PARANA: BRAZILIANS WHO MAKE AMERICANS SEEM LOVING & FRIE

[cadevoce]

About "gringos". My girlfriend's cousin and younger brother keeps calling me “gringo” even though they are pale, ghost white and I'm actually quite dark! What's with that? Now, I understand it can mean anyone who is not Brazilian, but here in the US, gringo is a derogatory term for anyone white. So, I’m going to get blond-haired and blue-eyed Brazilians calling me a gringo from now on? Strange!

And from what I’ve heard (and I am no expert because I’ve only been to SP state), Curitiba is supposedly one of the best cities in Brazil to live in and a model of urban planning worldwide.

Now, I have a question. Everyone seems to say that the South of Brazil is quite wealthy. I wouldn’t deny it, but I’ve never been there. But a few posters like Advogado do Diabo who live down there have said that there are no jobs and little industry. I’m inclined to believe him as he’s lived there for a while and seems to speak with reason. My question is, how the hell did these place become so wealthy compared to the rest of the country if there are no jobs? How do people make their money down there?

I'm not sure about Floripa, but my girlfriend's uncle works for the government in Porto Alegre. He makes around 10,000 reais per month, which is not to shabby by Brazilian standards. I know plenty of Americans who make less than that in Los Angeles. So the bureacrats who win the concursos and put in their time have a pretty comfortable lifestyle.

[Majic Eyes Only]

[..]



I'm not sure about Floripa, but my girlfriend's uncle works for the government in Porto Alegre. He makes around 10,000 reais per month, which is not to shabby by Brazilian standards. I know plenty of Americans who make less than that in Los Angeles. So the bureacrats who win the concursos and put in their time have a pretty comfortable lifestyle.

Maybe, but not all of PA is inhabited by bureacrats or government workers! That's a fairly wealthy city! There has to be a way! Money doesn't just grow on trees! LOL!

[cadevoce]

[..]



Maybe, but not all of PA is inhabited by bureacrats or government workers! That's a fairly wealthy city! There has to be a way! Money doesn't just grow on trees! LOL!

Import/Export, manufacturing, farming, domestic consumer goods, etc. Probably the usual stuff. Agro-business is booming.

There are a lot of multinational companies moving their manfacturing plants to the south of Brazil as well, including Santa Catarina.

[marina!]

About "gringos". My girlfriend's cousin and younger brother keeps calling me “gringo” even though they are pale, ghost white and I'm actually quite dark! What's with that? Now, I understand it can mean anyone who is not Brazilian, but here in the US, gringo is a derogatory term for anyone white. So, I’m going to get blond-haired and blue-eyed Brazilians calling me a gringo from now on? Strange!

And from what I’ve heard (and I am no expert because I’ve only been to SP state), Curitiba is supposedly one of the best cities in Brazil to live in and a model of urban planning worldwide.

Now, I have a question. Everyone seems to say that the South of Brazil is quite wealthy. I wouldn’t deny it, but I’ve never been there. But a few posters like Advogado do Diabo who live down there have said that there are no jobs and little industry. I’m inclined to believe him as he’s lived there for a while and seems to speak with reason. My question is, how the hell did these place become so wealthy compared to the rest of the country if there are no jobs? How do people make their money down there?

gringo means foreigner, so even Michael Jordan would be a gringo ..

[xoxo88]

Yup, you guys are funny abuot the whole sex tourist factor. Just because they aren't showered with attention in the south, they deem them as cold. LOL.

[Schmitt]

Yup, you guys are funny abuot the whole sex tourist factor. Just because they aren't showered with attention in the south, they deem them as cold. LOL.

Quem í© vocíª 88?????


Caxias do Sul, Floripa, Blumenau, Curitiba, Joinvile, Frederico westphalen, Santa Cruz do Sul, Piçaras, Camburiú, Porto Alegre, Novo Hamburgo, São Leopoldo, Bento Gonçalvez, Gramado, Horizontina, Feliz, Canela, são algumas das melhores cidades do Brasil para se morar.

[xoxo88]

Look at your email!!!

K........

[Advogado do Diabo]

But a few posters like Advogado do Diabo who live down there have said that there are no jobs and little industry. I’m inclined to believe him as he’s lived there for a while and seems to speak with reason. My question is, how the hell did these place become so wealthy compared to the rest of the country if there are no jobs? How do people make their money down there?

I wouldn't consider the island wealthy by any stretch of the imagination. Granted, there are wealthy parts such as Jurue International (You should see the mansions there - uha!!!). And there are some very VERY wealthy people too, but usually these are folks who made their millions in other parts of Brasil and are now kicking back here.

