Job Discussion Forums

[rookieoftheyear]

Hey everyone,

I will be teaching at a University in Brazil (in a city between Sao Paulo and Rio) starting in Feb. and was wondering if any teachers that are in Brazil can recommend things to bring. Is there anything you wish you had brought that you didn't? Is there anything you brought that you don't need? Also, I was wondering how much you guys spend and what you spend it on.

Oh and one other thing, I will be traveling as a student (sshhhh) in order to stay for one year and need to know if I MUST have a return ticket, or if a one-way is sufficient. The reason being I may not want to return exactly 1 year later.

Best regards,

Sean

[fragganika]

I had to show a round-trip but open-ended ticket for my visa.

When I lived near Sorocaba, I spent my entire 700 R$ a month salary on living expenses... dining out, clothes, just fun stuff... but rent was free for me. Any trips I took came out of my savings.... but I only spent half of my 2K in the 8 months I was there.

I'd take a bank card instead of much cash, as cash can be stolen and you won't find anywhere to trade your dollars except at the airport. Bradesco was the only bank that worked with my Wachovia bank card. Good thing is that it's a ubiquitous bank throughout Sao Paulo and Rio, even in small towns. However, use your bank card only at ATM's cause it's easy to get yr card # stolen at stores, in which case only a credit card will have fraud protection.

If you're sensitive to mosquito bites, take a net for the summer months (now). They don't have nets on windows, nor did I ever find one for my bed. For me, it was serious!

Clothes are expensive in Brazil. Totally American prices, if not higher, with lower quality. But shoes are high quality and worth buying there.

Also, it gets really cold in Sao Paulo state during the Brazilian winter! No snow or ice, but cold enough for hats, jackets, and sweaters! I'd say it goes down to about 35 F during the coldest part of the winter at night sometimes. You can expect to be cold at night in yr uninsulated, unheated house from about June through Mid August. A light duty sleeping bag helps.

All modern hygienic conveniences will be there for you. The water IS drinkable straight from the tap. Forget the b.s. in guidebooks, they're only valid for the Amazon and Northern, under-developed areas.

Don't buy American insurance to go there. Totally good Brazilian health insurance costs about 70-80R$ per month through MediPlan.

Don't bother with malaria medicine if you don't plan on going to the aforementioned northern parts. There's no dengue in SP, either.

Hope that helps!

[Deconstructor]

I returned from Brazil recently. I was there for couple of months visiting in-laws. We're seriously thinking of moving there permanently and I think we're going to.

Brazil is great; amazing food, intelligent people and great weather. The most important thing is to know your environment because there is a lot of crime. Unlike what most people believe, you won't get killed as soon as you step outside, but you have to know the city you live well. Some people can't help flaunt that they�re from the West. Bad idea. Be modest, look modest and all else will be fine.

[amandajoy99]

I did not come with an open ended ticket, they're usually quite expensive and I found a supercheap one-way ticket from Varig. For my visa, which is a "Cultural Visa" for the IICA program, I had to prove that I had money to buy a return ticket. I sent the consulate copies of my bank statements. The woman at the Varig counter didn't want to let me go, and she assured me that I would have trouble at customs in Rio and not make it to my connecting flight to Sao Paulo because they would ask to see my return ticket, and the airline wouldn't be responsible. Turned out I didn't have a single problem! I don't know if that applies to student visas, but no matter what I would call your consulate and get details, the website information is usually not complete and you want to make sure you have everything. Best to talk to someone. Make sure you know exactly what they want. Although for most of the consulates there is only one hour a day during which you can call and ask visa questions! Check the website for that.
I brought traveler's checks. That was stupid. No one even knows what they are here in Lins. Basically I have a bunch of sheets of paper and no money! I'm going to have to travel quite a ways one day to try and change them. Fragganika, did you open a Brazilian bank account?
I also find that it's really not all that hot in summer in Sao Paulo state. I think North Carolina is hotter. Brazilians also tend to ignore the heat - they're all wearing jeans and drinking hot tea.

[fragganika]

I never opened a bank account, though I started the proceedings to do so. It seems relatively simple - after you get yr foreigner's identity card from the Policia Federal, you can go to Banco do Brasil and apply for an CPF (their equivalent of an SS#, and even more necessary!)... there's a fee of 4RS... if Lins is as small as Boituva, you might have to go to the next bigger town to actually pick up yr CPF... but after that, you can open a bank account, buy stuff online, whatever... it's the golden key.

I chose not to open an account after I figured out that Bradesco machines worked with my american visa-mac... but i never did deposit my monthly wages... i just spent them!

[fragganika]

I quote Deconstructor: "Some people can't help flaunt that they�re from the West."

Lots of Brazilians regularly flaunt crazy expensive clothes and jewelry... It's actually hard to figure out who's poor outside an obvious setting, like a favela, because people will hide it by taking good care of their appearance.

There's also plenty of punks, industrial looking kids - it's a big trend... I just mention that cause I see yr eyebrow piercing...

So, unless yr a huge Casanova, open shirt, tons of gold chains type (which I don't think you are), you shouldn't have to worry about flaunting your Westernness... Besides, you could just say you're from Rondonia... That's in the west, too.