The violence in Brazil undermines the experience of being a nomad
In Brazil, being a nomad is only possible with restrictions
Brazil is an insecure country. In March, I lived in Budapest, which is one of the poorest countries in Europe, and I was amazed at how it felt like being on another planet. ATMs functioning 24 hours on the street (and people withdrawing money!), young people walking around with their cellphones in hand at any time of the day. The fear of being robbed is a non-issue.
Back in Brazil, I witnessed a robbery at 8 pm on a Tuesday, just a block from Avenida Paulista in São Paulo. There is no peace, not even on the most famous avenue in Brazil. The region around my former house in downtown São Paulo is dominated by bike gangs who take cell phones as if they were taking candy from children.
We can blame the victims for walking around with their exposed cell phones. But coming back from a concert, the glass of the Uber I was in was suddenly shattered, and his cell phone was stolen. The daring driver tried to chase the thief as if we were in a GTA game, but in vain. We survived, thanks.
I am currently in Porto Alegre, where I have always felt safe. Again, at 8 pm, this time on a Thursday, I witnessed another robbery on the busiest street in the neighborhood I'm staying in, the most bohemian area of the city. There is no peace in Brazil.
Being a nomad means having the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want. In Brazil, we don't have that freedom. Once it gets dark, it's better to take an Uber, no matter the time. Especially if you're alone. In Brazil, being a nomad is only possible with restrictions.
"But Mateus, you only choose big cities, which are naturally more dangerous."
My sister lives on the main avenue in Bauru, a city with 400,000 inhabitants in São Paulo. She can't go to the bars less than a kilometer from her house when it gets dark.
Small cities, and I can talk about Avaré, my hometown with 90,000 inhabitants, are generally safer. But there's almost nothing to do.
I'm not being naive to think that there is no violence in Hungary. But it's noticeable how it's on a much lower level. No government in Brazil can improve the situation, whether right-wing, centrist, or left-wing. In fact, it only gets worse year after year.
It's a chronic problem of a nation plagued by brutal inequality. I don't understand why this issue is not a priority in elections. It's hardly discussed in debates. And when it is mentioned, it's superficially.
And this really discourages me. I love Brazil, there is so much of the country to explore, but, at this pace, I will try to spend more time in my nomadic life abroad.
I sincerely would prefer to spend more time in Brazil. Living abroad is often romanticized, but being in a different temperature with other cuisine, language, and culture is always challenging. Especially if you're alone. Besides, spending dollars, euros, or pounds is more expensive.
However, true nomadism is only possible outside of Brazil.
Oh, yeah! We totally agree. We don’t had have an experience abroad yet like a nomadic, but we are conscious that we automatically think in safe always that we are going outside our house, even if it is a simple walk. It’s sucks and we stay sick with ours governments.