Safety in São Paulo?
14 April 2011
Do expats feel safe in São Paulo?! I've been reading horror stories in my guidebook!
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Hi there.
Yes, yes, São Paulo is famous for being dangerous: guidebooks and locals alike will warn time and again.
However, it IS a megalopolis and as such, I think safety simply requires a bit of street smarts and common sense. I know where I’m headed beforehand and walk with purpose, I watch my belongings and surroundings, and I don’t wear flashy clothes or accessories (I try not to leave the house with anything I can’t afford to lose!).
I don’t own a car which not only saves me from hassle but, I believe, makes me less of a target.
An interesting observation, though: in Brazil I am more cognizant of avoiding robberies, whereas in Chicago -- where I went to school -- I was more alert to the dangers of rape. Don't know if any other expats feel the same, but for some reason, I feel like crime in São Paulo will always be directed at my possessions, and not my person.
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