Brazil - the largest country in South America, occupying almost half of the continent, the fifth largest country in the world after Russia, China, Canada and the United States. The Amazon basin is more than one-third of the country, and most of it covered with swamps and jungles. Amazon called the "lungs of the planet", as 50% of all the oxygen on earth produced here. 25% of all pharmaceutical substances extracted from plants of the Amazon forest. The Amazon River and its tributaries - 20% of all fresh water in the world. Of the 20 longest rivers of the world, 10 are in Amazonia.

The Discreet Charm of Brazil

What associations you have with the word "Brazil"? Let's Will verify: a lot of wild monkeys, a lot of Pedro, "but I want to Brazil to distant shores", Pele and even football, carnival, "The generals sand pits" and in general Amadou, Villa Lobos, samba, series ... not too much, with all pleasant, but by and large, everyone has their own Brazil: one without hesitation call all the players of the Brazilian team, the other also famously list the actors and performers telenovela "Family Ties", not forgetting to mention that starred many years is sex symbol of Brazil. But who among us can boast a deeper knowledge of this amazing country? Or to explain, for example, why is there, in a country where almost half of the citizens - mulatto, no racial problems? Hanging his heads together with you, we offer to go to the Embassy of Brazil to receive first-hand information.

- Unfortunately, now is not the ambassador, he got sick and had taken leave - told us charming Rozimar Souza, second secretary of the embassy. - No matter how annoying, but soon it will not be able to meet - he will not even celebrate Independence Day with us. And usually that day we will always hold a very interesting event in the Ambassador's residence.

Senorita Rozimar was so amiable that she agreed to tell the readers of the newspaper of the Russian-speaking native of Brazil and Brazilians.

They say that every nation has its own character. Can you describe the typical image of the Brazilian with his typical national character?

Most of all, I personally like the fact that Brazilians know how to look at life optimistically, to see the positive side in everything .  They always radiate a lot of positive energy .  I realized it only at the time when I started working in the diplomatic corps, and first came to Europe .  Only there, I felt the difference .  That the Israelis in this sense, more like Brazilians than Europeans .  I immediately felt it when I was two years ago, work was transferred here from Munich Israel, a welcoming and warm, so impulsive, reminds me of my native Brazil .  And when they say, they say, it's dangerous, I just ridiculous .  I grew up in the suburbs of Rio and survived! What am I going to be afraid of? Believe me, there was much more dangerous .  While Israeli society is more nervous, irritable, compared with Brazil .  Of course, it has its own reasons .  We have no such problems, as you have no conflict with its neighbors, there is no dispute over land .  The last war we had in the late 19th century .  By the way, some Brazilian social scientists argue that the high crime rates in big cities - is a form of civil war waged by the rich against the poor . 

Before I came to Europe, I am very critical of their own country, could not understand why so many tourists come to us. I thought, well, what attracts these people what they want to see here? After all, they live in such a beautiful country! And in Europe I realized how attractive looks, our smiling, warm, sincere, informal Brazil in their eyes. Yes, our people - a very great optimists. They are poor, but not surrender, do not despair, do not obey destiny. Brazilians try to enjoy life and, if possible, to change it for the better.

What I really like in my people - they love and are able to discuss everything. They always have the courage to speak their minds, even if someone does not like it. Perhaps that is why we throughout our history managed to preserve the unity and not sink to the civil wars and bloodshed.

Federative Republic of Brazil consists of 24 states, four federal territories and the Federal District, where the capital - the city of Brasilia. Head of state and government - the president, who is elected for six years. Legislative power is exercised by the National Congress. The official language - Portuguese. Distributed - English, German, Italian. About 80% of the population resides in the band not further 320 km from the Atlantic coast.

We can say that the Brazilian people always had high political consciousness?

