SkipStepOne
American expat in Brazil
Forum posts
25
Contacts
4
About me
American
Lives in Porto Alegre
Registration: 25 December 2010
Real Estate Prices in Brazil by sfcastro
I been looking at properties in Brazil for a couple of years in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. One observation that I find strange is that I see a number of properties that I have been tracking and despite the fact that they have not sold in over ...
@sfcastro,Holding out at one price is a common strategy for big-ticket items here. Time is not valued as much as it is in more dynamic economies. Also, other factors may be at play. For one, the property may be anchoring or facilitating various ... Read More
Being convincing to an employer in Brazil by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Finding a job in Brazil is no easy feat. From applying for a job all the way to job interviews, the etiquette can be different abroad. Specially job interviews, that can already be pretty daunting, can feel even worse when set in ...
I did not answer the original question in my first post, so here is some advice. Brazilians and Portuguese in general value 3rd party certification, essentially for someone else to vouch for your ability and integrity. This can come in the form of ... Read More
Being convincing to an employer in Brazil by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Finding a job in Brazil is no easy feat. From applying for a job all the way to job interviews, the etiquette can be different abroad. Specially job interviews, that can already be pretty daunting, can feel even worse when set in ...
Hello, I agree with usjohnmcc. I am also a middle-aged American professional and I麓ve been living in Brazil for 10 years with my Brazilian wife in Porto Alegre. To add to his points: You will receive 1/2 the pay here for your work, or less. ... Read More
Expand your social circle in Brazil by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Moving to Brazil means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one develop a ...
Lanre2, I heard the same thing from a middle-aged, born-and-raised Carioca. He told me, "it's a real party in Rio, a lot of fun. But if something goes wrong or you get sick, people disappear." On the other hand, some religious ... Read More
Expand your social circle in Brazil by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Moving to Brazil means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one develop a ...
If you have money to spend and you enjoy getting out in the big cities, you should be just fine for company. If not, then: While Brazilians can be very warm and welcoming, most never encounter foreigners beyond a few from neighboring countries. (If ... Read More
Environmental protection in Brazil by Kenjee
Hi, Environmental protection is a challenging issue for all the countries around the world. Would you say this issue is deemed of significance in Brazil? Is the country going green through initiatives like waste management and selective ...
To be fair, solar water heaters do exist here. People tend to live in the same place for long periods of time, and absentee owners tend to do a decent job of keeping their rental apartments in order with management companies. The long-term benefit ... Read More
Environmental protection in Brazil by Kenjee
Hi, Environmental protection is a challenging issue for all the countries around the world. Would you say this issue is deemed of significance in Brazil? Is the country going green through initiatives like waste management and selective ...
US $1.4 in funding from the World Bank was recently spent on urban research in the southern State of Rio Grande do Sul. The focus combined sustainable environmental planning with initiatives to attract investment for high tech enterprises. Even ... Read More
Building in Brazil by cuffy
Would anyone know the best method for contacting reputable sources in the Southern Bahia coastal area of Mucuri pertaining to Gringo's buying land and/or building homes? Is this considered a safe area for Gringo's? What about crime and ...
Oh, two more points from Erik: 11. Mature, respected professionals might have no qualms whatsoever about slandering and upstaging fellow professionals, especially those unknown to them. e.g. "He sounds like an idiot." "He ... Read More
Building in Brazil by cuffy
Would anyone know the best method for contacting reputable sources in the Southern Bahia coastal area of Mucuri pertaining to Gringo's buying land and/or building homes? Is this considered a safe area for Gringo's? What about crime and ...
Hi Cuffy, As usual, James has already given sage advice. I am an American, an architect, and I麓m also a Brazilian architect. 1. Yes, take the time to find the right person to represent your interests. An engineer, a Master Builder (mestre ... Read More
Driving in Brazil by Maximilien
Hi, What do you think of the way people drive in Brazil? How different is it from your home country? Respecting the road safety rules, driving etiquette such as general courtesy, speed excess聟 what are the characteristics of the driving style ...
I have to add that since stiff penalties have been in place for diving here in Porto Alegre, I know of a few people who have lost their licenses for long periods thanks just to speeding and running red lights. This crack down hasn麓t changed ... Read More
Driving in Brazil by Maximilien
Hi, What do you think of the way people drive in Brazil? How different is it from your home country? Respecting the road safety rules, driving etiquette such as general courtesy, speed excess聟 what are the characteristics of the driving style ...
