What do expats find most challenging?

We asked expats and digital nomads what they find the most challenging about the local culture in Rio de Janeiro. They wrote...

"It was so true when I read in other posts that people are suspicious, closed and indifferent to new people. Very cliquey, but luckily I have managed to avoid most of that by having made friends here before I came. And that led to making new friends. Even so, 'friends' can be irritatingly flaky when it comes to arriving at a set time, or even keeping commitments. Lacking conversational Portuguese is a real problem, but the friends I have all speak English so it's generally a 70% Portuguese/30% English mix in a social setting with their other friends," explained one expat living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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"Expats in Rio de Janeiro often find the local culture to be quite different from what they are used to. The language barrier can be a challenge, as Portuguese is the primary language spoken in the city. Additionally, the city's high crime rate can be intimidating for newcomers. The city's hot and humid climate can also be difficult to adjust to. Furthermore, the city's traffic can be overwhelming, as it is often congested and chaotic. Finally, the city's culture of informality can be difficult to navigate, as it is often seen as disrespectful to be too formal," said another expat in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

What do expats find most challenging?

If you live in Rio de Janeiro, newcomers to Rio de Janeiro would love to hear your answer to this question.