View of Curitiba from outside the city
Dar um jeitinho
Life in Brazil is colorful and captivating. Brazilians are some
of the most kind, caring individuals that you will meet, and they are
constantly joking around. But this is not just coincidence; it’s survival.
Life in Brazil is hard and unfair. Many here live in extreme poverty,
but it’s more than that. The government is full of corruption. Tasks that are
barely an inconvenience for us, like going to the bank, can take all day in
Brazil. And the necessities of life are incredibly expensive. Being taken advantage
of is just something that Brazilians have to put up with. My cell phone was
stolen last week, and I heard more Brazilians say, “join the club” than “oh my
god, no way!” Yet Brazilians have a warmth and a vibrancy that you will not
encounter in many other places in the world.
One of the ways they are able to survive this harsh environment is
the combination of creativity and a family mentality embodied by the title of
this post. In English, “dar um jeitinho” could be translated to “make it work”
or “figure something out”. But here in Brazil, “dar um jeitinho” is a way of
life. Brazilians help each other out and are willing to give, even past the
point of hurting. When something does not work out the way you hoped, you
figure something out. When you can barely afford to buy food, you get together
with your friends and help each other out.
I am privileged to be a part of autism research at a children’s
hospital in the beautiful city of Curitiba for the summer. It is a fairly large
city and, according to many, one of the nicest cities in Brazil. But the people
here dar um jeitinho just like the rest of Brazil. It is a way of life that
most of us are not used to coming from the US, but it is one way to be more
positive and thankful for what you have, in spite of whatever circumstances you
are facing. While I am here over the summer, I hope to adopt this mentality. I
believe it is a secret to being stronger, happier and more adaptable.
And I already know I will have to try very hard not to bring a
Brazilian or two home in my suitcase….
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