Expat American engineer Hunter Hagewood lives in Brazil where he works for a major IT company, Nevoa Networks. But you won’t find him in Rio or São Paulo, but rather in a more unlikely place: Campina Grande, Paraíba, in the sertão (desert) region of the Northeast.

At only 33 years old, Hunter helps run a five year-old data software company, operated by Indians, French, Americans and Brazilians. The company aims to create software databases used in police investigations by organizations like Interpol.

Because of the presence of the company, Campina Grande has the highest proportion of Ph.Ds per inhabitant in all of Brazil: one for every 669 residents, which is five times higher than the national average. There are also other technology centers in Campina Grande, including the major electricity provider Light Infocon and the Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, one of the best public universities for information technology.

Hunter is happy with is choice of a home in Brazil. In his town, he has the chance to experience the “real” Brazil, learning how to dance forró and trying new food.