Journal Entry #2 – Arnoldo

6- Having a body contact in Brazil, is not really impolite. I think that if you hug or shake hands with a friend is very common and means that you like him. I don’t know why americans think this is disrespecful, since you are not hurting or having a huge body contact with the person. I think it is pretty gentle for you to give it a

Rick: Arnoldo, of course you are hurting them. Not in the physical sense and you may think, but psychologically you are. It is big invasion to have someone who you do not have so much intimacy with touch you. Touching is supposed to be something very intimate between two individuals and not something so trivial as it is in the Brazilian culture.