Whenever we hear the name of Brazil, the pictures come to our mind is all those perfectly figured women, the Soccer crazy people, the pristine beaches and mangoes. But it is much more than those…
Brazil is the 5th. largest country in the world and the largest in South America with a total territory of 3,287,505 square miles
It takes nearly six hours of a jumbo jet flight to cross it from North to South.
Its coastline has some 4578 miles. bordering the Atlantic ocean – so you have a few thousands Brazil beaches to choose from – and several islands: such as Penedos de Sao Pedro e São Paulo, Trindade e Martim Vaz, Atol das Rocas and Fernando de Noronha archipélago.
Please read more about Brazil by clicking this link..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil
Today I will tell you some characteristics of Brazilian people.

Last week I got a family of three to JFK. I was in the waiting line in front of Hilton Hotel from 4.30 a.m. to 6.20 a.m. and then I was called by the door man to get this family. They really wanted a minivan but there was no minivan in the line and I did not want to loose a JFK airport job after almost 2 hours of waiting.

So I told the door man that I would take them then the next passenger came for the next cab and the door man just jumped off from my side to the next passenger. I did not realize the reason until I saw the luggage. There were 7 huge suitcases and 3 small hand bags. I almost had a heart attack but what could I do..? I noticed that 6 of the suitcases were brand new and one is an used one. I knew exactly what happened and I knew who they were.

That family was from Brazil. Why on earth I would say Brazil…?

You see my friends..everything especially Clothing and shoes are very expensive in Brazil because of the highest duty,custom and VAT (Value added Tax) in the world (according to my passengers). Like a pair of Levi’s Jeans which you can buy here in the USA as low as $20 can cost as much as $150 US dollars. A pair of Timberland boots which can cost as low as $50 US dollars here, could easily cost more than $200 in Brazil.

So whenever any one comes from Brazil as tourists, he/she comes with empty suitcases and on the way going he/she buy as many clothing as he/she can buy for the whole family and friends who gives money along with a list of the things to buy.

So when I saw 6 new suitcases and one old suitcase I knew they bought those here and taking those there for someone who might have asked them to buy for them.
The suitcase were so heavy and the doorman went to get the next passenger leaving all the lifting for me and I had no other choice but do it myself. I asked the father to help me out and he did. The suitcases were so heavy (I would say at least 80 to 90 lbs each) that I was wondering how much extra charge they will have to pay.

I met some other Brazilian people who regularly make trips to and from USA and make a comfortable living. They told me that even after they pay hefty Hotel fee and other expenses, it still cost much less to buy those stuff at home. In fact, there are many people do this kind of flying business on a regular basis. Now how do those people manage to go through the custom that is something else. Good night.

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