Expat Group in BH?

Hi Maxine,

I have been here for 3 months and I have also been looking for some expat groups in Belo Horizonte. I found one called the gringoes. They meet once a month. Check this website:

gringoes.com/forum

If you would like to meet before I would be happy to meet you. I am an expat form Switzerland (female) and I lived in the US for 2 years.

Cheers,

The Belo Horizone expat network might also help

hi Mcclelm,
I am from California. I am living in  Belo Horizonte since March and haven't found any Expat group. I am very interested in forming a group.Please let me know....when and what day is  good for you.
Cheers!!!!
Poonam

My wife and I are moving to Belo Horizonte by the end of the year. Would love to meet other expats. We are moving from Atlanta.

Hi David,
We moved from California in March.I don't want to discourage u but Belo is not very expat friendly city..... locals are very friendly people.I found a book club which is held once a month and i really look forward to our meeting.Emily is a organizer and here is her e-mail. e_tyson@hotmail.com
Good luck....hope to see u in Jan.@ the book club.Let me know if u need any help when u get here because i speak Portugees.

Hi everyone,

I am a Brazilian expat living in the US but moving back to Brazil by mid-January. I know I will be forfeiting my expat status but would love to stay in touch with expats living in BH to practice English and Spanish and would absolutely love to hear about everyone's experiences in my hometown or abroad. I am sure it has greatly changed since I last lived there and it would be refreshing to get the perspective of you all.

If the group still meets as a book club or just as a gathering, if I may, I would love to join you. Please let me know. I arrive in BH on the 20th.

Thank you!

You guys should check out couchsurfing.com  Their website is pretty self explanatory.  Some people sign up just to offer their hospitality or tour of the city, others offer a place to stay. I have been attending their weekly meetings and hopefully sometime in the future i will be able to contribute more.  I am originally from Pennsylvania and moved here in Late november.  If anyone has any questions please hit me up on msn messenger at clintp7@hotmail.com

Clinton

Hi Maxine.  I feel your pain.  I spent almost a year in BH desperately searching for an American.  I am in New Orleans, but will be going back to BH in late Feb/early March.  I live in Lourdes, 3 blocks from the Diamond Mall. 

Try gringoes.com  Click the FORUM tab, "Meeting Up" (13th topic), then "Belo Horizonte" (1st topic).   Choose the "Newest Post First" option.  Register so you can post on the site.  It is run by a German guy named Voelker aka Mineiro Alemao, married to a Brazilian woman.  He's a sweetheart.  They meet as a group that meets monthly for drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

There's also a monthly Book Club that meets in alternating apartments. Although it is not associated with the Gringoes.com group, the date and time is sent to Voelker and he posts it in the forum.  When I went it was all women.  Anyone is welcome.  The January one was on the 25th, so check the site for the February.

+1
I am Indian working here with Google. I have friends in and out of Google. But its always nice to meet more people. I am living here for almost 6 months and speak "really bad" portuguese.

Hi every body,
I am a fan of Brazil and think about coming back in the area,my plan is to visit BH first. I know no body over there but I think we will meet when I come. My portuguese is still poor, but I can find my way out. I will be in BH after June 20,2010 and need your help to know the area. Thanks for your time and God bless.

Hey There,

  Well allow me to introduce myself, I'm Ray from North Carolina, I have been living in Brazil since 2004,  deep country living in M.G. and Now been living in Belo Horizonte for 2 years now.

I would be intrested  in  meeting, as I am married to a Brazilian  women , and I sure do miss having someone that I could speak my native langauge with at times. Feel free to call some time. I live in Bairro: Jaqueline  my number is 31-8327-4909

Ray.

Hi Ray,

Thanks very much for your email.  I think I solved my connection problem here in BH... I founded Minas International a not for profit group connecting English speakers living, working or doing business in Minas Gerais through business networking/education, social engagement and MinasCare our Sustainable Community Development program.  It has been overwhelming the response we've received.  Our next event will be on 29 June and will feature a prominent environmentalist Douglas Trent.  You can check out the details on the website minasinternational.com

Hope to see you at the event!

Maxine

Hi everyone.
Im brazilian, and I lived most of my life in Boston MA, but now I live in BH, its been 3 years and 5 months im back. If any american needs help in anything, and if I can help, just message me, and I'll try to help. I know how hard is to live in a diferent country and all that.

Count me in
maiconblue at hotmail dot com
21y.

If a group gets together I would be interested in joining. Originally from Toronto, Canada and living in Belo Horizonte.

Wow I didn't realise that BH had so many expats.

I have been here for almsot 4 years now nad we seem to have our own expat community within the larger group or so it seems.

Anyway would be great to to get to knwo more of the other expats around do give a hoy ..

Hi Maxine,

This must be an old post, as you are connected now!

Cheers, Douglas

I am coming to BH in November 26 I am staying with a friend but that is still not for certain. I plan to be in Brazil for 3 months. I am flying in to Rio and also have to fly out from there. Would like to meet anyone I live in Las Vegas and have a four bedroom house. I am by myself so I have three extra bedroom. I do not speak Portuguese thank for anyone response. Gary

Good morning Vegas12

Maybe the Belo Horizonte expat network could help out!

Thanks,

Francesca

I'm from Toronto and have been in BH since December.  I'm trying to get a sense of demographics how big the english speaking expat community is in BH.  As per my demographics - 34 year old male Canadian.

I see the occasional gringo looking person in "Beaga", but very few and very far between.  Sometimes I feel I am one of only a small few in BH.

I was in Belo Horizonte for about three months till February 17 2013. I went back to the US. I only found six people who spoke English. The first was a 12 year old he was the son of my wife sister. He is still learning but could interpret for me but limited. The other was the daughter of a friend of my Brother in law. She was 16 and told me she was mostly self taught. The other was my wife's English teacher her husband and two sons. I saw people look at me like I was from another planet when I spoke English. I found that Rio de Janeiro had the most people who could speak English. They even had menus that were in English in the restaurants. I know there is a push for Brazil to teach English getting ready for the World Cup and Olympics. I did not venture in to Belo Horizonte Central only to the Bus Station. If you stay out in the smaller Barrio like me. I think it will be hard to find someone who speaks English. It seems that Belo Horizonte is not tourist ready. They will have to get up to speed. They just built a brand new Soccer Stadium right near Pampulha. They will use this for the regional that qualify the teams for the World Cup and Olympics. This is where I was staying. I will be back again this year.

Hi Vegas12,

I don't know if you're a church goer or not, but when you get back to Belo Horizonte you might really want to try attending the English language services at Igreja Batista de Lagoinha, if things haven't changed since I lived in BH they are held on Sunday at 2pm in the smaller church building across the street from the main church. You'll meet lots of English speakers there I'm sure if they still have the English service.

Check their website for contact information and phone to find out if they still have their English service:

http://www.lagoinha.com/

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog Team