Go Brazil: Renata Ribeiro says her country is tropical, friendly and beautiful.
Go Brazil: Renata Ribeiro says her country is tropical, friendly and beautiful.
Although Renata Ribeiro has lived away from her home country Brazil for seven years, she is fiercely Brazilian when it comes to football and the Fifa World Cup.
"I do miss my country so much and if Brazil wins the soccer I will have a big party," she said. Butfirst her home country have to get past the in-form Colombia this morning as the cup quarter-finals kick off this morning.
Renata left Brazil for Perth in Western Australia to study English, business and beauty therapy.
"When I left home I could not speak a word of English and I am very proud that I learned to speak it well in just two years."
She admits to missing her family and Skypes her mum every night.
When she was living in Perth, she met her New Zealand husband from Wanganui and returned home with him where they were married.
"We have been back to Brazil and I will continue to try and go back every two years."
Even though she passionate about Brazil winning the World Cup, Renata said that like much of the population in Brazil she is saddened that US$4 billion was spent to stage the event.
"Brazil could do with that money to help with health and education. That's why there are all the protests in Brazil right now."
But hopefully the football would show people around the world that Brazil was - a tropical, friendly and beautiful country, she said.
"Most people think Brazil is all about violence and drugs but it isn't, it is a very beautiful place and people need to know we have a very special culture."
However, Renata said living in Wanganui was also good.
"I like this very pretty small town where nothing is faraway and there is no traffic. It is a good place to be living."
