Customs and norms.

Out of all places I’ve traveled to outside of the United States (Germany, France, Brazil), Brazil has to be the most different. Especially since I know the culture of Brazil, I can pick apart the differences between the US and Brazil. My parents, both being born and raised in Brazil, aren’t used to all of American culture although they’ve been living here for over 15 years. Brazilian culture is very religion and family oriented, two things that I am not at all.

           

            I was born and raised in the US and don’t see my family often at all. When I was seven, I went to Brazil yearly until the age of twelve. After twelve I went bi-yearly. I love my family, but because I do not know them like my parents do or because I’m not raised with them, I can’t call myself family oriented. That’s something that really bothers my parents. They both love their family and would do absolutely anything for them, and sadly, but honestly, I wouldn’t. They are my blood and I love them to death, but they are not supportive, and a big enough of part of my life like some of my friends are.

           

            Brazil consists mostly of the Catholic religion. My mother’s side of the family is Christian, while my father’s is Catholic. My parents split up when I was five, and I have been living with my mother. When I was younger, my mother took me to church with her, Saint Tarcicius church to be exact. I considered myself Catholic and believing in God until I was in seventh grade. Then I learned about the Holocaust.

            After learning about the Holocaust in my seventh grade history class, it didn’t take long until I began to rationalize and critically examine the belief of god. As eighth grade came and we got more into detail about the Holocaust and heard from survivors who were religious before the event, I decided that I no longer believe in god.

           

            I am a junior now in high school and have learned a lot more about Atheism, death, post-death, and religion. I stand by my views of being an Atheist and that is something my family does not accept. My father and I got into an argument when he was visiting me from Brazil over the subject and he is disgusted by the fact that I am a non-believer. That has to be the biggest difference between my family and I. They believe in religion because they were raised to and in Brazil they don’t usually discuss atheism or other religions. My mother has yet to know that I am an atheist and I am nervous to tell her because she prays everyday before bed and when she waked up and I am worried about what she will say. We’re already different enough as it is.