Bridging the Gap - The cultural exchange thread

[PatientZero]

Brazilian Funk is a misnomer - it actually takes a lot of influence from rap and dirty house electro music, but is so named due to replacing actual Funk music in the parties. It's evolved to be controversial, with references to drugs, abuse, explicit sex and even strong crimes such as killing. It's popular in the favelas and lower-class people.

I actually really like Brazilian Funk, reminds me a lot of the grime music you get over here, only looser. From a niché perspective I don't know how to describe it aside from filthy, it's a shame that it's gonna be hard to get into for so many people because it's not in English.

But I'm kind of curious after you mentioned Carnaval, what is the day-to-day take on nudity there? I know in the states and over here (more so than other parts of Europe) we're kind of prudish and self-conscious, but I doubt you guys are just walking around naked all the time, if only because getting sunburned would suck a lot.

[Gors]

it's a filthy musical genre indeed, but I don't mean it in a bad way. Sometimes I'm in the mood for it. Listening to violent music doesn't make you any more violent, normally speaking.

As for nudity in Brazil, it's actually not too different from other countries. It's considered a crime in everyday situations, except in proper nudism places and Carnaval (the latter is "kind of" nudism because the women usually wear a small clothing that covers only the bare minimum, so that the painting can enhance her curves and accessories).

[Raccoon Sam]

hello finland here
snow and alcohol AMA

[Kendotlibero]

hello finland here
snow and alcohol AMA

I know that Scandinavian states are in a huge rivality, is it true?

[Raccoon Sam]

hello finland here
snow and alcohol AMA

I know that Scandinavian states are in a huge rivality, is it true?

yeah it's true i guess but it's a neighbourly rivalry.

[Gors]

Claire tells me that swedish people are werid, can you confirm it

[PatientZero]

Here's an important question that spans all countries and cultures;
What is even going on with pies?

Over here a pie is like a staple food thing, you take a pastry crust and you fill it with A Food. Fruits, meats, hot, cold, whatever, it's a handy food that's tasty and fun for all the family at every meal and for snacks.
But I know in other countries the idea of a meat pie is like...I don't know, like it's a contradiction or something? They just don't have any kind of savoury pies?

Basically, I am confused, what are pies doing in your country?

[Gors]

Here's an important question that spans all countries and cultures;
What is even going on with pies?

Over here a pie is like a staple food thing, you take a pastry crust and you fill it with A Food. Fruits, meats, hot, cold, whatever, it's a handy food that's tasty and fun for all the family at every meal and for snacks.

Basically, I am confused, what are pies doing in your country?

Well, the concept of pie is a rather broad one, I'll try to be as succint as possible.

The word "pie" by itself is inexistant in any form in Brazilian Portuguese. Because of this, we use the word "torta", which is a French loanword of "tarte". This also means that in Brazil, no differenciation happens between a pie (usually covered top) and a tart (usually not covered).

Additionally, torta also can refer to a baked savory cake in rectangular moulds, with fillings mixed directly into the dough before baked. This torta is the default meaning.



In Portugal, a small sweet pie called "Pastel de Belém" (Bethlehem's pastry dish) is popular, made with lots of egg yolks and sugar, and is considered a fine delicacy. However, in Brazil, the same word "Pastel" means "Enchilada" and in Spanish, "Pastel" means "Pie." Our savory "torta" in Portugal is known as "Empanada" which means "Chicken Nuggets" in Brazil.

I think it's just better to drop this chart instead of trying to explain it myself

[Goemar]

What the hell is poutine?

[Kosheh]

What the hell is poutine?

delicious, that's what it is. it's one of many things canada still has superior to us (other things include universal healthcare)

okay all right, so imagine french fries (or chips, over there)
now imagine covering them in cheese curds.
then, topping off the whole thing with gravy.
if you google them, it actually looks sorta gross. but it's actually Very Delicious


canadians truly bring out the ultimate power of the potato

[JewyB]

Heck, I'll chip in, I'm British and Jewishy.
I don't drink tea and I love bacon, so I'm basically the epitome of both.

Thanks bro B)

But for reals i just got back to England from a few weeks in Poland following a 3 month stay in Spain where i also had issues with pies. True story.

[Kosheh]

wtf i'm pretty sure i posted a response here

i'd say the stance on pies in the states is pretty bland; at least in New York when people expect pies, they're usually filled with fruit or some kind of custard and cream.

i thought about it for a little while though - since we don't have many savory pies, but we do. there's pot pies - which is like the weird 19th-century creation and they're usually meant for consumption by one person. they're usually made in small little ceramic things (or "pots", hence the name) They usually have chicken, a mix of vegetables and a flaky crust, and you only see them in homey little diners as an entree. otherwise, they're in the frozen food aisle of your local grocery and they're usually like 4 for $5 or something, so while they contain shitloads of sodium they're excellent for college students (of course, those don't use the ceramic they use this weird reflective paper dish perfect for microwaving)

as I look at this picture though, I'm starting to wonder if there's a beef or steak variant.

and then there's pizza of course (but that's a different type of pie altogether)

[Goemar]

French fries and chips are 2 different things...


Ok... next question... what's a cheese curd?

[Garamonde]

What's a Google?

[Goemar]

So fries... cheese curds... and gravy (assuming it's the same as UK gravy - I mean, the US has biscuits and gravy and neither of those things are the same as I know them).

And you eat that? I mean if cheese curds are like cottage cheese (which is terrible) and gravy is like gravy - like man, that seriously sounds terrible. Hell I'd try it (I've had sheep brain after all) but - seems like a hard sell...