<p>My 19 year old daughter wants to study abroad in Brazil - a short summer session first then a a full academic year. It fits her major. Have any of you parents had kids who have studied abroad in Brazil? Is it a safe place for a young woman to study abroad? Thanks.</p>
<p>What is she doing in Brazil? </p>
<p>Will she be alone? Be with her program? Will she be backpacking? Sight seeing? It depend greatly on what she is doing there. </p>
<p>Another factor is where in Brazil she will be.</p>
<p>I used to have to travel in and out of Brazil while working in Mexico. I personally thought it was safer in Mexico. I worked with few people from Brazil, they also thought Mexico was safer. My colleague who was based in Brazil had a bulletproof car and his apartment in a beautiful area was broken into. It’s not uncommon to see fully armed security guards outside of restaurant/hotel/store. I wouldn’t have my girl do study abroad in Brazil because they wouldn’t have their own transportation and I wouldn’t want them to take any public transportation or taxi.</p>
<p>I say this in all seriousness, based on substantial family business experience in Brazil. If it were my daughter, I would have her do research into K&R coverage (kidnap and ransom) – what it would cost, what it would cover, how the carrier might help in an incident, and the relative likelihood of such incidents in different places around the world that she might go. It could be enlightening. A young American female, with the means to travel, and without the protection of a major employer with its drivers and security people, would have certain vulnerabilities there that she might not realize.</p>
<p>I would also have her do research to find other programs in places from which she could also benefit educationally, where young North American women would be safer, and where the police are basically on the up-and-up.</p>
<p>YMMV.</p>
<p>DH has gone on quite a few business trips to Brazil. I concur with the post above. Probably not a good idea for a young girl, but would depend on how the program operates as well as the location in Brazil.</p>
<p>Ugggh. This is what I was afraid of… not just unsafe, but dangerous. My DD is majoring in International Studies and she is in a Portuguese Flagship program at her U.S. University. That program requires a short term immersion study in Portuguese (doesn’t have to be in Brazil) , and year abroad at UNESP. I need to find out more on where they stay and how the program operates, but even so, I am not sure it will make a difference at this point. Based on the posts above, I don’t think it is wise at all to let her go…</p>
<p>She can still travel to Brazil, she just needs to be wise. When you find out more on where she is staying and how she will be traveling while in Brazil then make your decision if you will write off this trip. </p>
<p>It’s one thing to be with a program where the travel together and it’s another where the students are more independent. </p>
<p>Any country in South America could be considered “dangerous” yet people do not ease to travel to immerse themselves in the culture.</p>
<p>For women, are any of these places statistically more dangerous than the average American university campus? I seriously have my doubts. </p>
<p>Granted. I don’t know Brazil. (But I do know a good bit about most of East Africa, Honduras, Egypt, India, Jordan, Cambodia, Pakistan, etc. and I wouldn’t have any trouble with my daughters going to any of them - and my daughters have traveled, often alone, to a bunch of them.)</p>
<p>Not many American university campuses are unsafe enough to make kidnap and ransom insurance worth consideration.</p>
<p>I am looking at a similar situation with my son and I never knew to read about K&R insurance. It is very interesting reading.</p>
<p>In parts of Sao Paulo where some businessmen have to go (meaning not in just the middle of the flavelas) you can’t stop at the red lights or you will be assaulted. They speed through the intersections. Skilled drivers are hired for this purpose, and they carry big guns. That said, when I was in Rio I never felt unsafe. If your D is blonde and looks American, the risk is higher.</p>
<p>I used to go in and out of Sao Paulo. They never get stuck in the middle lane and leave enough space for quick get away. I used to text my driver 10 min before leaving any where so he could be by the door when I came out.</p>
<p>Another thing to be aware of is cost of living in Brazil is quite high, at least in Sao Paulo.</p>
<p>Safety in Brazil, as well as in many other places, is really very context-dependent. If if her housing and meals, etc. are arranged by her program and if she is accompanied well, she should be fine. I would be leery of a program that required students to find their own housing and arrange for their own meals. </p>
<p>I don’t think being blond is a risk factor. There are plenty of blond and European-looking Brazilians. Also, it’s been a long time since Americans were assumed automatically to be rich.</p>
<p>Would she actually be in Sao Paulo (city) or at another UNESP campus somewhere in Sao Paulo state?</p>
<p>I am going to call the college representative for the program on Monday and find out more detail. I believe she would be in Sao Paulo for one part of it and Rio de Janerio for another segment. She is blonde, long hair almost to the waist, and has done some commercial work (very photogenic).</p>
<p>How come they get to host a World Cup and an Olympic Games?</p>
<p>I am traveling to Sao Paolo in a few weeks for work (my third trip). I have my client arrange drivers, and I don’t take any transportation other than something arranged for me by client or hotel. I felt ok in the shopping and tourist areas, though.</p>
<p>We recently had family friends from Brazil. They travel to the US to buy goods because of the expense of things in Brazil (prices are about 4 times as high in Brazil). There main concern was crooked customs agents on their return. What others have said about transportation (taxis, buses, guns) is all true.</p>
<p>OP, </p>
<p>It seems that your daughter does not have a choice outside Brazil, according to the UGA site. I am interested in what you decide, as my own daughter will have to make decision soon, though not on the UG level.</p>
<p>I will say this, though, she studies with and knows several Brazilians, and they think she would be better off in Portugal.</p>
<p>“Not many American university campuses are unsafe enough to make kidnap and ransom insurance worth consideration.”</p>
<p>How about rape and sexual assault insurance?</p>
<p>We’ve had friends with daughters who have spent a year abroad in Brazil, and in various parts of the country. Not a single one has run into a problem. I can’t say the same for American university campuses.</p>
<p>Sorry, mini. Lots of people never run into problems simply because there are lots of people. It’s all in the statistics–I wouldn’t want my D to be a statistic. In this case the precautions one should take to NOT run into problems are greater than the normal “be safe” stuff. Especially for someone young and inexperienced who is a greater target.</p>