That is why the history of the Brazilian proceeded relatively peacefully .  Although there are tough times .  For example, the revolution of 1964, when the left-wing forces attempted to seize power .  Generally, the 60s were turbulent in Latin America .  But with a few exceptions at all times the Brazilians were able to resolve their problems peacefully .  After all, in the history of Brazil, we even did not have racial problems .  No, to some extent, they have been, of course, but not so much as in the US, for example .  There are white and black living separately, are not communicated with each other, then Black has long sought equality .  We've all been wrong .  In Brazil, always mixed of all races - white, Africans, Indians, and never had a racial division .  Although in this case at all times there was a very strict separation of social status, according to the riches .  But never on the race! Yes, we have it would be simply impossible - to live separately because Brazil - a true melting pot .  I, for example, in the family have Africans, Indians, and there have Italians .  And almost every one of us is a mixture of different races .  So what kind of division we can talk? Yes, there is great economic inequality, and therefore much more likely to occur in persons with economic tragedy than race .  In this sense, we are not like the United States . 

Carnival telenovelas

What tragedies - economic or other - you had to face?

I, too, from the bottom .  No, it would be correct to say - from the lower middle class .  From childhood dream to learn and to achieve a better life .  And, of course, I had a lot of fight .  Based on personal experience, I can say that in a democratic country, all children should receive equal educational opportunities .  At least - the initial .  Because the only way to give the child the necessary tools so that he could with ability and desire (ambition!) Go up .  But Brazil's public schools are very bad .  I had to put a lot of effort to break out .  You see, I contradict myself by saying that our society is not democratic enough, and then told me that I myself still managed to break out .  Of course, in those parts of society where I was born and raised, no one became a diplomat .  This is only my merit, my achievement .  But recently, Brazilian society is undergoing a dramatic change .  To better .  However, I still was doubly hard because I'm still a woman . 

Our society is still in its formative stages. We still have a very high rate of illiteracy, about 80 percent of the population. But the middle class in Brazil, highly educated people who are actively interested in issues of culture, trying to benefit the country, pass on their knowledge to others.

Do you watch the Brazilian telenovela that are so popular in the former Soviet Union and are already starting to win a place under the sun in Israel? (Except for the miniseries "Don Flor and her two husband" on channel Viva Platinum Platinum - the most precious metal in the world Now on the Family Channel is "Land of Love," which we have just finished looking at ORT).

I myself do not watch telenovelas Now .  Because it sucks .  After watching a series, you already should continue in the same spirit and go all the way to the end .  I'm just sorry this time .  But, of course, the telenovela - is one of the best tools to understand the Brazilian people and the Brazilian culture and the Brazilian way of life .  The popularity of telenovelas in Brazilian society occurs in the most grassroots and rises .  Selecting a telenovela that people will watch is determined by when he has free time, and that he prefers .  Because the number of television shows great series, and the competition is high .  One like the six o'clock soap opera, as a rule, are very kind and naive, such as "Slave Izaura" .  It's fun for those who like to empathize, to cry .  At seven pm telenovela shown lighter, funny, comedy .  How, for example, the classic series O Bem Amado, which grew more than one generation of Brazilians . 

In Brazil, as we have, there are people who believe the telenovela genre low and deny its right to exist?

Of course, Brazilian intellectuals never admit that watching soap operas .  They believe that the telenovela - a distortion of reality, although I personally believe they are essential .  Because they show man .   his dream .  For the poorest of the poor is like a drug .  What people dream? About to climb up the social ladder, becoming rich, famous, success .  This gives it the illusion of series .  Many people love to telenovela, because you can sit down, relax and not think about nothing .  Of course, the series - this is not a purely Brazilian invention, but in Brazil they have found a very fertile soil, because they allow the poorest people, whom we are very much apart from the gray reality, and for some time to get into the world of dreams .  For this reason, in Brazil, as popular carnivals .  If you look at the people who participate in them, you will not believe that it is the representatives of the poorest sections of the population, representatives of the "favela" slum-dwellers! At the same time all by yourself prepare costumes, dress up in kings and queens, powerful wizards, heroes and even gods . 

Many Brazilians say they live from carnival to carnival. Samba Parade - the main event of the carnival. In the city center on the dance floor length of 50 meters, the so-called sambodrome, dance groups compete in the sophistication and elegance of movement. It is important not just to captivate the audience, but also to impress the exacting jury. The story of its allegorical speech, over which samba school work for a year, kept a strict secret from competitors.

