One difficulty is that English is less than helpful; French is the most useful foreign language, and it isn't so useful either. Portuguese is really the only thing that you can use to be understood, with a few exceptions at some (not all) restaurants. Pick up a Portuguese phrasebook before arriving; you won't find one for sale here. You can, however, get lessons if you are going to be here for a time - Check with Portuguese Cooperation, who, unsurprisingly, have a rather large presence.
The international community is, not surprisingly, primarily Lusophone, with Spaniards and French pulling in at second and third it would seem. Along with the UN integrated mission, the EU - particularly Portugal - is rather visible, along with the embassies of Brazil and Angola. Although not really present on the social scene, China is a big player, having built the new Parliament and stadium and currently building the new government building on the way to the airport (the style of all three is unmistakably free-gift-of-the-Chinese-Government).
Along with your cotton and/or linen clothing, make sure you bring a small flashlight to carry after dusk, as there are few lights and a number of "obstacles" including uncovered manholes, seriously unmaintained roads that were last paved when it was still a colony, and sidewalks that make the ones in Bogota look level. Also, make sure you get your cholera vaccination (not to mention yellow fever and all the rest).
If you have any particular high-end personal goods you favor, bring those as well. You can of course find soap, shampoo, etc. in the "supermarkets" but there is not a huge variety, Garnier is about at up-market as it gets, and the prices can approach twice what you pay in Europe (as all of it is imported - even the water). Drink the bottled water. Always.
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