From an awesome post about the history of backpacking. Click on the picture and go check it out!
I love young people. They feel they can conquer the world. Usually they are right, but I have some news for those of you with your eyes set on Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro is not like any other city.
I got an email the other day from an old friend who is concerned about her son’s 24 yr old friend. He is planning on coming to Rio de Janeiro to experience life and write a book. He is coming next month and plans to figure things out here.
Did I mention that Brazil is not Europe?
Like any good experienced woman, my friend is looking out for this young one. She sent me an email asking for tips. I had a good laugh at his innocence, though I still believe his goals are totally possible. Of course there are some things he should remember. I figure, why not write a post about it and help more than one adventurous 20 something year old.
First off, you are not going to land and find a good apartment in the first couple of weeks. Ok, anything is possible but it is unlikely. Thankfully Carioca 20 somethings are moving out a little sooner than Mr Rant’s generation (but not by much) and there are a lot of travelers who have made roots here. That could help you out in finding a place. Plus you have a ton of hippie- esque 30 somethings who rent out rooms and love new blood.
The thing is that apartment rentals and the entire roommate situation is different here. Roommates are a still broadening field. Renting an apartment on your own is a bitch and, even if you are lucky, it may not even come with a fridge (much less cabinets of any sort). In Rio de Janeiro an apartment with a fridge and oven can technically be considered at least semi-furnished.
Secondly, it is not easy to make money. Here many waiters are career waiters. It is much less common, almost doesn’t even happen, for a person to work in a restaurant while putting themselves through school. And if you think you are going to work in a bar you may be disappointed. Cariocas like legal workers, ones that speak Portuguese, and there is a lot of Brazilian competition. No you will not be allowed to set up your guitar in a coffee shop and make tips off of patrons.
And oddly enough, you won’t find a million English students just because you are a foreigner. That time has passed.
Basically, save money first just in case.
Thirdly, Rio de Janeiro is expensive! Gone are the days where you could really make your dollar stretch. If you like to eat food, you will spend money. Goodness knows you are going to drink. You will spend money. Kiss free wifi goodbye unless you are at Starbucks and make a purchase.
Fourthly, go for it! You are you in 20s. Just plan and be prepared. I guarantee that you will have a total blast, unless you are an absolute tool. No one likes a tool, not even Brazilians.
19 comments
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Alex
July 31, 2012 at 1:43 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
I feel like this post is directed at me….
Well, thanks for the advice! I’m a millionaire so none of these problems will effect me. Thanks though!
Rachel
July 31, 2012 at 1:59 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
Not really. You seem to be doing nothing but planning
Alex
July 31, 2012 at 3:04 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
Why thank you. I will be OK in Brazil, I just know it. (I think..) Especially cause I’ll be living with you and the family and all. I can be a nanny for you when you want to go the pool all by yourself! =D
Rachel
July 31, 2012 at 5:02 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
And I make damn good meals. Your Mom will love the manhandles you come home with
Alex
July 31, 2012 at 6:17 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
Que horror
sandi
July 31, 2012 at 1:53 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
Did u mean conquer the world?
Rachel
July 31, 2012 at 1:58 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
THank you Sandi! Always fixing my grammar
sandi
July 31, 2012 at 2:24 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
That is what I am here for! Bjs!
Danielle
July 31, 2012 at 2:18 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
Perfect advice! hahaha
Rachel
July 31, 2012 at 5:02 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
THank you!
Davinder
July 31, 2012 at 3:06 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
Thanks!! the first thing I learned the hard way was the money thing… =/ and i’m not even in Rio, I was in Blumenau, and am now in Florianopolis, and although somewhat easier than what you described, still fairly difficult…. =/ and i’m brazilian….. anyhow things are somehow working out.
Conquer was the first thing that struck me! =)
Rachel
July 31, 2012 at 5:03 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
First fuck concur and conquer. Damn the letter “q”
Next, Good for you! Totally proud
The Gritty Poet
July 31, 2012 at 5:47 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
The sad thing is that these days when you say Rio de Janeiro is not Europe one would probably conclude that you mean there are still jobs to be found in Rio. Unfortunately even Brazil’s economy is slowing down and will probably grow only 2% this year – less than America.
