-Where were you born?

I was born in Hong Kong. The way Brazilians think, that makes me Chinese. On my driving license it refers to the Republic of China. I am not even slightly Chinese. When I was born there, Hong Kong was a British colony. But anyway, for a Brit, your actual place of birth has nothing to do with your nationality or citizenship...it's all about your parents. I'm officially British.

But...I'm becoming Brazilian.

-In which country and city are you living now?

The marvellous city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I'm living with my 2 small children and Brazilian husband.

-How long have you been living in Brazil?

I've been living in Rio de Janeiro for one year.

I lived for three years in Sao Paulo.

We decided that Rio was a healthier environment for small children, even though we have sacrificed some of the culture and 'sophistication' of Sao Paulo. We also miss the service levels in Sao Paulo.

-What is your age?

35 years young. Just a few wrinkles, but nothing that a dermatologist can't wort out.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Brazil?

Marrying a Brazilan/British dual national was a major factor. He applied for a job in London, but they thought he was better suited to their Sao Paulo office. We just went along for the ride and decided to stay.  No regrets.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

Neither, being married to a Brazilian citizen and having Brazil-born children. That's not to say it was quick.  It took over a year to get my RNE.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Luckily it's part of my husband's package.

-How do you make your living in Brazil? Do you have any type of income generated?

When I moved here I just kept working remotely, writing for the advertising agency I used to work for in the States. I'm lucky.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language? 

Yes I speak Portuguese fluently and I think that is absolutely necessary in Brazil. 

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I miss having my parents and siblings within Sunday-lunch distance, but I have made a great group of friends. 

There's no shortage of things to do here, and it's a very healthy, outdoors lifestyle.

Lots of beaches, parks and studios for cycling, running, swimming, online skating, yoga, pilates, dance and whatever you are into.

Also some interesting cultural centers and theatres.

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

Wow that's a big question. I can barely make plans for tomorrow.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it? 

We rent a home from some family members. It's in Flamengo. In general, rents and purchasing prices in Rio are skyrocketing out of control...in Rio you have a very small area that everyone wants to live in - between the beach and the mountains.

Sao Paulo is more reasonable - there is a lot more space there for new developments, and not so many 'features' (like the beach) so real estate location is not such a huge deal as in Rio.

 While I'm on the subject, we're trying to sell a duplex penthouse with 3 bedrooms and 2 parking spaces and an amazing city skyline view in Pinheiros, Sao Paulo, for $R770....Anyone interested can contact me via  my blog (below).

-What is the cost of living in Brazil?

The currency is pretty inflated here, and import taxes are also very high. This means that any imported goods are ridiculously highly priced. I try not to buy anything here and instead, stock up whenever I go to the States or the UK. Luckily, baggage allowance from Brazil seems to be more than anywhere else, so there is plenty of room to bring back a year's worth of stuff!

-What do you think about the locals?

The locals are reserved but friendly. No one has ever been mean or rude to me because of my being foreign.  Instead, they are usually curious and kind. 

Just like in every other country, there are educated and ignorant, rich and poor, people; men and women of every imaginable colour and religion, size and shape. Brazil is a real melting pot of immigrant cultures from all over the world and a great example to countries who have problems with integration.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Brazil?

Brazil is going through a really strong moment, especially Rio, since the football World Cup and the Olympics are heading our way. The whole world seems to be talking about Brazil at the moment...for once I feel like we are in the right place at the right time.

 Certainly I don't think I'm missing out by not being in either the US or the UK right now.  

This month in Brazil, for example, they just posted the lowest unemployment rates for decades. The economy is very strong. Let's just hope that whoever our new president ends up being, the country stays on the same ascent!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Brazil?

Have fun and make the most of being in Brazil. Don't take anything for granted...get out there and explore. Don't be fearful or nervous. 

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Brazil?

Of course my own blog is the best one:

http://becomebrazilian.blogspot.com

-Where were you born?

I was born in New York City, New York, USA., and moved to San Francisco when I was twenty.

-In which country and city are you living now?

 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my partner and his sister and niece, as well as three cats and a dog.

-How long have you been living in Brazil?

I've lived in Salvador part-time since 2003 and full-time since 2008.  Before moving to Salvador I lived for two years in Sao Paulo and one year in Rio de Janeiro.

-What is your age?

54

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Brazil?

