Real advice on living in Brasil needed.
Printed From: Gringoes.com
Category: Brazil
Forum Name: Living in Brazil
Forum Discription: Surviving in Brazil
URL: http://www.gringoes.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15083
Printed Date: 25 May 2013 at 04:28
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Real advice on living in Brasil needed.
Posted By: sb8enzo8
Subject: Real advice on living in Brasil needed.
Date Posted: 18 April 2012 at 17:12
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Hello, I have posted a couple topics about moving to Brasil with regards to teaching english and working as a hotel engineer. What i really would like is some honest advice and guidance without the sarcasm which i have read on here before. Background info: My wife and I want to move to Brasil (she is Brasilian from Ribeirao Preto, SP & i am South African) with our 9month old son. We currently live in England. I am a Supervisor in hotel Engineering for Marriott Internation and my wife is a F&B Manager for the same company. Once all visas are applied for we want to go live in Brasil, i am not worried about crime (im south african, probably worse than Brasil) or the corrupt government and long winded procedures for everything (again i'm south african, just as bad). The reason for the move is that we would like an outdoor and friendly society to bring up our child, not this english culture. I have visited Brasil on a few occasions and love the people, culture and foooood! So what i am really asking is what advice can you give me in looking for work and places to live. I have a part degree(level 2) in electrical engineering and many years experience in luxury yacht fairing/finishing. I have done a couple short courses in TEFL teaching as well. Ideally we would like to live anywhere from Belo Horizonte and southwards. Our ideal job would be opening our own Pousada while teaching English at the same time. Teaching the local people free to gain trust and acceptance would be a plan too. Has anyone opened there own pousada who could give us advice? I appreciate that maybe our plan is not thoroughly thought through but it is happening and we are looking forward to the challenge. Thanks Scott ------------- Scott B |
Replies:
Posted By: cara0910
Date Posted: 18 April 2012 at 17:31
As an ESL teacher, you will likely make less than 3,000 reais per month. Why don't you look for an online job in another country and do it that way? |
Posted By: sven
Date Posted: 18 April 2012 at 18:17
| There are some luxury yacht builders in Brazil. Find out where they are. |
Posted By: finrudd
Date Posted: 18 April 2012 at 18:21
Outdoor generally means away from the larger cities, where outdoor will be mostly on a balcony, if you have one, especially if you are looking at working in International hotels.
That's a big area - I would try and narrow it down perhaps, especially when job hunting. Again, with international hotels you are looking at Rio & Sao Paulo. I cannot think of any international hotels in BH, or south of Sao Paulo (Not counting Accor hotels, as they are locally run and managed, and assuming the Crowne Plaza Curitiba closes)
Now that is a good idea - if you have the money to buy some land with a house that can be developed, you could achieve your primary goal from this, but again, really depends what area you are in. A rural pousada could be a good option - between you and your wife you will know the hospitality business fairly well, if my memory of Marriott training serves me well (my wife and I also both worked for Marriott in London) and that could differentiate you from the scores of Pousada owners who just think 'I've got a big house - I can be a hotelier' and get it soooo wrong.. Good luck. |
Posted By: finrudd
Date Posted: 18 April 2012 at 18:22
There's one off Raposo Tavares in SP, just after the Pedagio around KM45 I think. I will look for the name. |
Posted By: Jully
Date Posted: 19 April 2012 at 00:25
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There is one near Florianópolis, in Palhoça. Their website: http://www.schaeferyachts.com.br/
Technicians and engineers are sorely lacking in Brazil, you probably do well in the area. I would advise you not to open your own business of any kind before you've lived here a few years. The whole process is painful to say the least, and it would be better if you had some country experience first. |
Posted By: Gringo.Floripa
Date Posted: 19 April 2012 at 11:54
