To them, she represented in large part what they imagined an American woman to be: flaxen-haired with big tits but minus the obesity that plagues many of us. And I'm a thin brunette whose B-cup chest would cause my roommate to comment that her plastic surgeon was one of the best in Brazil, she could get a discount for me on the surgery, and she'd take care of me during the recovery.
It's true, some segments of the American population have a distinct look or style about them. I experienced a bit of reverse culture shock while I was home and found myself among so many sloppily dressed, Ugg-clad, zaftig women. It wasn't their weight that was distinctive -- there are plenty of fat Chinese in Hong Kong -- but that they simply weren't put together in the way that many Europeans, South Americans and Asians of all sizes are.
Americans are built for comfort, not style, and you can often spot one abroad because they look so boring.
Spotting a Brazilian woman can be easy at times, since each year the government provides all citizens with new green-and-yellow "Brasil" and local football club T-shirts as part of its Camiseta Família program, but when they're hiding their national pride, it can be troublesome because the country is largely a mix of descendants of African slaves, Italians, Germans, Japanese, Lebanese, and Portuguese. And they don't all have big asses, although if my former roommate had her way, they would. She can get you a good deal on butt implants. Just ask.
But there's one way to spot a brasileira that has yet to fail me: these ridiculous Frankenstein platform boots. I first spotted them on a trip to Brazil in October 2006, as I waited in the check-in line at Newark Airport, and everywhere I've traveled since -- from the streets of London to a hotel in Hong Kong -- I've come across Brazilian women sporting these monstrosities.
Each time I spot them, I bet the person I'm with if the wearer is Brazilian, and each time, I've been right. I have never seen them on women of any other nationality, which I concede might be confirmation bias, and I don't understand why they're so damn popular in Brazil. Anyone?
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3 comments:
It seems to me that Brazilian women love any kind of shoes with platforms. I've never been able to figure out the attraction, either. They're just so tacky (in the US, at least).
Jen, I thought it was a Japanese manga thing, but after reading your post, it is obvious it's not. I can't figure out what they are made of, but I can tell you they must have a disgusting smell after wearing them...with all the sun and rain there is in São Paulo. The other day, it was 30 degreess here, and I spotted a 30something woman wearing them. Ok, it is a monstruosity for teens, can you imagine an old woman? Jesus!
I was pretty sure this was something Brazilian women had imported from the US, I saw some Asian girls wearing those the last time I went to the US (this was in California, so YMMV).
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