1- Glaciar Perito Moreno (Photo: Pisa Trekking); 2- Vinicunca, 7-colors Mountain (Photo: Peru Travel) and Maragogi Beach (Photo: Viagens e Caminhos)
Disconnected From South America
This experience showed me an undeniable truth: Brazilians are disconnected from our own continent.
Many Brazilians do not see themselves as latinos. We prefer to travel to European countries and the US than visit our neighbors (which, in many cases, do not require a visa or passport from us).
Don't get me wrong. I understand how Paris and Rome are amazing and how the Maldives are appealing. However, take a minute and google a few places, such as Laguna Humantay or Salar de Uyuni. You will see how South America is as stunning as the top Backpacking Itinerary in the Old World.
Why this? The main answer I hear is the language barrier, as Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country on the continent. But this sounds like a poor excuse in a country where North American culture is so popular, only 5% of the population knows English to a certain extent, and 1% of Brazilians are fluent in English.
Reconnecting by reading
I could sail into history, politics, and geography to snatch an answer. Despite that, I want to fulfill my desire to reconnect without finger-pointing (at least not for now). Therefore, when the blank page of 2023 goals stared at me, 2 points were clear:
Learn Spanish once and for all, and;
Read South America.
It's not to read about South America. More than reading about history and places and watching Travel vlogs, I want to learn and recognize our main voice.
And this is what this blog is a way to track my reading and learning journey, engage with the books, and praise our writers. Moreover, by sharing it, maybe I encourage someone to try it too.
Reading South America is ambitious, but I'll move slowly and steadily. As sung by Chico Science, one step forward, and you are no longer in the same place.
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