Brazilian Race...

[edmondt]

Literally....Tonight as I came out of the book store, went in to my car, a guy knock on my door, bent down on his knees, showed me his brazillian passport...So I roll down the window, he told me he just came out of the book store, but he couldn't find a job because he had no social insurance number...Then he asked me if I could offer him a job, saying he'll clean my house, wash my car etc etc...I was like huh? I told him...I couldn't, his wife beside him (who appeared to have a baby) was speaking spanish saying something like don't embarrassdo yourself...The guy just kept saying I can wash your car etc...But I really couldn't (and I couldn't let him wash my Cougar).

So the guy point at Taco Bell, asked me if I can buy him some food...As I tried to open the door, my gf shouts "no!" Concerned for my safety, so I reached for my wallet, and I gave them 20 bucks...then the guy was like gimme your phone number, I'll pay you as soon as I get a job etc etc I was like its okie and stuff, gave him a hand shake, and said good luck and off they went...

Even IF I was scammed, I still felt pretty good...

[emanpin]

Kudos to you dude! :cool: Even if it was a scam. And if it was real, you know that you've helped someone that really needed it!! I think if we just be nice to each and every person we meet, the world would be a much better place. :)

[ScubaSteve]

They speak Portuguese in Brazil... That and you don't need a SSN to get a job... Not if you are in the country LEGALLY.

Edit: You prolly did get scammed. But sokay... Scammers need money too.

[thepigpen]

Last time I tried to be nice, I almost got arrested..

I was in Montreal for New Years last year.. I came out of a club with my buddies and a homeless guy asked if I could give him a smoke... I just light one and had taken one drag from it... I handed it to him (seeing he probably didn't have a light anyways)... and the loser took it and started to curse at me... so I offered him another unlit one to get him off my back. The loser then flicks the lit cigarette at me and knocks my pack out of my hands into the snow, I was fuming at this point... I had a few drinks that night, and my buddies told me to forget about it, so we started to walk away. The guy then pushes me from behind and I dance a bit before regaining my balance. I then grabbed him and slammed him into the snow bank and gave him a few shots. The cops ran over and pulled me away... they looked at him and asked me what was going on.. I told them, and then they told me to leave.. so I started to walk away, then the cop yelled "I SAID LEAVE!" so we bolted down the street and into the subway.

Go figure...

[MetallicaCougs]

It's always to cool to help a family out. ;)

[LucifersCat]

<< They speak Portuguese in Brazil >>



Not all people in Brazil speak Portuguese, Portugese is the Dominant language, not the only language. Also the two languages sound similar who knows maybe the guys wife really was speaking portugese and edmondt couldn't tell. But either way you did a good deed for someone and it will come back to you one day.

[Blackcoog]

Isn't portugese very similar to spanish?

[Furious1]

Thumbs up, brother, that was a good deed. Life isnt the same in some of these countries...

And I dont think you got scammed. Who would go through the trouble of fakin a passport for $5-$20? Thats jail/fine punishment. And w/accomplice (wife)? Split earnings in two? What if you actually gave him a job? Is he going to work for his money? What kinda scam is that?

And all job app. have SSN#, and in my state, you do need a SSN# for all the neccessary paperwork (taxes, etc.)

[ScubaSteve]

Portuguese is remarkably similar to spanish. I went to college with a Portuguese guy, and I could actually understand some of what he said.

[Fett]

Wow, I must be a real asshole. I NEVER give money to anyone, we have a ****load of these "will work for food" people all over the I95 exits, screw them.

For a while I was running a store in WPB, and we had a troop of these bumbs who would take turns hanging out in the center median, begging for money. One day one of my associates and me decided to do some math. We had watched these people for a few years, and we knew that they were all friendly with each other, and they worked in shifts. They spent most of their time in the woods near the intersection, and one by one they would work shifts on the median. So one day we spend a few hours out side BSing, watching, and counting.