The island's mostly middle to upper middle class (yes some poverty too) and they mostly rely on tourism, or the tourism season, in one way or another. Many have there own stores, restaurantes, services etc. When a tourism season is weak, as the last couple of years have been, it affects many.

Construction is booming. There are loads of government serivce wonks too.

Technology is steadily growing as well, and the Mayor of Floripa is doing her best to attract non-polluting industries such as IT RnD. Some are already calling the island "Technópolis".

So people do survive, and there is work, but you have to actively find it and those cushy salaries in SP are close to non existant here.

I mentioned in one earlier post that life on the island is not easy nor for everyone. Many, disillusioned with their experiences (or pay cuts) here don't refer to Florianopolis as the Ilha da Magia, but the Ilha da FANTASIA....

I love it here, but don't believe the hype!

[cadevoce]

I took a look at some housing prices in Floripa. Lots were in the 400,000 - 600,000 reais range. Ouch! considering you can forget about a mortgage as a foreigner.

I'm surprised how small the population of Floripa is. 300,000 or so right?
It must feel like you know everyone on the island by face sometimes huh?

[AcesHigh]

I took a look at some housing prices in Floripa. Lots were in the 400,000 - 600,000 reais range. Ouch! considering you can forget about a mortgage as a foreigner.

I'm surprised how small the population of Floripa is. 300,000 or so right?
It must feel like you know everyone on the island by face sometimes huh?

350.000.

Hey come on. How many american cities have about the same population in the city proper area?? Ok, metro populations of american cities are usually big, but you can also add some 300k more people to Floripa if you are counting metro area.

[AcesHigh]

About "gringos". My girlfriend's cousin and younger brother keeps calling me “gringo” even though they are pale, ghost white and I'm actually quite dark! What's with that? Now, I understand it can mean anyone who is not Brazilian, but here in the US, gringo is a derogatory term for anyone white. So, I’m going to get blond-haired and blue-eyed Brazilians calling me a gringo from now on? Strange!

And from what I’ve heard (and I am no expert because I’ve only been to SP state), Curitiba is supposedly one of the best cities in Brazil to live in and a model of urban planning worldwide.

Now, I have a question. Everyone seems to say that the South of Brazil is quite wealthy. I wouldn’t deny it, but I’ve never been there. But a few posters like Advogado do Diabo who live down there have said that there are no jobs and little industry. I’m inclined to believe him as he’s lived there for a while and seems to speak with reason. My question is, how the hell did these place become so wealthy compared to the rest of the country if there are no jobs? How do people make their money down there?

gringo means foreigner in Brasil. And it is not derogatory. Here in my state we use to call people from Caxias do Sul and other cities in the Serra area as gringos.... even though they are brazilians (maybe because the italians immigrants arrived after the germans in 1870??).

Anyway, many European countries also seem to have not many jobs available and they are still wealthy.

Well, the best answer to you: people in the south are not wealthy. But they are not poor either. Less income inequality. They live simple and well. Some very small cities in RS, like Encantado for example, have the best IDH´s in the country. They have 100% literacy rate. They have very high age expectancy, etc. Rich? Nope. They just live decently.

And there are jobs in the south. There are more jobs in São Paulo of course. But many more people also. You see longer lines of peoples after jobs in São Paulo and Rio than anywhere in the south. Salaries are better in São Paulo? Yes. And so they are in NY than in the rest of US. But the life cost is also higher. And it doesnt means the rest of US is poor.

Most cities in RS state also have GDP´s per capita much higher than the brazilian average.

please, check this link about the metro area of Porto Alegre. They show the cities and the major companies in each city. So you can have a better idea about the state.
http://www.portoimagem.com/frameindex16english.html

also check the main site, www.portoimagem.com for pictures of Porto Alegre which you show you more about the city and how its inhabitants live.

[cadevoce]

About "gringos". My girlfriend's cousin and younger brother keeps calling me “gringo” even though they are pale, ghost white and I'm actually quite dark! What's with that? Now, I understand it can mean anyone who is not Brazilian, but here in the US, gringo is a derogatory term for anyone white. So, I’m going to get blond-haired and blue-eyed Brazilians calling me a gringo from now on? Strange!

And from what I’ve heard (and I am no expert because I’ve only been to SP state), Curitiba is supposedly one of the best cities in Brazil to live in and a model of urban planning worldwide.

Now, I have a question. Everyone seems to say that the South of Brazil is quite wealthy. I wouldn’t deny it, but I’ve never been there. But a few posters like Advogado do Diabo who live down there have said that there are no jobs and little industry. I’m inclined to believe him as he’s lived there for a while and seems to speak with reason. My question is, how the hell did these place become so wealthy compared to the rest of the country if there are no jobs? How do people make their money down there?

gringo means foreigner in Brasil. And it is not derogatory. Here in my state we use to call people from Caxias do Sul and other cities in the Serra area as gringos.... even though they are brazilians (maybe because the italians immigrants arrived after the germans in 1870??).

