Gringoes.com: Happy to be leaving

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irishlass
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Joined: 31 July 2011
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Topic: Happy to be leaving
Posted: 31 July 2011 at 04:48

I have been running a business in the Amazon for the past 8 years and coming over 3-4 times a year for a month at a time. A year ago I decided to make the move here permanently to expand my business, and have had the most hideous 12 months of my life.I speak fluent portuguese, know the region I moved to,am flexible and tolerant about the endless Brazilian bureacracy and have tried to integrate into the community.

Despite the fact that I invest heavily in the local economy, in social projects and provide employment, I have felt like an alien on a different planet.

I felt as though I have been thrown into a pit of vultures, every single person I know here bar none has tried to fleece me in some way or another. It seems that us gringoes are considered the first target for any sob story, scam or dishonesty.( and I am married to a local- his family are amongst the worst offenders

This is just a warning to anyone thinking of making the move, think long and hard about it. The cultural differences are vast, and unless you lock yourself away in a cocooned mainly ex-pat society ( there are none where I live)you will find it an uphill struggle.

I am relieved to be leaving, but saddened that fundamentally, in my experience, we are not welcome.

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Gaita
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Joined: 15 July 2010
Location: Dominican Republic
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Posted: 31 July 2011 at 08:35

Sounds like you gave it your best shot anyway. Maybe something positive will eventually come from the experience.

eu acho que sem

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hpeak13
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Joined: 14 July 2009
Location: Brazil
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Posted: 31 July 2011 at 09:00

Originally posted by irishlass

Despite the fact that I invest heavily in the local economy, in social projects and provide employment, I have felt like an alien on a different planet.

I am relieved to be leaving, but saddened that fundamentally, in my experience, we are not welcome.

for newbies reading this post: These are not the feelings of ALL gringos who move here. Some love it here, feel that they fit in quite fine, and enjoy their new lives

We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson

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rc206
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Joined: 15 December 2005
Location: United States
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Posts: 270

Posted: 31 July 2011 at 09:14

I have heard this before from people moving to another country.I lived in Mexico years ago and this was the same way.I put a stop to people always wanting me to help them.I let everyone in the area that I lived know that this GRINGO isn't gonna help you with sh*t !!!!!!!It made me feel rude though but it worked for the most part!!!!!!!!You can blame a lot of this on Americans/Europeans visiting places and acting like they are rich.A lot of people I meet in other countries think most Americans are rich and should help them!

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GreatBallsoFire
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Joined: 27 October 2009
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Posts: 2402

Posted: 31 July 2011 at 09:22

Originally posted by hpeak13

Originally posted by irishlass

Despite the fact that I invest heavily in the local economy, in social projects and provide employment, I have felt like an alien on a different planet.

I am relieved to be leaving, but saddened that fundamentally, in my experience, we are not welcome.

for newbies reading this post: These are not the feelings of ALL gringos who move here. Some love it here, feel that they fit in quite fine, and enjoy their new lives

Ha!!! I agree that some gringoes love it in Brazil, most crash and burn. The vast majority are quite happy to leave and smile with relief as the jet soars away into the sky. Six months a year is enough for me.

Simia quam similis, turpissimus bestia nobis. Oi amigo, pode trazer a saideira?

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maarten
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Joined: 27 September 2006
Location: Brazil
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Posts: 831

Posted: 31 July 2011 at 14:35

Originally posted by irishlass

Despite the fact that I invest heavily in the local economy, in social projects and provide employment, I have felt like an alien on a different planet.

I feel with you.

I think the main problem is in the social aspects. It is easely misunderstood. Many Brazilians have to fight for survival, they become selfish or ego-centric, at most they help their own family out. They also, in my opinion, think only short term.

It is not, in my opinion, against gringo´s. They act the same with everybody else who has some money in the bank. Combining a business with social projects is very difficult. if not impossible.

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cardi
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Joined: 02 January 2008
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 605

Posted: 31 July 2011 at 16:53

Originally posted by maarten

It is not, in my opinion, against gringos. They act the same with everybody else who has some money in the bank. Combining a business with social projects is very difficult. if not impossible.

I tend to agree with this.
Most of my friends in Brasil were ripped off much more than I was.
What I found irritating was that moronic grin whenever you pulled them up and that semi apologetic shrug when you refused to pay. A vida no Brasil e assim.

Criminals are never very amusing. It's because they're failures. Those who make real money aren't counted as criminals. This is a class distinction, not an ethical problem.
Orson Welles

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nesne2
Senior Member

Joined: 16 July 2011
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Posts: 733

Posted: 31 July 2011 at 17:36

My general policy is that anybody who is not at least middle class I am not hanging out with. If they don't have a college degree and don't have a job that supports them then they will not be my friend nor my girlfriend. They can be my doorman, my maid or the person who serves me my iced tea at Mega Matte if they want but friends ain't gonna happen. And they can tell me all sob stories they want and how Brazil is so tough and boohoohoo, but I won't shed a tear nor give them one centavo. In general this policy has served me well, and I would advise others to follow it. Those of us who live here pay enough in taxes to have a good social safety net and it is not our fault the "poors" are too apathetic to try to change the system for thier benefit.

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spiins
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Joined: 06 March 2011
Location: United States
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Posted: 31 July 2011 at 18:43

Hey, Irishlass, i am so sorry to know this terrible experience you have been going through during your 8 years staying over the Amazon area having yourself your own business. I do not know too many people who went to this area where you are. I get to know experiences, yes, from people who went to live in the southern part of Brazil.

The whole amount of events you tell us here sound quite unfortunate even regarding your own in-laws! What a nightmare!

In the midst of all, Irishlass, consider you are alive, you did not suffer any attempt against you life. You can plan to get out of there and have a fresh start - safely somewhere else. I know it will take sometime and effort regarding the commercial aspect of the situation plus the famliy ties. You will find the way though. Something good will come!

In this meantime you be careful and be focused on you goal!

Wish all will be well to both of you, wish it will not take too long for you to write again telling good news!

Take care.

Edited by spiins - 31 July 2011 at 18:55

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cardi
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Joined: 02 January 2008
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 605

Posted: 01 August 2011 at 04:52

Originally posted by nesne2

My general policy is that anybody who is not at least middle class I am not hanging out with. If they don't have a college degree and don't have a job that supports them then they will not be my friend nor my girlfriend. They can be my doorman, my maid or the person who serves me my iced tea at Mega Matte if they want but friends ain't gonna happen. And they can tell me all sob stories they want and how Brazil is so tough and boohoohoo, but I won't shed a tear nor give them one centavo. In general this policy has served me well, and I would advise others to follow it. Those of us who live here pay enough in taxes to have a good social safety net and it is not our fault the "poors" are too apathetic to try to change the system for thier benefit.

Perhaps bringing back slavery would be good. Do you think?

Criminals are never very amusing. It's because they're failures. Those who make real money aren't counted as criminals. This is a class distinction, not an ethical problem.
Orson Welles

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