During the Carnival, rich and poor are reversed. Poor people in fancy dress parade through the city, and the rich men stand on the sidewalk and looking at them enthusiastically. Carnivals in Brazil turned an entire industry in the hobby, and even though they are carried out once a year, on the very next day after the carnival people begin to prepare for the next one to come up and sew new costumes, decorate them.

That is most true fans?

This is actually a way to escape from the monotony of everyday real life. And exactly the same phenomenon can be explained by the popularity of telenovelas. For this reason, Brazil very popular religion. It's very interesting, because the religions that exist in Latin America, called "popular Catholicism". It's a little like a prim Roman Catholic Church. Brazilians are very informal religion, they want to become involved in something holy informally. Generally, people are very spontaneous, impulsive, and it shows in their attitude to religion. Especially the inhabitants of Rio - their impulsivity can be a lot to tell.

54% of Brazilians - the Europeans (Portuguese, Italians, Germans and Spaniards), 39% - 39% mulattos, Indians and Asians (Japanese, Indians, Arabs) a little over 1%. Brazil is the largest Catholic country in the world. About 90% of the national wealth in the hands of 10% of the population, while 40 million. Brazilians live below the poverty line. The number of unemployed is more than 10 million people, 23 million people are illiterate. The per capita income - about 3.14 million dollars.

Therefore, Rio de Janeiro is famous as the city where scared to go out at night on the street?

In Brazil, in the big cities is very high crime, especially as you rightly pointed out, in Rio. This street crime, and all the ways to escape from the surrounding reality (speaking the language of science - escapism) to help reduce violence in society and even reduce crime. People are poor, very hard work, but when he returned home and sat in front of TV, they see beautiful women in gorgeous gowns, elegant men, the life of which they have always dreamed of, and perceive the telenovela is very sincere, naive, cry and laugh with the characters , empathize with them, how close people.

Is craze Brazilian football - not a manifestation of the same escapism?

Of course! Football - it is also a form of escapism .  Life in the "favelas" (slums) is very heavy, and the boys there from an early age not leave with the ball .  The ball is inexpensive .  He can even afford poor .  No need for this hobby of some expensive equipment .  Football - it is a chance for every boy from the slum, which is not able to get a good education and break out in people .  They have to drop out of school early and go to earn money for his family .  But it can be Pele, the rich and famous in one day, if it is to play good football .  It is - like a carnival .  You do not need any special preparations razukras yourself and go to the street, sing, dance, show yourself, show me what you can do .  Note that most of our players, 80 per cent, perhaps it is the boys from "favelos" .  All of them are from the lowest strata .  One was a football player from the upper classes, he was a doctor by profession .  But when you hear on television interviews with the players, you know that they are from the bottom, they all tend to be poorly educated .  So football we reduce social tensions . 

But the tension is still there. Although your words imply that Brazil - an oasis of calm on the background of the raging Latin America.

Yes, compared with neighboring countries, such as Argentina, we are very quiet country. And we democratization is easier, even our military and ruling classes are willing to take it. The fact that they - also Brazilians, and we all - people are very open. If someone admired in Brazil, it really sincerely, extremely sincere. When we have a new celebrity favorite hero or a new telenovela, look in the maternity ward - all the children named in their honor. Similarly, they take over the fashion - dress up as characters series, imitate their manners.

In the period from the 16th to 18th century Portuguese raided the settlement of the Indians and led them into slavery. An additional blow to the size of the Indian population have caused the disease, colonists imported from Europe (influenza, measles, smallpox). The slave trade that existed in Brazil until the 19th century, radically changed the ethnic character of the country. The country imported more than 3 million. African slaves, mostly from West Africa and Angola. Africans had a significant impact on the ethnic composition of the country and its culture. African music, dance, food, beliefs have become an integral part of everyday life.

You said that you will soon leave. Permanently or temporarily?

A year later, I have to leave Israel, I end my cadence, and I was crying about it. I like your people, your country, I am so used to it, so I feel good here. So far, I do not know where I shall get. Generally in Brazil everything is done at the last moment. I was warned at best two months. But while I'm here, and we have the Independence Day, which took place just on the days of celebration of Rosh Hashanah. I wish you all happiness and optimism. Absolutely Brazilian optimism.

Irina Grushin