As usual -- well said, James. I麓m from the US -- the one developed country that is remarkably dangerous in many ways. And it seems I麓m six times more likely to die in a car crash here in Brazil than back home. Which is astounding ... Read More
Brazilian cuisine by Priscilla
Hi, When living abroad, tasting the local cuisine is part of discovering the country. What is your favorite food in Brazil? What is the local speciality? Share with us the local tastes of Brazil and why not your best recipe. Thank ...
If are adapted to salty meat and very strong coffee, then you would love Porto Alegre and Rio Grande so Sul. I could live well without ever eating beef or pork, but it is delicious here. Also, I麓ve become a big fan of the local tangerines ... Read More
Safety in Brazil by Mickey34
I'm completely in a state of shock. My trip to Brazil will begin in late January. I've been doing a lot of research, maybe too much. The stories are horrendous to say the least. Everything from bodies of murdered children lying in the ...
I麓m happy to share my experience. I can only speak for Porto Alegre, not for Brasil. I lived 9 years in New York and 8 in Philadelphia, and was mugged once in each city, but never in 6 years here in Brazil. I am more cautious here. As with ... Read More
Safety in Brazil by Christine
Hi, We would like to talk about a sensitive but important topic: do you feel safe in Brazil? How would you define the level of safety in the country? Can you walk safely during the day and at night without any fear? Do you think there ...
Hi, I麓m happy to share my experience. I can only speak for Porto Alegre, not for Brasil As with every country, your experience of crime depends on who you are. I am a middle class professional, and so are most expats. Most Brazilians are ... Read More
Permanent visa based on marriage - Brasilia by David3
Does anyone know how much time it takes in Brasilia to obtain permanent visa after a civil marriage?
If you play a winter sport, you might considered signing up for a Brazilian Olympic team. You can gain citizenship in a couple of weeks that way. More than one Brazilian consulate told me that my permanent visa would be approved more quickly in ... Read More
Oh Brazil! by GringogGene
Friend living in Northern California went to BR Consulate in San Francisco to pick up her passport/visa for travel to BR this month. It was closed in order to watch the BR/GER match. One lady had flown down from Seattle and was booked back that ...
Thanks, wj. The story of the name is that, perhaps, I'm just good enough at naming things that it causes people to ask. It's an odd talent, but I have no desire to work in advertising. I'm in architecture. Which apparently hasn't ... Read More
Oh Brazil! by GringogGene
Friend living in Northern California went to BR Consulate in San Francisco to pick up her passport/visa for travel to BR this month. It was closed in order to watch the BR/GER match. One lady had flown down from Seattle and was booked back that ...
I took the ferry to Oslo one day that turned out to be a national holiday. I'd never visited a more boring, empty city in my life. It was a wasted trip, but my ignorance served me right. If the traveler in question insists on remaining angry, ... Read More
Expat meetings in Recife by May888
Hi everyone! I just joined the forum. I am considering relocating to Recife and am probably going to visit for a couple of weeks in April first. Are there any meetings of expats during that time? I would love to get some practical advice and ...
Hi Recife! Do you know anyone working in or around the Porto Digital? I麓m an American working with an NGO here in Brazil, and I could use some help learning more about it. Thanks! -Erik Read More
Stay in Brazil with my proper job by Lee Shin Yunn
Hello, i麓m Amy from malaysia. im ex prisioner and stay here in brazil almost 4 years now.is an enquiry that is there any way can make me stay in brazil whith my proper job? I need your advise for me to find the way for stay in brazil and have my ...
Would it be possible to go to another country, marry there, and return to Brazil? I am a foreigner married to a Brazilian, and the requirement to submit my criminal record was unnecessary for me. I actually had fingerprints made and my Federal ... Read More
Offering help by LiluB
Hello there. I'm a brazilian lawyer, and, since my father has been in rotary ever since I remember, I'm used to sometimes help exchange studens from everywhere. I find very interesting how meny people are coming to Brazil recently, many with no ...
Great list of ideas, thank you! I'm definitely going to act on these. -Erik Read More
Offering help by LiluB
Hello there. I'm a brazilian lawyer, and, since my father has been in rotary ever since I remember, I'm used to sometimes help exchange studens from everywhere. I find very interesting how meny people are coming to Brazil recently, many with no ...
Hi, How wonderful to find your post! Maybe you can help me with some advice. I'm and American architect and I've been living for 18 months in Porto Alegre with my wife. Her academic job and the decline of the US building market both brought us ... Read More