A Brit in Brazil: Teaching English in Sao Paulo

Getting a gun pointed in your face is often an experience that would cause many to catch the next bus out of town but for Andrew Creelman he hasn’t allowed it to faze his enjoyment of living in Brazil.

Andrew has lived and worked in Sao Paulo as a teacher for a number of years. Initially from England he worked in Japan until a chance beer with a friend one night let to a spur of the moment decision he hasn’t regretted.

Andrew shares with us his experiences of living in Sao Paulo, the good and the bad, and why the longer he spends there the more he feels at home. He talks about the influence the people of Sao Paulo has had on him and how he is richer from the experiences he has had there. He runs his own English teaching business and shares his knowledge on this area along with his suggestions on dealing with Brazilian life through his blog www.whataboutsaopaulo.com 

What I learned from speaking with Andrew:

Although security is an issue in Brazil it is relatively safe if you stick in the right areas. The one bad incident he has had he freely admits he was in the wrong part of town. Common sense always applies wherever you are travelling and it pays to ask a reliable source before you go wandering
Maids are standard issue in Sao Paulo. A nice 3 bedroom apartment including internet and a cleaner for 8 hours per week will only set you back around $US1000 given the current exchange rate. Again this can change but if you’re earning online and looking for good quality living at an affordable price then Brazil might be an option for you
Brazil is not for everybody. It has its problems and in large cities like Sao Paulo the contrasts of experiences can be extreme; but if you’re looking for adventure on an affordable budget then don’t rule it out of the equation.