Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am from Brazil - Rio de Janeiro. Only have been to Sao Paulo once in my life but it is the biggest city in Brazil and its financial/economical capital. If I were you I WOULD NOT move.

Brazillians are great and welcoming and Brazil is a beautiful country. That said, the cost of living is VERY high and that might not be important to you because probably he is being offered a very high salary. The reason really I would not move there is the violence.

You will probably live in a high security closed condominium of houses or condos, have a driver and all that. But it is the kind of place you won't be able to let your child go to the movies alone, have to watch for stranger's car parked outside of you building, can't really walk outside at night, etc.

I am not sure if I am being able to convey really how violent it is. There are no terrorists or anything like that, but you just DO NOT FEEL SAFE and have to always being looking behind your back, being on your toes.

Aside that (if it is something you are somewhat used to or prepared to deal with) it is a great country and your daughter would have an amazing experience. The values are very different and I am sure she would have much more fun as a teen there than here.

I'm not OP, but I have a few questions if you don't mind.

Is it like that in just San Paulo? Or all Brazilian cities? My cousin is planning to move to Belo Horizonte (sp?) next month with her husband and I am hoping it's not as violent there. Have you been there?

If you don't mind, can you also talk more about the culture and childhood/teen experiences. My cousin's children are 6 and 10. How is it different there for children?

Pp here: I go to BH every year only because I have family there. I find it extremely boring. The zoo is better than here, there are some parks, but nothing like here. It is definitely not a cultural center, not many things to do with children. I go to the mall almost everyday because

1) it is safe

2) there is nothing else to do (I'm sure there is, I just haven't found yet)

BH is the capital of Mina's Gerais and there are no beaches in Mina's. the mentality is kind of provincial - lots of people are originally from very small cities whose parents sent them to BH to go to college and they ended staying. And most of those people's are farmers, cattle or agriculture. Very religious - I noticed this last time I went that there was an image of some saint in almost every business (to protect I guess), and almost all the good, traditional private schools have some sorte of connection with the Catholic Church - at least in name "Nossa Senhora de Lourdes" " st Arnald" etc....

It has the fame of being the city with the most number or bars per capita in the whole country, and the bars are always crowded. There is a very lively night life for the young, single and childless couple I guess. The food is great, but very rich and fattening.

The women there have wonderful legs because the city is made of hills - one after another. The traffic is like in any other big city, but not as bad as São Paulo or Rio, or even here.

It is violent as well, but also not as much as in Rio or São Paulo. But the things I said before about always being on your toes, watching your back, watching for strangers around your garage, etc, apply here.

For children: middle class and higher in Brazil live an insular life. It is a very consumist culture, so parents tend to over spoil their kids. Their children are not exposed to diversity, in schools, social clubs, and their environment in general. I find Brazillian children (there are exceptions of course) very ill behaved and plain, entitled little brats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, if you stick to your current job, you would move somewhere in a year or two? Any idea where that might so we can compare?
Everyone I know who went to international school abroad in high school loved it. I think your daughter could deal ok.

Hard to say - But more likely an emerging market country like Russia, India or China.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am from Brazil - Rio de Janeiro. Only have been to Sao Paulo once in my life but it is the biggest city in Brazil and its financial/economical capital. If I were you I WOULD NOT move.

Brazillians are great and welcoming and Brazil is a beautiful country. That said, the cost of living is VERY high and that might not be important to you because probably he is being offered a very high salary. The reason really I would not move there is the violence.

You will probably live in a high security closed condominium of houses or condos, have a driver and all that. But it is the kind of place you won't be able to let your child go to the movies alone, have to watch for stranger's car parked outside of you building, can't really walk outside at night, etc.

I am not sure if I am being able to convey really how violent it is. There are no terrorists or anything like that, but you just DO NOT FEEL SAFE and have to always being looking behind your back, being on your toes.

Aside that (if it is something you are somewhat used to or prepared to deal with) it is a great country and your daughter would have an amazing experience. The values are very different and I am sure she would have much more fun as a teen there than here.

I'm not OP, but I have a few questions if you don't mind.

Is it like that in just San Paulo? Or all Brazilian cities? My cousin is planning to move to Belo Horizonte (sp?) next month with her husband and I am hoping it's not as violent there. Have you been there?