Also, 'up the road' in Balneário Camboriú, there are some yacht dealers. @Scott: I've mentioned this previously... there are some beach towns south of Florianópolis (Garopaba/Imbituba/Laguna), which I believe are ripe for further development. Garo perhaps less so, because it's been 'discovered' already, yet still, more opportunities exist in this stretch south, than in Floripa proper, and northwards to Curitiba, be it a pousada, or another tourist-related enterprise. The stretch of BR101 south of Floripa, which passes through these towns, is almost completed with major renovation of the highway. I predict this will assist further development in those areas. As for hotels, Accor (which someone else already mentioned), seems to be the mainstay of choices in Floripa; Soffitel, Mercure, Ibis, F1, are their brands. Yet there is also a company out of Curitiba called http://www.slavierohoteis.com.br - Slaviero . They are rapidly expanding throughout Brasil. They just constructed a new property in Palhoça (where the yacht company Jully mentioned is located). Like Accor, they have a range of brands, high end, to budget. Every time I've visited Curitiba, I've stayed at a Slaviero hotel, and have yet to be disappointed. ------------- I might bark, but I don't bite. (trolls, sock puppets, Brasil-bashers, and "Joined:Today" persons too lazy to use the Search function excluded; cry babies too) |
Posted By: kevbo
Date Posted: 19 April 2012 at 18:05
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I think what it all comes down to is how much money you are going to be bringing with you. I think unless you are very lucky, the chancs of sustaining a life style similar to the one you are probably used to in the UK ,working in a hotel or teaching english just isn't going to happen.However if you can invest in a pousada and use the teaching etc as a back up you have a chance. I agree with GF regarding the area south of Floripa the problem however is the low season down here is so long.How many bookings would your pousada have in Apr-October. If you have money and avoid the big cities Brazil is a great place to be.If not look elsewhere.
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Posted By: Gringo.Floripa
Date Posted: 19 April 2012 at 21:06
For 'low season' (in the south of Brasil), I think one needs to focus on visitors from Canada, US, UK, and Europe. Granted, people want to escape their winters, and enjoy warm weather in Brasil Dec-Feb, but the majority of people up north still have the bulk of their vacation time banked in Jun-Aug. In fact, I have visitors come to Floripa in those months, which has moderate to cool temps (but not necessarily cold) precisely because they want to escape the sweltering heat of where they live in the northern hemisphere. Also, just a few hours inland from the Sta. Catarina coast is the amazing and beautiful serra region. Tourism is still in it's infancy there, and what presently exists is poorly done. An enterprising gringo with an idea of what the foreign visitor expects, as for accommodations, and to a lesser extent, amenities, will have the local pousada proprietors eating their dust, and green with envy! Also, while not common, but it does occur, the serra can have light snowfall Jun-Aug. To leave a miserable 95F temp, with suffocating humidity of a US summer, for a scene like this, indeed has an allure for certain travelers... usually savvy ones. ------------- I might bark, but I don't bite. (trolls, sock puppets, Brasil-bashers, and "Joined:Today" persons too lazy to use the Search function excluded; cry babies too) |
Posted By: agri2001
Date Posted: 20 April 2012 at 09:40
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I agree especially if the owner makes some contacts in his home country with travel agents he can have himself a very lucrative enterprise. i know of two gringoes, one in Natal and the other in Alagoas that bought pousadas that were so-so, refurbished them, and hooked up with travel agencies in their respective countries. One is from Sweden and the other from Italy. Both are highly successful. ------------- Athiests are moral, they don't kill over religion. |
Posted By: Gringo.Floripa
Date Posted: 20 April 2012 at 11:31
In this day and age, I don't think it's even necessary to use a travel agent (and then be required to pay them a commission). There are plenty of web sites where one can subscribe to list a property, for no more than $300 per year, sometimes less. While the vacation rental sites are more geared to individual properties (condos, apts, 2nd homes), one could also list their pousada. These vacation rental sites are growing by leaps and bound, and travelers are realizing they can get more for less, than they would by staying in a standard hotel room. ------------- I might bark, but I don't bite. (trolls, sock puppets, Brasil-bashers, and "Joined:Today" persons too lazy to use the Search function excluded; cry babies too) |
Posted By: kevbo
Date Posted: 20 April 2012 at 12:20
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I couldn't agree more. If you open a good pousada in the north east of Brazil you may well be able to attract visitors from the northern hemisphere,tropical climate,great beaches ,year round sun ,relatively short and sometimes direct flights etc.The south is a different proposition.If I had a pound for every time I had heard plans of attracting travelers from Europe or the States down here, that didn't work out I would have at least 3 pounds!
