Dangerous turning point for Brazil

Well, i wrote to you in Portuguese just to demonstrate that I have given Brazil plenty of chances over 7 years and you said you thought I was an ex-pat that hadn't manage to assimilate. Lol, nothing could be further from the truth. I learned the language to the point of being a translator, am married to a native, have a house, have plenty of relatives here, and take part in every aspect of society like any citizen.

Might as well close this topic, nothing's changing the fact that life in Brazil is made miserable by a lack of security, lack of infrastructure, lack of respect for one's neighbors, and too many other dangers worth mentioning.  If you don't believe me, go back and re-read your own writings, which are all about avoiding danger at every turn. Inmates running the asylum is basically the core of this country.

In response to your question whether I hated the other countries I lived in, the answer is no, they were very nice and safe and humane.

From your own pen: "Nobody can possibly sleep through that [blaringly loud music] yet the residents of the neighborhood tolerate it since lodging a complaint with the police is quite useless and worse still could end up getting you killed."

Lots to like about Brazil, eh? Can't even complain about loud music without risking your life.  Sheesh, good riddance to bad rubbish!

Well, having lived in several other countries as you say you have, I'd hazard a guess that none of them were developing nations or none of what you encounter here in Brazil would be a surprise to you. All developing nations and most of the Latin-American nations are exactly the same. Some are even worse.

North America (Canada and the USA) aren't a bed of roses anymore from what I've seen and heard. While crime rates clearly are lower there, there are still immigrants murdered, homes are broken into, school masacres are painfully frequent in the USA (thanks to the 2nd Amendment), unemployment is at all time highs and the list of problems there goes on and on. Over the past several years I've dealt with so many Americans, Canadians and Europeans desparate to get out and come to Brazil it's frightening. Doesn't it make you wonder why that is so?

Sure there are all kinds of serious problems in this country, but when you stop expecting it to be just like back home and start looking beyond those problems for some of the positive things perhaps you may see things differently, then maybe not! Regardless of what I say, it's obvious that you're so entrenched in your dislike for this country that nothing will change your mind, so I'm not going to even bother trying. It does, however, beg the question why don't you take your Brazilian wife back to the USA to live? You'll be doing here the biggest favor of her life, according to your evaluation of Brazil. You'll certainly be much happier and that in itself will also make her much happier too, don't you think?

One thing is absolutely certain, a never ending rant about all the evils of Brazil in this forum clearly isn't going to change things. While it may make you feel better by getting this all off your chest, that will only last for a very short time.

Thank God, I've never had any kind of problems with alcohol or chemicals, but I have a great deal of respect and put a lot of faith in the "Serenity Prayer", it's actually true about many things in life. It's particularly helpful here in Brazil.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, Expat-blog Experts Team

Yes, I think I previously stated that I am scouting out another country to move to, one in which decent people can breathe easy. You can put on all the rose-colored glasses you wish, yet your own writings are all about personal safety.  The old adage about a pig with lipstick applies. Just look at the photos being posted out here!

My Brazilian wife and I have already been to the US and went everywhere by car, it was safe, inexpensive, and clean. Obviously we didn't go to inner city Baltimore, which would also be extremely dangerous. I lived in the US for many years, and virtually never even locked the door at night!  But the problem is that Brazil is unsafe virtually everywhere. You simply cannot have a decent country with the utter, utter lack of safety and respect for the law.

Regarding all the ex-pats dying to come here, lol, they obviously haven't lived here and confronted the daily societal grind. I have, for many years. I speak Portuguese very well, there is no language barrier for me. I fit in just nicely, and have all kinds of parties and activities and social getherings.

I know the 'good' sides to the country - I previously mentioned that you get to know many wonderful people. All of them have been robbed or their mother has been robbed, or a close friend has been assaulted etc. It is an epidemic,  My acquaintance's son was killed by a drunk driver the other month. It was the 3rd time the drunk had run down someone. Why are Brazilians themselves chaining criminals to lampposts and beating them in the streets? Because the country is out of control & people can't take it anymore.

We're currently putting up extra fortification on the wall surrounding our house, on top of which is an electric fence. The entire house is alarmed, we have a dog to bark if someone approaches. In a word, it is an absurd way of life.

I am not ranting, I am simply sending a word to the wise: find a decent country where they have respect for the law and you are not the one who has to live behind bars, instead of the criminals.

