Expert: Edison - 12/26/2007

Question
QUESTION: Is it safe for my daughter to travel to Brazil with an education class from our college?

ANSWER: Cindy,

I don't know which cities your daughter are visiting, but in general Brazil is very safe if she follows simple precautions:

1. Don't wear flashy clothes or flaunt money or jewelry
2. If you are traveling as part of a group, stay with your group
3. Be especially careful when outside in the evening - stay in well-lighted areas
4. Never take valuables with you to the beach
5. Never go anywhere with strangers
6. Listen to the recommendations of the trip leaders
7. Get the phone number of local/closer USA consulate
8. Inform other members of the team where you are going and what time are coming back
9. Have few notes in Portuguese with her, such address and phone of local she is staying, and basic phrases (How can I go to…, Could you help me to call my hotel, etc)

The food and weather are great, and people are very friendly and always ready to help, but few Brazilians can speak English.

For additional information, check these sites:
http://goeasteurope.about.com/od/introtoeasteuropetravel/tp/grouptravel.htm (valid to Brazil too)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1072.html
http://www.worldgolf.com/features/tips-brazil-vacation-2003.htm

I believe your daughter will love the trip and Brazil.

Edison


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for you help.I would also like to know how to say (I am highly allergic to all kinds of nuts in Portuguese.My daughter is hightly allergic to nuts and I am concerned with what kinds of foods she can eat while visiting Brazil.

ANSWER: Hello Cindy,

She can say: "Eu sou alergica a amendoin" (I am alergic to peanuts) and/or "Eu sou alergica a noses e castanhas" (I am alergic to nuts and cashew). A better way to say is "Eu nao posso comer nada com amendoin ou noses" (I cannot eat anything with peanuts or nuts).

Brazilian don't use a lot of nuts on their main dishes. Their food are mostly meat (chicken, beef, fish), rice, beans, salad (with vinager) and potato salad.

However, be careful on desserts, with many recipes having peanuts.

Good luck!

Edison





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I heard in Brazil when they use the bathroom they do not flush the paper down the toilet.Is this true?And if so what do they do with the paper? Should she bring her own drinking water with her from the U.S.

Answer
Cindy,

You are right, most places request to put the paper in a trash can next to toilet instead of flushing it down. The practice is to reduce toilet clogs due the less sophisticated sewage system.

You don't need to bring your own water from U.S. You can buy excellent quality bottled water in Brazil.

I think you are too worry about your daughter's trip. Just relax and try to learn a lot about our beautiful Brazil.

Edison