Brazil - Moving to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Help!

I am being relocated for work to Sao Paulo Brazil. I will be starting April 4th.

I lived in Argentina and speak business Spanish, but i speak next to nil Portuguese.

I am looking for some advice, suggestions etc from people that have been to Brazil or live in Brazil.

The job will be in Alphaville if anyone is familiar with that.

What are some great local foods and drinks to try? Museums worth checking out? Places to see live music? Fun weekend get-a-ways?

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

There is a Forum on Flyertalk which is dedicated to Brazil. I am moving your thread to the Brazil forum for discussion.
Good luck..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Sorry Mod. Thanks for the move.

Are you familiar with this site :

http://www.gringoes.com/forum/default.asp?ID_categoria=13

tons of info for expats.

I am being relocated for work to Sao Paulo Brazil. I will be starting April 4th.

I lived in Argentina and speak business Spanish, but i speak next to nil Portuguese.

I am looking for some advice, suggestions etc from people that have been to Brazil or live in Brazil.

The job will be in Alphaville if anyone is familiar with that.

What are some great local foods and drinks to try? Museums worth checking out? Places to see live music? Fun weekend get-a-ways?

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Well, I don't know Alphaville, which is actually a district of Barueri. It's located in the Greater São Paulo Region, but it's somewhat distant from Downtown São Paulo.

Good luck!

Alphaville !
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058898/
(sorry)

Start learning Portuguese asap. Shouldn't be too hard since you know Spanish, but be prepared for a less phonetic language. I've always heard, in Brazil (where I am), that a Portuguese speaker will understand pretty much everything a Spanish speaker says, but the reerse is less true. Remember you pronounced your "j"s, and it's cerveja, not cerveza. I am up in Fortaleza and know next to nothing about Sao Paulo except the airport. I assume you've already read guide books, etc. The suggestion for the Gringoes.com Web site is a good one. Lots of forums there, with lots of ex-pats living in the SP area giving suggestions on shopping, dining, transportation, etc. Hopefully you've read enough to be prepared for the higher costs of life in Brazil vs. Argentina.

Boa sorte.

I decided no to live in Alphaville. I want to live in Jardings or Pinheiros. Does anyone have any experience with these locations? How much is rent in a nice flat?

Good restaurants?

I'm so excited to move!

I decided no to live in Alphaville. I want to live in Jardings or Pinheiros. Does anyone have any experience with these locations? How much is rent in a nice flat?

Good restaurants?

I'm so excited to move!

I think it's good that you decided not to live in Alphaville - it's a totally different community out there! My famly lived in Alto da Boa Vista (Santo Amaro) as ex-pats more than 10yrs ago. We did live in a temporary flat in Jardins for the 1st 6 wks. There are lots of great restaurants in SP! Pinheiros & Jardins are close to the business district, so I assume you are looking in those areas for proximity to your office.

Do you have a family with you? If so, check out the Int'l Newcomer's Club (http://www.newcomers-sp.com.br/) in SP!@:-) They are invaluable in helping with adjusting to life in SP!^

As for language -- all my native-Spanish-speaking friends ended up speaking Portugnol!;) I would advise getting a Portuguese language tutor. While English may be spoken in the office, you will want to be able to speak & understand Portuguese for everything outside the office!

I decided no to live in Alphaville. I want to live in Jardings or Pinheiros. Does anyone have any experience with these locations? How much is rent in a nice flat?

Good restaurants?

I'm so excited to move!

I'd rather live in Jardims than Alphaville too but you may find a daily commute to Alphaville a bit of a slog, particularly if you are relying on public transport.

I'd rather live in Jardims than Alphaville too but you may find a daily commute to Alphaville a bit of a slog, particularly if you are relying on public transport.

Thankfully, I will not be taking public transportation. I hear it is a nightmare.

What do you all think about pinheiras? I hear that is a lovely place to live.

What is 'typical' rent Pinheiras or Jardins?

Thankfully, I will not be taking public transportation. I hear it is a nightmare.

What do you all think about pinheiras? I hear that is a lovely place to live.

What is 'typical' rent Pinheiras or Jardins?

Parts of Pinheiros are great but I'd personally pefer Jardims. I'm not au fait with rentals as I live outside SP: have you looked/posted on the forum at www.gringoes.com? This is a site for foreigners living/working in Brazil.