Yo buddies!
Today is exactly six months since I left my hometown and life as I knew it to try on my big Brazilian adventure. Some background for the readers who don’t know me. I visited Brazil 5 times from 2001 to 2004. I had a garota visit me in NY and I slept with more women in my 5 trips than in the 5 years before I discovered Rio. In 2002 I met a Centaurus girl who made my toes tingle. I kept the relationship very low key; I mean can you imagine getting together with a ‘hooker’? On my 2004 trip I hooked up with her again. She had bought a house and a shop with her earnings and was going ‘straight’. I couldn’t understand why she kept on meeting me ( I paid for her time) until she said she wanted to be with me and since I’m a whoremonger this was the only way she could get something of me. It was very weird. One thing led to another and late December 2004 I left for Rio. I’m not going to go much in detail because I need to safeguard my anonymity.
I had the best Xmas and New Year and Carnaval ever! We lived in Niteroi, which is about 40 minutes drive from the center. It’s a decent enough neighborhoods but I was used to hanging out in Ipanema and Leblon so I had to adjust my lifestyle and live as an average Brazilian.
There are 3 Brazils I know which then divide into sub categories. There is more but I haven’t experienced it (yet) so I won’t talk about them.
The first one is the one we know. Nice beaches, good hotels, excellent food, great service whether from the taxi men or shop attendants. Life is a ball and it feels like paradise, especially all that beautiful young pussy available to rather plain or older men. Every time I visited Brazil in the past I found it very hard to leave. I was in love with the country and its people.
The second Brazil is the one the rich (and famous) live in. It is even better than what the tourists know and get. Private beaches/islands, beautiful houses, servants, expensive cars….etc. Most of this fortune is inherited and increased through preferential treatment, corruption, bribery, boot licking, force and cheap labor. An agricultural worker in Salvador gets less than R$300 per month. An office worker in Rio gets R$900 per month. One of my friends here, an engineer from a middle class family, makes R$15000 a month. He first had to bribe his way into university, then sweet talk his exam markers (they were friends of his family), joined his best friend’s father’s business…etc. The chairman of the company he works for makes R$50000 a month plus perks. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it, I’m just saying that this type of money is made by a select few and they don’t all have a talent for the job. Because these ‘patraones’ hold so much power, they can dictate a lot of their wishes onto the politicians, the economy and the people.
The third tier is the one we most hear of. Lower middle class families who make just enough to live on. These are the same families whose wives and daughters make up the ‘programa’ in termas and Help. These people will also do anything for money, are incredible hypocrites and extremely petty. There was a stream of relatives visiting us when I‘d just arrived; each one purporting to be my best friend in Rio. It didn’t take long before short term ‘loans’ were demanded. Or they would invite me to the restaurant and expect me to pay. Good thing my girl helped me surf through the pitfalls. There is an enormous amount of racism. It’s a pyramid which goes from white pure blood wealthy European blonde to very dark and very poor African black.
Then there’s the Germans, Italians, Portuguese, Spaniards…….
I have to say that there is a lot of cultural and religious tolerance and very little economic tolerance. Everyone is fighting for their own corner. Do not expect to be taken to hospital if you’re run down in a poor neighborhood and you’re black. The driver who ran you down will probably get away and ‘never’ be found, even though you noted and gave the license number to the police. If you have an argument with your neighbor the police will give reason to the one who gives them more money.
I had to renew my visa. I queued for hours and it took 2 weeks to get an extension stamped. The same guy who handed me back my passport gave me his phone number. Next time two minutes and 200 reais. Welcome to Brazil.
Public transport is good and functioning, if you live in the metropolis. Try commuting to Rio from Teresopolis (80 Kms, cheaper housing, and high unemployment) everyday.
When I walk into a high class shop I get good service because I’m white and a foreigner, when my girl walks into the same shop its buy now or leave. When we walk into the same shop together, she‘s considered a programa.
As much as they love their own kids, they wouldn’t give two hoots about yours even if they were dying on the streets.
They keep complaining of the government but they keep voting the same (type of) people in.
And they all love ‘Brasil’ and futbol.
My girl is the most loving ‘wife’ with all the trimmings. We live in Barra da tijuca now.
I wouldn’t give this up (yet) for all the money in the world.
Do it. Come on over and live here. It’s like nothing else on earth.Will post more eventually.

Your insights confirm everything I came to believe while I spent a lot of time in Brazil. Thanks for sharing, and i look forward to your posts again in the future.
DG

I'm envious !

Rakshas:

Glad you are enjoying Brazil. As for the society, you hit the nail on the head - but of course, the very qualities we all love about Brasil only exist because of the same qualities (and inequalities) that we all that about Brasil. The country is so beautiful because it can be so ugly, and vice-versa. Such is life.

Speaking puerly about economic distribution, an economist named Edmar Bacha described Brasil best: "BelIndia" - the population equivalent of Belgium living with a Belgium standard of living together with the population equivalent of India with India's standard of living. Everyone in Brazil will do anything, literally ANYTHING to move from India to Belguim, and anything to avoid falling from Belgium back to India. The concept of Belindia explains most everything that happens in Brasil.

BS

I'm sure glad the women aren't round, smelly, fat and hairy and wear shower curtains for clothing as Indian dotties do.

I have met some Belgian hotties though, so I'll always be up for that side of the equation. Hopefully Flemish and not Walloon, but I've plowed enough French-speaking girls to not mind too much.

I lived in Belgium for a year back in the mid 90's and you are right Catocony, the Flemish are a FAR better experience than the Walloon. The Walloon have the same attitude towards the Flemish (and all other non-French speakers) as the Parisians do.....Some of the biggest snobs in the world.

Great read! I hope to be joining you some day.

Fascinating post. Not too many guys are experiencing what you have encountered. Most people never get beyond your first group. If I ever win the lottory I'll write something about the second group. Please feel free to write more about your experiences. I know anything you can tell us will be well received.

Rakshas,

Interesting insight.

Have you in the past mentioned your approximate age or if you are working there and what is your job or if you are retired and had plenty of dough to pick up and move?

I'm 40 years old, sort of cute, 5'8, setting up a motor dealership or boat charter once I get my resident permit, came here with $10000 for 12 months. Need 50000 from my reserves to start off. Next CH check in about 3 months. I'll write more on 'everyday' Rio women. Cheers.

Good Luck Rashkas-

I'm glad somebody jumped in head first with $10K in their pocket!

Unless you learn to live like that 3rd group you spoke of, you're going to need some more dough "Real" soon.