Interns’

Reception Booklet

WELCOME TO RIO

summary

About AIESEC Rio ……………………………About Rio ……………………………………•Rio Today •……………………………………•Money ………………………………………••Telephone tips ………………………………••Transportation ………………………………••Safety ………………………………………••Arriving in Rio ………………………………••Rio Experience Checklist ………………………

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About AIESEC Rio• Since 1970• 60 members• 7 functional areas• 192 Exchanges/year (2013)• 60 leadership opportunities

(2013)• Located in the Federal

University of Rio de Janeiro

• Send you the reception booklet (check!);• Help you find accommodation;• Assign a buddy to you;• Pick you up upon your arrival;• Help you with any visa issues;• Take you to work on your first working day;• Show you around in the first days;• Introduce you to other members and interns; • Expectations alignment and preparation;• Constant communication.

What you can expect from us

• Read our reception booklet;• Send us a copy of your travel tickets and health insurance as soon as you have them; • Fill out the Wish List;• Keep clear and open communication – meet our expectations and help us meet yours by talking to us about your needs beforehand;• Answer to our e-mails on time;• Attend all physical and online meetings necessary;• Fill out the evaluation forms; • Be patient, positive and resilient, we will do our best to help you.

What we expect from you

About Rio

Nickname: Cidade Maravilhosa (Wonderful City)Population: 6.3 million people

Language: Portuguese

Demonym: Carioca

Weather: Tropical – average temperatures

from 18˚C to 34˚C

Rio de Janeiro is a main cultural hub in Brazil and is considered one of the friendliest city in the world. The inhabitants, who are known as cariocas, are known mainly for being fun and laid-back. Cariocas are usually polite with strangers and they are recognized for their receptiveness of foreign people. They usually hug each other and keep a lot of body contact, two kisses on the cheeks is a normal greeting in informal situations.

Rio de Janeiro is quite a cosmopolitan city, with a sophisticated urban lifestyle and many natural landscape. It is home of many different religious beliefs and ethnic backgrounds and, in 2012, the city received the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rio today

The currency in Brazil is the Real (R$). We suggest you to bring U.S. dollars or traveler’s checks, most establishments accept credit cards, but not all of them. VISA is the most popular credit card and it can be used in most major banks.

MoneySome products’ average prices: • Meals – A regular lunch costs you around R$ 15,00. • Beer in a Supermarket – R$ 2,80 • Beer in a Nightclub - around R$ 6,00 (300ml) • Water – R$ 2,50 • Soda – R$ 3,00 • Big Mac + fries + soda – R$18,50 • Pizza – from R$ 20,00 to R$ 50,00 • Bus Ticket – R$ 3,00 • Subway ticket – R$ 3,50 • Laundry – R$ 20,00 (washing and drying) • Pack of cigarettes – R$ 6,00 • Hair Cut – from R$ 15,00 to R$ 40,00

In Brazil, phone cards are needed to make calls from public telephones. In case of need, you can dial 9090 before the 8 digit telephone number (9 digit cellphone number) so that the receiver accepts paying for the call.

To call a telephone number in Rio from abroad, dial: + 55 21 (+8 digit telephone number/9 digit cellphone number) To call Rio from any other city of Brazil:0 + operator code* + 21 (+ 8 digit telephone number/9 digit cellphone number) *Operator code, choose: 15, 21 or 31.

You can use your mobile phone here, but it is cheaper to bring your phone and buy the prepaid SIM card in Rio. The SIM card costs about R$ 15 plus the prepaid credit (e.g. R$15) you want to buy. A local call costs about R$ 1,45 per minute.

Telephone tips

On Two WheelsThere are bicycle lanes connecting all Southern neighborhoods, from Leblon to Leme and beyond. Go across the tunnel connecting you to Botafogo and reach the Flamengo Reclaim, one of the biggest urban parks in the world. Nowadays, the city offers a cheap access to governmental bikes around the city. You only need to pay R$10,00 to have the service (connected to your mobile) for one month: www.mobilicidade.com.br/bikerio

Transportation

BusesThey’re Rio’s most popular mean of transportation. A ride on a circular line bus costs R$3,00. There are bus lines connecting the whole city, and unlike other places, you do not need exact change. There is a professional sitting behind a turnstile to collect your money and give you change – if not, you should pay to the driver. Keep in mind that usually on rush hours buses are crowded. There are no monthly passes or students discounts, only a pre-paid chargeable card called RioCard. You can find out which bus to take at www.vadeonibus.com.br

Rio’s subway is still relatively small, but it is safe, comfortable and reliable. One advice is to avoid it from 7am to 9am and from 5pm to 7pm, because it gets really crowded. Cars stop running at 12 am (11pm on weekends). One-way tickets cost R$3,50.

Subway

Yellow TaxisYou don’t have to go far to find a taxi in Rio - they are everywhere. And hard to miss, too - all taxis are bright yellow with a blue stripe on the sides. All taxis run by the meter. Fares are more expensive at night or on weekends. You do not need to give tips. A word to the wise: do not make pre-paid deals with yellow taxis. They are illegal, and probably mean the driver is trying to take advantage of you. Use www.precodotaxi/rio-de-janeiro/ to calculate approximate fares.

