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[Vani]

Hi there,

I just wondered whether anybody had any information about St Giles based in Sao Paolo and also the city of Campinas, where they are opening their 2nd centre in January.

I have an interview with St Giles next week and would be grateful for any words of advice about their operations in Brazil. I am also after information about quality of life in Campinas. In addition, if anybody has lived in Sao Paolo, I would like their opinion on the true dangers of life in the city and also the positives.

Any help would be much appreciated.


Cheers!

[AcidBurn]

I don�t think Sao Paulo is really so dangerous if you keep cool and dress casual. Most of the crime I have heard about was people having their cars stolen and just about everyone I know down there has had that problem. Oddly enough, they have all had their cars recovered in good condition.

But if you drive a BMW, wear a Rolex and dress in an Armani suit everyday, then you�re probably asking to get mugged. It wouldn�t be a question of �if�, but �when�.

There are some areas, of course, which should be avoided. Obviously, you don�t want to be near the favelas. Also, some areas around Centro are a little dangerous and you should always be wary of who is around you. Guarulhos (the city around the airport) is also very bad. I�ve also been told to avoid a lot of the Southern part of the city.

All in all, you�re not in a Western city anymore and Sao Paulo is more dangerous than NYC, London, Paris or Tokyo. But as long as you act normal and don�t dress too flashy, you�ll be fine. Just don�t advertise yourself as a target.

As for the positives, it�s a very lively city with a nightlife that compares with the best of them (Paris, NYC, London, etc.), the women are beautiful, it�s a pretty cheap place compared to most Western cities, the restaurants are outstanding and people are generally friendly. Of course, you really need to know a local Paulista to enjoy the city and if you go there without knowing anyone, I don�t think you�d like it because it can be a very intimidating and confusing place. And unless you speak Portuguese, it will be difficult to get by because very few people there speak English.

And Campanias�never been there. Though my fianc�e�s cousin works there and he says it�s a really nice city with a great quality of life. Much safer than Sao Paulo, but only something like an hour away.