On average three cars per light would give the person on the median at least $1, it was almost always bills, so we just avegered it out to be $1 per car. At two minutes per light, that was 30 lights per hour. $3 per light, 30 lights per hour, equals an average of $90 an hour. This is no BS, as a matter of fact we really figured it to be more than that, because while we could see bills, we only counted it as $1..because we did not know how many bills they were, and what denomination they were.

They make PLENTY of money scamming people, and maybe I am a dick...but I WORK for my money...no way I am going to simply give it away.

You know another thing, I have been asked for "a few bucks", "some change", "some gas money", ect, too many times to count. I have NEVER once been asked for a ride to the work force, or a razor to shave so he can get a job, or a job application for that matter.

[nac704]

I would never give those guys cash. I saw a begger get into a streach limo one time. Apparently he makes something upwards of $50,000 a year begging.

[Andy]

I watched a special about that once. People "pan-handling" as it is called, making 30,000 a year just standing on a busy strret corner all dirty and scrubby looking. It tripped me out. I couldn't believe someone would make a profession out of it!
I am kinda generous tho. I can't resist......I fell sorry for people less fortunate than me. ****, even if they do spend it on booze, atleast they'll be happy with their ****ty life.....

[NorCalCoug]

<< They speak Portuguese in Brazil... That and you don't need a SSN to get a job... Not if you are in the country LEGALLY.

Edit: You prolly did get scammed. But sokay... Scammers need money too. >>



I don't know, but I think up in Canada they might be a bit stricter about making sure you have a SIN (social insurance number) before employing you, or at least a work visa of some kind... You know those Canadians.. ;) (j/k)

[Fern]

Being Portuguese, I can understand any latin-based language if spoken slowly enough. Portuguese is very similar to Spanish and in some western parts of Spain, the dialect is more Portuguese than Spanish. (My Dad usually says that Spanish is just bad Portuguese :) ) Also as someone pointed out, Brazil's national language is Portuguese but after WWII there were a lot of Italian, German, and Spanish people that immigrated to Brazil. Fittipaldi, for example, although a Brazilian does not have a Portuguese name; its an Italian name.

Canada is much more leaniant than other countries when it comes to immigration. If someone is visiting Canada, other than from the United States, and wants to work here, all they need is an employment authorization by an immigration officer. Basically, suppose they get a job offer, then the employer would then be responsible for giving the immigration officer from Human Resources Canada details of the job offer including reasons why they hired that particular person instead of a resident of Canada. The officer will check if the wages and working conditions meet standards. The applicant must get a medical examination and official identification. An interview might also take place if anything seems fishy. If approved they will determine how long they can work in Canada and arrangement will be made to get the worker a SIN, for worker's compensation and for extended medical coverage. Usually, most of this stuff occurs before entry to Canada. I helped a relative of mine go through this two years ago. She was hired by a Portuguese private school in Montreal as a teacher. The whole process took about a month and she can work here indefinately. For US citizens its easier. In contrast, being approved to work in the US is a pain in the ass. Another teacher at my highschool is engaged to an American and wants to move to California once married. She's been trying for over a year now and for whatever reason, still isn't approved to work... and she's quite educated too. She has a masters degree in Biology; just the type of person US immigration says that they will welcome.

Something seems fishy about the guy that Edmond ran into though. This is pure speculation but perhaps he was laid-off construction worker. There are many contractors in Toronto that bring in workers from Brazil for a year or two. In times when construction is slow, you see many of them that are single at the cafes and pubs in Portuguese Village. When in Toronto, I visit a pub near the corner of Ossington and Dundas. I always run into a few laid-off workers there and many of them are going through hard times at this point. But then again, these workers usually leave their family behind.

I also wanted to add that I've always believed in charity but like Fett, I work hard for the money that I make. I'm not comfortable with giving money to individuals on the streets since I don't know what they are going to do with it. They could use it to buy drugs for all I know. If you want to give, I say give to a charitable organization that you trust instead.