2009 Rio Expat Survey: Advice for those moving to Rio!

This entry concludes the results of the 2009 Rio Expat Survey that I conducted. I hope it's been helpful for some of you, particularly those considering a move to Rio!

My final question: If you could give a single piece of advice to someone moving to Rio next month, what would it be?

• Bring sheets and comfort foods atleast to cover you untill you adapt and are able to make your own comfort foods.
• Bring more money than you thought you might need.
  Learn some Portuguese before you get here!
• Learn the language.
• Call and talk to someone when you are determining what to bring and what area to live in. Discussion can provide you with information that you might not have known would be useful to you
• enjoy it - the Brazilians do
• Come with an open mind because you will NOT find all the familiar brands you have back home, but their equivalent is sufficient to compensate!
• ake language lessons seriously in the beginning and speak to several other expats to find a good local support network for housing issues (searches, repairs, cleaning, etc). accept the sunga as your beach attire and really research your visa consultants.
• try to learn some of the language before you arrive
• Bring good walking shoes: sneakers or sandals.
• time has a different meaning in Rio, take it easy, lower your expectations and enjoy the wonderful landscape!
• Study Portuguese before moving here + participate in an intense cultural training
• Make the most of your time here. Keep yourself busy and involved in as many things as impossible. Embrace the Rio life, it is fun, but you have to make it fun and make the most of it.
• Open your mind, there is not just your way of getting along with life!
• Your visa may take about 6 months, so be prepared not to see your shipment for a while.
• Done enough research on what need to brings.
• Consider twice.
• Relax and be prepared for the unexpected.
• learn portuguese asap
• BUY BUY BUY...
  Buy what you can't live without...for women, bras or other personal items you need from day to day. For men, a nice pair of running shoes. For families with children, buy anything you can think of that you will need or need to restock. Having things shipped with your container beats having to travel and deal with customs at the airport.
• Be open-minded, venture out to see the sites, and try new things at least once -- from the odd-looking Amazonian fruit to skimpy Brazilian swimwear!
• Have a look at the things that you use daily, and bring a lot of them as a stockpile.
• Learn Portuguese
• Get in touch with the American and British Society's and the Canasta Group. Be active, make yourself get out and explore.
• If you like biking, attend Kraft Bikes free weekly rides. Safer to bike with a group, and the shop owner (Alberto) is friendly and knowledgeable.
• Pack light
• Be prepared to fall in love with Rio, don't judge the city until after you have spent at least 2 full months living there.
• Enjoy the simple things. Use your common sense and when things get too be too much, have a beer at a breathtakingly beautiful spot!
• Enjoy and relax
• Find a friend who knows the code here and relax. Be careful. Let go of your timing and take advantage of one of the most beautiful cities the world has to offer!
  Do your research well, so it will be less of a shock. Also, learn some of the language before coming.
• Do you research on everything--housing, schools, etc.
• Expect things to get better after 6 months
• Relax and get ready to enjoy, you should be as careful here as you would be in New York or Miami.
• place where you'll need a lot of a patience.... but you can really enjoy life
• PORTUGUESE, PORTUGUESE, PORTUGUESE.
• Move all of your major appliances from home- all local made machines break weekly! Also bring your furniture if the company is not buying it for you- it is very expensive here and not well made.
• think about what you enjoy and continue
• This is a really hard question.
  I think my advice would be to learn the language as quickly as possible. Speaking and understanding the language is the key to really enjoying the richness of carioca culture.
• Don't live in Barra!
• Learn Portugese in a group setting like IBEU.
  Don't live in Barra
• Be open and excited. It's a magical place.
• Take the sun oil with you.

Comments

[Scarlett]

There is a great possibility that my husband will be transferred to Rio for work. As soon as I found this out, I started searching the Internet for ‘life in Rio’ type blogs and informative websites. I just want to say that I've been following your blog for the past 2 months……what a great information source!! You have by far one of the best/informative sights I’ve come across. It’s great to learn more about Rio from an expat wife’s point of view :). Keep up the good work!

[hide this® editor]

Have a Portuguese language mishap to share? Go to http://www.upyourbottom.com to post yours or read someone else's faux pas.

[brandy]

Why not live in Barra? Can you explain?

[Daily Rio Life]

Scarlett: Thank you! If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly.

hide this@editor: Sounds funny and intriguing and a good way to learn, I will check it out for sure.

brandy: I can't speak for the person who responded this way, but I do have a few ideas of my own (of course never having lived in Barra). I will dedicate a post to it in the next week or so, watch for it! The beach sure is awesome out there though and apparently a killer whale was spotted from shore the other day...

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[Adri]

Hi,

has anyone taken a flat Tv from US to Brazil? will it work?
What kind of electronics would make sense to bring?

Dear DRL: Anything about why not live in Barra?

and ...how easy or difficult is to find a decent apartment in Ipanema, Leblon? We need some insights. Anyone you would recommend for a temporary apartment?

Thank you so much. I love, love your blog!

[Home & Garden]

Thank you for sharing. Very happy to see your article, I very much to like and agree with your point of view. Have a good time.

[Kathia Okada-Belen]

Hi,

Thank you so much for you advices! I laughed a lot reading them! I am actually from Rio, but live in US for a long time and I am moving back soon with my whole family. My husband is a BIT nervous, so I am sure he will like your blog a lot!
Do you have any advice on how to best manage the moving company details, how to do it, timing, etc?
Thanks a lot!