Tourism, Work and Study in Ouro Preto and São Paulo

The everyday hustle and bustle of São Paulo’s busy city life allowed me, as an outsider, to fit into the everyday routine of life.  I was able to adjust to a daily schedule which allowed me to appear the same as everyone else.  I did not, for the most part, feel like an outsider, more specifically, like a tourist.

            In Ouro Preto, my experience was completely the opposite.  I felt like people stared at me and distinguished me from the rest.  I felt like, I, among all the other tourists, was invading and exploiting their town.  Yet, at the same time, I felt like there were so many tourists that I did not particularly stand out personally.  In Ouro Preto, however we were 13 Americans, traveling ithrough the streets in a big blue van with tourism written on the side of it.  That alone drew so much attention to us as tourists.

            We are tourists, we are learning about Brazilian culture and there is something to be said about that.  I think what distinguishes us from other tourists is that we are learning to speak Portuguese and we have a genuine interest in the country.  We do things that many tourists would not ordinarily be interested in doing.  For example, in Ouro Preto, we went to three mines – two of which I am sure were not the typical tourist attractions.  At a topaz mine, while we were there, the miners were just as curious about us as we were about them.  They all stopped and stared at us, but I did not feel uncomfortable about this.  I think the feelings were mutual.  Some stone vendors swarmed around us and tried to sell us rough-cut gems.  Some students actually bought them.  The stuff they had was cool:  I think it is cool to buy things from the actual places you’ve been.

            I think the main difference, in my experiences, between Ouro Preto and São Paulo, was that in São Paulo I was incorporated into a routine that was similar to Brazilian’s work routines.  I was able to identify with them a little more.  I think what distinguishes our group from the ordinary tourists is our respect and desire to incorporate Brazilian customs into our travel.

Union College Student, 2001