Expat and emigration interviews: the story of Jan who worked for Foreign Affairs and reopened a consulate in Brazil

Who is Jan?

• Jan worked for the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reopened a consulate in Brazil.
• Read more about his experiences below through the interview below

What do people need to know about you to understand your story? 

• I was sent out by my employer, Foreign Affairs to reopen a Consulate in Brazik.
• I did not really prepare.

What is your life like, what kind of work or activities make you feel you are really “at home” in Brazil?

• Basic knowledge of the language is an indispensable requirement to feel at home in Brazil, as few people speak another language (e.g. English).

How does your daily routine differ from that in your home country?

• Brazilians take their time for everything. They often arrive late for appointments or don't show up at all. You can never get straight to the point but first answer questions about family and health. Everything is very complicated and agonizingly slow with a leaden bureaucracy.

How were your cultural and social interactions in Brazil?

What was your first encounter with a local?

• Brazilians are very warm and friendly people, however, one should not take them too seriously. They are spontaneous and there is curiosity about where you are from, what you are doing in the country, etc.

Do you have any tips for meeting people?

• Very easy. Learn a few words of Portuguese and you will be warmly welcomed everywhere.

What is the best or most inspiring thing about your emigration?

• Let go of your European institution of rules, agreements and order or you'll be annoyed to death.

What is the funniest or most painful misunderstanding you have experienced because of language or cultural differences?

• Everything continually goes haywire. There is always a signature or a stamp or something missing. Once I was not allowed on a tourist bus with my own daughter (possible child abduction), when I showed up with a self-signed letter that it was ok, I was allowed on the bus (surreal).

Have you adopted local customs?  

• Let go of European social rules.

How do locals react to you living and working here now?

• Brazilians are smooth and warm in their interactions and generally admire Europe.

Are there any customs in social interaction that you found difficult to understand or had to get used to?

• Failure to keep appointments.

How does friendship here differ from how it is perceived in your home country?

• Brazilians seem superficial, but if you can accept them as they are, you have friends for life.

What are the challenges in Brazil?

Have there been times when you doubted your choice/emigration, or what disappointed you?

• Bureaucracy, bureaucracy, bureaucracy.

What would you do differently next time and what would you like to give others with the same idea?

• Mentally prepare for everything to take an awful long time and don't take people too seriously.

How do you deal with homesickness/loneliness?/What do you miss most?

• Brazilians are bon vivants, loneliness hardly exists in this country.

Are there things you appreciate more about your homeland now that you are here?

• The sense of organization, the seriousness with which things are handled.

How are the practical rules & what are the issues in Brazil?

How do you deal with the bureaucracy in your new country?

• Suffering. Problems with administration can often be solved if you happen to know the right people. Try to make friends. Everyone has an acquaintance or family member who can help you through a more informal avenue to help solve your problem.

How did you find a suitable place to live? 

• Through a real estate agent.

Was it difficult? What are the biggest cost differences between this country and your home country?

• Owner and tenant both have to pay a comission fee to the real estate agent. This amount can be high. The tenant is obliged, when leaving the rental property to have it repainted at his expense, at least as far as the inside is concerned.

What did you learn about insurance, taxes and other financial obligations abroad?

• Without your registration with the CPF (tax authorities) you won't get anywhere.

Have you used local health care (general practitioner, specialist, dentist, etc.) and what stands out to you?

• If you are well insured you can use an excellent private health service).

What is similar or totally different from Belgium health care?

• Two tracks : excellent care for those who have the money , third-rate care for those who rely on the public health service.

What is useful for others to consider?

• Do not rent a house, but an apartment. A home is too dangerous because of numerous break-ins and robberies. Apartments offer better security. Do not wear jewelry or show signs of wealth. In addition to your actual wallet, keep a wallet with a small amount of money in your pocket and give it when you become the victim of a robbery. Do not try to be a hero, because a human life is not worth much in Brazil.
• The police are very quick to reach for their weapon. Never argue with them if you notice they are agitated, wait until they have calmed down.
• If you have the means, engage an errand boy to take care of all kinds of business for you, (bank, mail, electricity bills, condominium fees pay etc, because everywhere you bump into endless lines of people waiting)

What kind of business have you established?

• Consulate General

What is the bureaucracy like in the country you are in?

• Belgian bureaucracy times 10.

What local traditions or rituals have inspired or touched you?

• Carnival

How do you balance working, relaxing and enjoying your new surroundings?

• In Rio de Janeiro, the weekend starts on Friday afternoon. Laze on the beach or walk in the “ Floresta de Tijuca”

How is it to communicate in Brazil?

Have you learned the local language and if so, how?

• Yes. First some lessons with assimil and then just being immersed in a Brazilian language bath. A must in this country.

How do you stay in touch with home?

• Email.

What are some communication problems you have encountered?

• Without a basic knowledge of the language, you won't get anywhere.

What have you learned?

• That we Europeans often take life far too seriously.