Advices to a Business Trip to Brazil Are you going on a business trip toBrazil? This article will give you some suggestions to understand some culturalcharacteristics of this amazing country. There is a consensus that it is achallenge to do business in a different cultural environment, for this reasonbusiness tourist has to be preparedfor this difficult journey. Accordingto Utley (2004)1, cultural characteristics are organized in threecategories: surface culture (things that you can recognize with no effort),shallow surface (similar to surface, but not too low) and deep culture (things that you recognize only if youare very familiar with the culture). Utley (2004)1 explainedthat cultural characteristics is composed by many components. In Brazil, tourist can observe these elementsgrouped in two parts: first part is related to surface and shallow culture and thesecond part is pertinent to deep culture. Examples of the first part are artefacts,gastronomy, greetings, treatment of outsiders, driving habit, physicalgestures, and organization of companies. Moreover, examples of the second partare family life, humour, values and beliefs and social organization and class. Thefirst example of cultural characteristic in Brazil is the public transportation.Using it can be problematic in a business trip because the schedules are notpunctual. Also, taking bus or subway in the rush hours, which is around 7:00 amin the morning and 6:00 pm in the evening, might be very busy and you must payattention to your own safety. Second example about living in Brazil is dealingwith emergencies, it is similar to others countries, you can call the policeusing the number 190 and the fireman at the number 193. Third example ofcultural habits in this country of South of America is how to give tip. Theamount of tipping in the restaurants in Brazil is 10% of the bill, but it isnot mandatory. However, if you do not receive a good service, you should notpay it. The fourth example of Brazilian culture is about deep culture, which localproducts are discussed. If business tourists are interested to buy these kind ofproducts in Brazil, they have to ask their hostess because local products aresold in a specific day of the week, in a place called Feira. Beyond that, tourists must haveBrazilian money to buy things at the feira. Then, the fifth example ofcultural characteristics is about using money. When tourists arrive in Brazil,the best thing they should do is to exchange their money, considering that manystores do not have the habit of accepting foreign money. The last tip in thisarticle is about business meeting. When a manager does a presentation expectingthat everybody to be quiet, unfortunally it will not happen in Brazil.Brazilians usually ask you questions while you are speaking. Do not be nervous,if you can not handle it, explain that you would like to answer the questions atthe end of your presentation. To conclude, the key of a good businesstrip is to know the cultural characteristics of the country that you intend to visit.The business tourists who are willing to follow some of these information aboutBrazilian culture will most likely do pleasant and safe travel to that greatcountry. 1 - Utley, D. (2004). Intercultural