It was a brief yet intense feeling that awashed me as I alone trod through the crashing waves along the coast of Sao Paulo. The air was fresh and sweet, and it blanketed the mountains and islands till both faded into the horizon. Underneath the morning skies, everything around me Read more…
“Asgard is not a place. It’s a people.” Odin, Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Brazil was truly one of the most beautiful places that I have visited in my life. However, the wonders of nature and the abundance of choices of fruit juices on their own do not make the experience. I found that the Read more…
Tuesday night was our final night with our host families. Tiffany had a meal in mind to make for our family, and she was able to come up with some simple tasks to make it look like I was helping, even though I’m the farthest thing from a cook! Around Read more…
Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to visit two churches in São Paulo. After the first service, amongst all of the talking and laughing, I heard someone yell, “Jenna, come here! He speaks French!” In case you’re wondering whether or not you read that right – yes French, not Read more…
As our time winds down in Brazil and we have our first day of rest at our hotel near Iguassu Falls, I find myself reflecting on the past two weeks that seem to have passed by in two days. It seems like just yesterday that I was bundled into the Read more…
I’ve always thought I have a pretty good sense of direction. As a three-time grade-level National Geographic Geography Bee champion and one-time NYS finalist in middle school (not to brag), I pride myself on knowing where I am and where other things are. I’ve also thought I have a pretty Read more…
Before every trip I’ve taken, I spend a lot of time imagining what specific aspects of the trip are going to be like. For this trip, I took time to imagine what my host mom would be like, what the university would be like, and how we would spend our Read more…
We left São Paulo this morning, and my suitcase is already a lot heavier than when I arrived. Our host mom had to teach late last night, so Lauren and I joined Camryn’s host family for our final evening in São Paulo. Camryn’s host dad, Israel, made me the best Read more…
Wow. I was lucky enough to experience the two extremes of human life today, the beginning and the end. As a biology major, I was given the opportunity to visit the University of Sao Paulo (USP) with some other science majors. There, we were able to visit the autopsy section Read more…
As our time in Sao Paulo comes to an end, I find myself thinking about how I will say goodbye to the friends and family I have here. How can I possibly say a final goodbye to these people who have had such an impact on my life in such Read more…