Yes – I’d go! Definitely to Porto Alegre or Rio; I might think twice about the others (since I know little about them), but I’d only turn down work in Sao Paulo.

We spent a week in Rio de Janeiro recently, and then another couple of days. It was a great city with a nice feel and good work/play balance. The whole place rotates around the beaches, which is fantastic.

One of our couchsurfing hosts there (a Portuguese guy who spent his 20s working in the States, then moved to Brazil for a nicer lifestyle) used to work in Porto Alegre and enjoyed it there too. Sounded good to me from his description.

Sao Paulo was an interesting place to pass through, but I personally wouldn’t want to live there. Too much city for my liking! And everyone we met gloried in telling us how dangerous the city was and how many times they had been mugged.

I think Brazil is a fast-rising economy at the moment, which means there’s more opportunities and more money for ESL teachers than there have been in the past; it also means there’s a growing middle class who are expecting more from their police force and government. It’s safer than it has been, and getting safer.

Of course, you have to feel comfortable with your decision — and I’m sure other people here might agree or disagree with me — but I’d be quite positive about going. ~Craig


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Glad to hear it! It’s a great place to travel in, and I’ve met a lot of happy people living there.

We have some Brazil travel information here, which you might want to take a look at.