@SkipStepOne
American expat in Brazil
Forum
25 posts
Contacts
4
About me
American
Lives in Porto Alegre
Registration: 25 December 2010
Activity
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´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
We'll miss you James by Julien
Hi everyone, I am very sorry and sad to announce these sad news, but our expert James passed away in horrible circumstances. I haven't got all the details, I've heard he got murdered last week in Macae. I've lost a friend, a mentor, ...
James was the best! A true gift to Brazil and to expats. I´m going to miss his insight. 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 ...
Meet the plumbers. 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´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 excessÂ… 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´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 excessÂ… what are the characteristics of the driving style ...
As usual -- well said, James. I´m from the US -- the one developed country that is remarkably dangerous in many ways. And it seems I´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´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´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