Expert: Sandra - 6/6/2010

Question
Hi Sandra

Me and my husband are planning to move to Bahia in the next 6 months with our 4 yr old kid.
a) What kind of preparation would you suggest we do so that we can adjust to a new place and culture easily?
b) What kind of schooling options are available for a 4 yr old kid over there?
c)how much monthly expenses should be expected, including schooling?
d) We are vegetarian and would like to get involved with other Indian families over there. Is there a particular city that has more Indians there? What kind of vegetarian food stores/restaurants are available there?

Thanks
PJ

Answer
Hi PJ.
Bahia is a state, quite a large one. Which city are you moving to? Salvador? If so, in which bairro will your husband be working?
I will assume Salvador for the following answers.

a)
*I would suggest you learn as much Portuguese as possible before arrival. Very few people in Salvador speak other than Portuguese and it will be hard to get around and accomplish even simple tasks with fluent language skills. Or your social circle will be limited to other Indian and/or other expat wives. IMO it would be a sad situation to come all the way to a new country and not be able to make friends with the locals, especially as most Brazilians are very friendly.
*The Brazilian bureaucracy can be very frustrating, especially for people from the U.S. or similar countries where things function smoothly.
*Salvador is the African heart of Brazil and that culture is valued quite highly. If you appreciate the culture (and learn as much as possible about it) and especially the music, you will be more comfortable here.
*Because of the culture, music and history, Salvador receives many foreign visitors. Some locals do try to take advantage of this, as happens in other touristed places in Brazil, and you will find that everything (services, etc) comes with a “gringo tax” and you will automatically be assumed to be rich (whatever your circumstances). In the tourist areas, there might be many children and adults begging persistently, as well as others trying to sell goods or services.
*Safety is often a concern for those coming to Brazil from abroad. You will have to learn which areas you can go to, which only during the day, and what type of situations and places to stay away from. There is extreme poverty in Brazil, as well as extreme wealth often side by side with it, and some try to take advantage when they can.
*The weather includes a couple of months that anyone used to monsoon might be used to, and others where it just rains heavily  in short bursts in the afternoon and at night.

b) Children start school at 6 or 7 in Brazil. Most people who can afford it have a maid who takes care of the children, as well as doing housework. Otherwise a relative takes care of the child, especially if the mother works. The public schools are very bad, so you would probably be looking for a good private school when your child is old enough.
There are not a lot of public parks for children, and you should probably look for a living situation that includes a play area within its gates, and perhaps a pool. There are a lot fo beaches, some of which are suitable for kids (those with less waves are the cove at  Porto da Barra, some of the beaches at low tide that have a bit of reef, and one spot in Itapua called the ‘piscina’).
Brazilians love children and often engage them in conversation when they encounter them in public.

c) Expenses would depend on what your living situation might be. Are you going to rent a house or apartment you have to furnish? In which bairro (neighborhood)?  Are you going to live in a place where you expect to need a car? Are you expecting to ship electronics you already own or buy very expensive replacements in Brazil? Are you going to hire a maid?

d)  Brazilians are big meat eaters. They love a good barbeque. There is one vegetarian restaurant I know of in the Barra neighborhood of Salvador, and probably a couple more I don’t know of, but not a lot. I know of no vegetarian food stores, nor any Indian specialty shops, although the markets have a variety of fresh produce. I have heard of Indian shops in Sao Paulo, a city which has a more diverse population, including some Indians, perhaps the only one in the country with such diversity. In Salvador, I would guess that the only Indians would be your husband’s fellow workers (at one of the factories in Camaraci?).

If you have more questions, please ask as they come up.
Best wishes for a wonderful stay in Bahia.