Korean Job Discussion Forums

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

So many new posters online these days.. I taught English down there for six months a long time ago.. absolutely loved it!

Anyone else make it down there in the past? or anyone with plans to in the future?

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

Yes, I worked and lived there for the whole year 1983, with my then wife and two children. We lived in Belo Horizonte, the unatractive industrial city in (and capital of) Minas Gerais - a very attractive state. In this city of 3 million odd people, there were but 30 foreign familes.

Many tales to bore you all with ... where were you TB?

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

i assume you would need to speak Portuguese there...to work, etc.

Save much from your teaching gig?

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Same as in Korea.. even if you know Portuguese, you shouldn't use it in the classroom. Most jobs I know there are Business English (particularly in Sao Paulo), so definetely shouldn't be speaking Portuguese in the classroom.

Its not a country to accumulate savings. Probably more the opposite, if someone was to go, try to save beforehand for any unexpected surprises.

4 months left · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Ahhh yes the anit-Korea. I spent 6 months in Sao Paulo teaching. The exact opposite of Korea in every way. Brazil has smokin hot women, friendly happy people, wicked food, beautiful beaches, great beer but the money is better in Korea - the ONLY way Korea is better than Brazil. I will go back hopefully in the next few years.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject:

Have you ever gone up the Amazon?

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

Are the beaches of Rio as amazing (female wise) as I've heard?

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

Better than you could imagine in your wildest dreams.

Dry or otherwise.

JeJuJitsu · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Location: McDonald's

Vacationed there last year-- island Illha Grande, halfway between SP and Rio. Fantastic time, in fact I loved it so much, I hardly ever even think of the armed kidnapping-for-ransom I had to escape from in Sao Paoulo.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

cazador83 · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

yep, i've been to brasilia, sao paulo, and recife.
i was 14 at the time, but loved it.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

On the 'best country' thread, a few people are mentioning Brazil.

Time to *bump* up this old thread. Maybe we can get it to two pages now! Wink

PBEnglish · Joined: 24 Nov 2006 Location: Shanghai

I lived in Brazil for just over 3 months (my father lived there when he was working for General Electrics...I tagged along). I mainly stayed in Sao Paulo, but I was able to visit a large part of the country.
Absolutly brilliant, gorgeous, phenominal country! The people there were so unbelievably kind and helpful, the ladies were gorgeous, the food was phenominal and once you got outside of the big cities (I.E Sao Paulo, Bras�lia, etc), the country is stunningly beautiful.
I would love to go back there once my tour of duty is finished here in Korea. I know the money difference is vast, but the chance to be there, being paid to be there and to teach is just too appealing to not consider properly.
Unlike Korea (and many other countries I've visted), I honestly can say that I don't have any bad memories of being in Brazil.

bonanzabucks · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Location: NYC

I've been to Brazil four times. The longest I stayed there was a month and I almost moved there two years ago. I was even engaged to a Brasileira.

I've traveled to more than forty countries and Brazil was probably my favorite. The beauty and warmth of the place was just phenomenal. And the women...

That being said, I'd probably never go down there again if I didn't have a significant other there. I certainly would never consider moving there now. After the "love" phase dissipates and reality settles in, you'll see that it's a deeply troubled country and Brazilians, while initially friendly, would be willing to scam you.

A lot of gringos really fall in love with the passion of the place and especially the women. Considering how cold Western society is comparing to Latin America, it's really easy to see why so many people are crazy about Brazil. But much of Brazil is a fantasy and dream. Most people there are pretty miserable as the country is so poor and they have limited opportunities to escape their poverty. When you venture out of the touristy areas and experience life like most Brazilians do (I always stayed in Vila Formosa in Sao Paulo's Zone Leste, which is not a nice area at all. Honestly, most of Sao Paulo is a dump), then it's a different experience.

Add the danger of the place and corruption and it doesn't seem all that appealing. I'm amazed to see how individual Brazilians survive and deal with the everyday troubles surrounding them. It's not a surprise that so many Brazilians are desperate to leave. They don't see anything changing for the better (and Brazilians have themselves to blame for not really doing anything about it) and don't hold much hope for the future.

Oh, and a lot of the women in Rio are really men who had sex changes. You have to be careful. And be careful at some of the clubs, especially Help. Lots of prostitutes working there. Anyone ever been to Help? Aside from the trannys and hookers, it's supposed to be the biggest club in Latin America.