I'm not trying to say it wold be impossible , but it would be a big risk. A risk,if I were bringing up a family, I would be reluctant to take. |
Posted By: Gringo.Floripa
Date Posted: 20 April 2012 at 12:56
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The mainstream will always flock to tropical beaches, and because of the high demand, there's also a lot of competition. The south, especially the serra, would be more niche market, not mainstream. And as is often the case with niche markets, one can usually obtain a higher premium for the product and services offered. I find the concept of rural tourism to be intriguing, and this is still in an embryonic stage. To incorporate 'sustainability' into one's pousada, would limit some of the financial risks, because you and your family would be living "off the land", so to speak. I'm not talking about the pastoral fantasy of 'Little House on the Prairie', but a genuinely feasible project where one combines hospitality, with small scale agriculture (preferably organic), and incorporating the produce into the menu of what is served at the pousada. I have no doubt there are travelers who would be drawn to such an experience, and who would pay good money for it. Recently saw a show on TV about this sustainable community in the US: http://www.serenbe.com - Serenbe While certainly much more than a pousada, this is essentially the concept I'm talking about, and AFIK, not being done (yet) in Brasil. Scale back such an ambitious project as Serenbe into something more manageable for an individual family to run (with hired help of course), and IMO, you have heaven on earth! And what an incredible environment for children to be raised in!!! ------------- I might bark, but I don't bite. (trolls, sock puppets, Brasil-bashers, and "Joined:Today" persons too lazy to use the Search function excluded; cry babies too) |
Posted By: praia gato
Date Posted: 20 April 2012 at 14:30
| Gringo.Floripa .... Not bad for a boy from small town Georgia. |
Posted By: sb8enzo8
Date Posted: 20 April 2012 at 15:00
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I am really grateful for the responses I have received. Thanks you.
Do any of you know "legit" sites that sell pousadas. I have had a look on-line but to be honest I am still seeing the same ones on the site I have seen a year ago. So not 100% they get updated. How is Health & Safety laws there? If it is anything like here in the UK then it will be a nightmare. I read today that they had to break down a sandcastle (big one, 4days to build, professionally done) on the beach because if it toppled on a child they would die and they didn't want to spend money on a 24hr security guard :/ ------------- Scott B |
Posted By: Gringo.Floripa
Date Posted: 20 April 2012 at 15:37
Who you callin' "boy"?!?  @Scott: I would be leery of any pousadas you find on-line for sale! There's been discussion in other threads how in addition to the normal concerns one would have pertaining to documentation of the actual property, you'd also need to research (well!) the labor history of the establishment. As the new owner, you could find yourself liable for pending labor disputes. IMO, best to set up your own pousada from scratch.... EDIT: Regarding health and safety laws, they obviously apply. However, some localities/regions might be more 'to the letter of the law' than others. I think another consideration is to be aware of the political bent of where you intend to set up residence. The present party in power, the PT has very little sway and influence in the south, yet they rule with an iron fist in the NE and in Rio. Just sayin'.... ------------- I might bark, but I don't bite. (trolls, sock puppets, Brasil-bashers, and "Joined:Today" persons too lazy to use the Search function excluded; cry babies too) |
Posted By: cara0910
Date Posted: 20 April 2012 at 15:54
this is the forward thinking i am always tryin to talk about... |
Posted By: hazlit
Date Posted: 12 July 2012 at 19:43
| You want some real advice? Don't come. |
Posted By: AmoAcai
Date Posted: 13 July 2012 at 01:39
| It sucks. Going in 4 years and we barely get by. Convinced the wife to dance in strip club help with contas. Stay where you are frankly. Sorte. |
Posted By: finrudd
Date Posted: 13 July 2012 at 07:15
Scott - How's the plans coming along? I found the same thing when buying Sitios, thinking 'surely this cannot still be for sale?' and the answer was generally that they were. The Sitio I bought had been on the market for 4 years, and finally sold at less than half of what they were originally asking. Plenty of Sitio's I was looking at 2 years ago are still on the market, and others, when you come to ask the agent about them have been withdrawn from the market, or might not sell - often because of lack of paperwork, or some family dispute or other. Have a look here for some ready made Pousadas in Paraty for example http://www.acparaty.com.br/imoveis.php?tipo=2&finalidade=1 - Paraty Imoveis and this one here http://www.estanciaimoveis.com.br/-c-72_35_56.html#axzz20UnvBWwq - Estancia Imoveis which always has a large list - I did cross reference one or two a year or so ago, and found some of the properties for sale with other