By far the biggest challenge that foreigners face when moving to Brazil is the lack of reliable information for which to plan their lives around. When you move to a 2nd tier city like Belo Horizonte you may at times feel like you’re the only foreigner in town. While this can be good for […]
Is Gringo an Offensive Word in Brazil?
“Hey Gringo!” As the word pierced my ears it sent an immediate reaction throughout my body. Adrenaline started pumping through my veins and I got ready for an altercation with the man who had just insulted me. “Gringo get off your phone.” It was one of my first days in Brazil and I was out […]
Volunteer to Teach DJing to kids in Rocinha Favela
My friend Zezinho da Rocinha does a lot of cool things to help out his home Rocinha. Yesterday we talked to him about the favela tours he does in order to promote a more positive image of life in the favela than you will find on the news. You heard him mention that he has […]
Take a Favela Tour with Zezinho da Rocinha
Recently I was in Rio de Janeiro and I had the opportunity to meet some interesting characters while I was there. One such character was Zezinho da Rocinha, a tour guide and resident of Rocinha favela. Favelas and favela tours often get a lot of bad press, so I wanted to talk with Zezinho about […]
How to Speak to Beginner English Students
Recently I’ve observed a lot of miscommunication between gringo and Brazilians so I’ve decided to write this post to help clear up the confusion. The advice contained here will be useful for anyone who is communicating to someone in a foreign language, whether in a casual setting or in a classroom setting. The way you […]