while the temptation to participate in a conversation could be great, we found that superficial discussions about certain subjects would not be productive to either the good mood of the group, or the mutual understanding across cultures.

cultural sensitivity is a must - some everyday topics which can conceive a seemingly innocent comment can often be interpreted as a inconsiderate - for instance, stating a remark about the heat in rio de janeiro, which can often pass 40 degrees celsius (100 fahrenheit), can lead to an instant defensive response from a resident who is going to highlight that the person making the comment is just not used to it.

conversely, however, cariocas will be happy to comment together on how cold it is when temperatures drop to around 20 degrees celsius (65 fahrenheit).