• Queenstown Times: What does Independence Day of Brazil mean to you?
Eduardo Bereia: It's an important date because it's when Brazil got completely independent from Portugal.
Josiane Belusso: I think we started growing up. Many things came after that. Oil, we own that.
Gustavo Alves: We became self-sufficient in 1822. It's a national holiday. Everything shuts down.
Ana Alonso: We created our own language, we speak differently from Portugal and it's something just Brazil has.
Marcio Minholi: It's not a party where you drink a lot. It's a military party with parades in all cities.
• QT: What activities would you and family and friends do if you were in Brazil on the day?
Gustavo Alves: Barbecue! You get the family together and celebrate.
• QT: Any plans to celebrate in Queenstown?
Marcio Minholi: It's really hard to get a holiday in Queenstown. You can't celebrate like in Brazil, because in Brazil everyone chills out and goes to lunch and the parks and sees some parades. Here we have a normal life.
• QT: How do you feel about Brazil hosting the football World Cup in 2014?
Gustavo Alves: It's very exciting. We're organising our holidays in a few years' time. See the family and enjoy the World Cup.
Josiane Belusso: Queenstown's going to be empty!
Marcio Minholi: Queenstown's going to miss Brazilian people.
Josiane Belusso: It's going to be lovely, like a samba party for a whole year. It's going to be massive.
Ana Alonso: It's going to be expensive, flying back there, too. I'm not sure yet if I'm going back.
Eduardo Bereia: The World Cup will be as big as the Rugby World Cup will be here in New Zealand, if not bigger, because of the passion of Brazilian people for soccer.
• QT: London hosts the Olympic Games in 2012, which will be a real test for the city. Is Brazil ready to host the World Cup?
Gustavo Alves: Definitely. Everything's sorted for now. Rio's got the infrastructure for the World Cup and we also have the Olympics in 2016.
• QT: How does New Zealand compare to Brazil?
Gustavo Alves: It's hot over there.
Eduardo Bereia: Where I come from it's pretty much the same thing, not as cold as here. It's a massive country, so you can find every [climate] that you want.
Ana Alonso: We don't have the snow over there, never.
Eduardo Bereia: Brazilian people are more warm.
Josiane Belusso: They like touching, hugs and kisses, every time you say hello.
Gustavo Alves: You've got the cultural shocks, like the language. Kiwi people are a bit more reserved than Brazilians are, but not as reserved as English people. Kiwi people are really welcoming.
Ana Alonso: Most of Brazil's cities are really poor and people try to help each other, even when they don't have enough money. Always happy, when they don't have anything to eat. Most families are like that.
• QT: What is the attraction of Queenstown for Brazilians?
Gustavo Alves: I'd say it's pretty easy to find jobs here.
Marcio Minholi: It's easier to work legally here because Immigration allows us to get visas. Lifestyle here is another point.
Eduardo Bereia: It's a lot safer than Brazil. You don't need to lock your house, but, of course, you do. The risk you take is minimal compared to Brazil.
• QT: How are you coping with the Kiwi accent?
Gustavo Alves: Sweet as! I pretty much learned English here, so I've got the Brazilian-Kiwi accent.
Eduardo Bereia: When I first got here, I thought, 'Oh yeah, I know a bit of English', then they started talking to me and I was like, 'Errr'! After a couple of weeks, everything was all right.
