Expat friends

As an ex-Hong Konger this is one of my favourite blogs to follow but I felt this was apt to share in the light of "networking" here in São Paulo. Don't get sucked in to hanging out with people you would never hang out with in another life time. Everyone will be much happier!*

This cantomeme is titled "When another expat wants to be friends just because"... p.s. i'm more likely to fall in the category of Guy no. 1, I like to try and make friends with everyone I meet but not just because their expats!

Brazil: Incubators vs Accelerators?

Are you an entrepreneur? What is an accelerator? Are you about to quit your job and start your own business? Be inspired!

GIRLS ON IT presents

Fireside Chat with Luisa Ribeiro, Managing Partner at Papaya Ventures. 

We will be discussing:

• Women and entrepreneurship
• Understanding the differences between incubators vs. accelerators
• Her thoughts on the current state of the Brazilian startup eco-system
• What are some of the key industries to start businesses

...among other topics.

Luisa is one of the top leaders in accelerators here in Brazil. She has been recognized as one of the 2013 Young Global Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum and Rising Talent, and will bring a wealth of information in her "fireside chat" with Robyn Cohen. Robyn is a true entrepreneur bringing to the forefront Women in Business and Entrepreneurship from all over the world through her platform, GirlsonIt.com

SP NIght Market - Anniversary Edition: Free Entry!

If you haven't had a chance to check out one of the SP Night Markets, this is your chance! They are celebrating their first birthday and giving free entry to everyone! It's on Saturday 21st September from 12 - 9pm at Escola São Paulo, Rua Augusta 2239. You will be able to try some of my cupcakes of course!

There are also going to be lectures, live music, thai food... the theme of this edition is LOVE SP!

INC Dicas Launch Party "São Paulo Comes Alive"

The International Newcomer's Club was one of the first groups I joined, it is where I met some of my closest friends here in São Paulo and I feel very indebted to the ladies who vounteer their time to run this club. It is specifically for people who have just arrived in town and are looking to meet people, find out information and the one awesome thing you can buy is their "Dicas" / tips book. It has listed anything and everything you could possibly needs from dentists to schools, to restaurants and plumbers. Each company or service must be recommended by 2 different members to be included in the Dicas book.

Next Saturday they are having a party to launch the release of the next edition of the Dicas. See information below.

Dicas Launch Party

"São Paulo Comes Alive!"

On Saturday, September 14th, INC will celebrate the launch of the 11th edition of the Dicas city guide to São Paulo. Copies of the Dicas are spread throughout the city by our members, (relocation) companies and (international) schools. Congratulations in becoming an essential part of this handbook for newcomers to São Paulo and having your company or service recommended by one or more of our members! If you are curious to see the book, interested to buy it, or you'd like to join the party - send us an email!

We invite all newcomers, expats and others to join us at this party for a fun evening filled with food, drinks and caipirinhas, DJ performances, live music and décor… as if you are in the streets of São Paulo! And have a chance to win great prizes in the Charity Raffle while supporting the children at Vila Acalanto Orphanage.

Tickets can be bought via dicaslaunchparty@newcomers-sp.com.br.

When: Saturday, 14th of September, 20h00

Where: Esporte Clube Sírio, Av. Indianópolis 1192, Moema

Tickets: R$150
For more information: www.newcomers-sp.com.br

SP Lovers ❤

At our last Gringoes.com networking event I met a whole bunch of new people (new to me). Some had lived here for over 10 years, others barely 10 days and not all of them were "SP Lovers" but there were a few and I love when I make that connect. One of the newly arrived stood between two "SP Lovers", and he said at the end of our conversation* that he was so excited to meet us because he was already an "SP Lover" but had only met a handful of "SP Haters" so far. I know, I know, I'm being a little divisive and that really everyone exists on a spectrum here.. some days are great in this city, some are not so great. I'm a 99.9% SP Lover.

So most of you living in the city will be have discovered the 99Taxis app. It's available on your smartphone and you don't have to talk to anyone to get a taxi. It sends a message to taxistas in the area, and one of them will accept your request and you can follow their route until they arrive. It's the most popular as it's free for taxistas as well so all of them are on it, and you have get a much faster response. I imagine it will be one of the most popular apps for "no-speak-português tourists during the World Cup. Another one of my favourites, especially when my Portuguese was not so great on the phone, is Rádio Táxi Vermelho e Branco where you can actually type in your reservation online (Faça sua reseva). I'm using it right now to book a taxi for tomorrow morning!!

BTW, put Saturday 21st September in your diary. SP Lovers will be celebrating the first anniversary of SP Night Market at Escola São Paulo and showcasing some of the favourite and best in this city! (and it's going to be FREE entry!)

*We were talking about how much we love to use the metro here, seriously! I like taxi's and the metro - whatever is going to get me somewhere fastest!! 

Perspective = Happiness + Gratefulness

A friend sent this "Happiness" talk as I'm an avid TED viewer and I think it's a lovely talk for putting "happiness" in perspective. I write this sitting in hospital with my 1.5 year old who had surgery yesterday. She had a splinter in her finger which got infected, and as we were getting read to come to the hospital yesterday morning split a cup of hot coffee on her foot. Thankfully that was just secondary but since we had a plastic surgeon (everyone has to have one here in Brazil) he multi-tasked while she went under. We are here for a week (I joke about Brazilians being excessive in everything, including medication but when it comes to your own child it's hard to argue) while she goes through her course of antibiotics.

With perspective I'm also very grateful. I have good friends here in Sao Paulo; who are bringing me lunch and wine!;  I have a fantastic empregada who is packing and cooking for the week and helping my husband look after my other daughter; the Brazilian doctors are over-cautious and protective but when it comes to my child I'm not complaining either!

I have to say the one thing I was happy for was the level of my portuguese. Being able to communicate with the doctors, nurses and know what exactly was going on gave me some peace of mind. I didn't have to rely on calling a Brazilian friend (which I would've had to do in my first year here in Brazil). If you need any motivation to learn Portuguese, this is it!!

That's her finger wrapped in bottom corner

Having a few beers with Gringoes.com in Sao Paulo

If you moved to Brazil 3 years ago, or even 10 years ago or just started to be a "ƒã" of the idea of moving to this country, Gringoes.com would've been the first site to check out. We used it extensively to find out information about moving here, visas, tips etc as most of the contributors on the discussion board were old timers and super helpful. In 2013, there are so many companies and blogs that provide similar services but we (SP Night Market) wanted to pay homage to the first of them all! Next Wednesday Gringoes.com will be having a few beers at Cervejaria Nacional, a time to meet new friends, put faces to familiar names and share experiences about Brazil, which the majority of now call home!

THE official HAPPY HOUR with Gringoes.com!

Wednesday 21st August, 19h
R10 RSVP/ R20 Door 
*includes 'welcome' beer courtesy of Cervejaria Nacional
Sign up on FB event page or email rsvp@spnightmarket.com.

Gringoes.com is Brazil‘s longest running portal for the foreign community, set up back in January 2000.

Traveling to, or living in, a new country can be a big challenge. What you’ll need most is reliable information, and in Brazil’s case, lots of it.

Gringoes.com was created to provide a one-stop source of information for foreigners in Brazil. Through our very active Discussion Forums you can exchange tips, share gripes, find friends and hopefully make your time in Brazil more pleasurable.

We have devoted a lot of time and effort to the site, so we hope you enjoy it and keep coming back. Above all, we hope you make the most of your time in Brazil.