[babelfish669]

Once your 21, go to NYC. You need to be young and full of energy to experience this at its best. NYC did more for my game than anything else I did prior.

[Ringo]

Alright, guys. Reporting back.

I picked Montreal. It's a city I've always wanted to visit and it will allow me to improve my french (which I haven't practiced since I left high school). Mainly, it's about the experience of living abroad, being indepent and learning to live by myself. I plan on leaving by the end of April/first weeks of May, during spring. I'll be in time for the festivals and the summer.

I'm still deciding what to do though, so I'd love to hear your inputs.

I've got about 5300CDA saved, tickets excluded. Here's two ideas and average prices I've gathered from travel agencies and online real estate agencies:

OPTION 1
* 8 weeks in with 5h/day of french lessons (205CAD/week = 1640CAD)
* 8 weeks in a family house, with breakfast and dinner included. Lunch is on me. (189CAD/week = 1512CAD)
* + taxes and burocracy
=3332CAD
+ mandatory insurance for 8 weeks (307CAD)
+ visa (360CAD)
= 4000CDA
>>>>>>> Downsides:
- Cannot work legally under this visa
- Staying for 2 months and pretty much deploying all my funds
- Could also live in a student dorm. Will cost about the same, but without any meals included.



OPTION 2
*Go to Canada with a tourist visa, not applying for a language course.
*Live by myself in a studio. (about 800-950CAD/month)
*Try to work ilegally.
* Stay longer because I didn't spend a lot of money on a course.
* Perhaps hire private lessons or go to a language school to study less hours.
TOTAL = ???
>>>>>>> Downsides:
- Getting caught (possibly deported? Will check for more info)
- Picking up french slower, but probably being able to stay for longer because I'll have more cash.


Would you have any suggestions for me? I'd really appreciate any help, as I am (and I'm sure you noticed) very inexperienced in traveling and living abroad.

[rudebwoy]

Option 2 by a long shot.
The course seems too expensive and is not needed. You will be hearing the french language on a daily basis and perhaps you can hire a teacher at a fraction of that cost.
I will say the rent is also way to high, I believe you can get places in say Laval(outside MTL) for like $440CAD and that is for a house. Montreal is a fairly small city to get around which is one of the many great things about it.
I am sure you should be able to get a job under the table somewhere, maybe check some Brazilian restaurants etc.
I would not worry about getting deported, they have many people there in your situation.
When are you leaving?
I am in Toronto and hope to be there this summer.
BTW my friend at the gym is dating a girl who is renting a whole house in Laval with pool for $440 a month.

[Golden Boy]

I would live in Ibiza from April to September, and from October to March in Medellin. Read all the data sheets on these cities and you will see why.

[Hencredible Casanova]

I would choose Montreal (18 yr old drinking age) if you can stand the winter, Australia or Europe. As a Brazilian, you should do fine in those places. I think it's better to go to developed countries as a 20 yr old because in Latin America and Asia, I think older men have the advantage. It's common in developing countries for young women to be with men who are much older.

In the developed world, being young is golden. Europe is a lot fun at your age. Brazilian men tend to do well with German and Swiss women in particular, but you'll find young people all over Europe.

There's also Spain and Italy (Latin countries) which would be similar to Brazil in some respects. They love soccer over there and the languages would be easy for you to learn. Hard to beat that Mediterranean way of life as well.

You're in an awesome position.

[1bliss]

Montreal, NYC, Miami, Stockholm, Milan, Barcelona, Paris...

those are the cities that personally intrigue me the most. Hopefully I'll live in one of these someday (minus MTL and Stockholm, too cold in the winter, but good summers)

But since you're 20 and will be on a tight budget, I say look at Montreal. And maybe Miami, although nightlife is expensive there.

[garygroundwork]

(02-29-2012 01:24 AM)Golden Boy Wrote:  

I would live in Ibiza from April to September, and from October to March in Medellin. Read all the data sheets on these cities and you will see why.

chicks in Medellin like older guys...see them as more stable and established. Besides if your young and good looking u can still get hot women that have a cent to their name ....i would save medellin for later...

Ibiza...yes and yes. but living there shit...that could cause some serious damage

i don't know Montreal but from what i ahve heard it sounds like a good choice

[Jalouse]

You said that you're young and broke but then you say you have 5300 CAD saved, I would cancel this current plan which has you scraping by and looking for a shitty job and head to Asia instead. Your money will go a long way there and you can have a great extended holiday for 3 or 4 months instead.