agents, suggesting they are genuine. I never looked into this much more than browsing, as being from a hotel background, it idled away some time on the internet. BTW - Marriott is opening some of their Autograph Collection hotels in the South of Brazil next year, and has one already in RS, near to Caxias do Sul. Other than that, I haven't heard of any full-service MI properties opening, and I suspect they wont - it's just too complex here, as hotels are often owned by groups of investors rather than one owner, so managing franchises and maintaining brand standards is a nightmare. Health & Safety? It's not that high on most people's agenda here from what I see, although we do have an appointed H&S person in our office which is a requirement, who is supposed to do Risk Analysis reports etc, but it seems much more of a box ticking exercise than something encouraged and actively used. |
Posted By: AmoAcai
Date Posted: 14 July 2012 at 01:32
| my guess is Moma and Dada help expats. i mean for real who 20 somethings expats can live in Sau Paulo? |
Posted By: Escy
Date Posted: 14 July 2012 at 17:35
Agreed |
Posted By: AmoAcai
Date Posted: 14 July 2012 at 19:59
+1
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Posted By: kevbo
Date Posted: 14 July 2012 at 21:22
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Amoacai , Escy , hazlit if it is so crap here why do you stay? People with little to offer will do badly here (or anywhere else) people with some ability will do ok where ever they are. Which category do you fall into?
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Posted By: Twirly
Date Posted: 14 July 2012 at 21:38
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^^For most people Brazil will suck so they should think twice before coming here.
It is really difficult but for those that manages to find a good job life can be pretty awesome. |
Posted By: OldMiller
Date Posted: 14 July 2012 at 22:54
South America = yes. Brazil (right now) = no. I'd rank 4-5 other South American countries above Brazil in terms of overall quality of life, especially for an expat. Brazil still has a lot of fundamental problems (with their economic and political systems) that they aren't taking very seriously. My advice: choose another country, at least for the time being.  ------------- "Curious that we elect incompetent politicians, then complain they're incompetent. Perhaps what we all need is more mirrors." - Neil Degrasse Tyson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 10:02
Firstly, Brazil is a huge diverse country, so for someone to say, in Brazil or here, is laughable anyway, some of the people on here dont know squat about different regions of Brazil and the the south is totally the opposite of the northern regions, so thats just for starters. Also if you have just gotten here and are still enjoying the beaches, thats laughable aswell, unless you make your living there of course. Afew people commenting on this site, arent even here or dont spend much time here. Brazil is a changing evolving country aswell, which way it go, who knows, but things are very different to when i can here 8 or so years ago. What do you do here kevbo? Edit. It doesnt take a rocket scientist either to work things out, you just have to read this forum. Its tough as hell in this country for gringoes, mainly because we cant work the Brazilian mentality out and they keep changing the laws and the rules every other week. Many people who are happy here, receive their income from somewhere outside the country, hence the huge interest in the exchange rates. Very few people are making it big here and the ones that are, probably, arent on here, i know one person who has done well. And i know also that there are afew Brazilians on here posing as gringoes, its the same old story. Beat down the realities and the gringoes. Having said that, i think many americans are immune to the political structure here as its similar to their own. As a person from the UK, i find it a very alien style of running a country. The person with the most money gets elected. Yeah, great, thats democratic isnt it. What the  . |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 10:08
Twirly - I think it depends on what life are looking for. All - Dont believe all the BS. If you are only looking for a different set of T's and A's then Brazil does have its appeals, but after a while thats just gets boring and people look for something with more meaning. Also in my kneck of the woods that can get you killed, i have been in afew nasty situations because of crazy jealous locals. So you have been warned gringoes looking for a utopianonic world. Many people who have come unstuck havent come on here to tell their tales. There were afew, afew years back, they didnt get a warm welcome on this site, no one understood them and understand the realities of this country if you happen to move to the wrong neighbourhoods. |
Posted By: Toasty
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 11:18
For poor hamsters with too much time on their hands yes I am sure Brazil would suck. I'd take all the free acai handouts I could if I was one of those hamsters! Geez glad I am nowhere near being a hamster.. Tee hee hee.
