Expert: Sandra - 10/30/2010

Question
Hi Sandra-
We are an American family considering a move from Singapore to Sorocaba.  
My biggest concern is safety.  I know kidnapping is a legitimate concern in
Sao Paulo, but I don't know how serious a threat it would be in Sorocababa.  I
have 3 children under the age of 5.  I don't want to have to live in a secure
compound, have a body guard,  feel like we can't move around freely, etc.  I
love spending time outside and exploring.  What is your opinion?  Thank you!
Megan

Answer
Hi Megan.
A Sao Paulo resident from the expat forum on Gringoes.com recently summed it up rather well:
"The real problem is that you end up giving up freedoms because of fear. You may spend 20 years here without ever getting mugged. But to do that you never wore a watch, you never took a leisurely walk on the street, ..... you never left your bag on the passenger seat, you never opened your car windows .... or took out money from an ATM at night, you controlled where you went, what time you left, how long the gate is left open, what you look like  - nothing that will call attention to yourself. You doubt people and are suspicious.
It's nothing we all don't live with. You just have to be careful. The being careful gets tiring though. We just don't realize what we're giving up."

And this goes in pretty much any large city in Brazil, and many smaller cities, less so in the countryside or small beach towns......even so, people manage to live fairly decent, happy lives, but there are always those issues in the back of your mind.
I love Brazil, having Brazilian friends, travelling all over Brazil and living here, but it's not, and never will be, as free as life in the U.S. Of course there are many many joys in living here too. You have to focus on these. Brazilians love kids and yours will be engaged and indulged by everyone. But from what I have heard Singapore is even stringently safer than the U.S., so you might be in for some culture shock.

Best wishes for a happy Brazilian future.