Nice Chinese couple from Toi San

This Chinese couple is the first Chinese I met here in Itanhaem. Their sandwich shop is located in Centro-a big square around an old church.

They are super hospitable to me. Once I asked to buy a pack of cigarettes. They insisted to give me a whole carton as gift.

Every time I'm here in their place. They won't take my money.

These Chinese are from Toi San, Canton. I speak Cantonese to them and they speak Toi San to me.

They work very hard. During X'mas and Carnival, their shop opens 24 hours. No Brazilian can match the workaholics from China.

They are the one who financed Ah Ming to buy his own shop. They could have owned the shop themselves. There are only two sandwich shops here in Centro. They have cornered the snack market here.


This year they own this gift shop, selling outdated Chinese merchandise.

They have two sons and one daughter, all in primary school. Normally, the kids play around in the square while both parents are busy making money.

The lady boss told me they will be migrating to San Francisco where her parents and siblings reside. American dream?

I think they are better off here in Brazil. They realize that it's easier to make money here than in California. But they think US offers better education for their children. Very typical Chinese tradition-everything is for the family--work hard, make money, raise children.

Let me tell you a story. Mr. Wu started with one restaurant in Jasper, Alberta many years ago and ended owning almost the one and only downtown street. When I met him in the late 70s, Mr. Wu had never been outside of Canada. Later he went back to China for a visit. That's the last of I heard of him. Later he died.

Chinese are hard working people. They will never understand the Italian saying, "Dolce far niente."