One of my great passions is Latin America.  I had visited almost all the countries in Latin America and Brazil was one of the few that was still on my "to visit" list.  In 1999 I went for a short trip and I fell in love with the country.  I started coming every year for six-month stays, until I finally made the leap and made Brazil my full-time home.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

For the first seven years I was able to stay for six months a year on a tourist visa.  Now I am in the process of getting legal residency and I have permission to live here until it is processed.   Residency based on domestic partnerships is a new concept in Brazil, so I am using a lawyer to get through the paperwork and the bureaucracy.  It was relatively easy to apply for the residency, but the wait to get the final paperwork can take up to two years. 

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I didn't have medical insurance during the first seven years.  Fortunately I am healthy as well as lucky and I never needed it.  Now I have medical coverage through my partner's job.

-How do you make your living in Brazil? Do you have any type of income generated?

I haven't worked in Brazil.  I've been able to live on my savings and investments until now, but the global economic crisis has taken its toll on my net worth so I anticipate finding a way to generate income in the future.   The unemployment rate is very high in Brazil so there are very limited opportunities for me, but I taught English in Mexico for six years so I may do that again here in Brazil.

-Do you speak Portuguese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I speak Portuguese fluently now.  When I arrived  in Brazil I was a fluent Spanish-speaker, and I imagined that it would be easy to pick up Portuguese.  I was wrong!  While Spanish and Portuguese look very similar on paper, they sound completely different and have many "false cognates" and I didn't understand a word.   It took me a while to wash the Spanish out of my Portuguese, but now I've separated the two languages in my head and my Portuguese is excellent.  It's very important to learn the language and read everything you can about the culture if you plan to live here successfully.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

I go back to the U.S. twice a year, which helps keep my sanity!  Instant messaging and webcams really help bridge the distance, and it's rare for a day to go by when I'm not in contact with friends and family back home in one form or another.   I actually felt more isolated when I lived in Mexico in the 1990's before the internet was available.  Life in Bahia, Brazil revolves around family and friends, the beach, music, dance and sitting in cafes and bars watching the passing scene.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I've always been a compulsive traveler so I frequently travel around Brazil and go abroad several times a year.   Sometimes I get the "bug" to try another country but Brazil won't let go of me!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We rent a two-bedroom apartment in a very nice upscale neighborhood in Salvador for 600 reais a month, which is about 265 U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. A foreigner renting the same apartment would most likely pay more, so it's important to get a local to make the deal.  I also bought a small two-bedroom house in a small city about two hours from Salvador for U.S. $11,000.  While that sounds like a bargain, the small city is not near the beach nor a particularly interesting place, but my in-laws live there so we got a good deal, and it's a great place to get away from the bustle of the big city and appreciate small town customs, especially during local festivals and holidays.

-What is the cost of living in Brazil?

Brazil is not cheap!  Some basics like fresh food and other essentials are cheaper than in the U.S., but many things are more expensive.  Utilities like electricity and telephone service are sky high.  While the cost of big ticket items like appliances has come down during the past few years, they are still quite expensive.  Brazil has one of the highest tax rates in the world.   There is little relation between the very low salaries and the high consumer prices.   The high cost for so many consumer items  is the reason why my suitcases are bulging when I return to Brazil after a visit to the U.S.!  You have to learn to live simply and make things last.

-What do you think about the Brazilians?

The locals are the reason I moved to Bahia!  They are warm, friendly, vivacious, fun-loving, crazy, wild, forgiving and a million other superlatives.   Bahians will take you into their lives and never let you go.  They can also drive you crazy but that's part of the magic.  They are  thrilled and supportive when you make an effort to learn their language.  Bahians are very forgiving of foreign eccentricities.  I felt at home very quickly in Bahia.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Brazil?

There is never a dull moment in Bahia!  There is always something interesting happening: drums beating, a capoeira circle, a free open-air concert, a lively conversation, a day on the beach, a night of drinking caipirinhas in a sidewalk cafe, a walk through hundreds of centuries of history, or a day trip to the lush, green countryside.  And of course there's Carnaval, the largest street party in the world!

The negatives are the grinding poverty, the high crime rate, being seen as the "rich gringo" who will always come to the rescue, the corruption and the bureaucracy.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Brazil?

Life in Brazil is an emotional roller coaster.  Be prepared to feel like you've never been happier in your life one moment, and the next moment feel like you want to get on the next plane home!  Brazilians are a "group" culture and don't have a strong need to be alone, so make sure you give yourself some quiet "private" time to collect your thoughts.  Locking myself in my bedroom for a couple of hours does wonders for my mental health!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Brazil?