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Posted By: Toasty
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 11:39
All I read (don't know the full story) was the Fort Newf offer a free acai to some poor sod. Would he get the death penalty if he also offered a bacon sandwich???
Btw if you are interested the Fort Newf told me to tell you his Emirates itinery (executive I might add it's the only way to fly) is confirmed to return to Brazil in August. |
Posted By: Toasty
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 11:41
| Tee hee hee making posts and deleting them afterwards. Interesting strategy. Is their any money in that??? |
Posted By: OldMiller
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 12:18
------------- "Curious that we elect incompetent politicians, then complain they're incompetent. Perhaps what we all need is more mirrors." - Neil Degrasse Tyson |
Posted By: kevbo
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 12:33
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Amsterdam , of course Brazil is a huge and diverse country and the only region I am very familiar with is the south , so I will accept other parts could be vastly different. You however made the same generalisation "it's as tough as hell for gringoes in this country". My point however remains valid , good people do well. What really bugs me is gringoes coming over here with nothing more to offer than speaking English ,without a pot to p*ss in and complain life is hard.Where does teaching pay a good wage , not in the UK. Or the other group, they meet some nutter girl , half their age , pull her out of the favela and then a year later are surprised it hasn't worked out. I know people who have succeeded here and people who have failed , isn't that the way of the world? Myself ,I thought long and hard about coming here , planned everything as carefully as possible and hence am doing ok , not brilliantly , but if I fail when others are doing better I wont blame Brazil.
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Posted By: Toasty
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 12:38
I concur. Problem is some guys (mostly lets face it) lose their mind in Brasil upon their initial visits, get hooked up with a shark, and lose alot of money and pride to go along with it. Best tools to have in coming to Brasil is a well thought out (realistic) plan and a real priority to learn the local language / customs. |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 12:39
Unless it has been good for the ones making the reforms, they havent needed any i guess  |
Posted By: Toasty
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 12:39
I concur. Problem is some guys (mostly lets face it) lose their mind in Brasil upon their initial visits, get hooked up with a shark, and lose alot of money and pride to go along with it. Best tools to have in coming to Brasil is a well thought out (realistic) plan and a real priority to learn the local language / customs. |
Posted By: braza1000
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 12:43
I totally agree with you two!
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Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 12:49
Your comment about pulling a girl out of a favela is spot on. But what do you mean by ''Good People?'' I hope you dont think of me as not having a pot to pee in? You cant generalise about people either, i know some english teachers who are very happy, well appear to be and no i am not one myself, although have been asked afew times. How long have you been here? Do you live in a large cosmopolitan city by any chance? And no my questions are not meant to be challenging in any way, just interested in how you like to live your life. You are right of course planning is very important. I also planned, i first came here in 1994 and i have lived here full time now for around 8 years. But Brazil has changed considerably in that time, it has changed hugely in the last year alone. |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 12:51
Interesting coming from someone who doesnt even live here Fortaleza-Newf II ..
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Posted By: Toasty
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 12:57
I think he was referring to you and you not having a pot to pee in. Getting sensitive I see AGAIN.
And trust me I have spent way more time in Brazil than you and seen alot of the country let me tell you. Also have a life in Brazil (still keep a nice spot there no worries) that you will never achieve. You certainly won't get close working nights at the vienna sausage factory!!!
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Posted By: Escy
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 14:23
I'm going back to the UK on Friday and I can't wait. On reflection I was absolutely nuts to consider moving here. I'm working in a successful family business and I was being groomed to run it over the next few years. Money isn't an issue for me as such. What is, is the comparisons with regards to quality of life here compared to the UK. It's not even close and i'd never be happy. You need to factor in private health care and private schooling here. Also, the costs of goods are a major issue (affording them isn't the issue, happily accepting to get shafted for twice the price due to tax is). Throw in the constant saftey issues here and there really isn't much going for it. Anyone doing a run of the mill standard 20-25k job in the UK would be in for a huge shock if they got the same job over here. Relative pay is much lower here for the standard jobs and the cost of pretty much everything is higher. Brazil as a place to retire or if you earn money abroad is decent (providing you like the culture which I don't). If your in the rat race making your way, it's got to be one of the hardest places to do well. |
Posted By: kevbo
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 14:53
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Amsterdam , my comments were certainly not a personal attack upon you and if they were taken as such I apologise. You have been "here" eight years so it can't be all bad. But I agree things have changed dramatically during the six years I have been here, in fact as it is now I would struggle to move here. I live in a relatively small town (300k) , litoral SC.
