Brazilian Life - The ups and downs of relocating to Brazil Monday 19 October Brazil is not the fastest at getting things done… and some cities and states drag their heels more than others – if indeed they get round to it at all. Since arriving we´ve heard many a rumour of government funds destined for road expansion schemes or new schools simply vanishing before the projects even get started. Thankfully this habit seems to have by-passed Paraíba, or Joao Pessoa at least. My native UK could learn a thing or two from this laid-back North Eastern city that just seems to quietly get on with it. Here, it seems that the diggers are working furiously almost before the rumour mill has caught wind of a new scheme. There has been talk of city-wide free broadband wi-fi coverage since a similar scheme was introduced in the Copacabana area in Rio de Janeiro last June. On Thursday it was officially announced that several million Reais of state funding has been approved for the “Cidade Digital” (Digital City) project, which will start next month. This is great news for the city for several reasons. First off, it will give an undoubted push to Joao Pessoa´s expanding business economy. Secondly, it is an acknowledgement of the fact that personal wealth is rising and a significant share of the population now owns or has access to computer technology. And thirdly it will be welcomed with relief by the next batch of newly-arrived expats whose service provider forgets to connect them up to phone and internet for 4 months and leaves them wandering the streets with their laptop under their shirt, furtively searching for a hot spot so they can skype home and let their loved ones know that all is well and they´re not really missing in action. Like this post? Click here to read more blog entries

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