This is great club!!!

My question for Boris and the group is as follows.

I have a 12 year old daughter and I am wondering if there are any American or english speaking middle schools in Rio. Also, is it safe to bring my daughter to live there.

Whats your opinions.

Bem dade
Obrigado

Vinni

Vinni,

There are quite a few international (including English speaking
schools in Rio de Janeiro). I am currently looking into a couple of
them for my nephew (he is thirteen and is dreaming of living in Rio
after a six week vacation here last year).

There are many expatriate families in Rio and most of them have their
kids in the local international schools together with Brazilian
elite. I would say it is safe, at least in comparison with the US
schools.

Here is information about the schools, courtesy of www.expats.com

International Christian School of Rio
Av. Peifeito Dulcídio Cardoso 4351 - Barra da Tijuca
Tel: (21) 2431-1239, Tel/Fax: (21) 3325-3088, Email:
icsrio@hotmail.com
Located in a very secure location along the picturesque Lagoa in
Barra da Tijuca, ICS ­RIO offers North American curriculum with all
classes taught by certified native English professional teachers.
Follows the American curriculum and calendar. Traditional classes for
K3 to grade 8 with a Multimedia program accredited with an Academy in
Arizona via network and internet. Low class enrolments. For fees and
further information, call ICS-RIO. Web page:
http://www.expats.com.br/advertisers/ics

Our Lady of Mercy
R. Visconde de Caravelas, 48 - Tel: (021) 537-9065
http://www.olmrio.com.br
American school with all classes in English. The north-American
calendar and curriculum are used. Matriculation fee: R$5000,00 (pre-
school and kindergarten), R$ 4500,00 (2nd to 9th grades) and R$
4000,00 (10th to 12th grades). Monthly fees: R$ 882,00 (pre-school),
R$ 1082,00 (kindergarten), R$ 1082,00 (1st to 3rd grades), R$ 982,00
( 4th to 9th grades ), R$ 1071 (10th to 12th grades).

Bilingual schools


Colégio Cruzeiro
R. Carlos de Carvalho 76 - Centro - Tel: (021) 509-9259 / 424-1777
Jacarepaguá Address: Rua Retiro dos Artistas, 589. Jacarepaguá Ph. #:
2424-1717
http://www.colegiocruzeiro.com.br
Founded by Germans in 1862 to serve the German community. At first it
was a German school, but became a Brazilian school after WWII.
Classes are in Portuguese, and German is taught as a foreign
language. For further information, please contact the school.

Escola Corcovado
Rua São Clemente 388 - Botafogo - Tel: (021) 537-8811. Fax: (021) 537-
9411
E-Mail: sebc@terra.com.br
Classes are given in Portuguese or German (the student must be fluent
in the chosen language). Monthly fees between R$530,00 and R$610,00,
plus a donation to the Corcovado Scholar Society of R$110,00.

Escola Suíça
Rua Almirante Alexandrino 2495 - Santa Teresa
Tel: (021) 556-5746 . Fax: (021) 285-6255
http://www.esbrj.com.br
Swiss school where students can have classes in French or German.
Portuguese and English are taught as foreign languages. Uses the
Brazilian calendar.

International Christian School of Rio
Av. Peifeito Dulcídio Cardoso 4351 - Barra da Tijuca
Tel: (21) 2431-1239, Tel/Fax: (21) 3325-3088, Email:
icsrio@hotmail.com
Located in a very secure location along the picturesque Lagoa in
Barra da Tijuca, ICS ­RIO offers North American curriculum with all
classes taught by certified native English professional teachers.
Follows the American curriculum and calendar. Traditional classes for
K3 to grade 8 with a Multimedia program accredited with an Academy in
Arizona via network and internet. Low class enrolments. For fees and
further information, call ICS-RIO. Web page:
http://www.expats.com.br/advertisers/ics

Liceu Franco-Brasileiro
R. das Laranjeiras, 15 - Tel: (021) 557-4198
Brazilian school, with French classes from kindergarten through high
school. Monthly fees are R$ 412,65 (pre-school) R$ 452,00 (1st to 5th
grades ), R$ 478,00 (6th to 8th grades), R$ 527,00 (1st and 2nd
grades of High School ) and R$ 684,60 ( 3rd grade of High School).