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Posted By: Boycie
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 15:06
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That's a good question - knowing what you know now, would you still move to Brazil? I dunno if I would haha but then again.. I'm a glutton for punishment so maybe yes... I think the price factor is the principal offender - like Escy said when you factor in things like health care, schools, it all gets a bit ridiculous. Sorry Brasil  ------------- "every 15 years Brazil forgets its last 15 years." writer Ivan Lessa |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 15:08
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kevbo Its been a rollercoaster challenge lets put it that way and no not all bad but more like i walked into an adventure. Getting used to the place took me afew years, adjusting to the climate and so on. It all depends on how you play it i guess, i was too trusting and open with people and paid dearly for that. No need to apologise, we sometimes comes across differently than we intend to. I more so than others at times and people take things the wrong way. I think i am just more openly opinionated than most people. |
Posted By: AmoAcai
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 15:59
+1
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Posted By: AmoAcai
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 16:06
| My quality of life compared to the USA is also not even close. Completely lawless nation Brasil, skemers, thieves on every corner, bad energy. If you dont see it then you're blind as Bat. Add in the deadly mix the constant safety problems even jaunts to the market. Brazil is NOT a place for have not expats or folks on super tight budgets rather a destination for the Haves. My life was great before coming here. |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 16:16
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Sorry to hear that. I am constantly trying to warn people, we have to be soo careful here, they will rob you with a smile on their faces and not give a damn, it is a different mentality here. I have seen the same mistakes again and again by gringoes who are willing to admit they have made them, so it not just talk. i think its a game plan against gringoes at times. And no one will advise you either if you expect any kind of assistance or advice, its hard to find. I now hang around with a guy, my driver in fact during the week, who is pretty streetwise and i get him to sort things out for me, they dont budge an inch with me in negociation, with him they almost give it away. If i met some new gringoes in the area, i would be very happy to try to advise them but sometimes we have to find out things the hardway and our own ways, this is a different world. Brazil isnt for everyone and the south is completely different to the north as has been mentioned. If you come to the north, you need to have gringo friends i know a couple but they are too interested in the Brazilian lifestyle to be interested, too far gone if you like, too interested in upping their own game. And as has been mentioned before, many gringoes like to be original here, they run from anyone who remotely looks like another gringo, just in case they lose their originality.. so strange to me this attitude when you realise how difficult this place is, i guess many are just passing through and dont give a damn and dont know any better. May i remind you fellow gringoes of the words of Russell Crowe in Gladiator when he says..Whatever comes out of those gates we have a better chance of survival if we stick together, if we stick together we survive. Well, that is Brazil and us. Edit. Also where i live, nobody does anything without payment of some kind, including so called friends, there has to be an advantage for them. |
Posted By: AmoAcai
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:19
Yep. I hear ya bud.
Thats because most expats are selfish and they want you to learn the hard way like they did.
