The Top 3 Things I've Had to Overcome to Enjoy Living in Sao Paulo...
Okay, so we’ve been here now for 6 months. Our next door neighbors just received their shipment of household goods yesterday, which made me realize how far my life has come since we arrived. I really had no idea that the transition would take SO long to begin to have what feels like a real life here, but somehow I’ve managed to adapt and now have begun really enjoying my life.
But I do mean ADAPT, and that began with a CHOICE to enjoy living here. There are many expats who don’t, and I didn’t want to be one of them. However, here are the top 3 things I’ve had to overcome to enjoy life here:
- The Brazilian concept of time – Brazilians take fashionably late to a new level. Traffic is horrible here, but I sometimes think they use it as an excuse. To maintain my sanity, I avoid doing things with people who are consistently REALLY late. Also, nobody is really in a hurry to do anything, very different from my American approach. Until I surrendered to Brazilian timing, I only frustrated myself and those around me trying to change what can’t be changed. And, after an unacceptably long time for me, things are starting to happen here for me! I’m teaching Zumba classes, and getting calls about more classes (but I’m very careful to adopt a “we’ll see” attitude to avoid returning to the frustrated phase of my transition).
- A different level of civilization – I’ve had numerous conversations with my Portuguese teachers about this topic. In general, there’s a prevalent lack of respect for others in Sao Paulo culture (maybe it’s true in any big city?). For example, walking on the sidewalk here, many people who approach you do NOT give way or make space for you to pass. They just keep walking. As in right into you. The first time this happened to me, I was shocked! Get them behind the wheel of a car, and it just gets worse. I suspect a significant portion of traffic here is due to people doing whatever they want on the road as opposed to what makes sense and is civilized. Basically, it’s jungle rules; you can turn from any lane, stop in the middle of the road to talk to someone, create lanes where there are none, and run others off the road. I’ve learned to drive very vigilantly, but never in a hurry.
- Loss of a Sense of Personal Safety – This is something I completely took for granted living in small town Midland, Michigan. One of those things that you don’t know you miss until it’s gone. It’s like you can never fully relax here, because you need to be vigilant of your surroundings at ALL times to prevent being robbed or potentially kidnapped. Most of the people I’ve met here that have been here very long have had something stolen (car, wallet, watch, etc.) For that reason, the locals here think I’m crazy to walk to my Portuguese lessons, but I have realized that I need the fresh air and to walk. I’ve just learned how to be VERY aware of who is around me, to blend in, and to heed my intuition. Driving at night is so dangerous that it is socially acceptable to run stoplights, creating yet another set of issues. We are extremely lucky to have a bulletproof car, which is an experience in and of itself. I love that car WAY beyond what a person should, but it ensures my safety as long as follow the rules of driving it (never EVER roll the windows down).
- Unpredictable supply at the grocery store- we have learned to stock up because you never know when the grocery store will have your favorite product or not!
- Noise – at first this was a bigger issue for me – horns, dogs, airplanes, trucks, some bizarre bird that I still can’t determine what it is or where it lives – I started using a white noise machine to sleep at night, which has helped a lot!
- Hang-ups – a holdover from earlier times, when people call you on the cell phone here they won’t leave a message because then they have to pay for the call. They let it ring 2-3 times and then hang up before the voice mail kicks in!
- Lack of good Mexican food – this one almost made it to the Top 3! I really, really miss Mexican food…margaritas not so much, because caipirinhas have taken their place as my favorite drink.
- Traffic – this could easily be in the Top 3, but we have arranged our lives so that we avoid most of the traffic that others experience. We chose a house that is located less than 10 minutes to the office for Luis, with little to no traffic. We usually only go out on weekends, when the city streets are empty. Of course, sometimes the city gets it revenge, as the only thing more unpredictable than grocery store supplies is the traffic. One day your way is clear, the next you can sit without moving for half an hour, for no apparent reason.
Posted by Stephanie at Friday, September 30, 2011 1:04 PM 
Categories: Life in Brazil
Tags: Sao Paulo safety
Categories: Life in Brazil
Tags: Sao Paulo safety
Beautifully written - being an expat living in the USA I can totally relate!
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