HLOFam
American and Brazilian looking for information about Brazil
Forum posts
21
Contacts
1
About me
American and Brazilian
Speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish
Registration: 07 October 2026
About
Hi everyone! 😊 I'm originally from Rio de Janeiro and spent 20 years living in Tampa, Florida before recently moving back to Brazil with my husband and daughter.
We’ve been living in Florianópolis since July 2025, and while I love the beaches and natural beauty, I'm still trying to convince myself that six months of gray skies is normal! 😂
I'm an online nutritionist and personal trainer, so I work remotely. I'd love to meet down-to-earth people who enjoy good conversations, exploring new places, spending time outdoors, and building genuine friendships. I'm also exploring the idea of moving to the Northeast someday in search of a little more sunshine! ☀️
Looking forward to connecting with you all!
My expat journey
Brazil
Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Living in Floripa with my husband and daughter while building my online nutrition and personal training business. Currently exploring whether this is our forever home or just another chapter in our Brazilian adventure!
Nutritionist
The beaches, beautiful nature, outdoor lifestyle, and the feeling that there's always somewhere new to explore. Floripa really is beautiful!
The weather! I moved to Brazil, not London. 😂 The endless gray skies, rain, and cold, damp weather make winter feel like it lasts six months! I'm still looking for that sweet spot between safety, convenience, sunshine, and a stronger sense of community. I might give Floripa another year before heading to the Northeast or somewhere sunnier. 🌞
Tampa, Florida, USA
Activity
From sunny Florida to rainy Florianópolis. 1 year post move 🇧🇷🇺🇸 by HLOFam
Has anyone else struggled to adjust to life in southern Brazil?My husband, our 11-year-old daughter, and I moved from Florida to Florianópolis a little over a year ago because it seemed like a safe place to raise our family. While my daughter ...
@easygoer1050 10/17/26I wrote a post about the things I wish I knew before moving to Floripa - I hope it helps you guys: https://www.expat.com/en/forum/south-america/brazil/1120922-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-moving-to-florianopolis.html Read More
Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Florianópolis by HLOFam
I wanted to share my honest experience living in Florianópolis because, honestly, I wish I had read something like this before moving here. (I've been living in Floripa for 1.5 years)I feel like most of what you see on social media focuses on ...
@hagece869010/17/26Your description of Vancouver — “300 days of brutal damp rain and/or gray clouds with 50 +/- days of incredible sunshine” — pretty much sums up how I feel about Floripa! Thanks for sharing your ... Read More
Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Florianópolis by HLOFam
I wanted to share my honest experience living in Florianópolis because, honestly, I wish I had read something like this before moving here. (I've been living in Floripa for 1.5 years)I feel like most of what you see on social media focuses on ...
@stevewaugh786 We've been to João Pessoa and didn't care much for it. Then we drove to Natal and it was much better. If you ever visit JP, I highly recommend you to see Natal too! :) Read More
Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Florianópolis by HLOFam
I wanted to share my honest experience living in Florianópolis because, honestly, I wish I had read something like this before moving here. (I've been living in Floripa for 1.5 years)I feel like most of what you see on social media focuses on ...
@abthree 10/17/26Thanks for sharing your POV! I've read some of your posts here, and you're always so helpful to the expat community.I was born in Rio and left in my 20s. After living in Florida for 20 years and then returning to Brazil (to the ... Read More
Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Florianópolis
I wanted to share my honest experience living in Florianópolis because, honestly, I wish I had read something like this before moving here. (I've been living in Floripa for 1.5 years)I feel like most of what you see on social media focuses on ... Read More
Espiritu Santo State by CATVLYST Music
I've spent over a year total exploring Brazil. I'm from Florida and targeted the Northeast region because of the similar weather primarily. My current trip has been four and a half months and I've started to think that there isn't really somewhere ...
@CATVLYST Music Absolutely. I understand the need to be by the ocean. we moved from FL and we feel the same way. Brasilia might be good to just travel too and you can hit both places (Brasilia and Chapada dos Veadeiros) within a couple of days so ... Read More
Espiritu Santo State by CATVLYST Music
I've spent over a year total exploring Brazil. I'm from Florida and targeted the Northeast region because of the similar weather primarily. My current trip has been four and a half months and I've started to think that there isn't really somewhere ...