The website Gringoes.com has loads of great tips and advice on living in Brazil: http://www.gringoes.com

The website Brazzil.com is an excellent source for keeping abreast of current affairs and the news in Brazil: http://www.brazzil.com

-Where were you born?

I was born in Evanston, Illinois, raised in Crystal Lake, and spent most of my adult life in Chicago. 

-In which country and city are you living now?

I am living in Porto Alegre, in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. However, it might as well be a different country because the local culture is radically different that those in the more familiar Rio, São Paulo, or the northeast.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live alone. I joke with people, "eu fugi da casa" (I ran away from home)!

-How long have you been living in Brazil?

Almost 9 months.

-What is your age?

34

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Brazil?

I first visited Brazil in 2005. The motivation at that time had a lot to do with the Brazilian guy I was dating. I began studying Portuguese and became so infatuated with the language, the various cultures I had witnessed (in what amounted to 6 trips to Brazil in under 3 years), the music, the pace, and the hospitality of the people I met that I decided to move here in 2008. I quit my corporate job, rid myself of almost everything that didn't fit in my little suitcases, and leapt into the unknown.

After more than a year of researching (about crime, economics, transportation, even percentage of green space), I decided to start my new Brazilian life here in the south. At some point, I might move to Rio (my second choice), but I am content here for now.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Medical insurance? What’s that? No, seriously, I looked into it before I left the States but the plans were very costly. I capitalized on the great insurance I had through my former employer and had all of my physicals and foreseeables conducted before my departure. And now, I am taking the risk of the uninsured. I am very careful when I cut fruit and cross the street.

-How do you make your living in Brazil? Do you have any type of income generated?

I have been supplementing my savings with travel writing. A recently-launched site geared toward independent women travelers found my blog and approached me to contribute. Does anyone reading this want to hear my book proposal? Ha ha ha!

-Do you speak Portuguese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I think it's very important to learn the local language. I studied Portuguese with a wonderful Brazilian tutor for a couple years in Chicago and I used to try to read the local news online every day. When I arrived, I had all this vocabulary and basic grammar rules floating around in my head, but putting it into practice has been another matter entirely. I felt overwhelmed for a while, because my speaking and listening skills were so far behind my reading skills. I have a tutor here, but it is only a recent development that I would say my communication ability reached "conversational". I have a long way to go.

For the most part, Brazilians have been thrilled to tell me how wonderful my Portuguese is. (See? A very congenial people indeed.) However, I have also had a handful of experiences, similar to other interviewees on this site, in which I felt frustrated that, due to a slight pronunciation misstep, I was treated as if I was wholly unintelligible. Certainly, this is universal and not uniquely Brazilian, but it's aggravating nevertheless.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Sure, I miss my friends and family. Sometimes I miss weird things, too, like home-style pancakes. My saudades (something like homesickness) dissipate, though, when I consider the simple improvements in my quality of life: lots of sunshine, spare time, a pool to swim at, and all those glorious—if unrecognizable—tropical fruits.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I haven't reached the planning stage, as I feel comfortable here for now. However, I have lots of ideas of things I'd still like to experience. I'd love to do a slow bus tour of Brazil, well, of most of South America for that matter. I've given some thought to teaching English in Korea for a year and spending the earnings on an Asian escapade. There are many countries I would like to visit on the African continent. A more "permanent" ambition, if I found the resources, would be to open a hostel someday—probably right here in Brazil, which seems to have captured my heart.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I am renting a very small one bedroom apartment in the city center. It is a bit expensive by comparison at R$700 per month, but that includes condominium fees and it is furnished (and here in Brazil, "furnished" includes kitchen cabinets and a refrigerator, otherwise not included).

-What is the cost of living in Brazil?

Of course it depends on one's living standards. Fortunately, I am not very decadent! I splurge on nights out with friends now and then, and I joined a club that has a pool, but otherwise I keep it simple. My average monthly expenditures on the basics (rent, internet, cell, electricity, food, clothing, etc.) run a little over R$1300 and my frivolous expenses (the pool, socializing and other entertainment, the occasional movie or pedicure) are about R$500.

-What do you think about the Brazilians?

I have traveled a fair bit and lived in Ireland and England for a year. Of all my travels, I have had the most delightful interaction with the residents here. Granted, it's important to remember that I live in a city that doesn't get overrun by tourists, so the locals are certainly curious when they meet a foreigner here. That said, I have been welcomed by so many Brazilians—into their homes, to attend their weddings and parties, or just to engage in conversation at a bar. People have been quite eager to make sure I am safe and armed with the hottest insider tips to enjoy my time here!

