RIO DE JANEIRO is one of the most violent cities in the world, notorious for its high crime rate and myriad social ills. It may surprise you, then, to learn that it is also the friendliest. If you fall into trouble in Rio, the chances are better than in any other city that a Good Samaritan will help you out.
Sounds unlikely? It all comes down to simpático, a Brazilian word that describes a person who possesses certain social qualities such as friendliness and openness. In Latin America, simpático is considered a good thing to be, and helping strangers is…
