Natal Local Customs

Here in the US, tipping is a customary 20% of your total bill and is not included unless you have 8 or more in your party.

In Brazil, 10% tip is always included in your bill and you're not expected to leave any more. If you do - well, you'll make great friends of all the wait staff!! But, you really don't need to. Brazilians NEVER leave money on the table after paying a bill. It's just not done. This kind of extra tipping is not expected so, just pay the bill and you're all set.

If you do want to tip, place the tip directly in the hand of the person you want to give the tip to. Leaving money on a table is a sure way for it to quickly vanish into thin air the moment you turn away.

You will find it takes forever (and a day) to get your bill when eating out. If you plan on leaving soon, ask for the bill THEN! If you wait until you WANT to leave to ask for the bill, you'll end up staying another 1/2 hour waiting.

So, just be sure to ask early and all will be good!

We were stopped at many military police roadblocks while traveling. An expatriot american friend of mine gave us the following advice which works all too well.

In your cars paperwork which you hand to the police, simply place 20R$. If the police decide to take it while looking over your papers, no problem. You didn't offer it and it helps to avoid potential issues. It's not a bribe.. rather an incentive and is a part of the brazilian way of life.

There are two kinds of police in Brazil, State and military. The state cops can be distinguished in Natal by the word ROCAM on their uniform. They generally travel in twos in buggy or by motorcycle. The military police are easy to spot, with high powered weapons at the ready and more of a military look about them.

All police in Brazil generally will not bother you too much if you are a tourist as they know you have no need to pay the Brazilian fines or tickets they might impose on you.

Of the four times we were stopped at military roadblocks, none of the police took our money from the documentation. However, these were road blocks. If you get stopped for speeding or some other driving defense, the 20R$ is a good way to avoid potential problems and/or tickets while on an otherwise nice vacation.

Being an American, we eat everything with our hands and have no trouble with it. Basically because we wash our hands all the time and especially before we eat.

Brazilains, however, don't touch their food. They'll eat pizza with a knife and fork, and routinely hold sandwiches with a napkin so their fingers never touch the food itself. Needless to say.. I touched my food and disgusted many.. oh well for them! I know my hands are clean! LOL

As for burping.. well.. just don't do it. I think, as an american, we understand that some bodily functions are OK given certain situations.. well.. sometimes. But.. burp and OK.. well.. excuse me.. oops! NOT in brazil.. oh no.. burp and every brazilian around will give you a dirty look.. some may go so far as to tell you "falha da educação " - equating to.. you're uneducated.

I found these things to be hilarious considering that men and women alike will hock up a big loogie anywhere, anytime and everyone spits all over the place.. but GOD FORBID you touch your food or let a little gas escape your stomach in public!

Go figure.. ;-)

Using the Horn in your car in the states - well, it means something. In Brazil.. it's debatable as to if it means anything at all. Much like speaking, horn usage requires context in Brazil. Use it to say "hello", "get out of my way", "you're cute", "I'm passing you", "you're in my lane", "look @ me, I have a horn", etc. LOL..

Basically.. blow your horn for any reason and for no reason at all and you'll fit right in.

To get someone's attention in Brazil it is customary to whistle or if you can't whistle, to make a noise something like you're calling a cat and saying "phew" at the end... Kind of hard to explain.. but you'll see and hear it right away. i.e. "pppssssshhhhheewwww".
Also, saying "AAAAAAAyy" is common for the same purpose.

These are true for both local men and women - but especially the women, who have no problem being downright rude to waiters or servants of any kind.

Natal is very close to the eauator....and brazilians have their life much at the beach...= don´t bring to much clothes...especially not worm ones.....