Hello there. I’m Roger Barlow, a translator originally from Stafford, UK. I’m also a partner at LATAM Translations, based in the sleepy town of Bragança Paulista, Brazil.
I left the UK in 1998, fresh out of a degree in Maths and Stats, intending to spend a year in Brazil. Like so many expats here, that one year somehow became 27, with no immediate plans to leave.
Spending so long in Brazil has given me the language, insight and (eventual) patience to write Brazil Isn’t for Beginners: A Memoir and Survival Guide. The book is a wry, boots-on-the-ground account of expat life here — equal parts cultural commentary, cautionary tale and love letter. Out soon.
My daily routine shifts with the seasons: my busy period runs from February to mid-August during which I’m chained to my desk from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. — hardly blog-worthy. So, here’s a peek at a typical day in my lighter season, from September to January, when I essentially work part-time and have something resembling a life.
7:15 a.m.
Time to get up. I check out the morning’s news for ten minutes, then have my regular breakfast of overnight oats and blueberries, washed down with a cup of tea.
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Three mornings a week, I hit the gym before work, with religious discipline. I rarely miss it. Even when facing the tightest deadlines, I try to squeeze my workout in. If I didn’t treat this hour as non-negotiable, I’d never see the inside of a gym during the busy season.
9 a.m. to 12:30
I walk from the gym to my office, and jump straight in the shower, as I’m usually soaked in sweat. Then it’s emails and a check-in with our project manager Gabriel, while I brew a litre of green tea. (Yes, a litre.)
If work is slow, I’ll check my socials and work on my upcoming book. My mornings often involve tweaking chapters as new memories surface, brainstorming promotion ideas and banging my head against the desk as I try to learn how to use TikTok and Canva.
Lunch
Most days I eat at home — usually the classic Brazilian combo of rice and beans, plus salad and veg. Then it’s time for a 45-minute siesta. When I first arrived, I assumed it was part of the culture, so I decided to adopt it and haven’t looked back since.
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Back to the office for an espresso and some actual remunerated work. These days I mostly translate sustainability reports and financial statements/earnings releases. An apple around 4 p.m. keeps me going until dinner.
Evenings
Twice a week, I head over to the gated-community where my future home is being built. A walk in the woods ensues, followed by a relaxing session in the steam sauna. Nobody ever uses it, and it’s become my unofficial sanctuary over the years. Depending on my mood, I’ll opt for a eucalyptus, peppermint or cedar oil infusion, before taking a dip in the outdoor pool. It’s particularly invigorating in winter, when the temperature drops below 10°C.
Back home, it’s dinner with my wife Fernanda and stepdaughter Júlia. Júlia and I usually watch an episode of Seinfeld, and then maybe something with Fernanda. I wrap up the day with a couple of chapters of a nonfiction book before bed.
Links
That Translation Blog 
That sounds like a fairly idyllic and well organised life to me. Especially on a frosty UK morning!
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