Funny you mentioned that you didn't need to lock your doors back in the USA. I've lived in various Brazilian cities some of them among the world's largest and some small. I'm presently living in Macaé - RJ, a smallish costal city in Rio de Janeiro's northern "Região dos Lagos". I've never lived in what would be considered a high class neighborhood in any of those cities. Presently I live in the periphery of Macaé. A working class neighborhood with very simple people. Since the so-called "pacification" of the favelas in Rio, I'm sure you're well aware that the drug traffickers simply moved out to other areas, Macaé is one of them. Yet, I've lived here for two years now, it's one of the quietest neighborhoods I've ever lived in after darkness sets in. I have never locked my door at night and often wander off to the school to pick up my son, or to the commercial street in the neighborhood leaving doors and windows open (cats tend to poop indoors otherwise) and have never had any problems even here. So, yes there are still places even in Brazil where you can leave your doors unlocked too.

Don't get me wrong... I'm not saying that what you're talking about doesn't happen or that you're even exaggerating, we all know you aren't; sad to say. What I am saying is that in the end each of us has to put all the bad and all the good in the balance and make our own decisions. If any of us thinks the bad outweighs the good then it's time to pack up and head out. If the good outweighs the bad then we stay. There are as you correctly put it, too many problems to even list; however from my own experience I also know that there are just as many very valid reasons to stay in this country, a lot of really wonderful things. While the real problems probably will never change, certainly not in my lifetime, I'm quite content to stay here. I have no grave concerns for my safety or that of my wife and child. I am doing what I personally can to change things, which for foreigners here is rather limited and I hope that I will be leaving behind a very different Brazil for my son when he grows up.

With all its problems at least I don't live in a country where we all have to live in constant fear of terrorist attacks like the USA. We don't live with the growing xenophobia and racism that has gripped the USA and unfortunately is taking hold in Canada too following 9/11. I'm living in a country where other than certain isolated pockets of the country there is much more tolerance one's lifestyle choices or religious beliefs and one in which where there is prejudice, it's pretty much a case of Brazilians being prejudiced towards Brazilians living in other parts of the county that they in their warped sense of superiority believe themselves to be so much better than. I'm glad to be living in a country that places great value on family, where your neighbors are more apt to look out for you and more willing to help you out if you're in dificulties of any kind and where somebody will carry you to a hospital on their back if need be when you drop in the street with a heart attack unlike many so-called "civilized" North American cities where people will just step over you without paying any notice. So, I haven't got a "bug-out bag" packed and ready beside the front door, nor will there be one in the foreseeable future.

I will relate an incident that happened last night in the stairwell leading to our home(we live in the basement apartment) about 11:30 - 12:00 at night someone was beat up and robbed.
     I was powerless to assist him even though I yelled at him to leave the man alone that we were calling the police he just said to mind our own business and continued to beat on him.  It could have been over drugs or a drug deal gone bad problem I don't know.
   Had I been in the US, I would have had my pistol.  It would have been over with the assailant fleeing or dead.
Laws in the US permit the shooting if The person is on your property,  If there is imminent danger or threat to life of a person on your property and you shoot the assailant, this law is called justifiable homicide. Here in Brazil had I shot the assailant I would be the one going to jail.
    Many in the US want to strip us of this protection and prevent US citizens from having the right to bear arms. It is in the 2nd amendment of our constitution, "The right to bear arms shall not be infringed".  Governments are afraid of an armed citizenry because politicians are criminals themselves, and can impose their will on an unarmed populace. These same politicians who want to strip our rights have already succeeded in some major American cities, like New York and Chicago. These so called "gun controlled cities" also have the highest gun murder rates.  The cities that have the lowest crime and assault rates  are those that have concealed carry. Those states who have not infringed on the citizens rights to bear arms, also have the safest streets even at night.
    I will be installing a light in that stair well ( per my wife 's request) but even still I do not see how that would make it any safer or a difference as it is a societal problem .
The facts are do not go out walking alone on the streets at that hour even in supposed safe area's of the city (Manaus) you become the attraction for criminals who roam the streets at that hour. The police will not protect you they are only there after the crime has been committed to collect the bodies and investigate.  Is it any wonder that everyone lives behind steel doors and iron gates in Brazil,  and the wealthy live behind guarded fortress like buildings complete with electrified fences and guard dogs. 
That said granted I do not live in the US anymore I am in Brazil, many countries criticize the US for having an armed citizenry but look at Switzerland a totally armed citizenry and one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

Yep, the refrain of "this could happen anywhere" entirely misses the point. The problem is that this horrible lack of security and violence is the NORM in Brazil and is all-pervasive. This is definitely not the case in many, many desirable countries.