If you don't mind, can you also talk more about the culture and childhood/teen experiences. My cousin's children are 6 and 10. How is it different there for children?

Pp here: I go to BH every year only because I have family there. I find it extremely boring. The zoo is better than here, there are some parks, but nothing like here. It is definitely not a cultural center, not many things to do with children. I go to the mall almost everyday because

1) it is safe

2) there is nothing else to do (I'm sure there is, I just haven't found yet)

BH is the capital of Mina's Gerais and there are no beaches in Mina's. the mentality is kind of provincial - lots of people are originally from very small cities whose parents sent them to BH to go to college and they ended staying. And most of those people's are farmers, cattle or agriculture. Very religious - I noticed this last time I went that there was an image of some saint in almost every business (to protect I guess), and almost all the good, traditional private schools have some sorte of connection with the Catholic Church - at least in name "Nossa Senhora de Lourdes" " st Arnald" etc....

It has the fame of being the city with the most number or bars per capita in the whole country, and the bars are always crowded. There is a very lively night life for the young, single and childless couple I guess. The food is great, but very rich and fattening.

The women there have wonderful legs because the city is made of hills - one after another. The traffic is like in any other big city, but not as bad as São Paulo or Rio, or even here.

It is violent as well, but also not as much as in Rio or São Paulo. But the things I said before about always being on your toes, watching your back, watching for strangers around your garage, etc, apply here.

For children: middle class and higher in Brazil live an insular life. It is a very consumist culture, so parents tend to over spoil their kids. Their children are not exposed to diversity, in schools, social clubs, and their environment in general. I find Brazillian children (there are exceptions of course) very ill behaved and plain, entitled little brats.

Anonymous wrote:So, if you stick to your current job, you would move somewhere in a year or two? Any idea where that might so we can compare?
Everyone I know who went to international school abroad in high school loved it. I think your daughter could deal ok.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am from Brazil - Rio de Janeiro. Only have been to Sao Paulo once in my life but it is the biggest city in Brazil and its financial/economical capital. If I were you I WOULD NOT move.

Brazillians are great and welcoming and Brazil is a beautiful country. That said, the cost of living is VERY high and that might not be important to you because probably he is being offered a very high salary. The reason really I would not move there is the violence.

You will probably live in a high security closed condominium of houses or condos, have a driver and all that. But it is the kind of place you won't be able to let your child go to the movies alone, have to watch for stranger's car parked outside of you building, can't really walk outside at night, etc.

I am not sure if I am being able to convey really how violent it is. There are no terrorists or anything like that, but you just DO NOT FEEL SAFE and have to always being looking behind your back, being on your toes.

Aside that (if it is something you are somewhat used to or prepared to deal with) it is a great country and your daughter would have an amazing experience. The values are very different and I am sure she would have much more fun as a teen there than here.

I'm not OP, but I have a few questions if you don't mind.

Is it like that in just San Paulo? Or all Brazilian cities? My cousin is planning to move to Belo Horizonte (sp?) next month with her husband and I am hoping it's not as violent there. Have you been there?

If you don't mind, can you also talk more about the culture and childhood/teen experiences. My cousin's children are 6 and 10. How is it different there for children?

Anonymous wrote:I am from Brazil - Rio de Janeiro. Only have been to Sao Paulo once in my life but it is the biggest city in Brazil and its financial/economical capital. If I were you I WOULD NOT move.

Brazillians are great and welcoming and Brazil is a beautiful country. That said, the cost of living is VERY high and that might not be important to you because probably he is being offered a very high salary. The reason really I would not move there is the violence.

You will probably live in a high security closed condominium of houses or condos, have a driver and all that. But it is the kind of place you won't be able to let your child go to the movies alone, have to watch for stranger's car parked outside of you building, can't really walk outside at night, etc.

I am not sure if I am being able to convey really how violent it is. There are no terrorists or anything like that, but you just DO NOT FEEL SAFE and have to always being looking behind your back, being on your toes.

Aside that (if it is something you are somewhat used to or prepared to deal with) it is a great country and your daughter would have an amazing experience. The values are very different and I am sure she would have much more fun as a teen there than here.