Cultural Connections: Snapshot on Brazilian Culture

Cultural Connection provides WellStar team members with information about the diverse patients and communities we serve. Each month the newsletter highlights a different ethnicity or religion by introducing a variety of customs and traditions to foster a greater respect and understanding. No generalizations about individuals should be made since all individuals differ – so when in doubt, ask! 

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population, with more than 192 million people. Ecuador and Chile are the only South Ameri-can countries which do not share their boundaries with Brazil.

In 2004, some estimates of the Brazilian American population were upwards of 600,000, with the largest Brazilian population in New York, followed by Boston, Washington, Miami, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Connecticut and New Jersey. In Georgia, Cobb County is home to the largest population of Brazilians, followed closely by Fulton and Gwinnett Counties.
Did You Know?

• Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas and the largest lusophone country in the world.
• Soccer is the national sport of Brazilians, and every city in Brazil has a soccer stadium.
• The Capital of Brazil is Brasilia - not Rio de Janeiro as almost everybody thinks. 

To learn about the Brazilian culture, including communication, religion, diet and nutrition, go to eSource > Organizational Learning > Cultural Competency  click here to download this month's Cultural Connections issue, and don’t forget to respond to the quiz on page two! In this edition, you will also meet a member of the Medical Interpretation Team and will learn about new intiatives, including dual handset phones in every patient room and Spanish language magazines available in patient waiting areas.
Information highlighted in this publication is from the Culture Vision tool and Global Atlanta Snapshots, a publication of Atlanta Regional Commission. More in-depth information can be found on the Culture Vision tool on eSource, by navigating to Human Resources > Cultural Competency > Cultural Connections Newsletter.