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Brazil?

The flat-out positives, aside from the aforementioned quality of life improvements and good-natured people, for me are: I love the tangible passion of the crowd at futebol match; the more efficient public transport; the climate; the flowers; the pink building that is home to Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana; the fruits and veggies, ok, and the churrasco too; the variety and vastness of the country… If it weren't for my exhausting list of positives, I wouldn't be here.

Neither positive nor negative, but merely an observation, is that everything seems like a contradiction: the haves and have-nots; the struggle for better system and the corruption; the warm hospitality and the high crime rate; a person who is simultaneously liberal and conservative; some of the world's best and worst health care. The list goes on and fascinates me at every turn, providing another reason that I choose to live here. It stimulates the brain!

One drawback/source of frustration is that I (like so many others) find the Brazilian communication style vastly different than that with which I was raised. U.S. Americans tend to speak very directly, and the closer the relationship, the more candor is expected. I find this to be inversely proportional to the Brazilian way: the closer the relationship, the less transparent the communication. It's not exactly a "negative," because there is no right or wrong way. But it can be very frustrating at times. (My hopefully-obvious disclaimer is that this is necessarily generalized.)

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Brazil?

Absolutely. Be flexible.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about anything related to Brazil?

Sonia offers one of the greatest online resources I have found for people learning Brazilian Portuguese, though for Chicagoans or people looking for tutor via Skype, I would highly recommend Marcelo Jarmendia.

My blog is My Life in Havaianas and I am a contributor at Galavanting.

-Where were you born?

I was born in Manhattan and grew up in Westchester, a suburb of New York City.

-In which country and city are you living now?

I now live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my Brazilian boyfriend.

-How long have you been living in Brazil?

I have lived here since June 2007, but went to New York for two months, so a little over a year.

-What is your age?

I will be 24 in December. 

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Brazil?

In college, I studied abroad for a year: half the year in the Dominican Republic, and the other half in Argentina. I had a blast living in Latin America and being an expat. After school ended that year, I traveled throughout Brazil and fell in love with the country and a Brazilian man. I went back to college for my last year and applied for fellowships that would enable me to do a public service project in a Rio slum. I didn't get the fellowship, but I decided to find my own project and find work when I got there. So here I am.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

The type of visa I got initially was fairly easy to get. The one I have now was a bit trickier, but was easier than I expected.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I have travel insurance, which covers me in every country except the US. I bought it while I was still stateside.

-How do you make your living in Brazil? Do you have any type of income generated?

I've had several jobs since I've been here. I taught English for a business English school for a year, taught at an English school for kids for a month, and did private English lessons for awhile. When I first got here, I had already been in touch with the school after lots of research and applying everywhere, and I got the job two days after I arrived.

I also started a career in freelance writing. I've been writing a blog for a language company since February, about learning Portuguese and Brazilian culture. I write my own blog (riogringa.com) for pleasure, and recently got an ad company to place ads there so I'm actually earning revenue. I wrote a huge non-fiction article on Brazil for an American research company, and still have hope the New York Times will publish me sometime soon. I'm also a consultant, and help gringos moving to and traveling to Brazil with critical information that guidebooks just don't have.

I've done all sorts of work, including voice recording, teaching at a language intensive program, marketing for a website, and currently, freelance writing.

-Do you speak Portuguese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I do speak Portuguese. My boyfriend helped me learn even before I moved to Brazil, and I was already fluent in Spanish, which helped. It's essential to learn the local language not only for survival but to really understand the local people. It's also important for expats to learn about the local customs and to try to respect them as much as possible.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? 

I miss my family and friends all the time, but I have new family and friends here, too. Here, there's so much to do, besides travel: the beach, hiking in the mountains, siteseeing in the city, nightlife...Rio is a city of endless possibilities. Also, I finally found the project I was hoping to do in September 2007 and have been working on it ever since: I give ballet classes to slum kids at an NGO nearby, and also give support to the organization, helping recruit and communicate with gringo volunteers.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Since the economy has gone down the tubes at home, my boyfriend and I put plans on hold to try to go to the US to start a life there. Eventually, I want to go to grad school in the US and start a career. I don't know yet in what!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We rent a one-bedroom apartment in a middle-class neighborhood, that at the current exchange rate is about US$480 per month before bills for TV, Internet, phone, gas, and electricity. We lucked out with this price since we've been here since I first arrived, and housing prices have rapidly been rising.