Our Lady of Mercy
R. Visconde de Caravelas, 48 - Tel: (021) 537-9065
http://www.olmrio.com.br
American school with all classes in English. The north-American
calendar and curriculum are used. Matriculation fee: R$5000,00 (pre-
school and kindergarten), R$ 4500,00 (2nd to 9th grades) and R$
4000,00 (10th to 12th grades). Monthly fees: R$ 882,00 (pre-school),
R$ 1082,00 (kindergarten), R$ 1082,00 (1st to 3rd grades), R$ 982,00
( 4th to 9th grades ), R$ 1071 (10th to 12th grades).

St. Patrick's
Av. Ataulfo de Paiva, 1120 - Leblon
Tel: 274-0033 - http://www.st-patricks.com.br
Divided into an American and a Brazilian section, the school includes
nursery to 4th grade (American section) and nursery to high school
(Brazilian section). The American section has classes in English and
follows the American curriculum. Monthly fees for the next semester:
R$650,00 (nursery) and R$710,00 (kindergarten to 4th grade),
Matriculation fee: R$ 250,00.

The American School
Estrada da Gávea 132
Tel: (021) 493-4230 / 512-9830 / 259-1177 - http://www.earj.com.br
English speaking school founded In 1937 to serve U.S. citizens and
international families. Portuguese is taught as a foreign language.
Application fee: US$ 200,00. Matriculation fee: US$ 5.000,00. Monthly
fees: from R$ 1580,00 (early childhood education) to R$ 2068,00
(9th to 12th grade) Uses north-American calendar and curriculum

The British School
R. Real Grandeza, 87 - Botafogo - Tel.: 539-2845 -
http://www.britishschool.g12.br
Classes in English, using the Brazilian calendar but the British
curriculum. Monthly fees: Nursery R$ 758,00 (half period) or
R$1517,00 (full period), pre-school to 4th grade: R$1512,00 (full
period only), 5th to 3rd year of high school , R$1517,00 (full period
only).

Regards,

Boris

Boris,

Thanx for this valuable info. Now all I have to do is find my niche in Rio's Real Estate industry

I am a licensed mortgage broker in the states with alot of experience in making deals work.

Obrigado

Vinni

Vinni,

You are welcome.

Real Estate Market in Brazil doesn't operate on the same principles as in US. Mortgages are few and far between. On the other hand, you don't need a high income to afford high quality lifestyle in Brazil.
Say, 2K a month could give you an equivalent of a 10K lifestyle in New York. Most of the expats here start their own businesses (import/export, travel, English training, restaurants...) or work part-time (2 - 9 months per year) in the US in order to cover their
expenses here. There are also quite a few retired and independently wealthy guys. I guess a little creativity and enterprising spirit could get you a lot farther then trying to land a conventional job in
Rio. Still it may be possible. Check ww.jobserve.com,
www.monster.com and www.latpro.com for current openings.

Good luck,

Boris

Boris,

You mentioned earning $2000.00 a month is like $10000.00 a month in NYC.

Would you be talking reais or dollar figures?

Through interviewing Brazilians in Salvador and surrounding communities I figure cost of living expenses to be between $2500-3500 a month in reais to maintaine a lifestyle much like I have here in the U.S. This would be for a family of 3 (2 adults/1 child). No part of the $2500-3500 would be allocated to pay on a mortgage as my home in Salvador is already paid for. The $2500-3500 would be allocated for maid service, health insurance, auto insurance, homeowners, utility bills, cable bill, food, cell phone, gas for the car and private shool for my child.

Because I am slowly buying properties and renting them in Brazil I choose to stay stateside until I can gurantee at least $5000 reais a month in rents.

Do my cost of living expenses seem to be in line or am I estimating way to high?

Hi John,

What I actually meant was that US$2,000 in Rio would go as far if not farther then US$10,000 in New York.

Presently, US$2,000 would be somewhere around R$5,700 which is still plenty of money.

Salvador is actually is a lot less expensive then Rio de Janeiro (which incidentally is considered to be one of the most expensive cities in Brazil). Your Reals would go about twice as far in Bahia as they would in Rio.

In my experience some of the monthly expenses are as following:

Full time maid - R$400 (salary...)

Full medical coverage for three - R$250

Utility Bills ~ R$750 (lots of telephone calls, satellite TV, and high-speed internet access).

I´d say that your biggest expense would most likely be the private school.

Hi Vinni,

Long time no write

I would be very concerned about your daughter if should bring her to live in Rio... she might not want to go back

Abraço,
Boris

http://www.earj.com.br/