John, BTW, a big hello from KA3HEE.

As a Brazilian-American with 40 years experience in each of these countries, I agree with your assesment of personal risk in Brazil. Still, I cannot get out of my mind the fact that, should something bad ever happen to me along these lines, I would rather have it happen in one of the good old United States than here. But we are here, so let us enjoy what is good and be careful about  the risks we decide to take.

Agreed I do things to minimize my risks

Canadians have this weird attitude that Americans are all crazy gun-toting maniacs. A very, very few of them are, to include in Canda, and in Brazil a few years ago (13 killed in a school). The POINT of this thread is that Brazil is horribly dangerous "across the board" and on a never-ending daily basis. Everything's about keeping safe. My wife (Brazilian) laughed when I told her the moderator said he leaves/left his window(s) open and door(s) unlocked in some town or other in Brazil. I'm chuckling to myself just thinking about it, too.

We all need to get real, just because we live in one country or the other doesn't mean we don't see the bad sights.

Hello jwesneski,

You're making a rather BROAD generalization about Canadians, saying that they ALL think that ALL Americans are crazy gun-toting maniacs. We don't!!!

However, nobody can deny the simple fact that even when corrected for the difference in population between Canada and the USA rates for gun-related murders and gun-related accidents causing death are many times higher in the USA than Canada. What's the difference? Well in Canada guns are strictly controlled and in the USA your Second Amendment gives everyone the right to bear arms. A right which, by the way, hasn't seemed to reduce criminality in the USA a whole heck of a lot over the years. I lived in Canada for 52 years of my life and never once missed not having the right to have a firearm, they're just not necessary. Canada certainly is not a nation overrun by crime! Also you see endless reports of children in the USA who die each year playing with a firearm that was improperly stored at home. I don't personally think that the USA is a nation of crazy gun-toting maniacs, but I do think that it's a nation that would be far better off if firearms were restricted just like Canada.

I really fail to see what your comment has to do with the original posting in the first place. Are you still just trying to stir the pot? What does gun ownership in the USA have to do with violence in Brazil? Do you think that every Brazilian should have the right to own a firearm? God, most of them haven't enough responsibility to take car ownership seriously, I'd hate to see the body count if they all could have guns!

I read that Maceió, Alagoas is the most dangerous city of all dangerous cities in Brazil.
Is it true or was it just a journalist writing articles to put bread on his table? 

I read that Maceió, Alagoas is the most dangerous city of all dangerous cities in Brazil.
Is it true or was it just a journalist writing articles to put bread on his table? 

Hello everybody.I am still leaving in America.In Austin Texas. We have crime but nothing like Mexico and parts of South America.I also do not know  one American anywhere in the the states that leaves there doors open these days.I find it very hard to believe it is safe to do in Brazil.If you are known to be a foreigner in Brazil .I would think some  people would think you have money and try to get in your house!Maybe I am wrong. I have stayed in many cities in Brazil and other countries . Most countries these days have crime and aren't that safe.Some more than others. I can walk down the streets of my city at night and most places in Texas and not worry about being robbed ! I can't say this about Rio,Sao Paulo,Fortaleza etc...  I really wanted to maybe retire near Fortaleza but Brazil has many more problems then I knew . You speak about Americans right to bear arms.I have worked in law enforcement field for years and I own my own cab business.I believe owning a gun is your God given right but not for everyone.If you are a criminal,mentally ill,mentally retarded,senile etc...You should not own a gun !A 30 day background check,a mental test,age verification,gun classes etc.. This should be done before anyone gets a gun too!They should have to practice too. I have had 2 places that I lived broken into over the years in La and NY.Both times if I hadn't had a gun .I would of been hurt or killed.This is something that always has worried me about moving to another country.Several of my expat friends tell me they have a gun but the last thing I want to do is end up in a foreign jail. As I am getting older.It gets harder to defend myself with my hands ! Like several people have told me.When moving to another country.You have good and bad things in a new country.You leave good and bad things from your old country too! You just have to weigh out the good with bad and see if it's worth it! This is what I am doing!

