My parents quickly immersed themselves in the culture, befriending the easygoing Brazilians; their Polish accents became barely noticeable after a while, and they had full command of the Portuguese language. They loved the warm climate and the warmth of the Brazilians.
They admired the importance of social connections in Brazilian culture. A Brazilian would gladly interrupt an important meeting or errand to offer a helping hand or to engage in a quick chat, offering the obligatory "cafezinho" and a bite of "pao de queijo," a delicious cheesy bread made with Cassava flour and parmesan cheese, lots of it.
A good-natured chat with relatives, friends, and strangers is often seen as a unique opportunity to potentially meet your "best friends for life," as long as the stranger isn"t a smiling
