Meet Angus Graham who has lived in Brazil for almost 4 years, and works as an English teacher. Read the following interview in which she tells us about some of her most memorable experiences and gives some useful advice to newcomers.
1. Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, what do you do etc.?
Originally from England, I now live in São Caetano do Sul, from where I am a Professor De Inglês. In the UK, I worked in Customer services. Perhaps the two are similar.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
In December 2005, I came here for a month, to meet my then internet girlfriend and her family. Got engaged within the week, stayed for Christmas, returned to the UK. I finally came back to Brazil in April of 2006, got married in May of 2006 and stayed, I have no desire to return to England.
3. What were you first impressions of Brazil?
São Paulo is colossal when one sees it from the air, coming in to Guaralhos. Difficult to determine where the city starts and ends (I came from the middle of the South Devon countryside). Most striking was the friendliness of the people. I went to a stranger´s home, and within half an hour I was made to feel like a part of the family. Brits tend to be a lot "colder and more suspicious of strangers". Using English money, Brazil felt very cheap.
4. What do you miss most about home?
The family, it has to be said. And more specifically, I have yet to find a store that sells Marmite or Tesco Honey Nut Cornflakes and proper English tea, also the fact that electronics over there are generally a lot cheaper. To be honest, after you are here for a while, you don't miss anything very much.
5. What has been your most frustrating experience in Brazil?
Hehehehe. Policia Federal and having to wait for a year and a half for my RNE. After a while I gave up going to Lapa every 3 months! Impatient car drivers can be tiresome too.
6. What has been your most memorable experience in Brazil (specific incident)?
Getting my RNE, eventually, and, more importantly, getting married. Working as a Customer Services person for a major international company in São Bernardo Do Campo, and later working as a teacher inside the same company. Waiting for my first baby in September 2010.
7. What do you most like about Brazil (in general)?
Weather, people, cost of living, the beach.
8. What is your favorite restaurant/place to hang out here?
Ragazzo, in SCS, and Edificio Italia in SP.
9. Do you have any funny stories/incidents to tell about your time in Brazil?
Only in Brazil... can you see a half naked man skateboarding on the wrong side of the road, at eleven at night, with a police car going past, without any lights on it. Not even "parking lights". When I first came here, I went to our local Ciretran and regularized my British driving licence, giving them a translation and getting a police stamp on the back of it. Works a treat when I get stopped in the odd blitz!
10. What difference between your homeland and Brazil do you find most striking?
Bureaucracy and red tape here is tiring at times, but the biggest difference is how genuinely friendly the people are - both with each other and with foreigners (in general). Perhaps another striking difference is the weather. On the whole, sunny and hot the majority of the time.
11. How is your Portuguese coming along? What words do you find most difficult to pronounce/remember or are there any words that you regularly confuse?
I learned Portuguese, just by living here - immersion, and watching television in Portuguese as well as listening to other Brazilians. Never took a course in Portuguese. I think that the most difficult might be the pronunciation of pão, and to this day I have a lot of difficulty with the differences between Vo, Vô, voar.
12. What advice do you have for newcomers to Brazil?
Brazilians are a "touchy, feely" race, it's not at all uncommon for a complete stranger to give you a big hug. It takes a little getting used to at first, particularly if you are from England! It also helps if you have a smattering of Portuguese. The locals will love to try out their English on you, but knowing a few words in their language will be advantageous.
13. What are some things that you would recommend for a visitor to do in São Paulo (or anywhere else in Brazil)?
Enjoy this country and stay here for as long as you can. São Paulo is a huge city, but, with the help from a guide, you can get to see the best parts, particularly from the restaurant at the top of Edificio Italia. São Paulo has some excellent museums too. Oh, and the underground train network is gradually improving beyond belief.
Are you a foreigner who has lived in, or is living or travelling in Brazil? Are you a Brazilian who has a lot of contact with foreigners and/or lived outside of Brazil? Are you interested in telling your story? If you would like to volunteer for our interview series, or if you would like to recommend someone, please send a blank email to gringoes@gringoes.com with "Interview" in the subject. We will send you the interview questions by return email.
To read previous interviews in the Brazil Through Foreign Eyes series click below:
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