Things I Do That Get Funny Looks

It started with my hair color. When we moved here people stared at me endlessly. When I say stare, I mean STARE. Some women would practically fall out of their chairs looking at me. My husband didn’t get it a first until I told him to start looking around and then he agreed.

It bothered me at first because in the States and many other places staring is incredibly rude. I’ve gotten to the point where I just stare back now with the same intensity and they usually look away.

It has died off a bit. Either that or I just notice it less now. However, I have noticed that I do a lot of things that get strange looks here. Maybe I’m just being paranoid but my days are filled with funny looks from strangers. Most of the time it is a source of laughter for my day so maybe that is a good thing.

I thought I’d compile a short list of some of the things I do on a daily basis that make people look at me a little funny. I would properly bullet the list, but blogger is taking issue with my writing and won't cooperate.

I only take 7 seven oranges for R$1 when it is 15 for R$2 at the feira. I guess bargaining is a big thing here, but honestly I’ve never liked doing that. Apparently I’m supposed to try for the better end of the deal and take 8 oranges. The truth is I only want 7 so every time I say, “Sete” and hand the guy R$1 he looks at me kind of funny.

I wait until all the traffic has stopped and the light has changed before crossing the street. I don’t trust drivers here at all, so you will often find me standing on the corner waiting for stopped traffic while others wisp by me. I’ve come close to being hit a couple times and I can’t believe how daring some of the pedestrians are here. I’d much rather wait an extra 30 seconds and cross the road safely.

We often grab our groceries and put them in the basket before they can be bagged. There is an excessive use of plastic bags here at Brazilian grocery stores. They are about the size of a sandwich bag so it takes about 30 of them sack up a moderate amount of groceries. We often say we don’t need a bag or we grab the milk and other similar items and just put them in the cart without a bag. The cashier literally looks at us like we are crazy.

I wear baggy workout clothes. I’ve never been one to enjoy skin tight leotards when I workout. Most recently we exercised at a campus recreation center since I worked for the university. The normal attire was comfortable t-shirts and shorts, not matching workout outfits. Here I’m finding the outfit is a big thing and women like to wear somewhat revealing clothes when they work out. So yet again, as if my hair wasn’t enough, you can definitely spot me at the gym because I’m the only girl with the baggy Kentucky t-shirt on.

I talk to dogs in English. Stray dogs, dogs in the window at the pet store, I talk to them all. I love dogs and I hate so much to see them living in such horrible conditions both in the streets and in the pet stores. I’ve been known to stop at the pet store and chat a few minutes and say a few words to the ones that pass me on the street. I know I can’t prove it, but they DO understand English.