@CATVLYST Music Hi there! We moved from Tampa to Brazil about a year ago. Have you been to Brasilia at all? It's safer than most states, great infrastructure, gyms, grocery stores, pharmacies (my husband is from Miami and he really enjoyed driving ... Read More
Natal move by HLOFam
We're a Brazilian-American family considering moving to Natal. We moved from Florida to Florianópolis and we are considering moving to Natal next. We aren't tourists—we're looking at Natal as a place to raise our daughter. Are there ...
@AlexDarti Thank you so much for your reply. Super helpful. 6-12 months of renting before buying is sound advice. Funny enough, I got a phone call from a lady I met who is from Rio, but lives in the Netherlands and want to move to Floripa. I told ... Read More
Natal move by HLOFam
We're a Brazilian-American family considering moving to Natal. We moved from Florida to Florianópolis and we are considering moving to Natal next. We aren't tourists—we're looking at Natal as a place to raise our daughter. Are there ...
@CATVLYST Music I have not looked into Maceio yet, but added to my list of places in the NE to visit. I've also heard good things about Aracaju. Read More
Natal move by HLOFam
We're a Brazilian-American family considering moving to Natal. We moved from Florida to Florianópolis and we are considering moving to Natal next. We aren't tourists—we're looking at Natal as a place to raise our daughter. Are there ...
@tiomark Hello! We went to Natal and liked the climate there. We need to be back to research the neighborhoods though. I'm not adapting well to the south. The weather is horrible and the culture here does not feel "Brazilian". People are not as ... Read More
Natal move by HLOFam
We're a Brazilian-American family considering moving to Natal. We moved from Florida to Florianópolis and we are considering moving to Natal next. We aren't tourists—we're looking at Natal as a place to raise our daughter. Are there ...
@Vitali H. Hello! Thanks for your reply! wonderful! How are your kids adapting in Natal?and which neighborhood did you guys move to? (if you don't mind me asking) Read More
From sunny Florida to rainy Florianópolis. 1 year post move 🇧🇷🇺🇸 by HLOFam
Has anyone else struggled to adjust to life in southern Brazil?My husband, our 11-year-old daughter, and I moved from Florida to Florianópolis a little over a year ago because it seemed like a safe place to raise our family. While my daughter ...
@hagece8690 Thanks for your response!"Adapting was super easy, and the climate difference is amazing. " this sentence brought me some comfort and it confirms how I feel - I'm in the wrong city LOLThe reason you adapted so quickly is probably because ... Read More
From sunny Florida to rainy Florianópolis. 1 year post move 🇧🇷🇺🇸 by HLOFam
Has anyone else struggled to adjust to life in southern Brazil?My husband, our 11-year-old daughter, and I moved from Florida to Florianópolis a little over a year ago because it seemed like a safe place to raise our family. While my daughter ...
@EricPau Thanks for your reply!We just came back from Brasilia and the ppl there were SO nice!!! My husband and I were plesantly surprised of how laid back they were. Here in the south of Brazil ppl are uptight, tense and not so nice in ... Read More
From sunny Florida to rainy Florianópolis. 1 year post move 🇧🇷🇺🇸 by HLOFam
Has anyone else struggled to adjust to life in southern Brazil?My husband, our 11-year-old daughter, and I moved from Florida to Florianópolis a little over a year ago because it seemed like a safe place to raise our family. While my daughter ...
@alexanderstephenlange Thank you for sharing! We've been to João Pessoa and it seems nice there! We liked Natal because of the breeze they have all year long - I think it does help a little with the heat. My daughter is doing well here ... Read More
From sunny Florida to rainy Florianópolis. 1 year post move 🇧🇷🇺🇸 by HLOFam
Has anyone else struggled to adjust to life in southern Brazil?My husband, our 11-year-old daughter, and I moved from Florida to Florianópolis a little over a year ago because it seemed like a safe place to raise our family. While my daughter ...
Thank you for your response! @Peter Itamaraca We live in an island too so I think I have an idea. Except, you guys get plenty of sun there in your island! 😂I've heard of Itamaracá before. Do you guys feel pretty safe there? Read More