+1
+1 |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:22
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just because I am curious where this will go, what does "too interested in the Brazilian lifestyle" mean? ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: AmoAcai
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:24
| Some years back the " old guard " ran off savvy expats here. |
Posted By: pyth0n
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:29
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Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:30
Good question but give it 3 more years and you might understand what i mean. It all depends on where you live and how much of the real Brazil you are subjected to. If you live in a large cosmopolitan city then your Brazilian life is going to be pretty watered down, in my opinion. |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:33
that's not much of an answer ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:35
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Just one example..i remember a situation in a xmas party here a couple of years ago. It was a Brazilian girl with her Italian boyfriend and the Italian didnt understand much Portuguese, but basically, the Brazilian girl mentioned to a female friend sitting near me that the Italian was wealthy and she was only sticking with him until he could get milk him more, then she would dump him. I dont think they knew i spoke good Portuguese. I tried to mention it in passing to the Italian but he was too drunk to even bother with, i felt sorry for him though cus he obviously liked the girl and they lived together in Italy. |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:37
 |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:38
a. that is not indicative of a lifestyle, rather a type of person b. gold diggers come in all sorts of nationalities ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:40
you think this type of behavior is limited to or solely Brazilian? ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:40
True, but many more here. Just watch the Novelas, that is all they are about. |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:42
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Posted By: Boycie
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:44
That's how it works here, its all over the novels every day encourage every one, not that they need much encouragement - people using and screwing people over is the normal life here. If you can't beat them... join them. That's just the way it is, thing are always gonna be the same - Take the evil out the people they'll be actin right 'Cuz both black and white is smokin' crack tonight ------------- "every 15 years Brazil forgets its last 15 years." writer Ivan Lessa |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:45
so, because the tv shows are about gold diggers the country is full of them? Is that what you mean? ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:49
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Boycie - When i first arrived here, i couldnt understand much Television with the language problem and with the religious ceremony hour of Novela..my ex girlfirend would sit down to watch, rarely blinking an eyelid. Later on as i began to understand what the Novelas were about, basically screwing people..I couldnt believe what i was watching and how she was being influenced by this nonsense. It was like she was in school learning this garbage. The school for black widows. |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:52
Thanks, so much to look forward to. |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:54
so you have no straight answer except that your gf was influenced by novelas and that is proof as to why brazil has a lot of gold diggers. gotcha, makes perfect sense ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Boycie
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:55
Haha! I hear ya! I know a few people here in Rio who actually think they are living a novela They create novela type situations in their lives its truly incredible.Rio is fulla gold diggers but don't hate the players hate the game.  ------------- "every 15 years Brazil forgets its last 15 years." writer Ivan Lessa |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 17:58
Give it time, you'll understand, you sound innocent. I have been around my friend, many people who have been here longer will understand what i am saying. I notice how you dont answer any of my questions, convenient that isnt it. Do you work here in Brazil? |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:00
Ha ha, well said Boycie, i have experienced that myself just recently i am trying to fight my way out of typical Novela style '' Scam '' |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:03
If you have "been around" i would expect a better explanation of what you meant by the brazilian lifestyle ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:05
I answered you, innocence requires a very detailed explaination doesnt it. Can you answer me? |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:08
I did not say that you "didn't" I said that I expected a better answer ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:09
Can you answer me? Edit. thats the only answer your going to get, if you dont understand it, then i cant fill your mind with the necessary experience in order to fully understand it. And this isnt the Spanish Inquisition either. You sound Brazilian to me, defending things you either take for granted or dont fully understand. ------------- |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:11
sure, what's your question? ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:14
I have asked you a couple, if you had the decency to read the posts properly perhaps you would have spotted them. Perhaps that is why you ask so many yourself. |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:21
Interesting. Can you tell us more? I have heard afew stories like this. Some americans that were chased out of the area here years ago because people thought that they were Spies. Well thats the Brazilian side of the story anyway. |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:21
I don't re-read through all of your edits and changes. There are a lot of them, so if a question falls through the cracks unanswered that is why ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:31
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Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:38
where did you hear that? your gf or a novela? ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:45
So you havent been here that long and you dont work...thanks for answering indirectly anyway. ------------- |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 18:58
wrong on both fronts ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 19:04
Really? I am fascinated to know more, please elaborate, throw yourself in, leave no stone unturned.  |
Posted By: NICB
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 19:09
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Going back to the main point of the discussion. Life is not always better on the other side of the pond and I live in the supposed 'developed south'. The UK has crap weather and the people are a little cold in the south, but you can always move up north. You may be a South African but you are now used to the developed world. It will be hard to readjust.