-What is the cost of living in Brazil?

The cost of living here is extremely high and not always on par with salaries. I think I might be spending as much or more money than I would living in New York.

-What do you think about the Brazilians? 

I have mixed feelings about the locals. Brazilians are incredibly warm, friendly and welcoming, but Cariocas (people who live in Rio) have a reputation for being rude and pushy (kind of like New Yorkers!). Brazilians love foreigners and even sometimes give special treatment to them. 

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Brazil?

The positive aspects are the weather, proximity to the beach, relaxed attitude toward life, the food, the views (this city is insanely beautiful), and living in such a rich culture.

The negative aspects are the distance from home, the high cost of living and low salaries, the dangers of living in Rio (robbery and homicide rates are high), and inefficiency/illogical way some things work here.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Brazil?

Patience and faith! Having patience is essential to not spontaneously combusting. Know when it's necessary to bribe yourself out of a situation (I've never had to, thankfully, but sometimes you must). Know your life is worth more than your wallet. Have faith that everything will eventually fall into place.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Brazil?

My blog about my life in Rio and my take on Brazil: http://riogringa.typepad.com

My consulting website, that gives tips about what to do in Rio and offers full advice for gringos in Brazil: http://www.freewebs.com/riogringaconsulting

The blog I'm paid to write, about Portuguese and Brazilian culture: http://www.transparent.com/TLBLog/Portuguese

-Where were you born?

Southern Indiana, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

Maringá, Brazil – a small city in the southern state of Paraná, population is about 300,000

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my husband.

-How long have you been living in Brazil?

About 1 year

-What is your age?

29

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Brazil?

We had always considered living abroad at some point, but never really in Brazil. The idea first came when my husband's employer presented the option. It was a situation where we knew if we didn't jump on the opportunity we would probably regret it in the future. It was good timing for us. I was tired of my job, my husband was looking for more of a challenge in his work and no kids yet.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

The visa process was frustrating and time consuming. We had tons of help from legal services through my husband's company; however, we still had to travel to Washington, D.C. for a week and deal with the Consular's office ourselves. My husband did most of the work. There were long waits, power trips and lots of phone calls. In the end, we finally got temporary visas that will allow us to stay in the country for 2 years without having to leave. Once we arrived back in Brazil, there was more paperwork to get our RNE and CPF numbers.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

My husband's employer takes care of this. Our health insurance remains the same in the US since that is where the company is based. However, we also have health insurance in Brazil.

-How do you make your living in Brazil? Do you have any type of income generated?

I've used the opportunity of this move to become a freelance health and travel writer. I didn't have plans to work in Brazil. I knew the language barrier would be too great. I worked for 3 years in health education outreach at a university prior to our move. After about 5 months of getting settled here I decided to start researching freelancing. I'd always wanted to work from home and hope to continue when we return to the US. Having free time here has allowed me to research the field and perfect my skills. It really gave me the opportunity to accomplish a goal.

-Do you speak Portuguese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I think it is very important to have a grasp on the local language. That being said, after 10 months, I still do not speak it very well. I studied CDs for 10 months and took classes for 4 after moving here. I can speak some, but I still have a difficult time understanding others. I'd highly advise a private tutor to learn the language. Group classes weren't an effective way for me to learn it. The CD's will help you know what to speak, but they won't help you with understanding others. It can feel like a whole different language once you hear natives speak.

I think observing local customs is important. Flexibility and openness are essential. Sometimes it is difficult to understand why certain things are done or practiced, but you just have to accept it and also change your way of doing things.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Yes, I definitely miss home and family. First, we had to leave our dog in the States with family and I miss her terribly. I get to travel back about twice a year for major holidays. We lived about 3 hours away from our extended families so we weren't accustomed to seeing them on a daily basis, but I do miss occasional weekend visits. Also, we were pretty settled before we made this move. We had a house, cars and hobbies. I really miss having my own home and a yard, especially my kitchen and a garden!

We have found new things to fill our time here though. We love exploring the new foods. We get to travel some and we really enjoy going to futebol (soccer) games. I've also made English speaking friends through the web. We meet for coffee or shopping about every week.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

We love to travel which is why this move was appealing to us in the first place. We were planning to travel more during our time here, but air travel is incredibly expensive and my husband's work schedule won't really allow it. We are still managing to make a trip to Europe and the Caribbean this year, two of my favorite places in the world. At the end of this experience we plan to do a tour of South America before our move back to the States.

