Wing here.

In North America, taking the bus is as simple as waiting at the bus stop, paying your fare, and getting on.

However, in Rio de Janeiro, when you want to catch the bus, it’s customary to stretch out your arm and wag your finger. I was taught this by my landlords. Initially, I did not believe it was necessary, but when I saw others doing it at the bus stop, I began doing it as well. Hahaha.

Regardless of whether you are at the bus stop on time or not, if you do not wag your finger, the bus drivers will not stop. Alternatively, I’ve tried wagging my finger on route to a bus stop and I was able to get on.

This very same rule applies to taxis as well! If you see a taxi that is free or not in service, often indicated by the word “TAXI” lit in bright green lights, wag your index finger and the taxi driver will stop at any part of the road (no matter how busy it is!).

So, there you have it, if you found this to be interesting or relevant, leave some comments below!