Frequently Asked Questions

We've started to notice that people here are very fond of asking us two questions. The same two questions.
At least once a week, we are asked these by a Brazilian, whether it be someone we already know or someone we've just met.

 "Do you like Manaus?"     and
 "What do you think about Portuguese? It's harder than English, right?"

(Ok, ok. Technically that would be 3 questions, but the third is just more of an affirmation than question.)

Anyway, people are very fond of asking how much we are liking Brazil, liking Manaus in particular.  Obviously, the only correct answer would be that we are liking it a lot. There isn't much room for discussion about this topic with a Brazilian. The one time I gave a "yeah, it's ok, I guess..." kind of answer, I realized from the perplexed and disappointed expression on my friend's face, that that would not do.  Now we stick with the "oh, yeah, it's so great!" response.

For the question about Portuguese, it is pretty easy for me to say, "Yes, Portuguese is difficult." But how can someone whose first language is English compare it's level of difficulty to a new language? Of course it is hard and English is easy, but that's because I already speak English! I have had various people try to tell me how much more advanced of a language Portuguese is than English (more rules, harder grammar), which leaves me to wonder... if English is so much easier, why don't you remember what you learned in your years of English classes in school?!  Before I sound like a complete brat, I have to say that I think Portuguese is a very beautiful language, and I am really enjoying hearing it, learning it, and speaking it.

Just please don't ask me to compare it to English!