We don't rule out the idea of living abroad again in the future, but it probably won't be in the immediate future. It will be time to settle down and have a family once this journey has ended.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

Assistance with a place to live was part of our agreement with my husband's employer. We live downtown in a high rise apartment building. We have 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The number of rooms is the same as the house we had in the US, but the square footage is less. The cost is about R$900 a month for rent.

-What is the cost of living in Brazil?

There is a huge misconception that it is inexpensive to live in Brazil. Yes, it may be less expensive than large, metropolitan cities in the US, but if you live in a moderately sized town you might be surprised to find that things cost about the same.

Produce, beer and meat are the few things that are a lot cheaper. I can go to the weekly farmer's market with about R$15 and buy 2-3 times the amount of produce I could get for the same money where I lived in the US. However, household goods like towels, linens and furniture are more expensive and of much lesser quality. Electronics and appliances are outrageous. Toiletries, beauty care and canned or packaged foods are the same or more expensive. In the end, the cost of living is about the same as where I lived in the US.

-What do you think about the Brazilians?

So far I have met some really wonderful people here. They are always willing to help and there are a few I can now call friends. Maringá is a small town by Brazilian standards and they are not used to foreigners at all. Most are very friendly, but they immediately recognize you as not being from here. It doesn't help that I have blond hair! Luckily I have not experienced any anti-American attitudes like others do in some countries. Most are very glad we are here, but many do not understand why we would move from the US to Maringá!

One of the most difficult things is the fact that they are not used to hearing foreigners speak their language. Therefore, when we first moved here and were learning Portuguese we would slightly mess up a word or two and they would not understand anything we had said. This is so unfamiliar to me because in the US I am so used to hearing people speak English with all kinds of different accents. Even if they do not speak correctly I still get an idea of what they are saying and can help. Not so here, which has made the language learning process difficult.

 -What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Brazil?

Positives:

• Exotic fruits – Even the same fruits I can get at home taste better here;

• Lots of green – Maringá is full of beautiful trees on every street and a lot of greenspace and parks;

• Lots of opportunities for nature – Brazil is filled with more than just beaches. You have the opportunity to travel to waterfalls, rainforests, wine country, thermal baths, beautiful nature reserves and parks;

• Interesting customs to observe – I could generically say that the people are friendly, but I really don't like describing a place like that. So far in every place I have traveled to in the world the people have been friendly. So while friendly people doesn’t necessarily make Brazil stand out, what you will get are some interesting and often appealing customs to observe and take part in. Things like late dinners beginning about 10:00pm, leisurely afternoons drinking beer, inexpensive manicures and pedicures that every woman here gets and driving that seems unorganized, but works in its own way.

Negatives:

• Paperwork – No matter what you go to do here chances are you are going to be filling out mounds of documents;

• Brazilian time – When it comes to scheduling maintenance, internet hookup or similar events there seems to be no concept of time. Workers often give you a day and time never show up only to knock on the door 2 days later to do the work with no explanation as to why they are 2 days late;

• Slow inefficiency – There is not a line you can stand in here that is going to move quickly be it the grocery store or the bank. Everything seems to use an unorganized, inefficient system that the locals just go along with;

• Crime – While the city I live in is relatively safe, there are many areas of Brazil that are not. No matter where you are you have to stay aware of your surroundings and conscious not to flaunt your valuables. I don't wear expensive jewelry and have even stored away my engagement ring. We keep our cameras and ipods put away and secure our wallets at all times.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Brazil?

Get to know the area you might be moving to. It is easy to generalize about a country as large as Brazil. The truth is you can generalize it no more than you can a country like the US. Living in the south is very different from the north, just as living inland is much different the constant access to the beach. Be open to cultural practices and be aware that the pace of your lifestyle may slow down. While this is a wonderful benefit in some aspects, it can be frustrating when you are actually trying to get something accomplished. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Also, if you move to the south it helps a lot if you love red meat!!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Brazil?

I keep a blog of my adventures living in Brazil. You can read more at www.blondieinbrazil.blogspot.com. 

-Where were you born?

I was born in San Francisco, California, USA.

-In which country and city are you living now?

I am back living in the Bay Area in California; it's been a few weeks (currently its Feb, 2010) since I came back from Brazil.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I am living alone.