While Rio de Janeiro may not be safe as Copenhagen or post-Giuliani Manhattan, its reputation as violent became slightly unfair. Most areas of interest to visitors are located either on the South Side, or the historical strip from Flamengo to Downtown. You will feel safe at most of these areas, and if you follow a few common sense rules, you should stay out of trouble. The city is doing a serious effort to deal with the safety issue, and results are starting to show. One thing to keep in mind is that Rio is a city of social contrasts. This doesn’t mean you have to be paranoid, just learn how locals deal with their personal safety and be careful.

Safety

Maybe your first view of Rio will be a bit disappointing. It’s common to see many poor communities known as favelas (slums) in the city’s scenario,, where housing is not regulated, as a result of the enormous social disparity. In spite of the negative outside impression and the reputation built by the media, they present great cultural diversity and have a significant economical relevance. A few years ago, many favelas have been through a process of “pacification” by the police and drug traffic has been mostly eradicated there, which has made it a lot easier to walk around those. Not all favelas can be visited with such ease, unfortunately. Therefore, before you go to one, ask an AIESECer if it’s safe.

Favelas

• Do not bother bringing flashy jewelry, gold, or platinum watches.

• Carry along a photocopy of your passport, in case you are asked to show some ID.

•  Do not take along more cash than you need. Most restaurants and stores take cards.

•  Avoid dark or isolated areas where you don’t see a single soul at night.

• Walk with a sense of purpose; keep in mind where you are going to.

•  Don’t walk around with your camcorder or your camera swinging from your wrist.

• If you bring along very expensive items, consider an insurance.

•  At the beach, do not leave your camera, passport or cash laying around on the sand unattended. Do not hide your money in the sneakers either.

Basic guidelines we try to follow ourselves

• If you take a bus, keep the exact change in hand, so you don’t have to mess with your wallet (keep it in your front pocket, always).

•  Do not leave your drink unattended at bars or discos. •  If the worst happens and you are approached by a

criminal, try to keep calm. Don’t fight. They could react violently, and you certainly have more to lose than they do.

•  Most of police officers in the street do not speak other languages. If you need to report something, go to the tourist police (DEAT). Their office is conveniently located in Leblon - Av. Afranio de Melo Franco, 159 (Across from nightclub Scala). Phone: (21) 2332-2924.

Basic guidelines we try to follow ourselves

Your plane will land at Galeão International Airport (GIG), in the Governor’s Island (Ilha do Governador). You are about 25 minutes away from the downtown, if traffic is good.

Customs officers usually give foreign visitors a break. However, they have all legal rights to search your luggage. You will gain more by cooperating than by acting insulted. If it happens to you, be helpful, friendly and firm.

You will need to give a local’s information at immigration. Follow the project team’s intructions that’ll be sent by e-mail.

Arriving in Rio

Airport pick-upSince going to the International Airport (GIG) is really expensive and we can’t go so many times in a row to pick up all interns, we are going to pick you up at Airport Santos Dumont (SDU). Right outside the airport, you will find a bus stop that shows the buses numbers. You should take bus 2101, 2145 (both R$12,00) or 2018 (R$13,50). The buses are blue, safe, comfortable, only have one door and they run from 5:30am to 12am. The company’s name is Real and you can put your luggage in the bus compartment. In case of doubts, ask anyone that works in the airport and they’ll be able to help. We are going to meet you at SantosDumont Airport, right where the bus will stop.

Important: remember you must have the money in Brazilian currency from the moment you exit the airport – at leastenough for the bus and eventual emergencies..

Rio Experience ChecklistChurrasco - BarbecueRodizio de carnes – All you can eat meatRodizio de pizzas - All you can eat pizzaFeijoada completa - Baked beans with porkGoiaba - GuavaTangerina - TangerineAbacaxi - PineappleManga - MangoAcai – Amazonian fruitPacoca – made of peanutsPé de moleque – made of peanutsPipoca docce – Sweet popcornAmendoim caramelizado – Caramel peanutsCocada – made of coconutBrigadeiro – made of chocolate

Caipirinha – Alcoholic fruity drinkGuaraná natural – Amazonian fruitCachaca – Alcoholic beverageChá mate – Yerba teaÁgua de coco – Coconut water

Food Drinks

Places to go in Rio• Cristo Redentor – Christ Redeemer

(www.tremdocorcovado.com.br)• Pão de Acucar – Sugar Loaf

(www.bondinho.com.br)• Beaches (Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon,

Barra...)• Centro do Rio – Downtown, historical buidings

and museums• Feira de São Cristovão - São Cristovão fair,

center of Brazilian northern culture• Ensaio de Escola de Samba - Samba School

rehearsal • Lapa – Bohemian neighborhood where all kinds

of people meet• Santa Teresa – Old, charming and artistic

neighborhood • Jardim Botanico – Botanical Garden• Floresta da Tijuca – Tijuca Forest

Close cities to visit• Niterói (40 minutes)• Petrópolis (1 hour)• Teresópolis (1 hour)• Saquarema (2 hours)• Cabo Frio (2,5 hours)• Buzios (3 hours)• Angra dos Reis (3 hours)• Paraty (4 hours)• Ilha Grande (4 hours:

bus+boat)• São Paulo (6 hours)• Vitória (7 hours)

AIESEC Rio de JaneiroAv. Pasteur 250 – FACC, sala

217, UrcaRio de Janeiro – RJ / Brazil

Phone: +55 21 3241 1822

aiesec.org.br/rio-de-janeiro

See you soon!