Here is an article.

Despite What Seems Like A Lot Of Violence, The World Is Actually Getting Safer Every Day
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3027220/desp … artner=rss

Well it's definitely not safe to leave doors open absolutely everywhere in Brazil, but much as in many places in the USA, Canada and other countries it's still not the most dangerous thing one can do. I'm sure nobody in Los Angeles,Toronto or São Paulo would think of doing such a thing, but some small towns like Hesperia - CA, Picton - ON or Itú - SP it still could be done without putting life and limb in mortal danger.

A lot of expats make a big deal about houses that look like prisons with high walls topped with razor tape or electric circuits, barred windows and guard dogs as if these things simply don't exist back home. They're wrong on that score, because they do only not to the extent here. The sale of home alarms, CCTV cameras, laminated/tempered glass and window grates (especially for basement windows, a common point of entry for home invaders) is a growth industry both in Canada and the USA and has been for over a decade.

Is Brazil a tropical paradise where you're going to be safe to do anything you want day or night? Clearly the answer to that is a resounding NO, but it's not an absolute war zone either. At least not just yet. Wherever you travel in the world today it's necessary to take safety precautions that you probably wouldn't take at home. Brazil is absolutely no different. I can tell you from 12 plus years of experience living in various parts of Brazil that if one follows all the safety precautions that I have listed in the posting "A Gringo's Survival Guide to Brazil" https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=107384 the chances that you'll have major problems anywhere in Brazil are greatly reduced, almost to the point where it can be safer than many other countries for expats. I wouldn't dream of flashing a wad of money in the streets of New York City or in London, so why should it be any different in São Paulo or Rio??? Think about it!

For expats, guns are absolutely unnecessary here in Brazil. They are difficult to register, more difficult still to obtain a permit to carry and, in fact, they can actually increase your chances of becoming the victim of a much more serious crime (like being killed) than just being robbed since they increase one's willingness to react impulsively in situations of petty crimes where doing nothing would be far safer. Just the presence of a firearm might be all it takes for the would-be bandit to take it off you and put it to your head and pull the trigger, when doing nothing you'd probably walk away unharmed.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, Expat-blog Experts Team

I was robbed my first year in Rio back in 2002. It was on the beach at 5 am . It was drunk  . It was three Brazilian guys. Them tool my watch and a dummies wallet that had 10 reals. The watch was a $50 watch given to me by a friend of mine that died. It was important to me. I fought the guys and a girl with the guys threw it to me when they were taking off in a cab. They could hurt me bad but didn't. If this would if happened in La NY Houston etc... I would of been killed for fighting. Which was very stupid on my part. Since then I have travelled all over Brazil and never had a problem. I also don't gone alone on the beach at 5 am  after traveling all over the world I should if know better. It's called common sense but something a lot if drunk people forget to use.  Lol.

Well, seems everyone out here's been robbed, mugged, broken into, etc. in Brazil. The US, Canada, and a host of other countries are far, far safer.  Let's not quibble about the obvious - Brazil, and all of Mexico, Central and South America, are horribly dangerous in comparison to the US. No, I am not worried about pulling out a $100 dollar bill in New York. And I never locked my doors in the US! Sure, there are dangerous areas in every country, but Brazil in its entirety is a criminal's playground. It's laughable to say having a gun doesn't make you safer, at least in your house - in Brazil.

My friend's son was just killed recently by a drunk driver - the driver's third such mowdown. A guy with 3 previous murders on his hands just killed a policeman where I live. WTF kind of country allows that? A third world loser that will take generations to change - if ever!

Brazil really is the country of the future - and always will be.

I pity the great people I've met here, what they have to put up with.

Exactly!!! When you use common sense and follow the safety rules that should be used wherever you travel your chances of avoiding problems are greatly improved... even here in Brazil.

Thanks for sharing your story since it helps prove my point about not making yourself an easy target for crooks.

After a night out on the town and too much under your belt you ventured onto the beach in Rio at 5 am. Surely something you wouldn't have done if you were sober at the time. Your condition would have been obvious to anyone watching and that's what made you a victim ripe for the picking. You had the common sense to carry a "dummy wallet" with a few bucks in it to hand over, which is a very smart tactic and the only thing you really did wrong was to try and fight for the watch. I'm glad that you didn't suffer any serious injuries for having done that.