On the upside when one is young usually a little goes a long way. Plus much of what we experience is new, romantic and fun. Oh, don’t forget to warn the new arrival about the lethal effects of caipirinhas: those things are sweet and deceitful. Hey, maybe you should introduce him to Alex: both are around the same age.
Alex
July 31, 2012 at 6:17 am (UTC 3) Link to this comment
Hey Grit, although Brazil slowed down this year, someone shared this article with me today that talks about Brazil’s growth returning to around 4% next year…nice and sustainable! And not to be nitpicky, I think America’s economy only will grow 1.5%. But, sometimes economic growth is misleading in these terms, and I would say employment numbers can show better pictures of health in an economy. Well, maybe a combination of the two is the best…
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/23/brazil-economy-cenbank-idUSL2E8IN8HI20120723
And yes, introduce me to this gringo…I’ll show him how Brazil is done. (Mostly kidding, mostly)
The Gritty Poet
July 31, 2012 at 11:32 pm (UTC 3) Link to this comment
I read the article Alex. The only problem is that the optimistic forecast is based on the words of Brazil’s Banco Central president. The exact same thing was said last year, about this one: we will resume growth of 4% next year, after our current and dissapointing 2% expansion. Well it turns out that now we are looking at a 1.9% figure. In other words Brazil will have grown only 3.9% in TWO years (what happened to this year’s promised 4% expansion Mr. Tombini?).
Everytime I encounter an article in which predictions are given solely by government agents I quickly disconsider it and try to find independent sources elsewhere. I, like you, am certainly hoping for 4% growth next year; but I remain somwhat sceptical.
Samia
July 31, 2012 at 11:44 pm (UTC 3) Link to this comment
SP is exactly the same (I can only speak from experience). Renting an apartment’s impossible unless you have two fiadores and even so, haaaaaaaard! I didn’t find it difficult to land a job in SP though, but I’m Brazilian so… and I started sending out resumes while still the US. I believe I’m still getting call from potential employers and it’s been over a year since the last resume was sent. Now, I wouldn’t go anywhere without planning it first. I need a support system.
I stayed at a hostel in Rio where they were renting rooms for R$800/month, breakfast included, shared kitchen and shared bedrooms, wi-fi, don’t know about laundry though. It’s great for the more adventurous kind, but 800 hundred’s still lots of money if you ask me, but then when you think you’ll have no other expenses other than food, not bad.
Sara Louise
August 1, 2012 at 6:10 pm (UTC 3) Link to this comment
And it would be a good idea for any of these young idealists to do some serious research into a city before picking up and moving there just because it sounds romantic. Real life isn’t a movie, no matter where you live.
Rachel
August 1, 2012 at 7:32 pm (UTC 3) Link to this comment
well said
Megan
August 1, 2012 at 7:16 pm (UTC 3) Link to this comment
Great post. I did so much careful research into my dream of moving to Rio to live for a year and “find myself” before I turned 30, that I ended up turning 30 first.
In reality, I discovered all the things you write about here, that there really is no way to just uproot and find an apartment and a job within the first couple of weeks. Not with the support system of one that I had before. So, I went on what I call part-mental breakdown, part-test run, and stayed for a month…long enough to need to buy groceries, to get an idea of how much things I take for granted here cost, to go to the hospital once, to live with a carioca (most educational part of the trip, let me tell you) and long enough to make some new friends who all enthusiastically said to keep in touch and let them know if I still wanted to move there. And I learned from several Brazilians who spoke flawless English that the myth of being able to teach English to keep myself afloat was just that, a myth. There are more Brazilians who speak awesome English and can teach legally, than there will ever be Americans.
It’s still a long shot, but I came back from this short “scouting mission” more convinced than ever that I do still want to live in Rio for a part of my life, and that it needs to be soonish (while I’m still single). I also learned that I was better off trying to build a base of freelance US clients who I could work for remotely from Rio, than trying to find a job teaching English or even harder, doing what i do here (I’m an illustrator…a tough profession anywhere!). But I have at least a slightly clearer picture of what day to day carioca life is and how difficult it is to settle into for foreigners…but rewarding, too, if you can pull it off. So now I’m just dreaming and trying to figure out how to pull it off.
All that said…any cariocas reading this looking for a roommate and a cat sometime next fall?