I had a good job before coming here in the IT sector and haven't had any luck finding anything, that's after a year here. I know two expats that have managed to get non English teaching jobs and it took both of them four years each. Their Portuguese is totally perfect too. The English teaching route is unreliable. I think you really have to love it, and it's not for everyone. I ended up forming a company in the country where I'm from and run it remotely with a few trips back per year. Thankfully the process was easy and it's been doing well. Most of the Gringoes I started out with have given up and left. I know lots of Brazilians who would sell their kidneys for a chance to live in the UK. I'm stuck here because of my husband (who has a good job) and would certainly leave in a heartbeat if it were possible. You really shouldn't throw away your career for a life of uncertainty. You could also be denying your son the chance of a decent education unless he turns out to be bright enough to win a scholarship to a private school. One final thing that people haven't mentioned is friendship. Unless you have great Portuguese and/or a large expat community life here can be pretty lonely. My Portuguese is lower intermediate at best, and as I mentioned above all the Gringoes have pretty much left so I find it hard to make friends (I'm Irish and outgoing and have always had lots of friends). I often find myself at parties with my husbands friends and their wives sitting in silence as I don't fully understand the context of the conversation and/or I can't fully express what I want to say. Think long and hard about giving up your job (especially when they are thin on the ground in Europe) and moving to a place that may or not work, as you do have a son to think about. |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 19:12
I am not new to Brazil. I do have a job. ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 19:15
Give yourself time in regards to the friends/language barrier. At about 1.5 years to 2 years my speaking actually started to take off. It can be frustrating sure, but what a better way to be motivated to learn the language. ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Esprit
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 19:26
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Excellent post and advice NICB. ------------- Esprit |
Posted By: Toasty
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 22:52
Hpeak is right I think the key really is the language. Compared to some other countries I won't name I think Brasil is one of the more understanding places for learning a language and assimilating into society (the Brasilians are a pretty good bunch).
From working in the oil and gas industry in Brasil I saw many a expat not try whatsoever to learn Portuguese (even when Brasil is one of the few places in the industry where english is not the contractual language of business) and found it hard to hang with the locals. Even my so so language level allowed me to mingle and socialize effectively. You have to try though and really make an effort like anywhere.
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Posted By: AmoAcai
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 23:16
+1 Amsterdam don't even try begging to differ. After a search some of us are not even over the age 30 here. No way some 50 plus expat can debate a twentysomething about life abroad. Dont even try mate. Boa Sorte!
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Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 15 July 2012 at 23:39
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Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 11:06
You were only playing around, thats not nice is it. |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 11:16
I do not have a gf ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Escy
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 11:40
| I can't believe the amount of drivel written by you lot. Bickering like a bunch of 14 year olds. |
Posted By: hpeak13
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 11:48
says the guy who wrote the whiny "leaving Brazil" post ------------- We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with. -Enoch Nucky Thompson |
Posted By: Gringo.Floripa
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 11:58
Aaaand, he 'toughed it out' for all of 6 months.... ------------- I might bark, but I don't bite. (trolls, sock puppets, Brasil-bashers, and "Joined:Today" persons too lazy to use the Search function excluded; cry babies too) |
Posted By: Escy
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 12:01
| I don't really get the attitude on this website. It's all bitch remarks made to one another, people always having a go for having differing opinions. |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 12:11
Its not this website, its like the House of Commons |
Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 12:13
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Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 12:15
Thats because most of the ones trying to defame people are |
Posted By: Esprit
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 12:18
I think you may be in for a little shock.
 ------------- Esprit |
Posted By: Gringo.Floripa
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 12:24
Wow bro, no need to get your nose out of joint because of a little ribbing! You're certainly entitled to your opinion, and so are others. IMO, 6 months doesn't qualify as really trying. Shoot, I waited 9 months just for my home interview. Your list of grievances in the thread you posted about leaving have some validity, yet life in Brasil, or any other country which is not the land where one was born and raised, is like a love affair. The first year or so, everything your gf/bf does is cute. Yet after the 'honeymoon' period is over, all those cute things often become irritations. It's then and there you need to make a choice, to accept them as part of the package, or not. You chose not to, simple enough. Godspeed to your next adventure.... ------------- I might bark, but I don't bite. (trolls, sock puppets, Brasil-bashers, and "Joined:Today" persons too lazy to use the Search function excluded; cry babies too) |
Posted By: Twirly
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 12:34
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Posted By: Amsterdam
Date Posted: 16 July 2012 at 12:42
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