People... we can all learn from this experience. As rc himself rightly stated COMMON SENSE is the key. It's the key here in Brazil or in the USA or Canada or Timbuktu!!!

Every person who has any money in Brazil lives behind Iron gates, barbed wire fences, and High concrete walls the mere fact that they have money or have the appearance of having money makes them a target of other poorer Brazilians.   
These well off Brazilians live in areas of the city that have the best police protection and also have armed guards if they live in the condominium complexes.  I know of very few moderately rich Brazilians who do not have security of their residences, actually I know of none. To visit them you have to sign it at the guard station and if you don't look right its a fat chance you will be allowed entrance to the secured area.  Also if the person does not know you are coming to visit them you will be denied entrance until they can verify that you were in fact invited.

It is so bad if you are working on your car and set a tool down on the sidewalk or near where you are working and take your eyes off of it someone will come by and steal it. This is no joke it has happened,  some people will steal here if it is convenient for them to do so and they think they won't be caught. So as a rule I don't make it convenient for them.

If I go out on the street alone even during the day I dress shabbily,  Old blue jeans dirty tennis shoes and faded shirts. That said an American sticks out like a sore thumb in Brazil I try to blend in when I can. I don't speak to loud as they can detect and American accent of Portuguese like the Piranha smell blood in the water of the Amazon, Its a dead give away. I don't carry my wallet anywhere I have photo copies of the documents I need. If I am going to use a credit card I carry only the card I am going to use and I have photo copies off all my cards front and back in case the one is stolen its a simple matter to cancel the number.  I wear a cheap Chinese watch in case they want my watch it isn't worth much more than $10 US.  I also carry less than a R$100 in cash. I like the dummy wallet idea I think I will start doing that.
If I do get robbed R$10 in a cheap dummy wallet and a cheap Chinese watch is all they will get. They will leave thinking they robbed me, and I will walk away bodily safe.

Don't take drinks from strangers that act friendly in a bar.!!! you might end up like this person

Last night a person was accosted in front of our home,  Apparently she had been drinking and was slipped a drug into her drink then who ever it was followed her. She just happened to pass out in front of our place and was robbed. The police were called because she was found unconscious on the sidewalk. Someone must of though she was dead.  There are so many robberies at night the best advice is DO NOT GO OUT ALONE AT NIGHT if you must get home DO NOT WALK call a taxi or stay in a large group of trusted friends. Get a ride with them.

Love it !!!!!  In Texas ! Many people want you to break in their house ! Cause they have a little friend for you to meet !!!!!!     I believe a person should have the right to protect themselves and their property from criminals ! So, I guess expats in Brazil are not allowed to own guns legally as in many countries ! If this is true then some  criminals must know this too. It would seem to be dangerous for expats not to have a weapon in their home for protection!!!!!!!

jwesneski, (sorry if I misspelled your name). I must say I admire your moxey. You've stated your case with conviction and you've acted on your beliefs. If it is of any help, I wish you good luck in your search for a happy life, something we all deserve.

Jeez this bun fighting is enough.  Moved back to SA to sort out family stuff. I am a white British and naturalised South African.  Lived all over the world (7 countries in 40 odd years forget where I have visited).  Come to South Africa, we have no water, electricity for days and weeks on end - due to the ANC.  Crime is worse than in Brazil.  Everything should have been privatized since 1994, Eskom (national power utility), Rand Water (infrastructure not kept up), SAA (Governments private taxi service), mines are closing down - Marikana!!!.  Madupi Power Station should have been commissioned 3 years ago, now we are suffering 'load sheading', SAA is broke.  The country's credit rating is just above 'junk status' - and poverty breeds crime! We live in complexes with 6' high walls and electric fences.  On the up side I was born in Africa and an African and love the place.  There are good and bad people everywhere.  I for one would never in my dreams go back to the UK - hate it!  I have only been robbed in the UK and Brazil never in SA - one of the highest crime rates in the world.  Treat people - no matter what creed colour or religion - as you want to be treated.  It works  I am agnostic.  Hell takes all sorts to make the world turn.  So from a hot sunny SA and need rain urgently.  Have a good day.