Brazil Tip # 1: Smartphones
Tip # 1: Feel free to bring your smartphone, but just be smart about it.
Wing here.
Right before I arrived in Brazil, my Portuguese teacher told me a horrifying story that had left me convinced that I should not bring my cell phone (or any precious belongings for that matter) to Brazil. She told me that there was once a passenger who was scrolling and playing on his cell phone on the bus in the middle of the day. When the bus stopped at a street light, the shiny cell phone caught the attention of a man loitering near the bus. What followed was that the man proceeded to pry open the window of the bus in order to grab the cellphone out of the hands of the passenger.
That story stuck with me for a long time and I ended up spending my first two months in Brazil using a 2013 Samsung S2 that I had resurrected, right before my trip, from the depths of my closet in my mom’s home in Toronto.
Although I was peace knowing that I would not shed a tear upon its loss, the cell phone itself was a disaster. The cell phone kept on freezing and the GPS function was horrible. It could never locate its location despite my efforts to stay still and it had horrible reception. It was so old that I could not install even the simplest applications on it.
It wasn’t until I was completely stranded in Botafogo, in the middle of the night, and with no money, that I realized I needed to use a phone that could support Uber or other apps that could keep me safe.
Yes, and now you might be thinking: Why were you out in the middle of the night with no money? Well, that’s the transportation system for you and will be a story for another time. But long story short, I decided to take the bus home right after my Bible study because the bus stopped right outside my house. However, due to the fact that it was a holiday weekend, the bus did not come despite an hour’s wait. Of course, if I knew that, I would not have taken the bus. By the time I decided to take the Metro, the Metro was closed on account of the holidays. As a result, I was stranded with only my crappy cellphone and a transit card. In the end, I was lucky enough to find a taxi driver that let me pay him after I got home. Talk about trust (and God’s grace!), right?
Anyways, luckily, I had also brought the smartphone I use in Canada with me and I have been using it here since.
Although my Portuguese teacher had the best intentions to warn me of what could potentially happen, I don’t know if I would give the same advice. Smartphones are indispensable in Rio de Janeiro. As the streets often wind here and there when you least expect it, you WILL need a phone and a strong GPS function to get you through.
Also! In Rio de Janeiro, buses do not display the name of the next stop and bus drivers are not accustomed to calling out the name of the stop. Therefore, a smartphone with a GPS function is a must for foreigners and tourists who wish to use Rio’s bus system.
Now, you might be thinking: What if my phone gets stolen? Isn’t Rio de Janeiro DANGEROUS?
Well, here’s the thing. Everybody, and I mean everybody, has a smartphone here in Rio. People walk up and down the streets with them in hand, often times not giving a care to their surroundings. In fact, when I arrived, most people had a cell phone that was even newer and more advanced than my Canadian smartphone. Even most favela residents have smartphones! It’s really not as developing a country as most people think.
See, someone playing on their phone!
However, with that said, thefts do happen. In fact, they happen a lot. It happens at parties, in heavily packed tourists attractions, at night, and sometimes, when you least expect it. However, it is safe to say that most of the thefts happen when you are visibly careless with your phone. If you leave your wallet or phone hanging out visibly in your pocket, you are marking yourself as an open target. However, if you are aware of your surroundings and of the belongings on your body, you will be just fine.
As such, don’t worry too much about looking at your phone in public. It’s really okay and actually, can be much needed sometimes!
