For those of you who are interested in hanging out with other gringoes, www.meetup.com (Rio de Janeiro section) seems to be fairly active. I receive emails from them but have never been to any gathering. Some of the stuff they organize seems pretty cool though. Like this:

http://www.meetup.com/riodejaneirobrazil/boards/view/viewthread?thread=24688532

Edited by tbird - 30 June 2012 at 08:35

Regarding the imature opnion of nikkij12185, it´s clear for most of us here (who of course likes to get to know people, not only places), whenever you feel happy is a great place to live.
Well, and about the Heydenia question, don´t worry. It´s easy to find a "kitnete" for about 1K in Copacabana or Leblon. Barra is cheaper but is also way further from downtown. Not a good place to live without a car.

When you first get there, you can find a "pousada" to stay in the begning and as soon as you start working, you´re find nice people at work to share an apartment with (beside safe, since your HR had already made some research on them, no doubt sharing a house is a way better way to get to know people when you move to a new town).
Best regards and good luck!

Originally posted by cara0910 1. Gloria is not very safe, I don't know about the others. However, Gloria is within walking distance of Lapa, the best nightlife in Rio. Living in Ipanema / Leblon would be crazy expensive, yes, and you would have to deal with transport to work every day as well. 2. Public transport really depends. It's definitely safe, but depending on where you are going and when it can be unavailable (morning rush from North Zone to South Zone/Central = impossible). 3. So, you are going to make US50K a year? It's not very much to live on in Rio. Enough to live single and have an ok life, but not enough to save, have a car, etc. I think having 4K-5K is what I would need in Rio to have a somewhat comfortable life. Not plush, but not roughing it either. So, no savings on 5K. 4. If you want to live in a place that is less likely to be robbed, think Ipanema/Leblon. You will spend all of your money on rent. 5. Getting a young roommate like we do in the US is not very common in Rio. Most people live with their parents, and people from out of town are often very poor or very rich, so neither make good roommates for a gringo. 6. It's pretty easy to make friends if you are willing to put up with being stereotyped. People will find it hard to believe that you are American and not 6'3" with blond hair, fat, etc. They may say, "You don't look American." They don't like Americans very much, but people are likely more friendly than in Prague based on what you say. I found that to make friends I had to be seen as "the American" and the ignorant comments literally never stopped after several years in the country. Many people never stopped treating me as an outsider even after years in the city and regardless of the fact that I worked there and spoke Portuguese. I found that different than being in Europe/US where people are used to more diversity. Cheers

heydenia,

You asked a question and received a set of answers.  The reason I'm deciding to post here was your final statement about the "negative bunnies".  You may think you're being cosmopolitan moving to Brazil to live, but know this- you will be in Rio in Zona Sul.  Zona Sul and maybe 2 or 3 SP neighborhoods are  the closest you will find to '1st World Normal'.  Everything cara0910 and those other "negative bunnies" have told you are true and will be part of your world each day, even in ZS.  However, I advise you not to step outside Zona Sul with your way of thinking because Rio de Janeiro and to a greater extent, Brazil will not care how sincere or happy or positive you are.  They will care about how much you're worth, where you live, and what you can offer them.  That's the Brazilian way, unless you have access to a boyfriend, girlfriend or husband to bring you into a family where you may enjoy a bit more safety.  Even then, the average Brazilian won't have a clue what to make of you.  Since you're coming for work, you will be around people who at least understand there are other behavior norms outside theirs, along with some English.

You have an interesting background, however I advise you to be very careful here.  Even speaking some Portuguese, you will feel like you're in 'Bizarro World'.  I am "fluent", entre aspas because even though among our many gringo friends I speak the best Portuguese by far... when we moved here and even to this day in certain environs I am completely, totally lost.

My point is, us "negative bunnies" may be giving you information which at some point may save your life, or lots of money, or time, or all three.  Brazil is nothing like you imagine when you scratch the tourist surface.  In fact, the more serious your intent, the stranger it will become.

Wasn't my intent for my "negative bunnies" comment to indicate that I plan to show up in Rio and live the life of a tourist in a naive little bubble.  For one thing, I don't plan to live in Zona Sul long-term, only as long as my company is putting me up (THEY chose Botafogo, and frankly no matter how much money I had I wouldn't want to live in Copa or Ipanema, they're just not my types of neighborhoods).

I am absolutely aware that I will be relying on a lot of solid information that's going on in these boards.  The "negative bunnies" that I was referring to are the ones who make these general, Debbie Downer statements like, "Don't move to Rio or it will be the biggest mistake of your life" with nothing to back it up.  To those who provided any actual advice, whether positive or negative, I am appreciative.

And the fact is, you can't really know a person through these types of forums.  I've done moves like this one before, and no matter what Brazil throws at me, it can't be as bad as some others that I've made (particularly those in countries where I didn't speak a word of the language).

So again, thank you for the reality check, but I'm going to be fine.  I have a lot of people there who are all really excited for my move, asking daily if I have any news, making plans for when I arrive, etc.  I'm not saying it won't be hard, I'm not saying I won't go home and cry and want to give up sometimes, but all in all I think I have a thicker skin than a lot of people who have made similar moves.  If they did it, I can do it. 

Originally posted by praia gato Originally posted by cara0910 .... Many people never stopped treating me as an outsider even after years in the city and regardless of the fact that I worked there and spoke Portuguese.   What he said   Yep unlike most of US, people of Rio will always see you like Outsider.  Believe it ot not you must prove yourself and show Kariocas that you are not that typical Fat loud American or worse Black American, and this could take years .... The good news is you are Woman and woman dont get labaled Sex Tourist like us men.         BEST OF LUCK lady