Anyway, many European countries also seem to have not many jobs available and they are still wealthy.

Well, the best answer to you: people in the south are not wealthy. But they are not poor either. Less income inequality. They live simple and well. Some very small cities in RS, like Encantado for example, have the best IDH´s in the country. They have 100% literacy rate. They have very high age expectancy, etc. Rich? Nope. They just live decently.

And there are jobs in the south. There are more jobs in São Paulo of course. But many more people also. You see longer lines of peoples after jobs in São Paulo and Rio than anywhere in the south. Salaries are better in São Paulo? Yes. And so they are in NY than in the rest of US. But the life cost is also higher. And it doesnt means the rest of US is poor.

Most cities in RS state also have GDP´s per capita much higher than the brazilian average.

please, check this link about the metro area of Porto Alegre. They show the cities and the major companies in each city. So you can have a better idea about the state.
http://www.portoimagem.com/frameindex16english.html

also check the main site, www.portoimagem.com for pictures of Porto Alegre which you show you more about the city and how its inhabitants live.

What a great site. Thanks for posting it.

So are you noticing an influx of immigrants moving to Porto Alegre (both from within Brazil and from other countries)?

[Advogado do Diabo]

I took a look at some housing prices in Floripa. Lots were in the 400,000 - 600,000 reais range. Ouch! considering you can forget about a mortgage as a foreigner.

I'm surprised how small the population of Floripa is. 300,000 or so right?
It must feel like you know everyone on the island by face sometimes huh?

It depends on the region cade. In Riberao da Ilha, Armacao e Matadeiro (to the south of the island) you can still find simple homes built on posse lands for under 80k, sometimes 40k. Problem is that these areas are VERY provincial. Not helluva a lot going on there. I reckon they're great areas for investment, because sooner rather than later they will develop as the island's population continues to grow.

Closer to Lagoa da Conceicao, say Rio Tavares ou Campeche, you can find nice decently constructed homes on public posse lands for between 120 - 200k.

You can also buy land, for bewteen 40-120k, and build your own home. So, it's not too outrageous yet, but it's getting there. The increase in property value over the last decade has left some very well off.

Population on the island is around 350,00 and if you include the greater Florianopolis area as Aces suggested, it's about 450,000 (feels like 1,000,000 during tourism season though). The bairro where I live has 30,000 registered...and yes, any trip to Centrinho you're bound to bump into several acquiantences. I quite like this though...

Some of the beach front properties/homes in Jurure International have asking prices starting in the MILLIONS. Nossa senhora!!!!! Talvez uma dia...

[cadevoce]

I took a look at some housing prices in Floripa. Lots were in the 400,000 - 600,000 reais range. Ouch! considering you can forget about a mortgage as a foreigner.

I'm surprised how small the population of Floripa is. 300,000 or so right?
It must feel like you know everyone on the island by face sometimes huh?

It depends on the region cade. In Riberao da Ilha, Armacao e Matadeiro (to the south of the island) you can still find simple homes built on posse lands for under 80k, sometimes 40k. Problem is that these areas are VERY provincial. Not helluva a lot going on there. I reckon they're great areas for investment, because sooner rather than later they will develop as the island's population continues to grow.

Closer to Lagoa da Conceicao, say Rio Tavares ou Campeche, you can find nice decently constructed homes on public posse lands for between 120 - 200k.

You can also buy land, for bewteen 40-120k, and build your own home. So, it's not too outrageous yet, but it's getting there. The increase in property value over the last decade has left some very well off.

Population on the island is around 350,00 and if you include the greater Florianopolis area as Aces suggested, it's about 450,000 (feels like 1,000,000 during tourism season though). The bairro where I live has 30,000 registered...and yes, any trip to Centrinho you're bound to bump into several acquiantences. I quite like this though...

Some of the beach front properties/homes in Jurure International have asking prices starting in the MILLIONS. Nossa senhora!!!!! Talvez uma dia...

I was doing some online research (well, just wasting time on the web) yesterday and found a site talking about the Japanese colonies in Brazil. Apparently, there are a few small colonies in Santa Catarina which I never realized before. Have you noticed this kind of ethnic diversity on the island or in the state in general?

I also found a ton of literature literally making Floripa seem like heaven on earth. LIke you mentioned, a bit of an exaggeration I'm sure. But how do the lesser known cities of Blumenau, Joinville, Balneario, etc compare?

Thanks.