-What is your age?

29

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Brazil?

In later half of 2004, I decided to try something new so I saved for several months and moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At that time I had been studying the culture and language for 5 years already. It was time I did something about it. The fact that I've grown up moving from place to place made it an easy decision, that combined with the fact that I love Brazil. 

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

To get a visa, no, just the usual run-around of filling out the paperwork that you thought was correct then finding out it isn't and having to run around some more to fix it. I didn't go to Brazil to work, per se, but to experience the culture first hand. 

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I didn't get any type of medical insurance, although I did contract pneumonia within the first month. Luckily I met a local family who offered to help me by setting up an appointment with their own doctor and allowing me to get better in their home. It wasn't that bad actually and I ended up paying about $200. When I first saw the doctor, I started describing my symptoms in Portuguese and in general going about as if he only spoke one language. Three-fourths of the way through, he decided to let me know he was fluent in English and that such a thing is required nowadays. 

-How did you make your living in Brazil? Did you have any type of income generated?

I had a loosely held plan of teaching English, the great gringo hope, but without actual teaching experience and not knowing how to start out, I found it harder than I thought. I taught sporatically and with the rest of my time, I resolved to simply live and learn from the culture while my money lasted. In the very end of my stay, I managed to get a job although the manager of the hotel where I applied was a half a day late in replying to my email and I had already booked my return flight home. All in all, that seems to be the deciding factor as to why I am back in the States...that, and running out of my savings.

On the second trip, I got a job at a language school as an administrator of the school but many promises were made and none were delivered. Seeing as how my initial three months were up, I decided to come back home.

-Did you learn to speak Portuguese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I spent many years teaching myself Portuguese before going to Brazil and I learned it all outside of school and private classes. Self-study is preferred because it allows me to show myself that I really want something. As I've said many times before to friends and family, I find Portuguese to be one of, if not the, most beautiful language in the world. Speaking the local language is of the utmost importance even though many don't share my opinion. I ran into my fair share of people who had been living there for a year or more and didn't know more than very basic phrases and greetings. To me, thats a shame. 

-Did you miss home and family sometimes?

There are certain things that I missed, sure, as would anyone but I was prepared to miss them because the whole idea was to experience something new.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I'm planning on moving back to Brazil by this year. Just working out some kinks and details. The good part is that I know what I'm getting myself into this time and I am aware of the realities. 

-What about housing, did you buy or rent a home? How much did you pay for it?

I rented a room in an apartment for the first month in a moderately priced area of Rio, which ran me R$400/month (US$190/month at the time). After that, I moved inland to a smaller town and paid R$200/month (US$95/month at the time) for a room in a house. My wallet thanked me especially because the room in the house included many more amenities (I would assume that is thanks to the kindness of the owner) than the apartment.

The second time around, I paid US$150/month for a room although this is in Belém, near the Amazon basin. If you are outside of the 'major' major cities, then rent can come pretty cheap depending on what you are willing to accept.

-What is the cost of living in Brazil?

Aside from clothes and electronics (which are outrageously-priced), everything is pretty low-cost. 

-What did you think about the Brazilians?

Locals were great. I never had any problems with them. The only problem was that they wanted to help me too much so I learned how to nicely decline on a regular basis. The concept of family being stronger in Brazil than in the States, is a reality and that surprised me even though I expected it.

Once I bought two beers for 50 cents each because I wanted to have two beers. When the father of my then-Brazilian girlfriend saw the two cans in the trash, he let her know that I made a pretty bad call. He told her to let me know that Brazilians, no matter how much or little they have, would have offered something to others. I felt bad and tried to offer her to buy him a 6-pack but she said I was still thinking in my American mentality and I should just stick with knowing I learned a lesson. 

-What were the positive and negative aspects of living in Brazil?

 Positive is almost everything for me as it's all different and wonderful if not interesting in the least. Negatives would include social injustices and the financial divide among the people which is more evident than any kind of racial divide. I suppose I should add that there exists a sort of cieling which is figuratively held above everyone's head there. What I mean is, many people don't seem to believe they can have a better living situation, a better job, etc and the sad part is there is some truth to it. However, since I come from a culture where you are what you allow yourself to be, it is hard to accept that that cieling exists. 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Brazil?

I am a big fan of reading up on the place you are going to. Don't be a tourist looking for a piece of your kind of comfort in Brazil. Allow the situation and environment to dictate your experiences. 

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Brazil?

