Case Study: Six Months in Rio de Janeiro! (January – June 2026) – Ben Kittoe
Working at a Record Label in Rio de Janeiro from January to June 2026 has been an incredible experience that has taught me a huge amount about both myself and a Brazilian culture that has fascinated me with ever since I first discovered Bossa Nova music at the age of 15.
When I first arrived in Rio, one of the first things that surprised me most was discovering just how profoundly different one culture can be from my own. It sounds obvious, but as someone never even left Europe soil before coming to Brazil, I soon realised that my understanding of what a “different culture” looked like was unknowingly very limited. However, by the time I found myself two days into my immersion at the most extreme NYE party I had ever seen, I quickly discovered that cultural differences extend far beyond food, language or which side of the road you drive on.
In Brazil, the culture is fascinatingly different at a deep, foundational level. Differences in values, priorities and perspectives carry such significant weight here and are reflected throughout everyday life. It is a difficult concept to capture in just a few sentences, but I would describe it as an unwavering determination to enjoy life with others, whether that be with your family, friends or complete strangers.
Living with my girlfriend’s family has served as a constant reminder of this outlook, and how it contrasts with the ways I am accustomed to living. During my first few months, I was asked on several occasions why I was working past my contracted hours, or why I was spending weekends occupied with a small, non-urgent task just to feel productive. Coming from England, where working overtime and productive weekends are often seen as normal, I had never stopped to question these habits. Yet to many Brazilians, they seemed unusual.
Over time, I realised that stubbornly trying to maintain my own comfortable way of living in a place built upon different values was never going to work. As a result, I embraced the Brazilian mentality of “life first, work second” and can honestly say it has made me happier while, somewhat ironically, leaving me just as productive.
Making these cultural observations while simultaneously living entirely in Portuguese has also given me a deeper understanding of the language itself, and one that could never be fully captured in a textbook or even a language classroom. One of my favourite games throughout my time here has been identifying words that exist in one language but not the other and then asking why.
For example, Brazilians are statistically the most frequent showerers in the world and place great importance on thins being clean and what they call “cheiroso”: literally “smelly”, but in a positive sense. While in English you can say that something “smells good”, we do not have a single, commonly used adjective! Having experienced Brazilian culture first-hand, this absence now makes sense to me, as pleasant smells seem far more culturally valued here than they are back home.
Conversely, I recently discovered that there is no direct equivalent of the English word “awkward” when describing a person in Brazilian Portuguese. The closest term is “estranho” (“strange”), but that doesn’t fully capture the same idea. To me, this now makes complete sense because it feels almost impossible to be socially awkward in a society so deeply built around parties, celebration, and community!
Alongside these cultural discoveries, I have been fortunate enough to achieve what might be described as “killing two birds with one stone”: immersing myself in Brazilian culture, while simultaneously pursuing my career aspirations within the international music industry.
Working as a Label and Management Intern at Braslive Entertainment has been a fantastic opportunity and one for which I feel incredibly privileged. It has been a new experience to work in an environment where my fluency in English is a valuable professional asset – something I had never really considered before! The immediate sense of value and welcome that I received from the team gave me a significant boost in confidence, one that I carried with me at conferences, backstage at shows, and while meeting important figures within the Brazilian electronic music scene. The role has provided me with knowledge, skills, and experiences that I will carry forward throughout the rest of my career.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the John Speak Language Trust for their incredible support throughout my time abroad. The financial assistance has given me the freedom to focus fully on immersion, and on achieving the objectives of this experience. However, beyond that, simply knowing that others see value in my project has been hugely encouraging. It has provided confidence, validation, and motivation throughout these six months. Now in my third year of university, watching many of my peers graduate, it can sometimes be easy to question whether adding an extra year to my degree in order to work abroad was the right decision! The support of the John Speak Language Trust has reassured me that this experience is invaluable, and that it will play a significant role in shaping the future of my career.
To close, thank you to everyone who has followed my journey over these past six months. Fortunately, the excitement surrounding the World Cup here in Rio has provided a welcome distraction from the reality that my departure date is rapidly approaching. However, I know that once I return to the UK, I will look back on this period as one of the most transformative, important, and inspiring experiences of my early career so far.