I run a website called Eyes On Brazil (http://eyesonbrazil.com) which is a straight-shot as far as what is relevant in Brazilian culture and in the lives of Brazilians. For an entire decade, I have been studying Brazil on a daily basis. My site is a mixed bag of cultural items which combine free information and media into a fun, informative and coherent way. I don't think anyone out there is doing anything similar, which is not to say that there aren't interesting sites out there about Brazil, because there are (just check my 'links' page on my site).

-Where were you born?

In a sleepy little fishing village on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my husband.

-How long have you been living in Brazil?

We arrived two months ago.

-What is your age?

25

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Brazil?

My husband works for a multinational company - its operations are mostly here in Brazil. For the past two years, he has travelled back and forth for work, and enjoying it immensely. I was fortunate enough to accompany him on one of his busines trips last year and loved Brazil and immediately started in on him on finding a way for us to move here to work for a few years. Luckily for me, my thoughts were along the same lines as those of his bosses and he is now situated here to help the company focus in a new direction.

We had always intended to do the international work thing, and timing was a big factor in our decision; we are newlyweds, childless, and I was doing some soul searching as to what I wanted to do next, professionally. The timing will not ever get better. Promises of flights home and frequent visits from friends and family also helped.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Much like many others we have encountered who are foreigners working in Brazil, we still do not have our visas, but they are in process. It is very common for people to come here and start working on a "business" visa while waiting for their more permanent visa to process.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No, my husband's company took care of that.

-How do you make your living in Brazil?

As stated above, my husband's job is what brought us here. If I decide to work at some point, I think we will probably start with our contacts here to help me secure something.

-Do you speak Portuguese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I am enrolled in an intensive Portuguese training program as I believe it is imperative to learn the local language, for a number of reasons. Socially, professionally, for ease of movement, and also for safety and security.

It is incredibly important for expats to respect and observe local customs - When in Rome (or Rio)! In Rio this is even a safety issue, blending in is a good idea. I believe it is the responsibility of expats to become ambassadors of sorts, both of their home countries and their "new home" once they repatriate or move on. To leave the country a bit better than we found it, just as in any community we live in. Learning about the country in which they are living helps make sense of certain situations and can make difficulties easier to accept in some cases. Plus - isn't this the whole point of taking on this experience?

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I do miss my friends and family. I have not been away long enough to be too homesick but whenever something exciting is going on back home it is difficult to be away. Rio offers virtually every recreational activity possible besides skiing and skating, from what I can gather.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

We plan to be in Rio for about two years and after that are undecided as to what we will do.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We are renting an apartment in Leblon, which can be an expensive area. A 3-bedroom apartment in Leblon can run up to $R10,000 per month including condo fees. Buying real estate can be complicated in Brazil, and it is important to note that interest rates are very high - up to 12%. There are other, much more affordable areas in Rio of course, but we liked Leblon for the proximity to the beach, shopping, and amenities. It is also one of the safest neighbourhoods in all of South America.

-What is the cost of living in Brazil?

Once housing and electricity (both very expensive) are taken care of, the rest is very cheap. Food and eating out are very reasonable. Activities are as well.

-What do you think about the Brazilians?

To generalize, the locals are very friendly and mean well and try to help foreigners in every way they can. It is fascinating how frequently people apologize to me for not speaking English, or for not speaking it particularly well, when I do not expect them to speak English - I say to them that it is not as though we are in England!

Meeting Brazilians in a social setting has been a bit challenging although I admit I have not taken a lot of time to really focus on this yet.

I think that Brazilians are very relaxed and laid back, and enjoy life and the moment, making them easy to get along with. They smile and laugh easily and seem to be very family oriented.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Brazil?

The positives include:

- the weather
- the food
- the cultural exchange
- the opportunity for learning and growth

The negatives include:

- Safety issues - we do not have the same "freedoms" we enjoy in North America
- Not always being able to find things we need (household, food, etc.)

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Brazil?

Come with an open mind, and carefully research your costs before you come.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Brazil?

I keep a blog on which you can find restaurant and neighbourhood reviews, details on finding an apartment and furniture in Rio, attractions, and cultural tidbits: http://dailyriolife.typepad.com

www.Gringoes.com is a wonderful resource for anyone looking to move to Brazil - it features interview with other foreigners living there, and a column called "Ask A Brazilian" where cultural questions are addressed.

www.brazilmax.com, the self-proclaimed "hip guide to brazil" has a ton of useful tidbits.